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Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer

Affirmation, consultation, facilitation and vision. These are the characteristics Dr Ray Roennfeldt will bring to the Avondale College presidency when he assumes the role next year.

Chair Dr Barry Oliver (pictured, right) announced the appointment during a staff luncheon immediately following the college council's meeting this past Tuesday (August 26). "He's not unknown to you," said Barry before announcing Ray's name as president designate. Then, as Barry invited Ray (left) to the front amid enthusiastic applause, he added, "Let me be the first to shake your hand."

Like many others, Ray feels called to Christian ministry and leadership. "For me, this means I will model a service mode of leadership," he says, before acknowledging his ability to care for and lead others is "dependent on maintaining my personal spirituality, my family and personal relationships and my professional relationships. My capacity for ministry and leadership is dependent on my being a person of genuine openness and ethical integrity."

Ray graduated as a registered nurse from Sydney Adventist Hospital's School of Nursing in 1969. He then completed a Bachelor of Arts in theology at Avondale, graduating in 1973. He has also earned a Master of Arts in religion and a Doctor of Philosophy from Andrews University (Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA). His thesis for the latter analysed and critiqued Christian theologian, apologist and author Clark H Pinnock's shift in his doctrine of biblical authority and reliability.

Ray has served as a local Seventh-day Adventist church minister in southern New South Wales and as a district director and educator in Papua New Guinea. He began lecturing at Avondale in 1991 and is currently a senior lecturer in and dean of the Faculty of Theology. He is widely published as a presenter of papers at academic conferences and as the author of articles and book reviews in academic and denominational journals.

Ray will replace president Dr John Cox at the end of the year. John, 68, announced his retirement in April. He will, by the end of this year, have served as president for five-and-a-quarter years.

John describes Ray as "an excellent choice. He will provide strong spiritual leadership, a pastoral concern for staff and a large vision for Avondale." John notes Ray's role as a member of the council means he is "thoroughly familiar with the issues relating to Avondale's current and future progress. I am confident he will provide outstanding leadership as the college moves into the next phase of its development."