Summary Jason Mills talks with Dr. Paul Spilsbury, president of Regent College in Vancouver, about the college’s origins, its distinct approach to theological education, and the kind of leadership it takes to guide a transdenominational graduate school today. They also discuss Paul’s own journey from South Africa to academic leadership, plus what he hopes Regent will look and feel like in the years ahead. In this episode: Paul Spilsbury introduces Regent College as a graduate school of Christian studies shaped by a founding vision that elevated laypeople’s theological formation to the level of their professional training. He traces Regent’s beginnings in the 1960s, from Brethren business people in Vancouver to Jim Houston’s move from Oxford to help launch the school. The conversation explores Regent’s interdisciplinary character, including theology and the arts, marketplace theology, creation care, science, and biblical languages. Paul explains why Regent remains strongly in-person, with a cap of about 45 percent online coursework in any degree. He describes the type of student Regent serves best: serious learners who want deep academic engagement with Scripture, theology, and the Christian tradition. Paul shares his own path from Durban, South Africa, through Prairie Bible Institute, Cambridge, Canadian Bible College and Seminary, Ambrose University, and eventually back to Regent. He reflects on the move from academic dean to president and why he finds institutional nurturing, governance, and community-building so meaningful. The discussion covers Regent’s transdenominational identity and the work required to stay connected to churches without belonging to a single denomination. Paul outlines Regent’s leadership culture as one of shared governance, first among equals, and careful consensus-building among highly trained faculty. He closes with a vision of Regent as rooted in Scripture and the Christian tradition, yet alive with joy, scholarship, and public engagement. Whole people of God - Regent’s way of describing a formation model that serves both clergy and laity Rooted and alive - Paul’s guiding image for Regent’s future, grounded in tradition yet responsive to the present First among equals - The leadership posture he uses to describe the president’s role in an academic community Shared governance - Regent’s method for decision-making across faculty, administration, and board Timestamps: (00:00) Podcast introduction and why Regent College matters (00:33) Why Jason has admired Regent from afar (01:57) Regent’s founding vision and interdisciplinary identity (07:26) Why Regent did not begin as a typical pastor-training school (08:08) How Regent’s founding principles still shape the college (11:10) Why Regent stays mostly in person (14:13) What kind of student thrives at Regent (17:48) Paul’s personal journey into theology and leadership (21:40) How Paul came back to Regent as academic dean (23:40) What he loves about serving as president (25:55) A first-year highlight: steady mission and strong student intake (28:00) Seven fully funded chairs and what that signals about Regent (29:00) Financial pressures, international student caps, and generational transition (33:30) Traits Regent looks for in faculty and leaders (37:36) Regent’s relationship with churches and denominations (40:22) Leading a transdenominational faculty through shared governance (43:26) What Regent should feel like in five years (47:15) Paul’s unwritten book project on Josephus and the fall of Jerusalem
