Theological seminary names Torrance president

Princeton Theological Seminary and Princeton University have common histories. Presbyterian ministers founded both institutions. One man, Francis Landey Patton, served as both schools' president — of the University from 1888-1902, and afterwards of the seminary until 1913. Now, in an odd coincidence, both institutions have named a Scottish minister as their sixth president.

On the University's side, this is hardly newsworthy — the Scot in question was John Witherspoon, in 1768. For the seminary, however, the news is much more recent. On April 13, the seminary announced it has named the Right Reverend Professor Iain R. Torrance as its next president. The announcement ended an 11-month search, which reviewed over 100 nominees for the position.

The seminary began looking for a new president last May, when current president Thomas W. Gillespie announced his retirement.

Torrance is moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland. He was elected in May 2003 for a one-year term there.

In addition to being a well-known church leader, Torrance has a "superb reputation as a theologian and scholar," said Mary Lee Fitzgerald, co-chair of the presidential search committee, in an email.

Fitzgerald praised Torrance for "his commitment to the Church and his interest in interfaith dialogue" and to "ministry, broadly defined, and the seminary's longstanding priority of preparation of people for the ministry around the world."

Torrance expressed enthusiasm about his new position.

"Princeton [Theological Seminary] is the flagship theological institute in the world, but is one which is also committed to be of service to the church," he said in an email. "Princeton has outstanding faculty and facilities."

He said he knew he would face challenges in his new role.

"Any move to a new position is a steep learning curve," he said. "I am a European and will need to enter into the American imagination with respect both to academia and the Presbyterian Church in the [United States]."

Torrance, however, is in an excellent position to adjust to his new surroundings. As moderator, one of his principal responsibilities was traveling internationally as a church representative.

Recently, Torrance traveled to Iraq, and he is currently on a three-week official visit to China. Torrance, who has visited the United States several times, has several friends in Princeton and is already professionally acquainted with some members of the seminary's faculty.

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In his free time, he and his wife, Morag, collect contemporary Scottish art. Fitzgerald said Torrance's wife has expressed an interest in becoming a docent at the University Art Museum.

Like Witherspoon, Torrance studied at the University of Edinburgh, where he earned a master of arts degree. Torrance also holds a bachelor of divinity from St. Andrews University and a doctorate in philosophy from Oriel College, Oxford University.

Torrance is currently dean of the Faculty of Arts and Divinity at the University of Aberdeen and master of Christ's College, Aberdeen, where he is a professor of patristics and Christian ethics. He is also the longtime editor of the Scottish Journal of Theology and the author or editor of numerous publications.

In addition to his academic work, Torrance has also worked as a military chaplain and parish minister.

The Princeton Theological Seminary, founded in 1812, now has 785 students and 53 faculty members, making it the largest and oldest seminary founded by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA. Today, students of 90 denominations study at the seminary.

The seminary maintains a partnership with the University, such as allowing cross-registration for certain courses, according to Barbara Chaapel, director of communications and publications for the seminary.

The Church of Scotland is historically the "mother church" of the Presbyterian Church USA, although it has no administrative or doctrinal authority over the American church today, Chaapel said. Both churches are members of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.