Tony Payne returns as Director of the Centre Christian Living

The College is pleased to announce that as part of his role as Lecturer in Christian Thought (Ethics), the Rev Dr Tony Payne will also resume Directorship of Moore College’s Centre for Christian Living (CCL). 

Tony previously served as CCL Director from 2014 to 2019 while completing his PhD on the theological nature, purpose and practice of the “one-another edifying speech” in Christian community in the New Testament, while also continuing his work with Matthias Media. From 2020 until now, he served as ministry trainer and writer-in-residence with Campus Bible Study (CBS) at the University of New South Wales. 

Under Tony’s leadership, CCL launched the popular Centre for Christian Living podcast, which seeks to bring biblical ethics to a range of everyday issues explored in interviews and audio from recent Moore College events, and which is listened to by Christians all over the world. He also organised and chaired a series of interesting seminars on a range of significant issues, including Islam, same-sex marriage and the Holy Spirit. 

Of Tony’s appointment, CCL Acting Director Peter Orr said, “It’s exciting to see Tony return to direct the CCL. His previous experience in the role, together with his insight into the Scriptures, mean he is well-equipped to ensure the CCL continues helping Christians apply biblical ethics to everyday issues.” 

Principal Mark Thompson added, “I am very excited for the next chapter in the life of the Centre for Christian Living. Tony Payne returning as its Director is an excellent development.” 

Of his return, Tony says, 

I’m very much looking forward to taking up the helm at CCL again. It will be like coming home after a long journey overseas: everything will seem very familiar and yet somehow different—not so much because CCL has really changed, but because I’ll be looking at it with fresh eyes. I’m hoping it will be an opportunity to rethink and reenergise the excellent work that CCL has been doing in bringing the truth and goodness of God to the everyday issues we face as his people in the world. 

Please thank God for Peter and his time with CCL, and pray for Tony as he steps back into the role of CCL Director. 

CCL events for 2025 will be announced soon. 

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Rev Malcolm York, currently Rector of St Andrews Roseville, has been nominated as Lecturer in Ministry and Dean of Students for Moore College starting in January 2025.

With a depth of experience in parish ministry Mal has the heart and the skills needed for this important teaching and pastoral role.

“Mal is very clearly the right person to be our next Dean of Students,” remarked College Principal Mark Thompson. “His pastoral warmth, his commitment to training and his long experience in parish ministry all equip him well for this pastoral role. I am very grateful that Mal has agreed to take on this important responsibility among us. We are looking forward to Mal, Heather and the family joining us next year.”

Prior to serving at Roseville, Mal has also served at St Clements Mosman, St Philip’s South Turramurra, Shellharbour City Centre, and West Ryde, totalling 24 years of parish experience. Mal has been involved in training gospel workers in India and Chile and has served as a volunteer NSW Ambulance Chaplain. Mal brings this range of experience together with pastoral wisdom and a genuine concern for people. He is married to Heather, and they have four young adult children. With a love of good coffee, playing the guitar and getting involved in sports Mal will quickly feel at home in the Newtown community.

Mal has commented, “I look forward to helping the students at Moore College grow as disciples of Jesus Christ and understand what it means to be involved in pastoral ministry. I am also excited about getting alongside the students to help them navigate the high points and challenges of College life.”

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The College is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rev Dr Tony Payne as Lecturer in Christian Thought (Ethics) from November 2024. Currently serving at Campus Bible Study (CBS) in the University of New South Wales as a ministry trainer, Tony has previously served the College in a part-time capacity (2014–2019) as Director of the Centre for Christian Living.

For more than three decades, mainly through his work with Matthias Media, Tony has been regularly sharing reflections on what it means to live the Christian life through books, articles, podcasts and lectures. Some of his most well-known titles include The Trellis and the Vine, Fatherhood, and Islam in our Backyard.

Tony is married to Alison, has five adult children and 9 (soon to be 10) grandchildren. He has a PhD in Christian ethics, which he gained for a thesis entitled ‘Truthing in love: the theological nature, purpose and practice of “one-another edifying speech” in the Christian community’.

“I am excited about Tony joining us again”, commented the College Principal, Mark Thompson. “I am confident he will make a very significant contribution to the College. His deep reflection on theological and ethical issues, together with his ability to communicate clearly and simply to a range of audiences will be of enormous benefit. We look forward to welcoming Tony and Alison back to the College community.”

Tony shared, “Moore College is one of the most important Christian training institutions in the world, and to be given the opportunity to be part of the Faculty and contribute to its mission in this way is a huge privilege. I’m looking forward to it enormously, and Ali and I are also really looking forward to being in Newtown and part of the Moore community (again!).”

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