Our New Rector

The Rev'd Canon Dr Brian Douglas, formerly School Chaplain at Newcastle Grammar School, New South Wales, was commissioned by The Right Reverend George Browning, Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, on 25 January 2008 as Rector of St Paul's Manuka, with St David's Red Hill. The Parish is delighted with his appointment.

Brian has written a Pastoral Letter to the parish, which follows.

I write with sincere appreciation for the calling and honour given to me to serve as your parish priest. I am also sensible of the responsibility that comes with Bishop George’s offer to accept this position.

I come to you with the vocation of being parish priest uppermost in mind. I wish to serve God and God’s people in the place you know and love. I wish to work to the best of my ability to bring the message of Christ to all in everything we do and say together. I want to work to the best of my ability to provide liturgical worship that honours the rich tradition of the parish and above all honours God. I have a desire to lead the pastoral care of the parish and together with other parishioners to care for one another in Christian love and service. I wish that we might all grow together in knowledge of God’s love for us in creation, in Jesus Christ redeeming us to new life and in the Holy Spirit who strengthens, sustains, guides and gifts us. I wish that we might all grow in love and service of God and one another. I desire that as we gather around God’s table to be fed by Christ that we might be a graced people who receive Christ’s very life into ourselves and then live that life out every day as the body of Christ in this part of the kingdom. I seek to offer a ministry of Word and Sacrament in the lives of those who reach out to God. This is my priestly function and I acknowledge I need the grace of God and the support of others to do this.

I know that times of change can be difficult but they can also be times of challenge and refreshment for all concerned. I want to assure you that I am ready to listen and reflect with you and respond to expressed needs. I am acutely aware of my own need to listen and learn in this new role and earnestly request your prayers and support. I assure you that I am praying for you all and asking that God will lead us on together in the great work God has for us.

One of my Year 10 students said to me the other day: “Congratulations on your promotion”. He is a lovely boy and he meant well, but I want to assure you that I do not see this move to Manuka as another step on some imaginary or real ladder of promotion. I do not see vocation in this way. Rather, vocation is a calling from God to a particular ministry received from God, confirmed by the Church through the Bishop and shared with all. This is how I view my move to Manuka.

I am aware of the significant reputation of the parish and of its strategic location in the national capital and I am deeply honoured to be called to serve here, but I see my principal function as that of parish priest, alongside and including other principal functions of my life such as human being, husband, father, teacher and child of God.

I want to acknowledge the hard work of many people over many years in the parish and I realise that the good state of the parish is principally due to the efforts of many past and present parishioners and clergy. I particularly want to acknowledge the ministry of The Rev’d Robin Lewis-Quinn during this interim period, and I wish Robin God’s richest blessing as she takes up her responsibilities in the parish of Moruya. I also want to acknowledge the ministry of The Rev’d Dr Scott Cowdell over the past six years, and I wish him well in his new role as Associate Professor at St Mark’s. I want to build on what others, both parishioners and clergy, have begun.

Ministry is shared. It is not mine or anyone else’s alone. My prayer is that we can realise the shared work of Christ’s kingdom together.

Peace, love and blessing to you all as we prepare to meet and share life and faith together.

Last modified: July 01, 2008