For only the second time in a hundred years an Australian Defence Force chaplain has been elevated to the rank of Bishop.
The Rev Dr Mark Burton, who is currently serving as chaplain at the Royal Australian Navy College in Jervis Bay near Nowra has been appointed as Bishop of the Northern Region in the Diocese of Perth.
Dr Burton says he was "genuinely surprised' to be appointed as an Assistant Bishop in Perth Diocese.
"I didn't go looking for it. It was a genuine surprise. I have a building sense of excitement tinged with a hint of trepidation," Dr Burton says.
Dr Burton, originally a Sydney boy who grew up in the southern suburb of Kogarah, trained as a Registered Nurse and joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a 23 year-old in 1980.
"In late high school I felt myself being drawn towards theological study and paid ministry but my mother wisely counselled me to get some dirt under my fingernails first," Dr Burton says.
"I shelved the idea of ministry for a few years, but in 1983 was drawn back towards the possibility. By 1985 I felt I was in a situation had to make a decision."
Dr Burton did his theological study at Ridley College, was ordained in 1990 and ministered in the Diocese of Melbourne until 1999 when he was commissioned as Chaplain to the Royal Australian Navy Reserve.
In 2001 Dr Burton transferred to Permanent Navy and was posted to HMAS Kuttabul. Then in 2003 and 2004 he was posted to HMAS Melbourne in the Persian Gulf and was involved in border protection in the Indian Ocean.
Dr Burton says this period commenced "a most interesting two and a half years'.
"The time in the Persian Gulf was incredible. I was thrown into a floating village and became part of a unique community."
"You are taken into peoples confidences. You get close to them and share their journey " both literally on the boat and their spiritual journey," Dr Burton says.
Dr Burton was also involved in tsunami relief at Banda Aceh, Sabang and Nias, Indonesia while aboard the HMAS Kanimbla.
"Being involved with the Tsunami relief in Aceh, I had extraordinary spiritual conversations with soldiers standing knee deep in mud," Dr Burton says.
Dr Burton says a defining moment of his chaplaincy was when nine colleagues of the HMAS Kanimbla crew died in the Sea King helicopter crash in April 2005.
"That was a powerful moment of struggle for the community on that ship," he says.
Dr Burton says he looks forward to taking on the role of Bishop.
"I know it sounds odd, but one down side of chaplaincy is you are always remote from the established Christian community. Wherever you go you're seeking to find one or build up a small one," he says.
"I look forward to rediscovering the Christian community and meeting with Christians gathering in large numbers who are moving ahead together for a common cause."
As Bishop of the Northern Region of Perth Diocese, Dr Burton says there will be specific challenges and opportunities.
"It's a growing area with many young families. It presents a challenge to plant churches and grow congregations," Dr Burton says,
"The Northern Region of Perth has the largest refugee Sudanese population in Australia and there are two Anglican Sudanese congregations in our diocese."
The Archbishop of Perth, the Most Rev Roger Herft, says the appointment of Dr Burton marks an "exciting phase' in the life of the Anglican Church in Western Australia.
"Mark has an excellent rapport with people. His ministry as Chaplain has put him alongside men and women serving in challenging circumstances in East Timor, in the Gulf and in the operations associated with the Tsunami. He brings a sharp theological mind and a passionate faith," Archbishop Herft says.
Mr Burton will be consecrated on Sunday 30 April at 7.00pm in St George's Cathedral, Perth.
