Who's Who

Pastoral

Iain Gow – Vicar
We are really happy to announce the recent appointment of Rev'd Iain Gow as Vicar of St George's.   Before being ordained as an Anglican priest, Iain worked in business.  He spent some time at Holy Trinity Brompton (London), and  his last church was an inner city church in Birmingham.   Iain's last appointment was as chaplain at Kristen School. He started here at St George's at the beginning of October.

Stan Thorburn – Assistant Vicar
Stan had 18 years experience as a District Court judge before fulfilling a calling to ordained ministry in his ‘retirement’. He retains a passionate concern for social justice, and is actively involved in prison ministry through his deputy chairmanship of Prison Fellowship. At St George’s, Stan co-leads the 9 am and 10.45 am Sunday congregations. In his spare time he enjoys tramping. Stan and his wife Doreen have two adult children and three grand-children.

Andrew Osborn – 7.00pm Service Leader & Evangelism

Andrew is into jazz, motorbikes, art house films, books, and introducing his friends to Jesus. He comes from Australia (although we don’t hold that against him) where he spent some time working on a tertiary campus with Christian students before being ordained in the Diocese of Tasmania. He also worked in Texas with the Episcopal Church for two years.

Andrew, his wife Jenefer, and their three young children came to St George’s in 2005. Jenefer lectures in second language acquisition at the University of Auckland; Andrew oversees the 7pm congregation, Alpha and other evangelism and discipleship programmes. "I’m keen to give people opportunities to ask questions about faith and explore the meaning of life together."

Leah Wright – Lay Pastor

Leah became a Christian in the pews at St George's. She is now working on staff assisting with the running of the 7pm service and Alpha. With her background in voice performance she often contributes to worship.

She is passionate about seeing people come to know God and live for Him; she enjoys singing; running; and friends. She is also currently studying theology part-time at Carey Baptist College.

 

 

Carmel McGill – Music Co-ordinator

St Georges is blessed with an incredible amount of musical talent and Carmel has the lucky job of looking after the music and musicians of the church. After finishing her Bachelor of Music Performance in Classical Voice, she was looking after the music of the 1045am service during a year of internship in the church and then began her role as Music Coordinator. With three services with very different musical styles, over 8 worship leaders, a youth band and many talented musicians, the musical life of St Georges is action-packed, energetic and at times, completely crazy. Just how we like it. Carmel is passionate about all things creative in and outside the church and is committed to excellent music in the church and sharing the creativity throughout the diocese with workshops and gatherings. She is also involved in the Auckland music scene with her own band, Abundance, gigging and recording.

 

Natalie Donald – Assistant Youth Pastor

Natalie has been coming to St George's since she was born! The last couple of years she has been on staff as an intern and now as assistant youth pastor. She is also studying theology at Carey Baptist.

Natalie is passionate about seeing young people equipped to reach their potential in Christ and pass on their faith to others; preaching; photography; netball.

 

Rush de Silva - Kidschurch Co-ordinator & 10.45 Leader

Rush is the coordinator for the 10.45 am KidsChurch programme and an avid sportsman. He holds a sports degree in coaching and management and contracts to Winton Rufer’s soccer school and the Three Kings Soccer Club. He has also represented New Zealand in an international korfball tournament.

For the Churches Education Commission (which also runs Bible in Schools) he coordinates a ‘Life Focus’ programme in six South Auckland primary schools two days a week, leading large group activities and events.

Rush went to Aceh, Indonesia after the tsunami on a short-term missions project and is keen to go again. When he’s not involved in sports or children’s programmes, he runs a health and nutrition business from home where he lives with his mother and brother.

 

Louisa Hawkes – 9am Kidschurch Programme

Louisa is responsible for the 9am Kidschurch programme at St Georges. She also works with Rush running Friday Knight events, Year 5&6 special events and celebrations for the children and their friends within the community.

Louisa is currently in her third and final year of study towards a Bachelor of Science at the University of Auckland, majoring in Biology and Environmental Science.

Louisa has grown up attending St Georges and has been coming since she was 6. Her passions include hanging out with children, playing her trumpet, going to the movies and drinking tea.

Judy Carey – 9am & Community Pastor

Judy Carey is a lay-pastor who has been worshipping at St Georges since 1991. Apart from sometimes introducing the 9.00 am service and preaching, Judy’s pastoral responsibilities include visiting in Epsom rest homes; Bible in Schools; taking funerals and church services; and community involvement with other Epsom churches.

She would have to be the most outrageous synod representative St George’s has ever had, due to her ever-changing hair colours and general exuberance. Judy is married to Maurice, an accountant, and they have four children.

Colin Ruge – 10am Wednesday Service Leader & Home Groups

Colin and his wife Ruth have been at St George’s for about ten years and are officially retired, although they’ve yet to put their feet up. As an Anglican clergyman, Colin still does quite a lot of parish work, filling in for others on sabbatical or sick leave, or between vicars. He spent most of his own 29 years in fulltime ministry in several parishes in Auckland and as chaplain to Kings School, Remuera. He is also active in the Citizens Advice Bureaux, taking their six-week training courses.

At St George’s, Colin coordinates the small groups, helping people find one to join, and assisting with training leaders. Small groups are a vital part of church life, he says, all the more important as we lead such busy lives. Whether in regular home groups, special interest, short-term or project based groups, there are plenty of opportunities for people to feel they belong.

Colin and Ruth have been married for more than 40 years and have three married children and nine grandchildren.

Jordan Greatbatch – 7pm & Assistant Verger

Jordan has a Diploma in Performance Technology and is currently studying theology. He co-leads and preaches at St George’s at 7pm and to help pay the bills, helps the church verger with property maintenance, and making sure everything is where it should be for services and weddings or people using the hall. In other words, all those details we’d soon notice if they weren’t attended to!

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