May Forum – Christ, Compassion and Context: following the Christ who calls us to live compassionately in our changing context

Compassion has long been something that has motivated Tom. It is something that one feels deep within one’s guts. Recognising the divine reality of our deep seated convictions provides not only motivation for responding to human need, but it also creates resilience and courage to enter situations and contexts that were never imaginable in my youth. Tom will take us on a journey of a life of faith.

Tom has been an Anglican Priest for over 30 years. He cut his teeth ministering for a decade in Kings Cross and embraced addicts, lawyers, sex-workers, traders, inmates, doctors, the homeless and HIV+ people as his congregants and his friends. There he set-up Rough Edges, a volunteer legal centre and advocated against Vanunu’s 18yr solitary sentence. He’s led small to large parishes in Darlinghurst, Bondi, Nowra, Turramurra and Rockhampton; has been an Anglicare Regional Manager and also an Anglicare Board Director in QLD and the ACT. He’s been happily married for over 35 years to Caroline, a linguist who grew up on the west coast in an iron ore town. Before moving to the ACT, Tom was the Administrator (Vicar General) of the Diocese of Central Queensland and he is currently part of the Episcopal Office leadership team overseeing Chaplaincy and Mission across the Anglican Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn.