wfn.org | ACNS - Diocese of North Queensland elects new Bishop

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 2880 - AUSTRALIA - 15 February 2002

Diocese of North Queensland elects new Bishop

[Anglican Media Sydney] A Queensland bishop with extensive experience in the
Anglican Church of Australia and who is a specialist in education,
theological education and ministry formation was elected bishop of the
extensive Diocese of North Queensland at a special diocesan synod held on
9th February. The diocese itself presents many challenges, not only because
of its size, but because it also includes the islands north of Australia in
the Torres Strait as well as aboriginal communities on the mainland.

Bishop Noble will succeed the present diocesan Bishop Clyde Wood when he
retires on 31st March. He will have two assistant bishops. They are Bishop
James Leftwich the new National Aboriginal Bishop who is based in
Townsville, and the Rev Saibo Mabo who was recently elected by Torres Strait
Islanders to be their bishop.

John Noble was consecrated bishop on 29th June 1993. He was Northern
Regional Bishop in the Diocese of Brisbane for six years and then was
appointed Director of Ministries Development and Theological Education in
1999 following a review of Brisbane's St Francis' Theological College and
theological education in Brisbane diocese.

After his ordination in 1968 John Noble served as an Assistant Curate in two
parishes before he returned to full time university studies in Arts and
Education. He then worked in secondary education with the Queensland
Education Department while maintaining non-stipendiary parish ministry,
which included a time as Honorary Assistant at St Ambrose North Mackay in
the Diocese of North Queensland.

He then served as school chaplain at two prestigious Anglican schools, first
St Peter's College, Adelaide followed by the chaplaincy ministry at St
Paul's School Bald Hills. Returning to parish ministry he was Rector of
Dalby on the Darling Downs of Queensland and then Sunnybank, a lively
Brisbane parish.

In 1989 he joined the staff of St Francis College where he was Lecturer in
Mission and Mission Studies.

Bishop Noble has held a number of responsibilities in the Anglican Church of
Australia. At the last General Synod in July 2001 he was elected a member of
the Standing Committee of General Synod and previously he had been Chairman
of the General Synod Youth Commission and more recently the General Synod
Ministry Commission. He is the National Episcopal Advisor to the Anglican
Cursillo Movement of which he is an enthusiastic supporter. In the diocese
of Brisbane he has oversight of youth ministry, and is Chairman of the
Evangelism Committee and the Catechumenal Process.

Bishop John has been married to Lorene for 32 years. Mrs Noble is a teacher
and has been on the staff of the Redeemer Lutheran College, Rochedale for 16
years. She is the widely respected head of the Remedial and Resource
Department in both Senior and Primary Departments of the School and has led
a busy professional life. In her professional career she has taught in a
wide range of situations at every level of education from Primary to
University, Private and Government, Anglican, Roman Catholic and Lutheran..
However she anticipates leaving teaching and is looking forward to being
involved with Bishop John in his ministry and visits to the various regions
of North Queensland.

"We are both looking forward to this new sphere of ministry with great
anticipation," Bishop Noble said.

"I have a strong and positive sense of God's calling to the Diocese of North
Queensland. It is a diocese that is situated in a part of Australia that
brings the challenges of both diversity and diversity. Yet the challenge is
exciting and exhilarating as we look forward to this ministry in the name of
Jesus Christ," he said.

Bishop Noble said that he is aware of the relationships that have existed
between the diocese of North Queensland and dioceses in other Provinces who
confront the challenge of ministry over extensive and isolated regions, such
as, for example Alaska. He looks forward to continuing and developing this
networking.

Bishop John anticipates commencing his diocesan ministry possibly in early
June though the time is not yet definitely set.

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