The rector of St Paul's Chatswood in northern Sydney, the Rev Stuart Robinson, has been elected as the new Diocesan Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn over the weekend.
Preparing for a normal day of parish work, Mr Robinson says the news has left him spinning.
"I am thrilled at the opportunity to serve God's people in that wonderful, broad, interesting, forward-moving diocese," he says.
The Reverend Stuart Robinson is presently National Mission Facilitator for the Anglican Church of Australia.
He is considered an expert on church growth, writing for Sydneyanglicans.net on mission.
And is also chairman of Church Army Australia, which has pioneered missional church planting in Sydney and across the nation.
The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, has welcomed the appointment.
"Stuart is well known to clergy through his work on Fresh Expressions and has worked hard for growth in the Australian church," Archbishop Jensen says.
"I congratulate him on his election and pray for wisdom as he takes up his responsibilities."
The Rev Stuart Robinson will become the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
Phillip Saunders, President of the Electoral Synod and Dean of St Saviour’s Cathedral, who made the announcement on Sunday says Mr Robinson brings to the position a wealth of experience in the national church as well as in parish ministry and in developing new and pioneering ministries.
Dean Saunders is looking forward to the new bishop serving the church at a local and national level.
"It is the role of the Bishop to provide leadership and vision for Anglicans within the diocese and to represent the church to the wider community," Dean Saunders says.
Huge diverse diocese
Mr Robinson is looking forward to challenge of working in a large and extremely diverse diocese.
"The lovely thing is that God has put loads of competent women and men in active ministry there and I look forward to learning from and working with them," he says.
The diocese of Canberra and Goulburn stretches from Bateman’s Bay in the east to Wagga Wagga in the west, and from Young in the north to Delegate in the south and embraces Canberra, the national capital.
It includes both rural and urban communities; some seventy ministry units, which include Anglican schools, Anglicare and St Mark’s National Theological College.
"The tough thing in all of this will be leaving St Paul's Chatswood," Mr Robinson reflects as he prepares for a funeral today and the various services and ministries for the week.
"It has been a joy filled , exciting challenging journey."
Mr Robinson will be consecrated in the diocesan Cathedral of St Saviour at a time to be determined.
