'Daniel has much to bring to our shared task of re-gospelling the north of England'
The Trustees of St Hild College have announced the appointment of Dr Daniel McGinnis as the college's next Principal. Daniel is currently Vice Principal for St Hild Sheffield, and will take up the role after Mark Powley’s departure at Easter
Before joining St Hild, Daniel led a team in planting a church in Sheffield and launched the Leeds School of Theology. He has been involved in the leadership of St Hild as one of two Vice Principals since its launch in 2017. Daniel’s doctoral work was in New Testament studies, and has recently been published as Missional Acts: Rhetorical Narrative in the Acts of the Apostles. He is a member of the British New Testament Society and a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.
Bishop John Thomson, Chair of St Hild Council, said, ‘Daniel has been integral to the formation and development of St Hild over recent years.
'We discern in him the charisms needed to guide the college in this next season and we are confident that, working with the strong St Hild senior team, he can build on the fruitful partnerships that have been established.’
Graham Ensor, Baptist Vice-chair of Council, added, 'We have been impressed with Daniel’s character and gifts, and we’re grateful that he is willing to offer leadership to the college at such a crucial time.
'Daniel has much to bring to our shared task of re-gospelling the North of England and I am looking forward to working towards this together.’
Outgoing principal, Mark Powley welcomed the appointment. ‘It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work alongside Daniel for the last eight years. He knows the history of St Hild and, crucially, how the college can step forward into the future.
'Daniel has my full confidence as the next Principal, and I’m delighted that the next chapter will develop under his leadership.’
Daniel said he was 'honoured and humbled' to be asked to take up the role of Principal, and 'excited to help lead St Hild into the future.'
'My love for the college runs deep, and I sense that God's vision for what's to come is full of opportunity.
'While I'm sad to be saying goodbye to Mark, who has been a dear friend and colleague for these last eight years, I am thrilled to be moving forward alongside such a strong and capable team, and I know our shared task of forming and training the next generation of spiritual leaders in our region will be significant and pivotal in the coming years.'
Originally from Houston, Texas, Daniel grew up in an Episcopalian church, but then attended a Baptist university (Baylor) and helped with the student group for several years at Highland Baptist in Waco, Texas. He has lived in the UK for almost 18 years and is a dual American/British citizen.
He added, ‘With my own Baptist roots and St Hild’s foundational identity as a Baptist-Anglican college, I am energised to see how we can continue to expand our offering to serve Baptists Together and look forward to seeing how the St Hild Centre for Church Planting assists the church planting aspirations of Baptists, as well as Anglican and independent churches and networks.’
Baptist Times, 14/03/2023