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Gary Koo

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The Right Reverend

Gary Koo
Bishop of the Western Region
ChurchAnglican Church of Australia
ProvinceProvince of New South Wales
DioceseDiocese of Sydney
Installed20 December 2019
PredecessorIvan Lee
Orders
Ordination2006 (as deacon)
2013 (as presbyter)[1]
Consecration20 December 2019
by Glenn Davies
Personal details
Born
Gary Siew Leong Koo

1968 (age 55–56)
NationalityAustralian
DenominationAnglicanism
SpousePearl
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Sydney (medicine)
Moore Theological College (theology)

Gary Siew Leong Koo[2] (born 1968)[1] is an Australian Anglican bishop who, since 20 December 2019, has served as an assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, becoming the third Bishop of the Western Region.[3][4]

Early life, education and parish ministry

Koo was born in 1968 in Sydney, as the son of two Malaysian migrants. He was educated at James Ruse Agricultural High School[5] and then studied medicine at the University of Sydney.[6] Koo was brought up as an atheist, but the death of his mother while he was training as a doctor at University caused him to reassess his views and he converted to Christianity.[7]

After graduating from university, Koo worked as a doctor for a time.[7] He then decided to study theology at Moore Theological College.[3] and was ordained deacon in 2006 and priest (presbyter) in 2013.[6]

Koo served as a pastor and church planter for the Chinese Christian Church Sydney. He later was appointed as a minister within the Anglican Diocese of Sydney at St Paul’s Carlingford and North Rocks, where he was eventually made rector, a position which he held for seven years prior to his appointment to the episcopate.[6] He served as acting rector at Berala from 2013 to 2015.[1]

Episcopal ministry

In November 2019, Koo was appointed as Bishop of the Western Region in the Sydney Diocese, a role which involves overseeing congregations in the Blue Mountains, Hills District, Hawkesbury, and Parramatta areas.[8] He replaced Bishop Ivan Lee, who was the first Anglican bishop in Australia to have a Chinese ethnic background and who moved at that time into a new episcopal role strengthening church growth.[9][3] Koo was consecrated bishop in St John's Cathedral, Parramatta by Archbishop Glenn Davies on 20 December 2019.[3]

As assistant bishop, Koo has chaired the Diocese's COVID-19 taskforce throughout 2020.[10]

Personal life

Koo is married to Pearl and has two children. Koo had to navigate the coming out of his son, Tomas.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c "ARCHBISHOP GLENN DAVIES APPOINTS A NEW BISHOP FOR THE WESTERN REGION OF SYDNEY" (PDF). Anglicans Together Newsletter. No. 70. December 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Assistant Bishops of the Diocese of Sydney". Sydney Diocesan Archives. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "A new Bishop for the West". Sydney Anglicans: Gateway to the Anglican Church in Sydney. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  4. ^ Powell, Russell (20 January 2019). "Bishop gets warm welcome in the West". sydneyanglicans.net. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  5. ^ Koo, Gary. "Gary Koo: Senior Minister at Crossway Anglican Churches". LinkedIn. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d "Gary Koo: Bishop of Western Region". Sydney Anglicans. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Testimonials: Gary Koo". Moore Theological College. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  8. ^ Halcrow, Jeremy (30 June 2010). "Archbishop announces final mission areas". Sydney Anglicans. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Chinese-Australian appointed next Anglican Bishop of Western Sydney". Sydney Anglicans. 19 November 2002. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  10. ^ Powell, Russell (2 July 2020). "Are we there yet?". Sydney Anglicans. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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