Ben Swift highlights how tough it is to get a minister for his church.
Alarm bells sounded literally for an evangelical Anglican church in the diocese of Southern Queensland recently. As an ambulance arrived mid-service to check the vital signs of an elderly faithful locum priest, the sirens ironically reflected the health emergency faced by several evangelical parishes in the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland (ACSQ) as they wait for a new minister. There’s still a pulse, but let’s not wait till it flatlines before diagnosing and treating the symptoms.
While the question of how we got to this point in the evangelical wing of the ACSQ deserves its own investigation, this article will focus on moving forward, and whether God is calling you or someone you know to this gospel-driven vocation.
Realistically, the potential for evangelical parishes calling a new priest from those recently ordained from St Francis College is severely limited. According to the Anglican Directory of Australia in 2025, there were nine ordinations at St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane, four deacons and five priests. Of these ordinations, only five had the potential to lead a local parish as a priest in charge and the chances of those five being suitable for a church of evangelical persuasion is slim. The number of ACSQ ordinations for 2026 is yet to be nailed down on public record. To further paint the picture of how dire the need for priests is in this diocese, consider the current and growing number of church vacancies listed in Anglican Focus. Approximately twenty-two vacancies exist for ordained parish priests with at least three seeking evangelical pastors.
Who then will answer these calls? Where will these faithful Anglican ministers come from?
It’s no secret that Brisbane Archbishop Jeremy Greeves is aware of this problem and perhaps by God’s divine providence he, along with other bishops, has opened the door of consideration for ordained priests from southern states to answer the call. While the ACSQ remains considerably liberal and progressive, it does so under the umbrella of Anglican Comprehensiveness. When it comes to the idea of Anglican Comprehensiveness it can seem a bit like the opening line to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody: can this be a reality or is it just a fantasy? Either way, the door has been opened and the invitation for evangelicals to cross state borders to serve missionally and pastorally in eagerly awaiting parishes is a reality!
The question then for evangelical priests is, what’s holding you back?
Perhaps a perceived stumbling block for making the move to southeast Queensland is the potential for isolation, fear of becoming a lone evangelical swimming against the current in a sea of liberal progressive theology? There are, however, significant numbers of supportive evangelicals to network with, including gospel minded clergy with the same missional mindset. Organisations such as The Matthew Hale Public Library and Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion provide regular support and networking opportunities for evangelical clergy throughout Southeast Queensland and beyond. Networking, praying and studying with like-minded Christians will be the key for meeting the spiritual and mental needs of this work. And let’s not forget the love and support you will receive from those within the local congregations themselves.
Consider North Pine Anglican Church (NPAC): A case in point
NPAC, located in the north Brisbane suburb of Petrie has been praying and waiting for a new parish priest for over a year. While this may not seem unusual in the grander scheme of things, it is perhaps surprising that such a vibrant evangelical community would not attract an experienced priest wanting to provide leadership and biblical direction within a church with a heart for Christ’s truth, the gospel and community, a healthy number of young people and regular faithful congregants that span multiple generations. This is not so difficult to understand, however, when you consider the lack of local clergy and perhaps the apprehensiveness of ministers from southern states to take up the challenge, answer the call and make the move. While NPAC could advertise themselves as the best of both city and country living, the gateway to some of the world’s best beaches etc., it would rather see a priest coming to answer God’s call to preach his Word faithfully, to love his people, to become part of their lives, and to help grow the evangelical presence of the ACSQ.
For further details about NPAC and to respond to the call see NPAC Parish Profile
3And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38)
Image: Petrie, Queensland. Image Credit: Realestate.com.au