NT Wright Steps Down

The Diocese of Durham website announced earlier this morning that NT Wright, Bishop of the Diocese of Durham is stepping down as Bishop effective 31 August.  Dr. Wright, noted New Testament scholar, author and speaker will assume a new appointment at Research Professor of New Testament and Early Chritianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.  Announcing his decison Bishop Wright said:

This has been the hardest decision of my life. It has been an indescribable privilege to be Bishop of the ancient Diocese of Durham, to work with a superb team of colleagues, to take part in the work of God’s kingdom here in the north-east, and to represent the region and its churches in the House of Lords and in General Synod. I have loved the people, the place, the heritage and the work. But my continuing vocation to be a writer, teacher and broadcaster, for the benefit (I hope) of the wider world and church, has been increasingly difficult to combine with the complex demands and duties of a diocesan bishop. I am very sad about this, but the choice has become increasingly clear.

Ruth Gledhill, writing in The Times had this to say:

The leading bishop for the evangelical centre, NT Wright, Bishop of Durham, is returning to academia, taking a chair at St Andrew’s. He is 61 and could in theory have remained at Durham until he was 70. As one of the top five, he carries authority by virtue of his position but also has added value by virtue of his skills of communication and of intellect. He will be badly missed by his troubled church. Professor Ivor Davidson at St Andrews said, ‘Tom Wright ranks among the most distinguished New Testament scholars in the world, and his profile as a churchman, writer and communicator is simply outstanding. I am delighted that he will be joining us at St Andrews, where he will further enhance the long-established reputation of the School of Divinity as a major international centre of biblical and theological scholarship.’ So why is he going?

Interesting as well, though unrelated to this decision, has been the ongoing discussion over Wright’s re-presentation of justification.  The February 2010 issue of Tabletalk, published by Ligioner Ministries, was devoted to the current controversy surrounding Dr. Wright’s take on the doctrine of justification.  Contributors include D.A. Carson, Michael Horton and Albert Mohler among others.  You can click through the articles here.