Ivan Yin Lee (1955 or 1956 – 4 March 2020)[1][2] was an Australian Anglican bishop. He was an assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney,[3][4] serving from 2003 to 2019 as the Bishop of the Western Region.[5] and then until early 2020, as bishop undertaking a role working on strengthening church growth within the Diocese.[6]
Ivan Yin Lee | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of the Western Region | |
| Church | Anglican Church of Australia |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Sydney |
| In office | 2003–2019 |
| Predecessor | Brian King |
| Successor | Gary Koo |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 20 December 2002 by Peter Jensen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1955 or 1956 |
| Died | 4 March 2020 (aged 63–64) |
| Nationality | Australia |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Alma mater | Moore Theological College |
Lee was appointed in 2002 to replace Bishop Brian King.[1] He was the first Anglican bishop in Australia to have a Chinese ethnic background.[1][7]
Early life and education
editLee's parents immigrated to Australia from Guangzhou province, China, in the 1950s.[8] Lee describes his family as having been culturally Buddhist; he was excused from mandatory Christian religious instruction at James Cook Boys high school along with other non-Christian students.[8] Lee converted to Christianity at a church-run summer camp and later "horrified" his immigrant parents by taking a year off from medical school at the University of New South Wales to study at Moore Theological College.[8] He completed a theology degree instead of returning to medical school.[8]
Parish ministry
editLee served as a presbyter in Manly, Beverly Hills and Merrylands.[8] He worked for eight years as an assistant minister at St Jude's, Carlton, in Melbourne,[9] then became rector of St Aidan's Church in Hurstville Grove.[8]
Episcopal ministry
editLee was elected as bishop of the Western Region in December 2002 by the Diocese of Sydney's standing committee,[1] and was consecrated as bishop on 20 December 2002.[2]
As bishop, Lee took a traditionalist position on the question of women preaching,[8] and on same-sex marriages, stating that, "We don't hold this position as a matter of mere tradition but as the scriptures dictate."[10][11] Lee was part of the leadership of GAFCON.[12][13]
Lee also took public positions opposing racism and, in particular, criticising the anti-immigration positions taken by Drew Fraser, citing the Bible as his authority that "there is equality between all people".[14]
Lee died on 4 March 2020 after having pancreatic cancer for the previous four years.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Burke, Kelly (19 November 2002). "I'm no nepotist". Sydney Morning Herald. ProQuest 363850132.
- ^ a b c Powell, Russell (5 March 2020). "We have lost a great champion for the gospel". Sydney Anglicans. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "RHAC". Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ^ Sydney Anglican
- ^ Western Region Minutes
- ^ Powell, Russell (25 October 2019). "New role for Bishop Lee in church growth". Sydney Anglicans. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "Chinese-Australian appointed next Anglican Bishop of Western Sydney". Sydney Anglicans. 19 November 2002. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g Burke, Kelly (3 January 2003). "Newest bishop prefers saving souls to saving bodies". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ^ Robson, Geoff (6 December 2002). "'I haven't been promoted' says new bishop with eye on front-line". Sydney Anglicans. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ Shadbolt, Peter (8 October 2004). "Anglican conservatives win gay marriage battle". The Australian. ProQuest 357480300.
- ^ "Australian Anglicans oppose pro-gay reforms". Changing Attitude. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ Muriel Porter (29 August 2011). "Sydney Anglicans and the threat to world Anglicanism". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ Porter, Muriel (2011). Sydney Anglicans and the Threat to World Anglicanism: The Sydney Experiment. Ashgate. p. 160. ISBN 978-1409420279.
- ^ Halcrow, Jeremy (1 August 2005). "Next stop - bloodshed?". Sydney Anglicans. Retrieved 2 February 2017.