Faculty

Revd James R. Burnett

BA (QUB), MA (Oxon), MPhil (Cantab)

The Principal & Lecturer

His background in Economics and Politics contribute to his role as CEO. James’ love for Theology and Philosophy blossomed while studying at Oxford and Cambridge and, combined with his personal experiences of God in revival, it is no surprise to discover his research interests lie in the epistemology and understanding of the Holy Spirit.

Revd Dr Robert Keay

BA, MA, PhD, ThM, PhD

Head of Education

Dr ALISTaiR BATES

BA, BD, PhD

Lecturer in Practical Theology and MA Programme Lead

Alistair trained at Elim Bible College in England from 1983-1986 and remained in the Pentecostal church until 1988 before becoming a member of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. He began to study social anthropology at Queen’s University in Belfast, graduating with a BA. During that time he applied and was accepted as a student to train for the ordained ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. In 1992, Alistair went to Union Theological College and graduated with a BD. He served as both an assistant and then later an associate minister at First Ballymena Presbyterian Church, Ballymena, from 1994 until 2000 followed by Scrabo Presbyterian Church, Newtownards.

Alistair was called in 2013 to be the minister of Wellington Presbyterian Church Ballymena, ministered there until taking up his post at BST. He graduated from the University of Glasgow with a PhD in 2022. Alistair believes that God transforms lives, churches and communities and has a passion that theology extends beyond the classroom and becomes the practically lived experience of every student. He is married to Hazel and they have two children, Hannah and Josh.

REVD DR SEOYOUNG KIM

BTh, MDiv, MTS, PhD

Lecturer in Applied Theology and Ministry Placements Lead

Seoyoung Kim is Lecturer in Applied Theology and Ministry Placements Programme Lead at Belfast School of Theology. She is also an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Manchester and has recently served as a Research Associate at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.

Originally from South Korea, Seoyoung is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea. She completed her PhD at the University of Manchester under the supervision of Professor Peter Scott. She holds an MTS from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, an MDiv and a BTh from Hanshin University in South Korea, and a Complementary Certificate in Ecumenical Studies from the Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Switzerland. She also completed an internship with the Christian Conference of Asia in Thailand.

Seoyoung currently serves on the World Council of Churches Central Committee (2022–2030) and Executive Committee (2026–2030). Her academic interests include applied theology, ecotheology, ecofeminist theology, public theology, ecumenical and interdenominational approaches, and the integration of theological reflection with ministerial practice. She is married to Dr Edward Fauchon-Jones.

Dr William Ford

Ph.D., BA (Durham), MSt (Oxford), PGCHET (QUB), FHEA

Undergraduate Programme Lead

He is originally from England, and studied theology and Old Testament in Durham and Oxford. He also spent six years in London, firstly serving with the London City Mission and then working as a chartered accountant. Prior to joining BST he taught at All Nations Christian College.

He is particularly interested in how we understand theologically difficult biblical passages, especially those that seem to portray God in negative ways.

Rev DR Karen Campbell

BA, MA, MDiv, DMin, ALCM

REV DR ANDREW CAMPBELL

Read Ancient History and Byzantine Studies as an Undergraduate before pursuing a postgraduate in Theology at Queen’s University Belfast. He completed his PhD under Prof. S. N. Williams in Nonviolent Atonement theology, which founded the basics of the book One for the Other: Engaging with Nonviolent Atonement Theology published by Wipf and Stock in their Analysing Theology Series. He has been published in various journals, including Churchman, the European Journal of Theology, and Themelios.

In addition to his role at Belfast School of Theology, Andrew also serves as Adjunct Lecturer of Anglican Dogmatics at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute (Trinity College Dublin).
However, his primary ministry is as Rector (minster) of St Swithin’s Church of Ireland in Magherafelt.

Beyond Ireland, Andrew is an Associate Fellow and Trustee of the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge.

His primary academic interest is in Atonement Theology, though he has also written on Heaven, Analytical Theology, Ethics and Public Theology.

Andrew is married to Allison; they have two children, Henry and Charlotte.

REV DR RYAN DAVID HAWK

B.S., M.Div, M.Th., Grad Dip., PhD

Ryan completed a PhD on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the integration of academic and spiritual formation in theological education. He is an academic, artist and minister and believes in the role of scholar priests. He also enjoys Rugby as a supporter and player (though he should hang up the boots!) Music is underneath almost everything he does because it is always playing on the speakers or in his head. He believes in the Church, and the calling to serve Christ’s kingdom through the church, even if it is scary.

