He then attended St John's College, Oxford, and completed a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 1993.

[1] His doctoral thesis was titled "Restoration, Reformation and the progress of the kingdom of Christ : evangelisation in the thought and practice of John Calvin, 1555–1564".

[1] He was team vicar of Gateshead from 1993 to 1998 when he became the director of the Urban Mission Centre, Cranmer Hall, Durham.

[...] Without seeking to diminish the value of many committed same-sex relationships, for which there is much to give thanks, we find ourselves constrained by what we sincerely believe the Scriptures teach which cannot be set aside.

[15]He voted against introducing "standalone services for same-sex couples" on a trial basis during a meeting of the General Synod in November 2023; the motion passed.