Stephen was born in Calcutta , India and migrated to Australia in 1951, where his family eventually settled in Sydney . At Macquarie University he trained as a high school teacher, specialising in Ancient History. Stephen and Sharen, were married in 1973 and lived in Tamworth for ten years and where their two children were born. In 1983 Stephen began studies at Moore Theological College and after completing his training for ministry he was assistant minister at All Saints' Figtree (4 years) and Rector of St Phillip's Caringbah (15 years). In May 2006, Stephen was inducted as Rector of St Jude's.

Stephen writes: “Full-time ministry can be exhausting, but I am never sorry that I followed God's leading to serve His church. I still wonder at the grace that God has shown to me and the way He led me to himself through the local fellowship of His people. The local church is the most important group in the community because God has entrusted His eternal gospel to us and called us to grow in love for one another and for the world. It is exciting to be part of God's church. Would you like to join us?”

Jon is married to Fiona, a primary school teacher. They have a daughter and a son. Jon grew up in the northern suburbs of Sydney. He became a Christian in Year 12, when he discovered that Christianity wasn't knowing facts about Jesus but having faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Jon studied ancient history and law, completing a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at Sydney University, where he also became involved in ministry. After two short term missions to Austria and South Africa, Jon decided to go into full time Christian ministry.

Following university, Jon worked for a year as a Judge's Tipstaff at the NSW Court of Appeal and then for three years as an editor at a large publishing firm. He then studied at Moore Theological College, serving during this time as a student minister in churches at Willoughby and Carlton. Jon's role at St Jude's involves pastoring the 5:30 p.m. family congregation as well as oversight of the young adults', youth and children's ministries.

Assistant Minister Part Time

Rev Dr. Victor Roberts

Phone: 02 4861 1032
Email: vic@bowralanglican.org.au

The Rev. Dr Vic Roberts joined St Jude's at the end of January 2009 as an Assistant Minister in a part-time capacity. His main responsibilities are to assist as required at the 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. services; to develop a ministry with the retired men of the Parish and to strengthen the pastoral care ministry to the members of the 10:00 a.m. congregation. Vic and his wife Delle have been married for fifty years and have served together as a team in ministry throughout those years.

Vic has had wide experience in parish ministry both in Australia and England. Included in his parish ministry experience in the Diocese of Sydney have been the Parishes of St Clement's Mosman and St Mark's Darling Point. He also served for nearly a decade as the Archdeacon of Wollongong and Camden. Vic's experience early on in his ministry as the General Secretary of the South American Missionary Society (now incorporated into the Church Missionary Society) strengthened his world-wide gospel vision.

More recently his thirteen years as the National Secretary of the Bush Church Aid Society of Australia gave him a deep insight into the church and community in the more isolated and remote parts of Australia, including ministry among the indigenous people of Australia.

Children’s Ministries Coordinator:

Mrs Carmen Williams

Phone: 0418 235 496
E-mail: carmen@bowralanglican.org.au

Carmen grew up in Sydney and completed a Bachelor of Teaching and Bachelor of Education degree at UTS. Whilst doing so she was involved in teaching primary aged Sunday School classes. After completing her studies, Carmen worked as an au pair in Switzerland for 12 months before returning to Australia to begin her teaching career.

Her teaching experiences were extremely varied. It was during this time she married her husband Jon and after 9 years working in primary schools, she left the teaching profession to take up her new occupation – mother to two beautiful girls. Jon and Carmen have previously lived wherever Jon’s work took them but in 2009 they made the decision to settle in Bowral and make it their home.

Carmen’s role at St Jude’s is to oversee the running of our Kid’s @ Church program and continue to build this vital ministry to our 0-11yr olds. She aims to equip and facilitate our volunteer teachers to ensure we teach the children in our community God’s word clearly, accurately, engagingly as well as applicably and that we pray for the Spirit’s work in their lives.