AFTER more than 60 years based in the Nation’s Capital, the Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn is returning to live and work in the city where the Diocese was first established 150 years ago.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Right Reverend Stuart Robinson revealed the move to the Goulburn Post this week.
“I am restructuring my working week to make the most of the 150th celebrations in Goulburn,” Bishop Stuart said.
“This means Goulburn will become one of my key areas of ministry.
“This restructure is made easier because we have regional assistant bishops based in Canberra, Wagga Wagga and the South Coast.
“New technology also makes it possible for me to operate remotely from the Diocese’s registry offices in Canberra – where I will also have a workspace, staff and meeting facilities.”
Bishop Stuart and his wife Jane are in the process of buying a house in Goulburn.
“We may be living in Goulburn for up to four days each week.
The rest of the time will comprise travel across the diocese or living in the Canberra residence,” he said.
The old Bishop’s office next door to St Saviour’s Cathedral is being renovated to accommodate the Bishop and his colleagues.
The work is expected to be ready by Easter.
The move has been warmly welcomed by the Very Reverend Phillip Saunders, Dean of the Cathedral and close friend of Bishop Stuart.
“I very much enjoy being a part of the Cathedral ‘family’,” Bishop Stuart said.
“Across the Anglican world, it is an unusual thing for a Bishop not to be involved almost daily with the life and ministry of the Cathedral.”
The fact that members of the bishop’s family already live in Goulburn was an influencing factor in the decision, but Bishop Stuart said the key reason for the move is the strategic importance of the city for ministry in a growing part of regional NSW.
The move also coincides beautifully with the 150th anniversary of the Canberra and Goulburn Diocese, and Goulburn’s birthday, which culminate this month.
The last bishop to live in Goulburn was social activist Ernest Henry Burgmann who served for 26 years until his retirement in 1960.
His move to Canberra came about the time when the diocese and title changed to Canberra and Goulburn in 1950.
“Goulburn is a beautiful city and the wider Southern Tablelands region has some of the fastest growing local government areas in NSW,” Bishop Stuart said.
“This city is big enough to have influence across the State and small enough to get to know people and community leaders.
“We’ve started some ‘small group’ ministries and are planning to expand outreach to the business and professional community too.
“In August last year Jane and I – with three others – started a more contemporary flavoured ‘Fellowship at 5’ ministry at St Saviour’s.
There are now around 50 people attending each week.”
The Right Rev’d Stuart Robinson was installed as Diocesan Bishop at St Saviour’s Cathedral, Goulburn on Saturday, January 31 2009.
Priested in 1987 he spent nearly a decade ministering in Sydney’s West before serving in the Diocese of Europe (Belgium) from 1998 to 2001.
He is a passionate missioner and church planter, establishing a number of churches in Sydney. He was Acting CEO of Evangelism Ministries from 2001 to 2004 and National Mission Facilitator for the Anglican Church of Australia from 2005 to 2009.
Bishop Stuart has written two books, “Mission Action Planning” (2004) and “Starting Mission-Shaped Churches: Australia” (2007).
He is married to Jane, a Special Education consultant and they have four adult children.