[ACNS] The Bishop of the Northern and Western Region in the Diocese of Melbourne, Philip Huggins, has been installed as the eighth president of the ecumenical group the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA). The NCCA brings together 19 Christian denominations, including Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, Methodist, Lutheran, and Congregational churches.

“At the heart of our ecumenical work is friendship in Christ,” he said. “It is this which gives meaning and direction to our work.”

Bishop Philip was ordained in 1977. Before becoming Bishop of Melbourne he served as assistant bishop in Perth (1995-1998) and Bishop of Grafton (1998-2003). Since 2004 he has served as regional bishop in the Archdiocese of Melbourne where he ministers to the people of northern and western Melbourne and Geelong.

His roles include chair of the Diocese of Melbourne’s social responsibilities and multi-cultural ministry committees. He chairs the Anglican Church of Australia Refugee Taskforce and has served as chair of the board of the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

He has played an active role in inter-faith relations and is a past-president of Australia’s Jewish Christian Muslim Association and a member of the multi-faith advisory group to the Victorian State Government. He is also a member of the community reference group for the Rabbinical Council of Victoria; as well as a number of other regional, national and international inter-faith groups. He holds the Prime Minister of Victoria’s Multicultural Award.