Doug Rowan

Kia ora, ko Doug Rowan toku ingoa.

I am married to Hannah who is a priest and we have 2 children in their early 20’s. I am currently a lawyer based in Levin and the Bishop’s Warden in Charge at Levin Parish.

As a young person I always had a sense that I would be “called” into Christian ministry. My concept of that at the time was inward focussed – about serving “within” the church.

I was involved with TSCF as a student and this involvement helped shape my world view and theology.

After university, we moved to Levin and Hannah taught while I practiced law at Cullinane Steele for 3 years. We then went to India doing mission work for 8 months. On our return to NZ, we were going to do theological training, but it just didn’t seem right.

I carried on developing as a lawyer, we started our family. I became a partner in the firm. Over this period through attending churches of different flavours, I became increasingly frustrated with the church – it seemed irrelevant to what I was beginning to see as my “ministry”. The church seemed inward and wanted its people to be focused on doing stuff within its four walls- the sacred /secular divide was alive and well.

I wanted to integrate faith into all parts of my world. How might I live as a Jesus follower at work? I started to put my energies into helping my staff, clients and the community.

In 2009 we went to Regent College, and I studied work and faith issues. I was beginning to see my leadership and lawyering as an expression of faith far more than my church involvement (Colossians 3 v 23). Church was becoming increasingly irrelevant to me.

Then Hannah started to become more involved in the Anglican world, and we ended up at St Mary’s Levin.

Two and half years ago I sensed a strong call to become Bishop’s warden during a period of Bishop’s intervention. Some time over these last 2 and a half years the question of ordination arose. All my experiences in leadership and law started merging with my calling as a young person to be involved in Christian ministry. My grappling with integration of my faith with all of life is paralleled with the Church’s mission to move outside its 4 walls into the community.

For me being ordained is simply another step in my journey to help others and lead when needed. I hope in some small way that I can help the church live to its calling to love others, make disciples, seek justice and be Jesus centred.