Q&A with amateur entomologist, cello player, karate black belt and professional missiologist, Dr Stephen Harrison
Spotlight Q&A
Meet Stephen Harrison from Anglicare Southern Queensland and find out about his faith journey, secret skill, his thoughts on Reconciliation, what makes him nostalgic, what local Anglican inspires him the most, what encounter recently surprised him, and how your parish or ministry can support Anglicare Sunday
Where do you currently live and where do you worship?
I have lived on the Gold Coast for 27 years, but I grew up in Brisbane. I go to Robina Anglican Church.
How long have you been involved in the Anglican Church and in what roles?
I grew up in the Anglican Church and was involved in Anglican youth ministries when I was a teenager. I trained to become a youth worker at St Francis College and my first placement was with the St Peter’s, Southport community. I have worked as a parish youth minister and school and university chaplain, as well as Diocesan Youth Children’s and Families Officer, Director of Mission for the Anglican Schools Commission and as Executive Director of the Parishes and other Mission Agencies Commission. I currently serve as Director of Mission, Research and Advocacy for Anglicare Southern Queensland.
Stepehen Harrison as a Coomera Anglican College chaplain, beating the bass rhythm of Gilgan at the school’s Festival of Gifts in the mid 2000s
What does your current role involve?
Within Anglicare I provide leadership to the Mission, Research and Advocacy team members in their diverse work. A large part of my day-to-day work is building relationships with parishes, schools and the wider Church and helping Anglicare connect with its Anglican identity.
Stephen Harrison often visits parishes to share about Anglicare Southern Queensland’s work — he is pictured with The Rev’d Morris Rangiwai from The Parish of Holland Park on Sunday 11 August 2024 after a service
What do you enjoy most about being able to serve the Church in your Anglicare role?
I love working for Anglicare because I am inspired daily by the passion and energy of our staff as they engage in vital work in our community, such as advocacy and support for people experiencing homelessness, caring for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, supporting foster and kinship carers, providing nursing care and assistance in homes and caring for people in residential aged care. These are just some of the core missional activities of Anglicare.
What has been one of the highlights or best memories of your time in your current role?
One of the highlights of my current role was organising and participating in visits to different Anglicare services with Archbishop Jeremy earlier this year. Interacting with clients and hearing about the positive impact Anglicare is having was incredibly energising. I especially enjoyed participating in some of the social activities at one of our respite centres.
What projects or activities are you currently working on?
One of the small projects I am working on at the moment is an Anglicare Prayer Diary to help the wider Church become more aware of Anglicare’s work and to better enable our broader Church community to pray for us as we together seek to create a more loving, just and inclusive society, reflecting the life and teachings of Jesus.
Stephen Harrison with Jason Ware (Chief Operations Officer — Children, Youth and Families) at Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Our People Awards in November 2023
Can you tell us a little about Anglicare Sunday, which will be celebrated this year on 8 September?
Anglicare Sunday is a day for the whole Church to celebrate the work of Anglicare. It is a day for our whole Diocesan community to give thanks for all that Anglicare does as part of our Church.
How can parishes and ministries celebrate Anglicare Sunday?
We ask everyone to learn a bit more about what we do and to pray for us. Resources, including a liturgy, brief videos, flyers and PowerPoint slides, have been created for parishes and ministries to assist their clergy and lay leaders with doing this.
Can you tell us a little about your Christian faith journey?
I grew up in a Christian family who were committed to their local Anglican church. My faith was formed and nurtured by many things through my life, including highly engaged parents, youth ministry activities, the Catholic school I went to and the input and support of many Christian people.
Stephen Harrison (front, far left) with a few familiar faces at a St Gabriel’s, Carina (now Carindale) youth group weekend at Bowder Park in the late 1980s
How does your Christian faith inspire you and shape your outlook, life choices and character?
My faith is firmly centred on the person of Jesus that I find in the Gospels. His life compels me to a live a life of service to God as part of the Church.
What are the primary strengths of the Church and what is the best way to make the most of these for the benefit of our communities?
One of the great strengths of the Church is that it is embedded in local communities. Being local is important because Church folk know their wider local community and can help the Church connect and serve in ways that best minister to and support their respective community.
What is your favourite Bible scripture why?
Matthew 6.25-34. I love the idea that we are not to worry about ourselves while we participate in God’s mission in the world. God cares for us and we are not to worry about what tomorrow brings.
