Bishop Andrew Curnow has announced his intention to resign from the office of the Bishop of Bendigo on 30 November 2017.
He issued the below statement to clergy and parishes across the diocese:
Yesterday I formally tendered my resignation to the Metropolitan of Victoria, the Archbishop of Melbourne and the Registrar of the Diocese of Bendigo to take effect on Thursday, 30 November 2017.
On that day I will formally lay up my staff and cease to be the Bishop of Bendigo. It will be in my 15th year as Bishop of Bendigo and 24th year as a Bishop. It has been a remarkable experience.
Under the Bendigo Bishopric Election Act the Vicar General is required to call the Bishopric Election Board within 30 days of my giving notice on 3 April 2017. This means that the Electoral Board in place will be the Board that elects the new Bishop. At Synod however, we will still be required to elect a new Bishopric Election Board as part of the three year cycle of Synod elections.
Under the Bishopric Act I’m required to retire by my 68th birthday which is in February 2018. With leave that is owed I have decided to retire before the end of the year.
Please pray for the Bishopric Election Board as it begins its work and for the election and appointment of a new Bishop for the Diocese.