Rick Lewers | |
---|---|
Bishop of Armidale | |
Church | Anglican Church of Australia |
Diocese | Armidale |
In office | 29 May 2012[1]–30 January 2021[2] |
Predecessor | Peter Brain |
Successor | Rod Chiswell |
Orders | |
Consecration | 25 May 2012[3] by Peter Jensen[3] |
Personal details | |
Born | 1957 or 1958 (age 65–66)[4] |
Nationality | Australian |
Denomination | Anglican |
Spouse | Janene[5] |
Children | 3[5] |
Alma mater | Sydney Missionary and Bible College Moore Theological College[5] |
Richard Alexander Lewers (known as Rick Lewers; born 1957 or 1958) is an Australian bishop in the Anglican Church of Australia, who served as the Bishop of Armidale from 29 May 2012[5] to 30 January 2021.[2]
Lewers grew up in the Sutherland Shire and originally worked in banking. He studied for ministry at Sydney Missionary and Bible College and Moore Theological College.[5] After his ordination, he served a curacy in the late 1980s at Liverpool, and then moved to the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn for 11 years, eventually serving as Rector of St Matthew's, Wanniassa.[4] While in Canberra, Lewers served as sports chaplain to the Canberra Cosmos FC and the ACT Brumbies.[1]
Lewers then returned to the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, working for the Diocese's Department of Evangelism and then serving as the rector of Engadine Anglican Church, a position which he held until his election as bishop.[4]
In November 2011, Lewers was appointed as the new Bishop of Armidale, succeeding Peter Brain who had served for the previous 11 years and who had retired in April that year.[1] He consecrated bishop in St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney on 25 May 2012 by Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen,[3] and installed as Bishop of Armidale in St Peter's Cathedral, Armidale on 29 May 2012.[1]
As Bishop, Lewers wrote a column in the local news, the Armidale Express, called "Faith Matters".[6]
Lewers announced his intention to resign as Bishop on 21 July 2020 to take up a Rector's position at Shoalhaven Heads, New South Wales, with the resignation to take effect from 30 January 2021.[2]
Lewers is married to Janene, and has 3 adult children.[5]