AFTER the recent election of the Assistant Bishop of Perth, the
Rt Revd Kay Goldsworthy, as Bishop of the diocese of Gippsland (News, 19
December), another woman bishop is also to move into the
state.
The Rector and Assistant Bishop in the diocese of Canberra &
Goulburn in New South Wales, the Rt Revd Genieve Blackwell, has
been appointed an Assistant Bishop in the diocese of Melbourne. She
is expected to move to the diocese in the second quarter of
2015.
Bishop Blackwell has been described by the Archbishop of
Melbourne, Dr Philip Freier, as a "minister who has worked well in
quite tough places where the work of the Church isn't always
successful".
A graduate of Moore Theological College, Sydney, Bishop
Blackwell was ordained deacon in Sydney diocese in 1993, before
being ordained priest in the diocese of Bathurst in 1998. She was
consecrated a bishop in Canberra & Goulburn in 2012.
New Aboriginal bishop. The diocese of Adelaide has
appointed the first Aboriginal bishop for the state of South
Australia.
The Revd Chris McLeod, a Gurindji man who is currently a rector
in Adelaide, has been involved in ministry with Aboriginal people
for more than 20 years - the time he has been in Anglican orders.
He will be consecrated as an Assistant Bishop in the diocese of
Adelaide later this year.
Mr McLeod, who is a member of the National Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Anglican Council, said that for many Aboriginal
people spirituality was integral to their well-being. "I hope to
encourage those who are Christian to live out their faith in close
connection to their culture," he said.
"For those who are not Christian, I hope to be able to encourage
them to see that the good news of Jesus is compatible with a
celebration of Aboriginal identity."