Irene McMAHON

Northern Ireland is my home, with its contested identities, political intrigues and checkered history. The Philippines was my base camp: training in endurance, learning cross cultural communication and introducing me to intercultural leadership. Leading OMF in the UK is my current challenge: learning to navigate the constantly changing local church and global mission landscape while in transition between offices. 

I have always spent my life living between two places – city and rural, back and forward, packing and unpacking. I have lost count of the number of houses we have lived in and how many times we have moved continents. It is all good training for living in the now and not yet of the kingdom! 

I love the Lord and His Word and am being transformed by His Spirit. I am a Presbyterian by birth, a congregationalist by conviction, worshipped in a Pentecostal church in the Philippines, and currently worshipping in a vibrant Anglican community of faith.  

My doctoral studies are in intercultural leadership, I have been wrestling with trying to understand how an international organization can facilitate different leadership styles, accommodate different cultural expectations around accountability and conflict management. The only answer I have come up with to date is that it is very difficult! 

Walter McConnell

BA (Biola), MCS (Regent College), PhD (QUB)

Walter McConnell originally comes from a small town near Seattle in America, but now lives in Coleraine. He served with OMF in Taiwan for about eight years as a church planter and theological educator. After completing his PhD in Old Testament at Queen’s University of Belfast, he taught for seven years at the Singapore Bible College where he was head of the OT department and served as director of the Ichthus Research Institute for Biblical and Theological Studies.

From 2010–2013, he was a pastor at the Belfast Chinese Christian Church, before returning to Singapore to be the Head of Mission Research for OMF and the editor of Mission Round Table, OMF’s journal for reflective practitioners. While he still serves with OMF, he is based in Northern Ireland and travels back to Asia several times a year. He has written a variety of articles on the Old Testament, biblical theology, ethics, mission, church history, and worship. He has also written the book How Majestic is Your Name: An Introduction to Biblical Worship. Walter is married to Claire and they have five grown children and ten grandchildren. 

Rev Dr Annes Nel

BA-Hons (Semitic languages), BA-Hons (Psychology), MTh, PhD, Doctor Honoris Causa

Ordained as a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church in 1986, Annes served two congregations before entering academia. He taught theology at two universities in Southern Africa, becoming an associate professor and later Head of the Department of Theology at one institution.

In 2007, Annes moved to Northern Ireland, where he served first at West Church, Bangor, and later as minister of Killinchy Presbyterian Church. He has authored 23 books, published more than 70 articles, and presented Christian radio programmes in South Africa and Namibia.

Since 2019, he has returned to university-level theological education. Now retired, Annes continues part-time ministry at Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church while teaching theology at BST and another university. He is married to Olga and they have 12 grandchildren.

Livingstone Thompson

B.A (Th), M.A. (Th), MPhil (Ecumenics), PhD (Rel. Pluralism) 

Livingstone Thompson is an experienced religions specialist and theologian with considerable experience in teaching and supervision of graduate and postgraduate students.  He brings a wealth of knowledge and skills in inter-faith relations, intercultural dialogue, the ecumenical movement and the management of non-governmental organizations.  

 His doctoral study in religious pluralism, undertaken at the University of Dublin/Trinity College, was successfully completed in 2003. The doctoral search focused on interreligious dialogue between Christianity and Islam and included reference to the major world religions. Special emphasis was placed on the works of scholars such as John Hick, George Lindbeck, Gavin D’Costa and the 17th century interculturalist, Jan Komenský.  

 Livingstone Thompson was awarded a Master of Philosophy in Ecumenics by the School of Ecumenics/Trinity College Dublin in 2000. In his dissertation on Muslim-Christian dialogue, he assessed the capacity of Moravian theology as a framework for dialogue with Islam. He also received a Master of Arts in Theological Studies in McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, USA. Here he received the Blackstone Award for Church History, which is awarded for the most outstanding research.  

 He has many years involvement in the ecumenical movement at local and international levels, chiefly through his membership of the Central Committee and Faith and Order Commission of the Geneva-based World Council of Churches. Livingstone Thompson has experience in theological and development projects and is deeply engaged community and NGO’s sector in Northern Ireland. From this extensive experience, gained in interfaith and intercultural work, he brings critical learning to the areas of Intercultural theology and Interfaith dialogue.   

DR MATT WILLIAMS

When not teaching at BST, he works at Jubilee Farm near Larne, does a range of research projects, and builds a home with his family in Whitehead, Co. Antrim.