Philip Freier

The Most Revd
Philip Freier
Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne
Primate of Australia
Church Anglican
See Melbourne
In office 2006 - present (as archbishop)
2014 - present (as primate)
Predecessor Peter Watson (as archbishop)
Phillip Aspinall (as primate)
Successor in office
Orders
Ordination 1983 (curate)
Consecration 1999 (bishop)
Rank 2006 (archbishop)
Personal details
Born 9 February 1955
Brisbane, Queensland
Nationality Australian
Spouse Joy née Shepherd
Previous post Bishop of the Northern Territory
Insignia of ChStJ

Philip Leslie Freier (born 9 February 1955) is an Australian Anglican bishop. He has been the 13th Archbishop of Melbourne since 16 December 2006. He was elected Primate of Australia on 28 June 2014, being installed by the Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, on 13 August 2014.[1]

Early life, education and work

Freier was born in Brisbane where he attended Hendra State High School, and was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.

In addition to a PhD from James Cook University, he has received the degrees of Master of Educational Studies (MEdSt) from the University of Newcastle, Bachelor of Divinity (BD) from the Melbourne College of Divinity, Diploma of Education (DipEd) from the University of Queensland and Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc) from the Queensland Institute of Technology.

Freier was elected a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) in 1995.[2] He worked as a science teacher for six years prior to being ordained.

Ministry

After his ordination in 1983, Freier was a curate in Kowanyama, Queensland, followed by five years as the rector of St Oswald's, Banyo, before being appointed the rector of Christ Church, Bundaberg.

In 1999, Freier was elected as the Bishop of the Northern Territory. As a supporter of the indigenous Australian communities he pledged to support the Stolen Generations during their healing process.[3] In April 2014. he wrote an opinion piece in Fairfax Media newspapers criticising the Australian government's "Operation Sovereign Borders" policy which places children in immigration detention, arguing that "churches cannot be silent" and must care for "the alien, orphan and widow".[4][5] Freier has criticised large corporate banks in Australia, arguing that wealth creation should not be "separated from moral and social responsibility" and criticised the Abbott Government for "privileging the financial interest of corporations".[6][7][8]

Freier has served as a chaplain to the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve since 2001.[9]

Personal life

Archbishop Freier and his wife, Joy, live at Bishopscourt, East Melbourne; they have two children and three grandchildren.[1][10]

Honours

Styles of
Dr Philip Freier
Reference style The Most Reverend
Spoken style Your Grace
Religious style Archbishop

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Melbourne Archbishop Dr Philip Freier chosen as Anglican Primate of Australia". The Australian. 28 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Archbishop Philip Freier". Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  3. ↑ Time in the Northern Territory
  4. ↑ Philip Freier (17 April 2014). "Suffer the children, they have no asylum". Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. ↑ Kate Hagan (18 April 2014). "'Stop the suffering of children in detention', says Archbishop Philip Freier". Sydney Morning Herald.
  6. ↑ Philip Freier (12 April 2012). "Fair distribution of wealth will enrich Australian society". Canberra Times.
  7. ↑ "Easter roasting from bishops for 24/7 news, social media, banks and miners". News.com.au. 6 April 2012.
  8. ↑ Phillip Freier (6 June 2014). "Budget backlash shows we still value the fair go". Canberra Times.
  9. ↑ www.defenceanglicans.org.au
  10. ↑ Anglican Communion Directory, March 2000.

See also

External links

Anglican Communion titles
Preceded by
Phillip Aspinall
Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia
2014– 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Peter Watson
Archbishop of Melbourne
2014–