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A Greek Australian clergyman takes up a new role for the Church of England in Nottinghamshire this week – encouraging and enabling fellow priests to become life-long and life-wide learners. The Revd Dr Con Apokis has been appointed as the new Clergy Training Officer from January 2010. Con is a Greek Australian and will be coming to minister in the Church of England for the first time from the Diocese of Gippsland in Australia. He has worked in several capacities in Port Melbourne for over 20 years including several in developing education and training in the church. He said: “I am looking forward to working within the Church of England and developing the ways we engage people in public space and how we develop a public theology that will meet people where they live and work.” Con was ordained in Australia in 1988 and has worked in parish ministry, chaplaincy, and theological education. Since 2003, he has been the Executive Director of the Victorian Council of Christian Education combined with a self-supporting clergy role in Melbourne. He has recently completed a practical theology Doctorate on the experience of fathers at the birth of their children. He explained: “Spirituality is an important way that fathers use to make sense of their experience and is an avenue for mission and ministry for the Gospel.” Con is married to Sally, an ordained deacon, who has pioneered work in school chaplaincy and community development. They have a daughter Evthoxia Annabelle and arrived from Australia over the weekend and are currently living in Oxton. Con is a keen soccer player and supports West Ham, although he said he is looking forward to watching the local Nottingham teams now. He also enjoys music – particularly heavy rock.
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