Over the past weekend, it was a privilege to participate in the election of a new Anglican Archbishop in Melbourne. After a day and a half of discernment, prayer, and many speeches, the members of the Synod elected Bishop Ric Thorpe as the new Archbishop of Melbourne. Bishop Ric is currently serving the Church of England as the head of the Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication.
Whilst it was my intention to speak in favour of Bishop Ric Thorpe, the rules of Synod only allowed 20 people to speak about a candidate; there were over 700 members at Synod. My colleagues who were pushing for Bishop Ric’s election asked particular people to speak in favour of his election. They did a fantastic job of advocating for his election.
If I had the opportunity to speak, this would have been my speech in support of the election of Bishop Ric Thorpe:
In 2017, I had the opportunity to attend the Alpha Leadership Conference in London. One session that left a lasting impression on me was a talk by Bishop Ric Thorpe. He shared a compelling vision for the Church of England—a vision rooted in hope, renewal, and growth after decades of decline.
Bishop Ric, who was newly appointed as the bishop overseeing church planting across the UK, introduced the concept of a mixed ecology of churches. This idea struck a chord with me. He emphasized that no single style of church would be enough to reach the diverse population of the UK. Instead, growth would come through a variety of expressions— anglo-catholic missions, fresh expressions, kids ministries like Messy church, outdoor gatherings, café church and more. Churches like Holy Trinity Brompton were planting new communities, but so were many others, each with their own unique style and context.
This type of vision is what I believe we need here in Melbourne. Our city is incredibly diverse, and one style of churchmanship simply won’t reach everyone. We need a new season of growth—one that embraces a range of ministries and expressions, all united by the unchanging truth of the gospel but responsive to the changing culture around us.
In 2023, I returned to the Alpha Conference with a group from St. Columb’s, and we saw the early signs of growth in the Church of England. The vision Bishop Ric had for a healthy and vibrant church was starting to become a reality. This year I took another group from St Columb’s to the UK. What we saw was remarkable. The early signs of growth that I saw in 2023 have now become undeniable. According to a recent Bible Society UK study, church attendance among young people has jumped from 4% in 2018 to 16% today. For the first time in decades, there are now fewer atheists than Christians among the younger generation in the UK.
This is the kind of visionary leadership we need in the Australian church. Bishop Ric Thorpe offered a hope-filled, effective vision for renewal to the Church of England. I believe he would bring that same energy and wisdom to the Diocese of Melbourne. Bishop Ric would not come to champion one tribe or style, but to foster a mixed ecology—a church landscape as diverse and vibrant as the city we serve.
That’s why I support Bishop Ric Thorpe as the next Archbishop of Melbourne.
Mark of Faith 