5 Questions on Christianity, Life & Books

The Latimer Trust asks Mark Thompson

1. How did you become a Christian?

I first heard the gospel in a Sunday School class when I was 11 years old. I was encouraged to faith and was nourished in faith first by that Sunday School and throughout my High School years by a lunchtime Inter-School Christian Fellowship. 5 Christian teachers in the school took the Christian students under their wing and taught us, encouraged in godliness and invested a great deal of time with them. I remain deeply indebted to them for this ministry.

2. Who is or has been an influential person in your Christian pilgrimage?

A number of people come to mind: the wonderful lady, Susan Sherwood, who led the teenage Bible Study group I became a part of when I joined a church at 18 years of age; Alan Catchpoole, the Principal of the Bible School I attended during my years working and saving for theological college; and Peter Jensen, Principal, Archbishop, friend and example.

3. What piece of advice would you give young ordinands going into ordained ministry today?

I would encourage them not to skimp on their theological education. The need for Christian ministry today is great, the challenges are serious and ever changing and you need to be thoroughly grounded in Scripture and trained to think theologically about every aspect of life and ministry. Don’t take short-cuts or be satisfied with what is most convenient. You are building a lifetime of ministry on this foundation so get the very best you can get from faithful teachers whose heart is in the local church (rather than the academy).

4. Which is the best book you have read in 2023?

Among many great books I have read in 2023, I think Chris Watkins’ Biblical Critical Theory stands out.

5. What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently working on a number of academic papers but once they have been written I will turn my attention to a book long overdue on Christology. That book will explore the unshakable ground for Jesus’ claim “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me”.

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Mark Thompson is the Principal of Moore Theological College, but he has been on the faculty of the College since 1991. Prior to that he was involved in ordained pastoral ministry in churches in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. He studied at Moore College in the 1980s and took time out from his work on the faculty to undertake a DPhil at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Professor Alister McGrath. His research interests have been the doctrine of Scripture, justification by faith, Reformation theology, and the doctrine of Christ. As Principal, he continues to teach in the Christian Doctrine department at Moore College. He is also the Chair of the Sydney Diocesan Doctrine Commission and has contributed to the new book released by Latimer Trust 'Howard and Dorothy Mowll. Global Anglican Pioneers. He is married to Kathryn and has four young adult daughters.