New Dean for Melbourne

[Tim Johnson]

The new Dean for St Paul's Cathedral has been announced - the Rt Reverend Dr Mark Burton.

Here are the facts that I have been able to glean:

He is a graduate of Ridley College and served as a Tutor there for 4 years in the late 80s / early 90s. He has served in Parishes in Melbourne, as an examining chaplain, and as director of theological education for Melbourne Diocese. Most recently he has worked as a Navy chaplain and then an assistant Bishop in Perth Diocese.

What else do people know about our new Dean? What are your thoughts on this appointment?

[jwhkuan]

I think this is a great appointment for Melbourne! We should move a motion of thanks to Barbara Darling and her search committee!

Mark was a tutor at Ridley in the Graham Cole era, and I had a bit too do with him when I was enquiring about ordination in the late 90s. I guess some would regard him as a small 'e' evangelical, but I suspect that's a bit undeserving. I'm thankful for the shift from the last appointment! And I'm looking forward to what he will bring in terms of mission and social engagement with the Gospel.

[Luke Isham]

A google search revealed the following information:

1956 Born in Sydney
1970s-1980's (?) Worked as a nurse at the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Sydney.
1988 Bachelor of Theology (first class honours) at Ridley
1989-1993 Tutor in Theology at Ridley
1990 Ordained in the Diocese of Melbourne
1990 Curate of Werribee
1991-1997 P-in-C at Glen Irris
1996- (?) Examining Chaplin in Melbourne
1997 Appointed Archbishop's chaplin and Director of Ordinands in Melbourne
1999 Finished Thd Thesis (Aus College of Theo) ' Christian Perspective of the Jewish Holocaust'
1999 Appointed Navy Chaplin
2000 Again appointed Archbishop's chaplin and Director of Ordinands in Melbourne
2000-2005 Full time Navy Chaplin
2001 Doctor of Philosophy (Aus College of Theo)
2005 Navy Chaplin aboard the HMAS Kanimbla during infamous 'Sea-King Helicopter' accident after which he conducted the memorial service.
2006 Jan. Chaplin at Jarvis Royla Navy Training College in NSW
2006  April Consecrated Assistant Bishop in Perth

Comments:
The Jewish thing is interesting, a copy of the thesis is probably at Ridley Library, worth a look to get an idea of his theology.   Obviously a strong Melbourne connection, with military service, assistant bishop work and varied ministry background he'll put on a good service but whether or not he has plans to use the Cathedral as gateway for evangelising the heart of Melbourne remains to be seen.

[Jenny George]

Thanks for all the info Luke. His thesis would be interesting to read - a Christian response to the Holocaust is a fascinating topic to write on.

So he has two doctorates: a ThD and a PhD... clearly he's a keen scholar.

This sounds like a promising appointment.
Jenny

[Phil Weickhardt (Phool)]

Perth's loss is Melbourne's gain.

Bp Mark brought a lot of gifts to Perth. He enjoys writing and ideas but they are grounded and in contrast to other theological pontifications I read. He acknowledges Christ.

The training for ordinands in Perth has shifted from Murdoch Uni only, to include training at Trinity College Leederville, Notre Dame University Fremantle, and St Marks College Canberra. Roger Herft and Mark Burton have overseen this. Trinity College is an unashamedly reformed training college.

From what I can tell: he knows how to be Anglican (ceremonial) and biblical.
 

[Matt Williams]

According to Barney in the Age, he regards himself as a small 'e' evangelical who blossomed under small 'c' catholics. So it's probably okay to use the descriptions he uses of himself!

I reckon he sounds great. Friends of mine in Perth whose opinion I value think very highly of him. His long academic, theological and pastoral reflection on questions of theodicy and suffering will place him well to make thoughtful contributions to public discourse during crises.

Praise God for the wise efforts of the selection committee, and that a person of his mix of qualities could be found. I look forward to seeing how his ministry unfolds, and hope it includes lots of outreach!

