Brisbane New Church (QLD)

Welcome

Our Minister

Rev. Ian Arnold and wife Margaret

Ian Arnold is the longest serving minister of the New Church in Australia. Born in Melbourne, here in Australia, he trained in Britain and was ordained in 1965. In the same year he married Margaret, by then a qualified teacher. They have 4 grown up sons, 2 of whom live in Brisbane with their wives.

Ian first's pastorate was in Yorkshire, serving churches in Huddersfield and Barnsley. With Margaret and 2 very young sons he served the New Church in Mauritius for a year, 1968/69.Returning to Australia at the end of that year the family settled in Adelaide for a 5 and 1/2 year pastorate. From 1975 to 1990 he served the Sydney Society of the New Church, as its pastor. From 1990 to 1996 Ian was Principal of The New Church College, Manchester, in England. Back in Australia in early 1997 he and Margaret moved to Adelaide again and after a 6 year pastorate there moved to Brisbane at the beginning of 2003.

Throughout his ministry Ian has maintained close links with the New Church in South Africa. He worked for 6 months on what was then a Church Mission amongst Africans in 1961. His 7th visit there, in 1997, was to teach courses at a theological College in Soweto.

Ian talks of his great loves - apart from Margaret and his family - as being people and pastoral work, teaching, and the New Church in Africa.He knows Brisbane well, having regularly visited our church over a number of years when we were without a minister in the late 1970's and early 1980's. He and Margaret are delighted to be in Brisbane working with members and friends for the growth of the Lord's New Church.

Some recent addresses by Ian:

• Letting go and not turning back
• Faith that is really Faith
• Recapturing Ideals
• Responding to what intimidates us
• Peter sinks as he tries to walk on water