Christopher McLeod is an Australian bishop in the Anglican Church of Australia. He has been an assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide, as the Bishop for Aboriginal Ministry, since April 2015. McLeod is the second Australian National Aboriginal Bishop,[4] and is only the third Aboriginal person to be a bishop in Australia (and the first in South Australia).[2] He has also been the dean of St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide, since 31 October 2021.[5]


Chris McLeod
Assistant bishop, Anglican Diocese of Adelaide
National Aboriginal bishop
ChurchAnglican Church of Australia
DioceseAdelaide
Installed11 April 2015[1]
Other post(s)Dean of St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide (2021-present)
Orders
Consecration11 April 2015[1][2]
by Jeffrey Driver
Personal details
NationalityAustralian
DenominationAnglican
SpouseSusan
Children3
Alma materTabor College (MMin)
Flinders University (BTh)[3]

McLeod is a Gurindji man whose country is located within the Northern Territory, southwest of Katherine.[6] His mother and grandmother were part of the Stolen generation, and his mother was brought to Adelaide by a priest who had set up a number of places for Aboriginal people to come to.[2] Prior to becoming a bishop, McLeod worked alongside Indigenous people for over 20 years. His appointment immediately prior to being appointed as a bishop was as rector of St Jude's Church in Brighton in Adelaide.[6]

McLeod was appointed assistant bishop in the Diocese of Adelaide in 2015. He became only the third Aboriginal Australian to become a bishop,[2] after Arthur Malcolm who served in the Diocese of North Queensland from 1985 to 2000, and Jim Leftwich who served in the same diocese from 2001 to 2010. He is the second to hold office as National Aboriginal Bishop (after Leftwich).

McLeod has encouraged Christians to incorporate an acknowledgement of country into their gatherings as an "acceptable and respectful practice".[7]

In August 2021, McLeod was announced as the next dean of St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide, with his installation on 31 October, 2021.[5][8]


References

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  1. ^ a b "Consecration of Anglican Aboriginal Bishop for South Australia". Anglican Communion Office. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "SA's first Aboriginal Anglican bishop, Christopher McLeod, to focus on reconciliation efforts in new role". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  3. ^ "The Rt Rev'd Chris McLeod". St Barnabas College. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Australia: The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council (NATSIAC)". Anglican Board of Mission. Anglican Board of Mission – Australia. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Dean of St Peter's Cathedral". St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Australia gets an Aboriginal Bishop again". Eternity News. Eternity News. 24 December 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  7. ^ McLeod, Chris (28 November 2019). "Yes: 'It's a mark of respect'". Eternity News. Eternity News. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  8. ^ "SOLEMN EVENSONG WITH THE COMMISSIONING AND INSTALLATION OF The Right Reverend Christopher William McLeod AS DEAN OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT PETER" (PDF). St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.