Michael J. Ovey (1958-2017) served as the greatly loved and respected Principal of Oak Hill College, London, from 2007 until his unexpected and untimely death. He joined the faculty of Oak Hill in 1998 and completed a PhD in the field of trinitarian theology. He wrote few books: it was said that his students were his writing. This volume collects articles and lectures that demonstrate the depth and breadth of his intellect and originality. For Mike Ovey, in the same way that the earth is a 'Goldilocks planet', with conditions 'just right' to sustain life, so for theology we need a 'Goldilocks zone' which is 'just right', encompassing both 'local' and 'global' theologies. This is unpacked in the first item of this collection, which consists of fifteen 'Off the Record' articles for the online journal Themelios, seven Cambridge Papers, two essays on the gospel and the atonement, and three lectures given at the Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON). There are introductory pieces by Mark Thompson and Chris Green and an afterword by Dan Strange. Peter Jensen's sermon at the thanksgiving service for Mike's life and ministry is also included. This collection shows why Mike Ovey's contribution to evangelical Christianity was so widely appreciated in the UK and around the world.
Foreword - Mark Thompson
Introduction - Chris Green
Themelios Articles
1. The Goldilocks Zone
2. Projection Atheism: Why Reductionist Accounts of Humanity Can Lead to Reductionist
Accounts of God
3. Can Antigone Work in a Secularist Society?
4. The Echo Chamber of Idolatry
5. The Art of Imperious Ignorance
6. Courtier Politicians and Courtier Preachers
7. Colonial Atheism: A Very British Vice
8. Is It a Mistake to Stay at the Crossroads?
9. Choose Your Fears Carefully
10. The Covert Thrill of Violence? Reading the Bible in Disbelief
11. Is the Wrath of God Extremist?
12. Off the Record: Sorrow at Another's Good?
13. Liberty, What Crimes Are Committed in Thy Name?
14. From Moral Majority to Evil Disbelievers: Coming Clean about Christian Atheism
15. The Right to Ridicule?
Cambridge Papers (7 items)
Appropriating Aulen? Employing Christus Victor Models of the Atonement (Churchman article)
Can We Speak of 'the' Gospel in a Postmodern World? (from God's Power to Save [IVP/Apollos])
GAFCON talks: Jerusalem 2008 (2), Nairobi 2013
Thanksgiving service sermon - Peter Jensen
Afterword - Dan Strange
The Revd Michael J. Ovey served as the greatly loved and widely respected Principal of Oak Hill College from 2007 until his sudden and unexpected death on 7 January 2017. Before joining Oak Hill, Mike was a civil service lawyer drafting government legislation. He trained at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and worked as a curate for four years at All Saints, Crowborough, before teaching for three years at Moore Theological College, Sydney. He joined Oak Hill in 1998 and completed a PhD in the field of Trinitarian theology. He authored Your Will Be Done: Exploring Eternal Subordination, Divine Monarchy and Divine Humility, and co-authored Pierced for Our Transgressions and Confident: Why We Can Trust the Bible. He leaves a widow Heather and three children.
The editor Chris Green is Vicar at St James, Muswell Hill, London, and was formerly Vice-Principal of Oak Hill College. He is the author of several books including Cutting to the Heart.