Anglican Youthworks' Training Director, Tony Willis will be the new Assistant to Bishop Alan Stewart of Wollongong, Archbishop Peter Jensen announced at last night’s Standing Committee meeting.
"I am delighted that Tony has accepted my invitation, on the recommendation of Bishop Alan Stewart," says Archbishop Jensen.
"His wide experience in administration, coupled with his theological knowledge and personal qualities make him admirably fitted for this important role."
Mr Willis will take over the role previously held by Geoff Kyngdon on Monday February 4 next year, leaving Anglican Youthworks on Friday February 1.
"It has been a great joy to work at Youthworks over the last five-and-a-half years, so leaving Youthworks has been a hard decision to make," he says.
"But in looking at the ministry ahead, it's also an exciting decision, so there's a mixed feeling of sadness and excitement."
Mr Willis trained and worked as a Science teacher before graduating from Moore College with a Bachelor of Theology.
His career in the Sydney Diocese includes nine years as administrator at St Matthias', Centennial Park, as well as an involvement in recruiting Christians into teaching as a career.
“My background has given me a broad ministry experience from the perspective of somebody sitting as a lay member in a church, but also as somebody who is part of a ministry team in churches, so it's given me a perspective from both sides," he says.
"My desire is to support parishes in doing their ministry and to help them to grow and develop their ministries and to be a support to clergy and their staff, working alongside Al in enabling that to happen."
Mr Willis and his wife Judy will move to the Wollongong region - which includes the Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Highlands, Macarthur and Sutherland Shire - in the new year.
"It's clear that Geoff Kyngdon and his wife Marylin have done a brilliant job down there so building on the great work Geoff has done is something I want to do," he says.
Keeping the team alive
The move will see Mr Willis and Bishop Alan Stewart joining forces once again, having worked together for 17 years in the past in ministry roles at Tregear and Centennial Park, before Anglican Youthworks, when Bishop Stewart was CEO.
"Tony Willis is a man of great godliness and practical wisdom with a wide knowledge of churches and people throughout the Diocese of Sydney," says Bishop Stewart.
"Tony and I have worked closely together for the best part of 17 of the last 19 years.
"I look forward to bringing this teamwork to the Wollongong region."
Mr Willis indicates that this teamwork will help him to hit the ground running when he takes up his new post.
"We know each other very well and we know each other's thinking. We complement each other well in our gifts and strengths and that complementarity enables us to drive forward together.”
