Next Bishop of Bendigo elected

8 December 2017

Bishop Matt Brain from the Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn has been elected as the next bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo.

The announcement was made to all clergy and parishes on Friday morning following a process commenced in April by the Bishopric Electoral Board of the diocese.

Bishop Matt, 42, is currently an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn and has worked in in five dioceses including North-West Australia where he was ordained and gained valuable experience in rural and remote ministry.

“Being able to serve God and his people is a great privilege and I rejoice in this new opportunity to serve,” he said. “It is wonderful to be able to follow a leader like Bishop Andrew who has skillfully and faithfully borne witness to Jesus in the many communities that make up the diocese.”

In Canberra Bishop Matt is responsible for ministry training and development along with parish support chaplaincy and mission. He has also served as Acting Registrar and on numerous diocesan and school boards.

Bishop Matt has published numerous books, articles and conference papers and lectures at St Marks Theological College in ministry and outreach where he is also the deputy chair of the board. His doctoral thesis was Treasures in Jars of Clay: Towards a new Pauline Pastoral Theology of Mission to Generation Y in Australia.

Bishop Matt, along with his wife and five children, will make the move to Bendigo in the new year where he will be installed as bishop in St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday, 17 February 2018.