I am married to a wonderful woman and have three beautifull kids.I study at Trinity College, Bristol pursuing a MLitt/Phd in the New Testament. I am interested in the writings of N.T. Wright, the ‘quest for the historical Jesus’ and the New Perspective on Paul.
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A few years I was teaching at an inner city high school in Leeds. I loved my job, loved the kids I was teaching and the colleagues who I was working with. Yet, here I am a few years later training to be a vicar at Trinity College, Bristol.
You may ask, why the change? It is certainly not because I think that only vicars are doing full-time Christian work for I believe that God, who is Lord over all spheres of life, calls people people to engage missionally in the world in all aspects of life. God is calling people to work for him as butchers, bakers, candlestick makers and inner-city teachers.
I suppose that I would have to say that my move towards ordination stems from a number of factors including discernment, obedience and skills. I had to obey where I believed the Lord was leading. This wasn’t as simple as receiving an e-mail from heaven, but was obedience to a constant refrain in my life, a still small voice, confirmed by others, which said ‘Jon, be a servant of the Church’.
After several years of discernment, which included rebellion and repentance, I concluded, with the help of my Director of Ordinands and local church, that God was leading me to work in the Church of England. I was fully involved in my local church at St. James, Horsforth in Leeds which allowed me to hone and develop skills which increased my confidence that my path to ordination was indeed the one I should follow. I felt that God was forming and shaping me to communicate his glorious gospel to those inside and those outside of the Church.
At college I am pursuing a Phd in biblical studies alongside my ordination training. It is great to be in a church which gives academic study its place, and it is my desire as a future Vicar to fuse together a missional mindset in which heart, mind and hands can be used to proclaim the greatness of Jesus.
As a family, I am married with 3 young and beautiful kids, it is turning out to be a great adventure.
There is so much more to you than that! You are the esteemed and rightful creator of PC!
Thanks Lee, being a founding member of the ‘trinity’* pipe club is a great honour.
*’trinity pipe club’ is no way officially connected with trinity college.
Hey there – I’ve got a blog now – I’m beginning to realise that I am regaining my ‘pondering time’ now our 2 are getting older (like me!!!)
Thanks for your greetings on my blog. I grew up Anglican but have since “converted” to Baptist. Looks like you have an interesting blog. I would love to hear your thoughts on N.T. Wright. I have a review of Resurrection of the Son of God being published shortly. Have a blessed Easter!
Jon,
Thanks for the note. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. It is wonderful to be able to discuss issues of theology/life over a beer and a pipe. Ever since we’ve talked I can’t get N. T. Wright out of my heard. I also can’t get Trinity College, Bristol out of my head. My wife and I have been talking and I’m going to apply to the college to see if they would let me do some New Testament research under David Wenham.
…what have you done to me!
I hope that we’ll be able to continue some of the discussions via our blogs. I’m definitely going to be a regular on this one!
God’s grace and peace,
.Joel.
Quite interesting Blog, just found it today but I plan to keep my eye on it since Wright, Vanhoozer and many of the other issues you were adressing are right up my alley. Also, great fake nooma vid. I’ve heard Rob Bell speak a number of times (live near him) and he is a great communicator but obviously has a distinct style which the vid uses to hilarious effect.
Blessings
m slater
i don’t have much to say – i am a no one, and not much in the way of theology…but! i just wanted to drop in and offer you a work of encouragment; to dedicate yourself to Christ and pursue Him in the fashion you’ve chosen truly is an admirable trait – especially considering the tumultous times and the ever-increasing amount of scrutiny and cynicism Christians (orthodox especially!) face.
i hope that God continues to bless you and your family.
❤
Hello Jon,
My name is Nathan, I am the Pastor of Baptist church in Plymouth and am currently in year 1 of a 3 year MA which I am doing through Bristol Baptist College.
I was present at a session you did for the MA students last semester on making the most of IT – it was very helpful, thanks.
You mentioned that if anyone needed any further advice, to get on touch – so here I am and here’s what I’m in need of…
1. I’d like to get some modules for my LOGOS software – you mentioned that Students could get good discount. How do I get that?
2. Could you show me how to get access to online journals from outside of the college?
I am due to start Issues in Biblical Theology on Thursday afternoon – is their a time we could meet? I plan to arrive in Bristol in the morning.
Thanks,
Nathan
Nathan,
Good to hear from you,
I would be happy pass on advice for logos/libronix.
Journals: Are u registered with bristol uni library as you need to have your computer/logon details from them. If poss get them sent out to your home address/trinity so we can set things up on thursday morning.
I am in college on Thursday and will be in the common room after morning chapel.
Jon Swales
Hello Jon,
Thanks for getting back to me. I have a Library card waiting for me at the College. I will bring my Laptop and look out for you in the Common room.
Thanks,
Nathan
Hi Jon, I’m Jimmy Rock’s friend doing a PhD in NT at Nottingham Uni but normally based out in Brazil. I’m enjoying your stuff on historical Jesus since for a few years I’ve been writing something similar in Portuguese for folks back in Brazil!
Hi,
thanks. Whats your research on? Feel free to use anything you find useful.
I have moved in my studies from historical jesus to the Mark’s gospel. It makes things easier from a methodological point of view as there is less ground clearing to do.
Thanks. Indeed – I too am looking at Mark’s Gospel! I’m particularly interested in the exorcisms – what about you?
I’m looking at the death of Jesus in Mark as realted to the tribulation (Mark 13) and return from exile. Have u read Rikk Watt’s ‘Isaiah’s New Exodos in MArk’? I find it convincing that he places exorcisms in relation to Isaiah’s new exodus. If your ever aroudn bristol way then would be good to meet up and talk about Mark’s gospel. I was chatting to Jimmy yesterday and he said you were involved in theological education in Brazil…. great stuff.
Hi Jon, long time no reply – sorry about that. A Wright nice research topic that one! Yeah, my copy of Watts should reach me this month (being in Brazil has its drawbacks i.e. there’s no decent library out here). I’ll be in England this Summer, things will be extremely busy, but maybe there’ll be an opportunity to meet up.
Hi Jon,
Wonder if you could email and let me know again how you get a discount with Logos as a Bristol Baptist College/Trinity Student?
(We talked about this and other wonderful htings during the last week of term in the common room)
Have a great Christmas,
John
Use the following link.
http://www.logos.com/academic/trinitybris/2009/products/1
this should give you 25% off,
I couldn’t find your email in here want to let you know about a book soon to be released.
JP
Hi Jon,
I’m soon to attend a BAP and am considering doctoral studies alongside my ordination training. Could we exchange emails a bit to get the lowdown on mixing the two? How other formation sits alongside the doctoral work, etc? How Trinity approaches those kind of things?
Thanks ever so much; glad to’ve found your blog, it’s interesting!
Tom
Hi Tom,
glad to swap e-mails. Mine is jonswales@[remove this]gmail.com
I would be happy to fill you in with how I have found the mixing of ordination training and research. What college are you thinking of applying to? WHat field of research?
Jon
Hi, nice to see your blog. I wanna ask ’bout an insider perspective on Trinity College Bristol. Is it a good place to do a research on M.Phil level on the new perspective on Paul? And who would you recommend to study with?
Thank you very much
Hi Jon,
Great site and glad that you have this page out here..
I am also an Anglican ordinand in Mexico..
Saludos
David
Hi Ordinand. I’m starting a blog about the process of discernment of vocation: http://erleuchte.wordpress.com/
Do you think you could give me a bunk-up by putting me on your blogroll? I’ll do the same for you of course, though obviously most of the benefit will flow in my direction as I’m the nonentity.
Thanks, Erleuchte