Foster takes up new senior Ridley role

The Rev Dr Tim Foster will be the first Director of Theological Education and Formation at Ridley Melbourne Mission & Ministry College.
Outside Sydney, Ridley is the major evangelical Anglican ministry training facility in the country.
Principal of Ridley, the Rev Dr Peter Adam said, “Tim will bring entrepreneurial energy to help Ridley achieve its vision of six learning communities”.
The learning communities will offer specialised training around a common core. They include traditional options like overseas mission and an Anglican institute for ordination candidates.
However they also include new options like E-Ridley, a online distance ministry training program, which it is hoped will boost training for regional and rural dioceses.
Dr Foster is most excited about a new learning community aimed at the next generation of church planters – what he calls ‘missional leadership’.
Founder of Youthworks College in Sydney, Mr Foster says he was attracted to the new position because Ridley is “serious about rethinking theological education for the emerging missional context”.
Currently rector of All Souls’, Leichhardt, Dr Foster said the church had grown into “a welcoming and hospitable congregation despite the transience’ of the inner-city”.
He led the redevelopment of the parish property: “The café space has proved to be a great ministry facility and resource for evangelism, for growing our network of contacts, and building church community.”
Mr Foster will leave Leichhardt in February and take up the position in April next year.

Hutchinson goes to the Gong
The Rev Peter Hutchinson will commence as the new rector of St Mark’s, West Wollongong on December 1. Mr Hutchinson has been an assistant minister at Dapto Anglican Church since 2005.
Mr Hutchinson says he has felt a “clear sense of God’s calling” to West Wollongong as he and his wife, Anna, have prayed and researched and met with the nominators.
“St Mark’s is a strong evangelical church known throughout the Illawarra for their love of Christ and their desire to share the good news.  We want to build partnerships and uphold the strengths already present there.  We want to empower those with a heart to extend this ministry within current programs and beyond into the wider community,” he says.

New Year 13 director
The Rev Andrew Hudson has been appointed as the new director of Youthworks’ Year 13 gap year program. He replaces Jodie McNeill and begins the new role in January 2009. Mr Hudson is currently the acting rector at St John’s, Glebe. From 1995 to 2007 he was Director of Ministry at Youthworks’ Port Hacking Centre.
Mr Hudson’s role as Director of Youthworks Year 13 Gap Year will consist of the overall leadership and development of the program and staff team.
“The Year 13 Youthworks Gap Year is all about growing disciples, which really excites me,” Mr Hudson says.

Heath heads to Asquith
The Rev Brian Heath will conclude his ministry at St Alban’s, Frenchs Forest on January 11, 2009 and commence as rector of St John’s, Asquith the following day.
Mr Heath has been the rector of St Alban’s since 1997.
“It’s been a privilege seeing the parish move to the stage of having two full-time ministers and seeing a viable children’s and youth ministry established.”
In moving to Asquith, Mr Heath is looking forward to new opportunities.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of starting afresh with a new group of people and partnering with them as we proclaim the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Relinquishment
Neil Bradley Durrant has relinquished Holy Orders at the request of the Archbishop.

Vale: Bob Lormer 1918–2008

The Rev Bob Lormer passed away on October1, aged 90. He was leading a Bible study at the Frank Vickery Retirement Village in Port Hacking in the weeks leading up to his death and even scheduled to take a Bible study on the morning he died.
Mr Lormer was ordained in 1946, serving as a curate at St Barnabas’, Broadway. There he met his wife Beryl who survives him after 59 years of marriage. He also served as rector of St Cuthbert’s, South Carlton from 1953 to 1960 and St Thomas’, Auburn from 1960 to 1974. He was then chaplain of Prince Henry Hospital from 1974 to 1983.