Ministry Team

Rev Paul Blacker

Banyule Network Minister: Team leader with responsibility for Heidelberg Scots and Ivanhoe Congregations

Paul is Baptised
Paul comes to the Banyule Network more than thirty years after Ordination. He has a varied professional background, having worked both within and beyond the Uniting Church in that time. This has given him background in pastoral care, adult training and education, management, working with diversity and theological reflection.
Paul is a migrant. Born in Sri Lanka and living in Nigeria before coming to Australia as a small boy. His upbringing and life experience are of someone who lives in multi-cultural Australia.
He is a husband, father, GrandDaddy, son, brother, uncle (& GrandUncle), dog-walker and chicken-feeder. And he has been known to be friendly.

“I am delighted to be offering Ministry with the Banyule Network of Uniting Churches. The call is to engage the reality of our limits and our hope with a people who know where they have been and who pray for fresh expressions of church, and to resource an inclusive, outreaching engagement with surrounding worlds.”

“I have been drawn to the challenge and possibility of Team — of those in Placement; of a mixed-ministry team; of employed and volunteers, office-bearers and members. To model by way of process and commitment to relationship possibilities of life that are deeper and bigger.”

“I believe in the way of Christ and dance with the God of atoning grace and freedom.”

Email: PaulBlacker_BanyuleNetwork@iinet.net.au

Rev Dr Jong Soo Park

Banyule Network Minister: Pastoral Care and Discipleship, with responsibility for Gresswell and Rosanna Congregations.

Jong Soo is a Christian and wants to be a good disciple of Jesus Christ. He also keeps trying to be a good husband and father.
Jong Soo is a migrant who was born in South Korea and came to Australia in 2003.
The Banyule Network is his third ministry placement following the Korean Church of Melbourne and the Ocean Grove-Barwon Heads Uniting Church.

Jong Soo is a practical theologian researching on Christian Education and Curriculum particularly for the second-generation migrants and the digital generation. He has developed theories and re-sources for the dialogue-led educational process for faith formation. He is also interested in vari-ous theological areas, such as intercultural and intergenerational ministry, migrant theology, and theology of ageing.

Email: joshuahoju@gmail.com

Rev Sandy Brodine

Banyule Network Minister: Emerging Faith Communities. With responsibility for Messy Churches, Common Ground Community, SPACE Contemplative Community and the Banyule Network Theology Hub.

Sandy grew up in the Banyule area and was introduced to the Uniting Church as a fourteen year old via a Uniting Church Synod youth camp.
Sandy taught high school Chinese, English and Religious Literature, becoming Head of House before leaving full time teaching in 2008 to begin her candidacy for the Ministry of the Word in the Uniting Church.

“The two things that particularly drew me to the Uniting Church as a teenager was the fact that the liturgy did not follow a prescribed format and so there was more freedom for young people to be involved, and also the fact that the Uniting Church ordained women.”

“I am excited by the Banyule Network as a vibrant and energised place to grow and develop in faith. The Network is home to some wonderful, inclusive new faith communities. It is wonderful to be able to share our faith and grow together through all of the stages and experiences of life.”

Mobile: 0413 355 483

Email: sandybrodine@gmail.com

Ministry Team

Rev Paul Blacker

Rev Dr Jong Soo Park

Rev Sandy Brodine

About the Banyule Network