Our Team
Our Guest Teacher – Bishop Gavin Ashenden – Teaching on the Kingdom of God!
Bishop Dr. Gavin Ashenden lives partly in Shropshire and partly in Normandy. He grew up in S.W. London, and then Kent, and was educated at the King’s School in Canterbury. After originally reading Law at Bristol University intent on a career at the bar, he found himself with a vocation to the priesthood. He trained at Oak Hill Theological College studying theology. He was ordained by + Mervyn Stockwood in Southwark Cathedral in 1980, and was appointed to a curacy in Bermondsey.
After postgraduate study in the Psychology of Religion with the Jesuits at Heythrop College in the University of London , he then completed a doctorate on the life and work of the Oxford Inkling, Charles Williams, and subsequently published ‘Alchemy and Integration- A study of the Life of writing of Charles Williams. (Kent State University Press). He spent 23 years at the University of Sussex as a senior lecturer and senior chaplain, lecturing in the Psychology of Religion, Literature, and convening an MA programme in Monotheist Mysticism.
He was a member of the General Synod of the Church of England for 20 years, and was appointed one of the theological canonries at Chichester Cathedral. He is a member of the Society of the Holy Cross. In 2008 he was appointed a Chaplain to the Queen (2008-2017).He spent a number of years as a member of the ecumenical priestly fraternity of the Little Brothers of Jesus (Charles de Foucauld). In 2017 and he resigned from his chaplaincy to the Queen . On the Feast of St Michael and All Angels 2017, the Archbishop of the Christian Episcopal Church announced that Dr Ashenden had been consecrated as a Missionary Bishop to the UK and Europe.
Rev. Aaron Eime Anglican Deacon of Christ Church Jerusalem
Rev. Aaron Eime has served with Christ Church and CMJ in Jerusalem for 18 years as the Director of the Heritage Centre at Christ Church. For the last eight years, he has also served as an Anglican Deacon of Christ Church Jerusalem. Aaron has a Masters degree in Early Jewish and Christian Interpretation of the Bible from Hebrew University, giving him a background in the Hebraic roots of Christianity. In April of 2015, the previous CMJ Director Don Stanley asked Aaron to change his focus for the Mission: to build Alexander College (ABLC) and to get as much educational material in print and online as possible. Rev. Eime’s teachings bring to light the Hebrew foundation of God’s Word to fully reveal His-story as one narrative, richly lined with Hebraic connectedness that will enrich each student as they study and learn to teach His Word. Rev. Aaron Eime aslo serves as the Director of Alexander College Israel.
Rev. David Pileggi, Anglican Rector of Christ Church Jerusalem
Rev. David Pileggi lives in Jerusalem where he is the rector/priest of Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem. They have lived in Israel for 37 years where David has worked as a journalist/researcher and for 19 years was director of a study program dedicated to teaching Christians about the Jewish context of their faith. David has an M.A. from the Hebrew University in Jewish Studies and is a licensed tour guide. Fascinated by Eastern European Jewish life that existed before the Second World War, David has led some trips to Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic, designed to teach Christians about Jewish life in the modern era. Ordained by Archbishop Henry Orombi of Uganda, he has been the rector of Christ Church Jerusalem since 2008. David also has been active in helping Palestinian children get medical care in Israeli hospitals, promotes education to prevent genocide and stop human trafficking. He also takes a keen interest in Kurdish-Jewish relations.
Rev. Stephen Higgins CEO of Briarwood Group/David Ministries – Alexander College (ABLC) – USA Director
Rev. Stephen Higgins brings to Alexander College (ABLC) 39 years of ministry leadership, beginning as a pastor of several churches for twenty-five years in California and Ohio and then in the field of non-profits and Higher Education. Since 1999, Rev. Higgins has served in the following areas of ministry: Biblica Church Relations and Workshops – USA, as CEO of The Briarwood Consulting Group – under David Ministries for 20 years. During that season through TBG/David Ministries he served as; Vice President of Advancement at a College in the Midwest; and as a College President. Over the last 27 years, he has traveled extensively and taught in Africa, Asia, Europe, Kurdistan, and throughout the USA, teaching and training pastors, educators, church leaders, and public officials. Moreover, recently a fantastic but all to short travel into Israel. Currently, TBG (David Ministries) 19 years, and he has served as an Adjunct Professor at several Universities in Biblical Studies, Business, and Humanities Departments. Rev. Higgins was ordained in 1976 by the Christian Church and will be ordained within the Anglican Church in late 2018.