Clergy moves May

Joseph Smith | 28 April 2008

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McPherson moves north
The Rev Canon Dr James McPherson concluded his role as rector of St Mark’s, Granville on April 1. He commenced his role as the rector of St Paul’s, Maryborough on April 11. Dr McPherson was rector of Granville since 2001. “I felt I had brought St Mark’s to the point where it could wrestle with the issues of providing more effective ministry to its local community. Nevertheless, it is always a wrench to be uprooted from a local community where one is much loved, and transplanted to a new community with new people to build new relationships there,” he says. “Worship at St Paul’s is APBA, with contemporary as well as traditional music. The people are open and welcoming and are looking forward to the sort of pastoral and teaching ministry I can provide. I hope to be able to build them up in numbers also, as well as help increase their impact on the local community.” Prior to his time at Granville Dr McPherson was assistant minister at St James’, King Street from 1999 to 2001. He was ordained in the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn in 1978.

Fagan chooses chaplaincy
The Rev Steve Fagan concluded his ministry at Kiama Anglican Church on April 27 after being the rector there since 1993. He became the new Anglicare chaplain to the hospitals of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven area from April 28. “I will miss the Kiama church family, having shared our lives together and facing all kind of different faith issues together for 15 years,” he says. “In chaplaincy I am looking forward to having more time with individuals and seeking to have more people come to faith in God in their difficulties.” Mr Fagan has previously been an assistant minister at the parishes of Sans Souci, Ingleburn and Campbelltown.

GenR8 CEO announced
The Rev Peter Robinson concluded his ministry as the rector of St Stephen’s, Bomaderry last month having been the rector since 1992. Mr Robinson began in his new appointment as the CEO of GenR8 Ministries on April 27. Genr8 is a NSW High School Ministry Association that has been given responsibility and oversight of schools ministry boards and chaplains, providing employment services, training, resourcing and equipping for all schools ministry workers in NSW.

Bye bye Brooks
The Rev Tom Henderson-Brooks has finished as the curate in charge of the parish of Bondi. He became the senior minister in 2005 when St Andrew’s, Bondi Beach - where he was curate in charge since 1999 – was merged with St Matthew’s, Bondi. Mr Henderson-Brooks still has the Archbishop’s authority to officiate.

Belrose gets Manly man
The Rev Michael Aitken will become the new rector of St Stephen’s, Belrose on June 2. Mr Aitken was previously an assistant minister at St Matthew’s, Manly since 1999 and prior to that an assistant minister at Camden.

VALE

THE Rev Canon Jeffrey Roper passed away on February 22. Mr Roper was born in Sydney in 1930, and after training at Moore College, was ordained in 1956. Following a curacy at St Anne’s, Ryde, moved to Queensland where he served as Qld Secretary for CMS (1957-66). Then parishes in Kensington (Adelaide) from 1966 to 1970, back to Queensland in Dalby from 1970 to 1975, Kenmore from 1975 to 1991 and North Point from 1992 to 1995. In 1999 he was Chaplain to St George’s College, Jerusalem. In 2000 he moved to Gerringong and undertook a long-term position as locum in the parish of Port Kembla. He retired with his wife, Diana, to Hervey Bay in 2004. Jeff’s funeral was conducted in Hervey Bay by the Primate, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall.

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