Dr Grant Maple from the Anglican Education Commission is also taking up the role of Director of the School of Christian Studies next year in a big win for Christian education.
The move coincides with Synod's October decision to expand the role of the AEC in education advocacy as well as teacher recruitment and development.
With negotiations under way with Moore College, Dr Maple hopes that SOCS will also be able to work with the AEC to meet some of the professional development needs of Christian teachers.
"We're exploring a partnership with the AEC, largely in the area of teacher education," he says. "But it's really still in the design stage: things are fluid."
Dr Maple will be acting Director of the new Anglican Education Commission until Dr Bryan Cowling takes on the role in April.
With AEC being established as a stand-alone organisation, Grant Maple's role at AEC is set to move to a part-time position.
He has retired from his other role as Deputy CEO of Anglican Youthworks.
This frees up time to take on the position at the School of Christian Studies (SOCS).
SOCS operates out of Robert Menzies College at Macquarie University and was established in 1983 by now-retired Bishop Dr Paul Barnett.
Dr Maple is particularly excited by the School's strong distance education program, which means that SOCS courses are available to lay people "wherever they are.'
Dr Maple has worked in teachers' professional development, curriculum development and advocacy, is co-editor of the Journal of Christian Education, and has played a key role in ensuring the continued place of Scripture in NSW schools.
While stepping back from full-time work with the AEC, he is eager to take on his new part-time position working with lecturers, students and developing courses at SOCS.
"I am excited about the potential for SOCS to bring Bible-based theological courses to lay people," Dr Maple says.
"We want to be able to meet the needs of teachers, and I've got a concern for lay people, trainees for youth ministry or people involved in children's ministry."
