Archbishop Freier announces new Episcopal appointments
Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Philip Freier, has announced that two Melbourne assistant bishops, Bishop Stephen Hale and Bishop Barbara Darling, are soon to take up new appointments within the Diocese.
Bishop Hale, who has been the Bishop of the Eastern Region of the Diocese since 2001, with oversight over 70 parishes in Melbourne’s East, has been appointed as the Vicar of the combined parish of St Hilary’s Anglican Church, Kew and St Silas Anglican Church, Balwyn, also known as the SHAC Community.
Bishop Darling, who became Victoria’s first woman bishop in May last year, will move from her current role of Director of Diocesan Ministries to Bishop of the Eastern Region.
In announcing the appointments, Dr Freier thanked Bishop Hale for his “vigorous leadership of the region over a period of eight years. Bishop Hale has a great passion for growing Christian communities and will give dynamic leadership to Melbourne’s largest Anglican parish,” he said.
“Melbourne has been well served by Bishop Stephen’s ministry as Regional Bishop since 2001, he has made a national contribution to the renewal of the Church through Fresh Expressions Australia and has been an untiring force for the church to be better connected with youth, young adults and people from a non-English speaking background”, Dr Freier said.
Bishop Hale will conclude his Eastern Region duties following the Diocesan Ministry Conference in the first week of June and will start at SHAC in the week beginning 20 July 2009. In addition to his role at SHAC, he will continue as the Chairman of ACCESS Ministries, an inter-church body which provides Christian education and chaplaincy in State Schools across Victoria, and he will also continue as the Chairman of Arrow International, a Christian leadership organisation.
Dr Freier said that Bishop Darling would build on Bishop Hale’s strong leadership of the Eastern Region. “Her outstanding pastoral, preaching and organisational gifts will be a great blessing to all,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation for the “dedicated, patient and diligent” approach she had shown in her role as Director of Diocesan Ministries, the position she has filled since her consecration last year.
Bishop Darling will take up her new position in June. She became the second woman to be made a bishop in Australia in an historic service in St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne on 31 May 2008.