Sydneyanglicans.net brings you news of the latest ministry moves in the Sydney Diocese.
Canon fired up for Tamworth
After 15 years as rector of St Peter's, Campbelltown, the Rev Canon Peter Stavert will leave on May 9 to take up the post of rector of St John's, Tamworth, starting officially on July 1. Canon Stavert says he has made the move as a response to God's clear calling.
As he looks back on his time at Campbelltown, he says there have been a number of highlights: the development of unity in a church with so many different nationalities and 10 congregations, the growth in numbers, an "even-ing out' of the age distribution to include more young families, and the flourishing music ministry.
The growth of St Peter's Anglican Primary School and Broughton Anglican College " which are both managed by the church "Â has also been a "very significant work".
"We'll miss the colour and vibrancy of the church community " we are a church for the nations," he says. "We will also miss having our own children because we came with seven small children and we leave with the nest empty " many of them we leave behind in the church in Campbelltown."
Mr Stavert says he and his wife Maree, who will continue her Know Your Bible ministry, are looking forward to seeing God at work in Tamworth. "Wherever we've been, we see the church grow, become more biblically literate, and we've seen Bible study groups grow, so we'll really be looking for that [in Tamworth]," he says.
North West welcomes Goscombes
Rector of St Thomas', Cranebrook, the Rev Richard Goscombe is venturing to the Diocese of North West Australia to become the rector of Wickham.
"We love the west " and you can't go any further west than this," he chuckles. Mr Goscombe says his whole family has a heart for Wickham, a town with strong mining ties and no church building. "Our aim is going to be to create a chaplaincy ministry to the whole town and from that context to be able to reach not just those with a nominal faith, but everybody," he says.
"We really believe that in sending us now rather than when our kids have left home, the Lord wants us to go on mission as a whole family, and believe that our kids especially have a lot to offer to people who don't know anything about God's saving love."
Mr Goscombe's last Sunday at Cranebrook was April 26, and the family flew to Karrutha the following day.
Heron's a happy chaplain
The Rev Andrew Heron, rector of West Ryde Anglican Church since 2005, will become Anglican Retirement Villages Castle Hill's newest chaplain this month.
Mr Heron says "seeing people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour has been an absolutely wonderful thing" at West Ryde.
However when he starts at ARV on May 25, he will begin a ministry he has been passionate about for some time.
"I think as a society we greatly undervalue elderly people and we tend to think in terms of what they need rather than what they can contribute, and one thing I'm looking forward to at ARV is working with Christians" helping them to minister to each other and to their neighbours and friends."
Copland's next stop: Newcastle.
After six years as rector of Holy Trinity Kingsford, the Rev Dr Ian Copland will move from Sydney on May 31.
His new role will be home missioner of the Presbyterian Church in Wallsend, Newcastle, starting June 1. Dr Copland is no stranger to ministry in Newcastle " he was rector at Bulahdelah and then Wingham, and both his daughters live in the area.
"The local presbytery are very keen to have more evangelical ministers to try and continue the work that they've started " they've got some good and vibrant churches there already," he says.
Dr Copland is hoping to plant a church in the new housing area of Maryland/Fletcher and may take up some chaplaincy work with the Newcastle Knights, but leaves strong ties in Sydney.
"I'm really sad to leave Sydney now because I'm really keen on Connect09 and we've got a good team of enthusiastic people," he says. "Sydney Anglicans mean so much to us as far as our spiritual life is concerned. It's where we were converted."
BREAKING NEWS
"¢Â The Rev Max Boys, rector of St Philip's, Turramurra South will retire from parish ministry on June 21.
"¢Â The Rev Colin Watts, rector of The Oaks, will become chaplain with the Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy in June. He will also be honorary assistant minister at St Martin's, Kensington.
"¢Â The Rev John Kohler has moved from St Paul's, Burwood to St John's, Camden. He will serve there part-time, running the branch churches at Mt Hunter and Werombi. Mr Kohler will then retire officially from St Paul’s on July 31.