[Brian Porter]

The ACT does not offer a PhD, only a ThD.  There seems to be a mistake in the Australian Anglican Directory 2008 which lists Bishop Mark as: ThD ACT 1999; PhD(Theol) ACT 2001.
It is likely that Mark's ThD is the only doctorate he holds. But this might be clarified by Mark himself or someone else...

[Matt Williams]

Yes I suspect you're right Brian (and welcome to the forum). Aside from the lack of an ACT PhD, it would require him to complete a second PhD within 2 years of the first; and while being a full time Navy Chaplain. That would qualify him to be superman, an appointment he may prefer to being Dean. Then again, he obviously doesn't prefer bishop, so who knows...

In any case, I've only found one thesis by him in the Ridley library, the one on a Christian response to the holocaust. I browsed through it this afternoon and was impressed by his clear writing, dialectical probing, and willingness to sketch out possibilities for holding things together while retreating from claiming to know things that remain among the mysteries of God's purposes. In so far as I know their writings, he seems very fair to the theologians he describes.

Having said that, he included an openness to some theological sketches I thought a bit doubtful as expositions of Paul (e.g. Christ as Torah as a possible resolution of how Jews might be saved while rejecting Christ). He was more indulgent of Moltmann's picture of a suffering Trinity than I am - I would have liked to see more elucidation of his panentheist leanings and the inherent risks to Chalcedonian Christology (in my humble opinion!) But it was a stimulating read nonetheless, displaying clear expression, a thoughtful and creative theologian, and a pastoral heart that eschews easy answers while undoubtedly seeking its orientation from the scriptures.

I have a feeling I will like him a great deal.

Blessings
Matt

[Alex Milner]

So... will he teach the Bible faithfully, clearly and with integrity (ie he actually believes the Gospel deeply) and does he live a life worthy of the Gospel? Will he uphold and promote the faith or will he accommodate false teaching and institutional idolatory?

I am glad he's got a Thd, in an interesting topic too; I am glad friends of friends think highly of his thoughtfulness, wonderful - but is it too much to wish for a 'simple' preacher who loves Christ deeply, forsakes all else, and wants Christ's name preached and honoured even in Gothic dungeons like the cathedral?

[Brian Porter]

There is no doubt that Bishop MarK Burton's ThD thesis is a first class piece of scholarship, so it will be good to have him back among us as a thoughtful Biblical expositor and homilist.   The Cathedral pulpit is an important one, the more so now that the relationship of the cathedral and the city is so well opened up architecturally.
 Some of us remember as Dean 1953 - 62, Dr Stuart Barton Babbage who was also, astonishingly, Principal of Ridley College at the same time. As a schoolboy my first experience of superb pulpit oratory used to good effect was at the feet of Dr Babbage and "Deano's Crypt" was a pioneering venture in lively youth ministry. Stuart is still with us at the age of 92.  I enjoyed a conversation with him a fortnight ago at a lecture in Sydney when we reminsced about those far off days of pivotal city ministry.
Reading the Archbishop of Perth's Synod Charge on the AnglicansOnline website indicates that the decision to return to Melbourne after only two years in Perth has been a painful one both for Archbishop Roger Herft and for Bishop Mark. Melbourne's gain is plainly Perth's loss, keenly felt.

[Matt Williams]

Thanks Alex, those are important questions. Everyone I have spoken to who knows him suggests the answer to them is 'yes' - he does indeed uphold the faith against false teaching and wrestles with the bible, and seeks to live a holy life according to the scriptures. Apparently he just addressed the Perth Synod with a bible exposition in which he explained the dangers of gnosticism ancient and contemporary.

I don't agree we need a 'simple' preacher. We do need one who can communicate profound concepts simply and accessibly and relate them to people's lives effectively in ways they can understand. +Mark's PhD and reputation suggests he is well able to do that - it is a remarkably flowing and easy read (especially as doctoral theses go!) If that's how he writes for the academy, one can only imagine he is effective in the pulpit.

Blessings
Matt