Australia's newest Archbishop, understands the missionary mindset that is needed to win a city like Melbourne for Christ.

Bishop Philip Freier, who has led Anglican ministry on the Northern Territory missionfield since 1999, was elected Archbishop of Melbourne last night.

Bishop Freier’s election has been warmly welcomed by Australian evangelicals including the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen.

"I welcome the news of the election of Bishop Philip Freier to be the next Archbishop of Melbourne,” Dr Jensen says.

“I assure Bishop Philip and his wife Joy of my continuing prayers, and also those of the people of the Diocese of Sydney, as they move into this new and challenging area of mission and ministry.

“It is a vast change from their present role in the Diocese of the Northern Territory, but they are well equipped for this new leadership to which they are called.

"We pray also for the clergy and people of Melbourne Diocese as they welcome their Archbishop, who is a missionary Bishop, and as they move with him into a new era of service and witness to the Lord Jesus Christ in their community.”

Considered a doctrinally orthodox Anglo-Catholic, many evangelicals believe he has a ‘heart for mission’ and will actively support their ministries.

The Rev Stuart Robinson, the Anglican Church’s National Mission facilitator, also welcomed Bishop Freier’s election saying he has found him ‘personable and gracious’ and actively supportive.

“He has worked in some very tough places and has an understanding of grass-roots ministry,” Mr Robinson says.

“He is a great guy for us because of his understanding of Aboriginal ministry.”

Bishop Freier has vast cross-cultural ministry experience, particularly amongst Aboriginal communities.

This has been particularly evident in the encouragement of Aboriginal leadership in ministry, and his active involvement with Nungalinya College, Australia's leading Indigenous Bible College.

Prior to ordination, Philip trained as a teacher and was employed as teacher at Thursday Island, Kowanyama, and Yarrabah and then as an advisory teacher in Aboriginal education with the Queensland Education Department.

Vote for unity
Dr Jensen described Melbourne's election of Bishop as a vote in favour of unity for the national Anglican Church.

"In electing Bishop Freier as their Archbishop, the Synod of Melbourne Diocese has made a significant contribution to the unity of the Anglican Church of Australia,” Dr Jensen says.

“Philip Freier is a person with extensive ministry experience in a wide range of areas, and, importantly he is someone who is admired and welcomed by all sections of our Australian Church,.”

Bishop Freier has taken a leading role in theological education in Australia as Chair of the Board of Delegates of the Australian College of Theology since 2002.

He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has a good grasp of the financial and governance issues of a diocese.