Lay Leadership Educator

Portrait: 

Rohan coordinates education for lay leaders including the two specified lay ministries of the Uniting Church, Lay Preachers and Pastors, as well as encouraging the vocations of lay people in their everyday lives. His role includes support for the Period of Discernment, the Ministry of Pastor, as well as Lay Preachers and Lay Preaching. Rohan coordinates Lay Ministry Intensives as a primary opportunity for lay worship leaders and other lay leaders to enage in learning together what it means to carry and share the Christian faith within the Uniting Church.

Rohan has worked for the Uniting Church in a wide range of roles since 1992 when he began in the then Youth Ministry Unit under the Order of St Stephen. After research roles and a decade as Synod IT Manager, Rohan coordinated the National Christian Youth Convention (NCYC09), before an enriching and educational stint as Presbytery Minister - Administration for the Presbytery of North East Victoria.

Rohan's study of theology began as a young person considering a call to ordination, and a Period of Discernment in concert with his wife confirmed a calling to serve the Church in lay ministries (at least at this stage!). Rohan had previously completed a Bachelor's degree in Science and an Honours degree in Computing, and subsequently completed a Bachelor's degree in Theology through the United Faculty of Theology with majors in Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology and Pastoral Theology (Christian Education). He has continued to relish education with theological connections ever since (including Uniting Church Studies, and Lay Ministry Intensives).

Participation in and leadership of Uniting Church events such as NCYC, the former Synod youth ministry camping program, 'Cabaret' (where he re-met his wife) , About FACE III, and 'On The Margins', have given practical experience in leadership which was honed by a decade in management roles and in elected representation of lay staff employed by the Synod. 

His practical involvement in the Uniting Church has included membership of several local congregations, sustained membership of the Synod Selection Committee for Ordained Ministry, captain and coach of the Uniting Church Dragon Boat team, and membership of other Synod and Assembly committees in the areas of ecumenical relations and social justice. 

Rohan has also represented the Uniting Church as a member of the Victorian Council of Churches, at an Asia-Pacific youth gathering organised by the Christian Conference of Asia and the World Student Christian Federation (Hong Kong), and later in 2011 will be part of a Uniting Church delegation to the World Methodist Council (Durban, South Africa). 

Rohan's areas of emerging research interest include adult education and online theological education. He also enjoys bushwalking with his family, back-country skiing with wild sisters and brothers-in-law, watching good cinema and 'The Amazing Race', and working with wood.