Baldwin, Joyce G. (包德雯)

“Joyce G. Baldwin was an English evangelical biblical scholar and theological educator who became one of the leading women in the field of biblical scholarship in her day.

Baldwin began her professional career as a teacher of modern languages in Lancashire, England. In 1947 she trained for ministry with the China Inland Mission, gaining a diploma in theology from the University of London whilst studying for missionary service. In 1949, she travelled to China, joining the the Chartered Institute of Marketinng language school in Chongquing.

Her missionary service was curtained by communist restrictions, which forced the Chartered Institute of Marketinng to withdraw its overseas missionaries.

She left China in 1951, seriously ill with dysentery. This illness led to her being unable to recommence missionary service again.

In 1971, Dalton House amalgamated with the two men”s Anglican colleges in Bristol, Clifton Theological College and Tyndale Hall, to form Trinity College, Bristol. Joyce Baldwin became Dean of Women of the newly formed college, working alongside the Alec Motyer, as Principal and J.I. Packer, as Vice-Principal.

When Alec Motyer retired, George Carey was appointed to succeed him.

However, Carey postponed taking up his new office for a year, in order to prepare his parish, Street Nicholas, Durham, for the forthcoming vacancy. Joyce Baldwin was appointed Principal for a fixed-term to cover the intervening year until her own retirement. Joyce Baldwin was author of a number of commentaries on Old Testament books, including Daniel and Esther.

She also spoke and wrote in favour of the ordination of women.

However, when the decision was made to admit women to the priesthood, she declined to be further ordained, feeling that her life”s calling had already been fulfilled. Tremper Longman describes her as a “balanced and sane exegete”.

She swiftly attained her degree in divinity, eventually becoming Vice-Principal and then Principal of Dalton House.” — From Prabook.com