Archbishop

Jeffrey Driver was born in 1951, and grew up in the NSW country town of Cowra.  He began his working life as a cadet journalist in Auckland, New Zealand. His career in Journalism saw him write for and subedit a number of newspapers in New Zealand, regional Australia and suburban Sydney before training for the priesthood as a candidate for the Diocese of Bathurst.

He was made Deacon in Bathurst in 1977 and ordained Priest a year later.  He has served in the dioceses of Melbourne, Bathurst, Grafton, Canberra and Goulburn, and Gippsland.

He was Executive Director of St Mark's National Theological centre at Canberra for a time, and founding Head of Charles Sturt University's School of Theology.  He continues to lecture and write on biblical studies and Anglican ecclesiology.  Archbishop Jeffrey has been closely involved with the work of the Anglican Church's caring body, Anglicare, in a number of dioceses.  He is President of Anglicare SA.

After serving for more than a decade as an Archdeacon in the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn, Jeffrey Driver was elected Bishop of Gippsland in 2001.  Soon after coming to Gippsland Archbishop Jeffrey initiated a major mission strategy planning process within the diocese; aligning “ministry networks” to strategic plans and encouraging a review of resources for mission.  He established links with the Diocese of Gahini (Rwanda). During his time in Gippsland Jeffrey led a consultation through the Australian Church about the ordination of women to Episcopal ministry, proposing enabling legislation at the 2004 General Synod.

Bishop Jeffrey was translated to Adelaide in 2005.  Much of the early part of his ministry focused on the church’s response to the survivors of sexual abuse.  Archbishop Jeffrey made this a pastoral priory, seeking to ensure that the Diocese of Adelaide made a timely response to the needs of survivors as well as further developing safer ministry screening and education.

His wider church involvements include membership of the Standing Committee of General Synod. He is Convenor of the Anglican Refugee Network and also the Anglican Church’s working group on the Anglican Covenant.  He has worked to develop links between the Diocese of Adelaide and the Church in the Southern Sudan, supporting education and health-care initiatives.

Archbishop Driver is married to Lindy, a registered nurse, whose church and community involvement includes care of the aged and ministry with children. They have two adult children: Robert and Eva.

Archbishop Driver lists fly fishing as one of his hobbies, but it’s only one facet of a man with a diverse career in many parts of the Australian church.