Rev Rex Marre, Th.Dip

Rector, Bardon Anglican Church, Diocese of Brisbane, Qld

Previously Rector, St James and St Luke, Mt Isa, Diocese of Nth Qld

Ordained 1989, previously commonwealth public servant in the Australian Taxation Office, resigned as Deputy Commissioner, Townsville in 1989.

Born into a Roman Catholic family, Rex attended church schools. He began attending the Anglican church regularly with his wife, Christina and children, Gavin and Adam in 1982 at Wanniassa in Canberra. Moving to Townsville in 1983 the family then worshipped in the Heatley parish (where Rev Trevor Adams, previous rector of Bardon now serves). Rex served on parish council as Rector's Churchwarden and as a Licensed Eucharistic Assistant until 1988.

It was in 1986 during a mission being conducted in his parish by two sisters from the Church Army, that Rex committed his life to Jesus as Lord and Saviour and received His gift of baptism with the Holy Spirit. "I am committed to the belief that the life and ministry of Christ's church can be best fulfilled under the anointing of and using the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit."

Toward the end of 1986 Rex responded to God's call to the ordained ministry commencing the part-time study of a Diploma in Theology.

In addition to formal theological qualifications, Rex has attended the Anglican Congress on World Evangelisation in Singapore in 1990; the School of Christian Counselling led by Selwyn Hughes in Sydney in 1994; a course on Pilgrimage and Spirituality at St George's College in Jerusalem in 1998; national ARMA conferences and two conferences led by John Wimber of the Vineyard movement.

Early in 1997, Rex and Christina joined a team led by Rev Tom Hall on a short-term mission to the Diocese of Rajasthan in India, under the auspices of SOMA.

Rex on declarations made ...

As an Anglican priest, I stand by the declarations made and signed at my ordination. I believe that the Holy Scripture is the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God and contains all the doctrine necessary for eternal salvation. I believe that the authorised Prayer Books of the Anglican Communion, together with the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion set out therein properly reflects that doctrine. I also acknowledge the role of the tradition of the church in establishing doctrine, to the extent that it does not conflict with Scripture.

... the church's mission can only be properly fulfilled in the fullness of the anointing and empowerment of God's Holy Spirit ... I am convinced that nothing less than a radical repossession by the Holy Spirit of his church will produce the renewal we all long for and glimpse excitingly now and again ...

... I believe neither the Archbishop (of Canterbury), nor God wants a separate Charismatic tradition within Anglicanism. Rather I pray the entire communion will recognise the authenticity and need of Holy Spirit's fullness, based squarely on the proclaimed Word of God and enjoyed in whatever liturgical tradition allowed by the prayer book and preferred by the local congregation.

Rex & Christina have 2 grown sons & in March 2002, became grandparents.