Well done good and faithful servant

Last night I attended the farewell and thanksgiving service for Stephen Hale. Stephen has been Bishop for over seven years in this region of Melbourne and has provided pastoral and strategic leadership, inspiration and enthusiasm in a Diocese that desperately needs it. Stephen indeed does have his detractors. No one is perfect, and Stephen would be (and in fact last night was) the first to admit this. Have I agreed with evreything he has done in the region or in his dealing with people?- certainly not. Nor should I have to and Stephen would not expect me to. Does he have my respect and appreciation? - he certainly does. As was demonstrated last night by those who spoke, Stephen has been a regional leader who faithfully served God and has been fruitful at the same time. He has encouraged and mativated local church leaders regardless of their theological or stylistic focus - if you have a commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ and a desire to see the local church thrive, Stephen has been a great encourager. He has helped release men and women, lay and ordained, into fruitful service of our Lord.

He hands over the pastoral and strategic leadership of this region at a time when the regional churches are very healthy while at the same time the Diocese faces significant challenges. He has demonstrated his commitment to the belief that real gospel ministry through the Anglican church best happens through thriving gospel focused local churches. Stephen has always seen the Diocese as a service agency best functioning as a strategic enabler of ministry at the local level. I have been the recipient of such strategic leadership and by extention, so has the local church I am part of and have the joy of leading.

Thanks Stephen for your faithful leadership and sincere friendship. You have been a Bishop for our time. Thanks Karen for your generous support of Stephen and therefore of those who lead local Anglican churches. James and Kate - thanks for the loan of your dad during these years. To you all as a family, welcome back to the fold of those who count it a joy and honour to lead a local gathering of God's people. Let the scriptures declare the call he has placed upon us. May God's Word rally the faithful for the task at hand. "We proclaim him [Christ], admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ." (Colossians 1:28)