Reformer. Activist. “The Red Bishop”. “A Most Meddlesome Priest”. These are just some of the ways that Bishop Ernest Burgmann came to be known in Australia. Passionate and outspoken about social justice and civil rights, his activism strove to awaken Australia from its conservative complacency. In the words of Peter Hempenstall, who published a book on Burgmann in 1993,

"his actions had a profound and far-reaching impact on Australians well beyond the boundaries of his diocese. Burgmann’s words and actions hold a promise of extraordinary relevance to Australian society today."

St Mark's National Theological Centre, together with the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the death of Bishop Ernest Henry Burgmann — controversial reformer, social justice activist, teacher, writer, Anglican bishop — on 17 May 2017. The Rt Rev’d Professor Stephen Pickard gave a talk aptly titled, “That Meddlesome God: A Christian Future for the Church" where he spoke passionately about Burgie's heart for social justice, his advocacy for the downtrodden, and how the church today can learn from his zeal for public theology.

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A Theologian Reflects on Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Prof Martyn Percy)

St Mark's National Theological CentreBy St Mark's NTCMar 12, 2019