From San Francisco Bay to the Southern Highlands

In early June the Rev Dan Bidwell became rector of the Southern Highlands parish of Robertson, after more than three years serving as the senior pastor of a church in California.

“We’d really enjoyed doing ministry in a semi-rural environment, and so coming back to Australia we were interested in seeking a position in a church outside of suburban Sydney,” he says.

“I had my first conversation with Robertson while I was in the States – an interview over Zoom... all of the nominators were involved in ministry at church but had ministry interests outside the church as well, which in itself shows a depth of ministry commitment that was very appealing.”

With many years’ experience in planting and replanting churches in Sydney, Mr Bidwell and his wife Joanna had gone to the US with their children in 2019 to “replant and revitalise” the Yountville Community Church in the Napa Valley.

This is in the San Francisco Bay area, which Mr Bidwell says has “the most dechurched and the most unchurched population in all of America... so when God calls someone to go and replant a church to an unreached people group, that was the call that we answered”.

He adds that God was gracious to the ministry amid the restrictions of COVID, as they were able to meet people online that they wouldn’t necessarily have met in person. “When the physical church reopened in August 2021... God had brought along just the right number of godly, mature and ministryminded people to help us replant the church,” he says.

What began as a group of 30 people became a core of a little over 100 adults and 30 kids, “and for close to half of those regulars it was the first time they’ve made a significant commitment to a faith journey. They were exactly the people we’d been praying for –they were unchurched and dechurched and we had the privilege of introducing them to Jesus.”

While Mr Bidwell is still new to Robertson, he is already impressed by the ministries in the parish and the mission heart of its people.

“On my first day in the office there was a combined youth event with four churches from the Southern Highlands, with about 100 kids in attendance, and over 30 of them came from the Robertson church – and that influence is no doubt in part due to our kids’ and youth minister Bek Glasson,” he says.

“Throughout the week there are lots of different kids’ programs, from preschoolers up to high school, [and] generations here have done things like take part in SU camps and teach Scripture in schools.

“God has also brought us a bunch of young families who’ve been deeply involved in ministry at church, so they’re bringing with them ministry gifts and a real desire to meet other young families with Jesus, which is amazing. God’s given the church gifted evangelists and people who are deeply involved in hospitality and education!”

The family has certainly hit the ground running, with Mrs Bidwell already working parttime at Robertson Primary School in learning support and chaplaincy and their son Jamie spending 2023 with Year 13.

“We’re really excited to be here, be part of the local community and see what God does next,” Mr Bidwell says. “We trust that God has us exactly where he wants us to be.”

The Rev Colin Mackellar retired from Greystanes-Merrylands West on July 29 after more than 23 years as rector of the western suburbs parish.

On August 14, the Rev James Galea will become the rector of Freshwater, moving up to the northern beaches from an assistant minister’s position at The Bridge Church in Kirribilli.

After almost nine years as rector of St Matthias’, Centennial Park, the Rev James Harricks has accepted the position of chaplain at Trinity Grammar School. He will begin his new role in Term 4.

Vacant Parishes

List of parishes and provisional parishes, vacant or becoming vacant, as at July 25, 2023:

• Belmore with McCallums Hill and Clemton Park

Beverly Hills with Kingsgrove

• Castle Hill

• Centennial Park

Concord and Burwood

• Eagle Vale**

• Glebe

Liverpool South**

• Lugarno

• Regents Park*

Rosemeadow*

• Shoalhaven Heads

• South Hurstville

* denotes provisional parishes or Archbishop’s appointments

** right of nomination suspended/on hold