Stephen Harrison previously served on the Anglican Board of Mission’s Board. He is pictured with ABM team members Julianne Stewart and Meagan Schwarz at the enthronement of the Archbishop of PNG Clyde Igara at Dogura in 2013
What person of faith inspires you the most and why?
I am inspired by Aunty Dr Rose Elu and her commitment to her faith and the Torres Strait Island community. I am particularly inspired by her customary law advocacy over more than three decades that led to the Queensland Government legally recognising traditional adoption practices of Torres Strait Islander families.
Saibai Elder Rose Elu is a tireless advocate for her community – she was instrumental in negotiations to legally recognise traditional customary adoption practices of Torres Strait Islander families, which led to the introduction of a landmark Bill to the Queensland Parliament
Why is it important for Christians to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples towards Reconciliation?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are our family, both as Christians and as human beings. Great injustice continues to be done to them, and as Anglicans we are called “to seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation”. In order to do this, we must walk in the light, accepting the true shared history of this country. This means listening and walking a path to peace and healing together.
Colin Lim, Stephen Harrison and Sarah Marris from Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Mission, Research and Advocacy team in January 2024
What is the bravest or kindest gesture you have ever received or witnessed?
The parents of my wife, Cathy, helped us when we wanted to buy a house. This was no small gesture and something I will always remember.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received and who gave you this advice?
I read “What I’m not up on, I may be down on” in Marlene Wilson’s The Effective Management of Volunteer Programs and it has shaped how I work with people since.
If you found yourself on a deserted island, what three things would you choose to have with you?
My cello, my favourite book and an etch a sketch.
(L-R) Stephen Harrison, Frances Thompson and The Rev’d Sue Grimmett enjoying a cello practice session together on Thursday 29 April 2021 in the Cathedral Precinct’s St Martin’s House
If you could have a billboard with any text on it, what would it say and why?
“Don’t think about this billboard” because I have a weird sense of humour and like the idea of people thinking about why someone would put that message on a billboard.
What book have you given away most as a gift and why?
Getting Things Done: the art of stress-free productivity by David Allen because it provides one of the best frameworks for being effective in whatever you are doing.
What’s your best childhood memory?
Camping at Adder Rock on Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island) with my family.
Stephen Harrison escaping his siblings by sitting in a tree while camping at Adder Rock on Minjerribahin the early 1980s
What is your karaoke go-to song?
I have never participated in karaoke, but if I was forced to, I would sing “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley.
What makes you nostalgic and why?
When I hear certain TV show theme songs, they take me back to special times in my life and help me to remember all that was going on. One of my favourites is “Reflections” by Diana Ross and the Supremes, which was the music for the TV show, China Beach.
What is your earliest memory?
My earliest memory is from when I was four or five playing in the big sandpit at kindergarten.
Stephen Harrison enjoying his childhood in the late 1970s in Brisbane
If you are having a bad day, what do you do to cheer yourself up?
Usually going for a long walk helps me feel better. The time to think helps me to get into a better frame of mind.
What is the most surprising thing that happened to you recently?
At our last Synod I met a Parish of Logan Synod Rep, Fabian, from Myanmar who knows members of the Myanmar delegation who attended the International Conference of Young Anglicans in 1997. I spent a lot of time with them at the conference and we became friends, but lost contact over the years. He reconnected me with them.
What is your secret skill?
Finding camouflaged insects on foliage.
Stephen Harrison at karate training in 2017
What item should you throw out, but can’t bear to part with?
I am not a person that keeps things when they should be thrown out or passed on to others.
What day would you like to re-live and why?
I think I would like to re-live one of the first days I spent with my wife, Cathy, when we starting dating. I think it would be interesting to remember my thoughts and feelings on those days.
Stephen and Cathy Harrison on their wedding day in June 1998
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would that be?
I love fried chicken and would happily eat it forever.
Where do you do your best thinking?
Walking or driving in the car.
Stephen Harrison visiting the giant Sequoias in California in May 2024
What’s your unanswerable question — the question you are always asking yourself?
This question has become my unanswerable question.
Editor’s note: Sunday 8 September 2024 is Anglicare Sunday in the Anglican Church Southern Queensland. Anglicare is an important part of our Church and Anglicare Sunday provides a terrific opportunity for parishes and other faith communities to celebrate and pray for its clients, staff and work in the community. Anglicare offers residential aged care, in-home care, mental health support, youth programmes, care for those escaping domestic and family violence, support for people experiencing homelessness, foster care, and family services. Some prayers and other resources can be downloaded in this Google Drive folder.
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