An update on Cliff College's leadership

Over the eight years of his leadership, Ashley has built on the College’s heritage to establish its position as a global centre for evangelism and missiology. After guiding the College through its recovery from the Covid pandemic, he will leave the College with a renewed suite of academic programmes, that serve the Church in evangelical theology and practical mission today.

Ashley says, 'It has been a huge privilege to serve as Principal of Cliff College. This has been a significant period of change and transition, which has involved reshaping every area of Cliff – as a theological College and as a conference centre – to meet the challenges and opportunities of today. This has been hard but rewarding work, and I pray that I leave the College in a strong position for the next season of its life. I want to thank my colleagues who have worked with me to lead and develop the ministry of Cliff. During my time at the College, we have used the strap line, ‘encounter, equip, engage’. It has been amazing to see the ways in which people have encountered God through Cliff, and have been equipped through study to engage in God’s mission and Christian leadership in creative, faithful ways. I will take these many stories with me.'

Ashley has been invited to take up the role of Executive Pastor of Christ Church in Fairview Heights, Illinois, USA. He has developed a growing relationship with Christ Church over the last ten years and feels God’s leading in exploring this opportunity as his next step in ministry.

Speaking of Ashley, the College’s trustees said, ‘Ashley has invested his energy, enthusiasm and expertise into Cliff College at a critical time in our life. He has offered wise and godly leadership, and helped the College to develop significant streams of work with the Methodist Church in Britain and beyond. With his passion for Jesus and for evangelism, Ashley has embodied the College’s motto, “Christ for all – all for Christ”. Please join us in praying for Ashley and his family as they anticipate this new season.’

Rev Dr Andrew Stobart, Vice Principal of Cliff College, says, ‘On behalf of the staff and students at Cliff, I’d like to thank Ash for his leadership. Over the years, Ash has modelled the leadership principles that he has also taught in our classrooms, and even as he prepares to move into a new role, we look forward to the different ways in which he will continue to support the life and work of the College in the future. For now, there is an exciting year ahead of us. A full intake of students on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes this year is evidence of the renewed life of the College. As Ash continues to lead us in the coming months, we are enthusiastic about all the ways in which people will encounter God and be equipped for mission through Cliff College.’