Garry Worete Deverell Clergy Profile

I AM LOOKING FOR A NEW PARISH!

An Anglican priest of the diocese of Melbourne, I am currently licensed as an assistant priest and canon at St Paul’s Cathedral. Prior to that, I served as the vicar of St Agnes, Black Rock.  Over the past four years or so I have also served as a theologian with the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Divinity.  A full Curriculum Vitae can be found here.

I am married to Dr Lil Deverell and we have two adult children.

I am a trawloolway man from northern lutruwita/Tasmania. I have served as the diocesan representative on the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council and am a foundation member of the Aboriginal Council of the Anglican Province of Victoria.  I've been active in promoting both treaty and truth-telling processes for Victoria and the Commonwealth.

I would identify as broadly catholic in matters of liturgy and theology. In worship I seek to take the Anglican prayerbook heritage seriously, and will stick very much to the book in settings where that is deemed essential. Having said that, in settings that welcome a little more creativity, I have a long experience of writing more vernacular-sounding prayers for the Sunday lections that are nevertheless consistent with the theology and structure of catholic worship.  I am comfortable with the use of incense, and will consistently wear alb, seasonal stole and chasuble for sacramental services.

I have a strong commitment to the doing of justice as a primary dimension of Christian discipleship. Over my 27 years of ordained ministry, I have maintained a consistent focus on the full inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people in the church as well as the decolonisation of the church so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may safely belong.  I have also been involved in advocacy with asylum-seekers, new migrants, and the mentally ill.

My preaching focuses on the meaning of the lections of the day for our contemporary social imaginary. I read Scripture as human texts inspired by the Holy Spirit in social, political and religious contexts very different from our own. Preaching therefore has to build interpretive bridges between what the texts may have meant in their own world and how they might be understood in our own.  Many examples of my preaching can be found on Uncommon Prayers.  A filmed example can be found here.

My preferred leadership style is that of an encourager and enabler of lay ministries. I believe, passionately, in the ministry of the whole baptised community. I therefore work closely with parish councils and lay ministry teams to encourage them to discover and live out their discipleship in ways that bring both joy and transformation to their communites. I have particular skills in helping congregations to minister cross-culturally.

At the heart of all parish ministry is the command to love, to imitate the love of God in Christ as we engage our communities, our society, and the non-human world. I am about helping communities to contemplate the height, depth and breadth of that love and to put what we learn from that contemplation into practice.

I have an accredited ministry supervisor from outside of the Anglican tradition, who helps to keep me honest with myself and others. When working in a parish, I expect to attend all deanery and diocesan gatherings, as well as to liaise regularly with local church leaders from other traditions.  These collegial interactions help to keep both minister and ministries fresh and vital.

To refresh and revitalise, I also spend time in prayer and contemplation on country, if I can get to it.

For those interested in my formal qualifications, I hold an arts degree and diploma in education from the University of Tasmania, an honours degree in theology and pastoral studies from the Melbourne College of Divinity (now the University of Divinity), and a doctorate in sacramental theology from Monash University. I also hold three certificates in Clinical Pastoral Education.  I have published three theological books (here, here and here) along with multiple articles and book chapters.  I have twice been interviewed for the ABC Radio National program, ‘Soul Search’ discussing the ongoing project of indigenising Christian theology (here, and here).

I would hope to continue my long-time involvement with the Australian Academy of Liturgy and the Aboriginal ministries of the church.  I also serve on the Doctrine Commission of the national Anglican Church.

I'm a cold-climate fella, so am looking primarily in Newcastle, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide. For family reasons, we also need to be close to an airport.

If you believe I may be the right priest for your vacant parish, please do pass on this profile to your bishop or nominations committee.