About

John Harrower OAM

John Harrower, his wife and sons were missionaries in Argentina, 1979-88, during the ‘Dirty War’ 1976-1983 and the Falkland Islands War of 1982. Returning to Melbourne he pastored two churches alongside interest in youth and Islam. As Bishop of Tasmania, 2000-2015, he was a leader in the Anglican Church’s response to child sexual abuse giving an apology to survivors on his first day of office and calling for a Royal Commission eleven years prior to its establishment. Now in Melbourne, he continues in ministry as Bishop Assisting the Primate (National Leader) of the Anglican Church of Australia.

About This Blog

Bishop John writes:

The picture of the elderly gaucho drinking maté has the words Dios es fiel along the bottom of the picture. I bought it during the ‘Dirty War’, Argentina’s Civil war in which over 30,000 disappeared. It was a tough time for a university chaplain and Aussie missionary. The picture inspired me; I wanted to be like that Gaucho, able to declare to attest to the faithfulness of God in my old age. Well, now with my Gaucho, I affirm, “Dios es fiel. God is faithful.”

I have been thinking about it like this: “God is faithful in the triage.”  This speaks to how we discern life and make decisions about what we can and cannot do.  Like triage at the emergency room: some situations we seem able to deal with, with others we are unsure but we can give our best efforts, and then there are other situations for which we are not resourced and we have to let them go.  Whatever the triage we know and live in the truth that ‘God is faithful’.

Further Information

Contact details: here

Spouse: Mrs Gayelene Harrower

Ordained:

  • Deacon 1984 (Argentina)
  • Priest 1986 (Argentina)
  • Bishop 2000 (Tasmania)

Qualifications:

  • BE Melb 1970
  • BA 1973
  • CEng CEI; MIChemE 1976
  • ThL Ridley ACT 1992
  • AdvDipMisslStud, BCV 1996
  • MA (theol) ACT 1996
  • GAICD 2007
  • FAICD 2009 – 2017

Ministry career:

  • St Andrew’s Hall CMS 1977-79
  • Mission/Youth Worker (Argentina, South America) 1979-88
  • General Secretary Argentina University Bible Association 1981-87
  • Assistant Minister Church of San Salvador Belgrano Buenos Aires 1984-88
  • Chaplain CMS 1988-89
  • Priest-in-Charge St Paul’s Glen Waverley 1989-92
  • Vicar St Paul’s Glen Waverley 1992-95
  • Area Dean Waverley/Knox 1992-94
  • Archdeacon Kew 1994 – 2000
  • Vicar St Barnabas’ Glen Waverley 1995-2000
  • Bishop of Tasmania 2000-2015
  • Bishop Assisting the Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia 2015-present

Biographical Information

Born in Melbourne John Harrower graduated with honours in Chemical Engineering from Melbourne University in 1970 and worked as a petroleum engineer with Mobil Oil from 1970-72. During these years he pursued studies in economics and political science, completing a Bachelor of Arts.

This growing interest in economic policy was furthered through joining the Industries Assistance Commission, 1972-78. He became a Director leading research into the impact of technological and demographic change on Australia’s industrial structure.

A change of direction stemming from an invitation to work as a university lay chaplain took him to the Church Missionary Society training college, St Andrew’s Hall in Melbourne over 1977-79.

With Gayelene and their two sons John lived in Argentina for nine years, 1979-88, working with university students, growing a church, and publishing and distributing Christian literature. Life in Argentina during the years of the so-called, ‘Dirty War’, 1976-83, was not always easy! Nor was the Falkland Islands War, 1982, or annual inflation of 5000%! But in all of this, God’s love both through Argentine friends and colleagues and the Australian mission agency, CMS, led to a deeper understanding of community.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Argentina ordained John a deacon in 1984, and a priest in 1986. John became the Vicar of St Paul’s Glen Waverley, 1989-95, before being appointed Vicar of the new parish of St Barnabas. This latter appointment involved restructuring three parishes into one parish over 1995-2000. He was an archdeacon in the Melbourne Diocese, 1994-2000. Special interests included youth, ministry formation and relating the Gospel of Jesus Christ to different cultures. Over these years he formalised his studies in mission and in 1996 gained an MA (Theology).

On Australia Day, 2000, he was awarded a Medal of The Order of Australia ‘for service to the community through the Anglican Church and as a missionary’. On 25 July 2000 he was ordained a bishop and installed as the 11th Bishop of Tasmania. The Governor-General of Australia awarded John a Centenary Medal in December 2002 in recognition of his contribution to Australian Society.

John’s leadership style is relational – while Bishop of Tasmania he sought to build a missionary diocese engaging with society and seeking ‘a healthy church…transformingLIFE’. He is strongly committed to social well being and justice. This is evidenced by his work in a number of social issues.

Interests include relaxing with family and friends, reading, ‘pottering’ in the garden and prayer in the Christian and Muslim traditions.