The Council of Assembly is delighted to advise that Rev Dr Geoff New has been appointed Principal of the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership, Dunedin. Geoff takes up the role from 19 September 2022.
Geoff joined the Knox Centre in 2015 as Dean of Studies. He has been both Dean and the Acting Principal of Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership (KCML) since late December 2020.
As he takes up the principal role, Geoff says he senses God reminding him to be open to the wonder and word of God. He had an experience of both recently with his four-year-old grandson.
“Nathaniel came to me, sat on my knee, and said, ‘Where you go, I’ll go; and where you stay, I’ll stay’. I was astonished and said, ‘What did you say?!’ He repeated it. I asked if someone had read him the story of Ruth. He answered no – he didn’t know the story of Ruth (and I’ve since established no-one in the family read it to him). He continued, ‘Where you go, I’ll follow’. In that exchange, I sense God reminding me to look out for the wonder of God, and to listen out for the word of God. I hope to model this for those I help in their leadership formation and training.”
Rev Dr Jaco Reyneke, Council of Assembly Convener, says the Council are very pleased that Geoff has accepted the principal role. “KCML and the Church are entering an exciting time for ministry and leadership formation and training and Geoff’s guidance and inspiration will be invaluable.”
“In Geoff we have a leader of integrity who is highly experienced in ministry, preaching and teaching.
“The Council has been encouraged by the positive inclusive leadership that Geoff has shown at KCML. We look forward, after a recent period of uncertainty for KCML, to Geoff leading the Centre forwards.”
Geoff was ordained in 1997 and served as minister at Papakura East Presbyterian Church for 17 years, and as a Police chaplain in Counties-Manukau.
He was an adjunct preaching lecturer at Laidlaw College for several years; has lectured as a guest lecturer at Otago University and Carey Baptist College; and he has been involved in Langham Preaching since 2011 training preachers in south Asia.
Preaching is in Geoff’s DNA. His DMin (2011) through Australian College of Theology is on the use of lectio divina and Ignatian Gospel Contemplation in preaching.
He has published three books on preaching, and a fourth book on preaching the parables is due to be published in 2023 (with contributions from Latin America and New Zealand).
Geoff is married to Ruth, and they have three adult children (Rebekah, Josiah, and Luke) and one grandchild.