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The Vicar, and leader, of our parish is the Revd Dr Bradly Billings. Brad was appointed to St. John’s in February 2009 and came to the parish after five years of ministry in the multi-centre parish of Gisborne. For the past three years of his time in Gisborne Brad also served the wider church as Area Dean of Essendon. He has previously served as Assistant Curate at the Anglican parishes of St. Luke’s Frankston East and St. Peter’s Mornington with St. Martin’s Mount Martha, and before that was a parishioner and Youth Leader at his home parish of St. John’s Frankston North with St. Luke’s Carrum Downs. Brad is a graduate of Tabor College Melbourne (Bachelor of Theology) and of Ridley College (Bachelor of Ministries). At Tabor he won the Bible Society Award for Academic Achievement and he was also a much honoured student at Ridley, being given internal honours for Best Second Year Student, the Preaching Award, and Pastoral Care Award, as well as being the recipient in 1999 of two national awards from the Australian College of Theology: the Barton Babbage Prize for the top graduating Bachelor of Ministries student, and the Hey Sharp Prize for the top graduating Anglican ordinand. Despite being a busy parish priest for the past ten years, during this time Brad has also maintained his interest in biblical studies in a variety of ways; he has attended conferences of the International Society of Biblical Literature in San Diego and Boston, served as an occasional marker and tutor for several institutions, and for four years has been Adjunct Lecturer in Trinity College Theological School’s Theology Online program. His primary focus has been, however, as a researcher and writer. His doctoral thesis, titled ‘Do this in Remembrance of Me: The Disputed Words in the Lukan Institution Narrative (Luke 22.19b-20)’, was awarded by the Australian College of Theology in 2004 and published the following year by T & T Clark / Continuum. Since publishing his thesis, Brad has continued to write in the area of the New Testament and early Christianity and has contributed recent articles to international publications in the Journal of Biblical Literature, Australian Biblical Review, Expository Times, and the Journal of Theological Studies. Brad brings to St. John’s these strong academic credentials that inform his preaching and teaching within the parish, as well as a proven record in enabling growth in parish settings. He is well accomplished in leading services of worship and has considerable experience in the preparation and conduct of important moments in life such as baptisms, funerals, and weddings. Brad is married to Karen who works as a medical receptionist for a local clinic. They have five children, four of whom live in the vicarage with them. Brad and Karen both enjoy nothing better than a night out in a local eatery with a good bottle of red wine, the company of friends, providing and receiving hospitality, and occasional excursions to some of Melbourne’s rich cultural attractions. Since their first overseas trip to North America just two years ago, they have greatly enjoyed being able to travel, and are keenly looking forward to a forthcoming European adventure in the northern winter of 2010. Brad is a great fan of most sports – especially English Premier League soccer and test cricket. | |||
To Contact the Rev Dr Bradly Billings | |||
