National News

Anglican Bishop of Wollongong, Alan Stewart, has been appointed to lead a push to start new churches and boost congregations in the Sydney diocese.

Archbishop Dr Peter Jensen announced the appointment yesterday as part of the church's Connect09 campaign designed to "grow" the Anglican Church.


It is the first senior position created for this type of expansion, which is about planting and starting churches from scratch.


"I have come to the conclusion that Bishop Stewart is the best one to lead this vital work as the director of the Department of Evangelism," Dr Jensen said.


Bishop Stewart will take up his new role in February next year and his replacement will be announced at the end of this year.


Bishop Stewart, 50, a former youth worker in the church, said he was delighted with the appointment.


"I'm very excited about the work," he said.


"The last two years in Wollongong has been great, particularly working with other church leaders, but my heart really beats for this new task and to be working at the front line again.


"Mainstream congregations have been declining for the past 50 years, but we are seeing a reversal of that now with young men from many capital cities wanting to come into the ministry to build or plant new churches," he said.


"I can't really explain this change ... possibly a younger generation who don't think institutionally.


"They are on about Jesus and want fresh expressions of church, and we want to tap into it."

Taken from Illawarramercury.com.au