Even the best college cannot prepare their students for the full range of challenges a pastor is called upon to navigate in the course of their ministry. As we experience more of what it means to be a pastor, we need to keep honing our pastoral skill so that we do not become dull. Wise will help to raise the capacity of experienced ministers and ministry academics to make fitting (wise) pastoral decisions across any context. It is intended to be a primer or handbook introducing a decision-making process that is attentive to the various pastoral contexts we minister in and an expression of authentic Christianity. ""Bishop Matt Brain offers all those engaged in ministry an accessible, practical and wise book on transforming pastoral practice. It comes from his own experiences woven into the fabric of the gospel. It points us beyond the immediate and gives hope for the renewal of pastoral ministry in a time of spiritual hunger. An excellent guide for pastors and discussion starter for local ministry teams."" --Rt Rev Professor Stephen Pickard, Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Author of Theological Foundations for Collaborative Ministry. Having been born in Sydney, and grown up in Perth, Matt Brain has lived and ministered with his family across the breadth of Australia. Following a training and practise as a physiotherapist, and ministry as a lay-person, Matt was ordained in the Anglican Diocese of North-West Australia in 2003 where he gained valuable experience in rural and remote ministry. He moved to the Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn in 2010 and was consecrated a bishop in 2015 at Goulburn. In early 2018 Matt was installed as the tenth Bishop of Bendigo. Matt has served in traditional parish-based roles, in administrative and executive leadership, as a specialist youth and children's minister, and as an academic. He has published numerous books, articles and conference papers. His doctoral thesis was Treasure in Jars of Clay: Towards a new Pauline Pastoral Theology of Mission to Generation Y in Australia. He has a keen interest in advocacy and is a trustee of the Anglican Relief and Development Fund - Australia. Matt is married to Rachael and they have five children.
