A Sydney Anglican has been appointed the new General Secretary of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia.

St Aidan’s, Hurstville Grove member Martin Drevikovsky replaces the Rev Canon Bruce McAteer, who has resigned from the post to take up the position of rector of St Luke's, Mosman.

Mr Drevikovsky practised as a solicitor for 33 years, specialising in commercial dispute resolution, before retiring last year.

Mr Drevikovsky, 57, had planned to engage in consulting work while being open to work with church or not-for-profit organisations.

"After a couple of people suggested independently of one another that I apply for the position of General Secretary and taking soundings from a number of others, I came to the belief that the role would provide an opportunity for productive service. The challenges of the role and the interactions it entails are appealing," he says.

As the General Secretary of General Synod, Mr Drevikovsky will manage the General Synod office, which services the needs of the General Synod and its various derivative and associated bodies.

The position involves liaison with the Anglican Consultative Council, other Christian denominations, other faiths and some government and social services bodies.

"Broadly, I see the role as enabling the machinery of the Anglican Church to function smoothly to promote constructive relations within the Church and engagement with our society at a national level," he says.

"Also, I’m told you need a sense of humour for the job. I think mine is sufficiently quirky."

As General Secretary, Mr Drevikovsky acknowledges that the role will bring several challenges.

"History shows us that maintaining productive cohesion in the Anglican Church at a national level has had its difficulties," he says.

"I am for identifying what Anglicans in Australia have in common to maintain impetus for the Church’s mission and, in the process, promoting constructive approaches to dealing with differences so that they do not distract us unnecessarily. God invented prayer to enable us to meet such challenges."

McAteer at Mosman

The Rev Canon Bruce McAteer brings a wealth of experience to his role as rector of St Luke's, as he commences work there today.

He has been a member of the Provincial Synod of New South Wales, being clerical secretary 1989 to 2004 and has served on the Standing Committee of Provincial Synod.

Mr McAteer has been a diocesan representative to the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia from 1990 to 2004 and most recently, he has been the General Secretary of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia since 2004.

However, he says God has led him to return to the role of parish leadership.

"I now feel a strong call from God to return to parish-based ministry. I feel that although I believe I have made a significant contribution to the life of the Church through my ministry of administration, it is time for me utilise the gifts I have been given to walk with a vibrant community of faith such as St Luke's," Mr McAteer says.

Mr McAteer is keen to promote every-member ministry in his new parish.

"In my time as a parish priest I have proactively enabled the laity and assistant clergy to utilise their gifts and abilities in ministry. I am committed to a shared ministry and value greatly the contributions of others and in particular the members of the laity," Mr McAteer says.

Mr McAteer wants St Luke's to embrace key mission strategies to ensure they continue to connect with the community.

"I am excited by the philosophy of Mission Shaped Church and Fresh Expressions as a means of exploring creative means by which parish communities can connect with the wider community," he says.

"I am convinced that if ministry is not happening at the parish level, then it is probably not happening."