About ARNA

Our People

We are a network of people who desire to see renewal in people’s lives, and growth in intimacy with God through the Holy Spirit.


We seek to champion renewal in the local church through life-giving relationships, working with people from diverse backgrounds and ministry experiences. We work to encourage, resource and support the people of God through: events, gatherings and retreats; training information; and, experiences of worship and prayer ministry.

We have local hub leaders who provide communication for the network and coordination of local hub gatherings, training and ministry opportunities, as well as on-line events. Click to find your local hub leaders to connect with like-minded Anglicans.

There is a core steering group which meets regularly for prayer and worship, and provides energy and direction to the network, as well as supporting the local hub leaders.

Our Ethos
ARNA encourages Anglicans seeking renewal in the Spirit to:

  • Begin in personal and corporate prayer.  Historically, renewal has always begun in small, local prayer groups. 
  • Earnestly seek the leading and grace of the Holy Spirit to assist in bringing new life and refreshment for individuals which has daily impact on their lives and worship.  
  • Explore worship through song and make full use of the treasures old and new in our worship storehouse.
  • Tap into the deep roots of Anglican theological tradition, especially trinitarian theology, with the aim of broadening the study in pneumatology.
  • Equip one another theologically to have good conversations and to disagree well. A key distinctive of Anglican Renewal generally (and ARNA specifically) is seeking to foster theological maturity, ecclesial loyalty, and deeply Trinitarian thinking that engages with the best contemporary theology.
  • Explore the convergence between charismatic, liturgical, and contemplative spirituality, discovering how the Holy Spirit can be encountered in a range of liturgical and contemplative prayer practices, and how these spiritual traditions can enrich our theology and mission. 
  • Develop conversation partners in renewal outside our own denomination.  This would resource Anglicans with the best possible theological conversation partners.

When ARNA starts to hear reports that local churches are growing as they open themselves to the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit; when church leaders, clergy and lay, feel supported and encouraged to continue the hard work of church renewal; when leadership isolation is lessened, connection is increased and people are empowered and confident to lead ministry renewal in their local contexts; when we are sharing better across the Communion, then, ARNA will be achieving its purpose.

Helen Phillips

has been ordained for 26 years and has ministered in a range of contexts, both parish and sector ministries, in 3 different dioceses. She is currently Vicar of a parish and an Archdeacon in the Diocese of Melbourne. She is married to John (he is also an Anglican priest) and they have 3 married daughters and 6 grandchildren. Helen is passionate about revitalising the church from within and building strong intergenerational faith communities that will thrive for generations to come and she is committed to doing so in ways that reflect the fullness of the Triune God. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, sewing and good coffee.

Ian Lambert

has had some contrasting steps in his journey.  Commencing as an Army Officer, then a course correction into full-time ministry in Canberra-Goulburn Diocese, ultimately moving from an Assistant Bishop to the role of Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force.  Significant in his formation were numerous mission trips, taking teams around the world for ministry and teaching, focussed on renewal and Holy Spirit.  He is currently Chair of SOMA (Sharing of Ministries Abroad) and has outstanding plans for missions to Indonesia, Vietnam and Nepal, due to COVID. Ian is married to Jill and has four children and six grandchildren. Some say he is retired.

Mark McDonald

is an Anglican priest in the Diocese of Melbourne.  He has a desire for the Church to be led by the Holy Spirit as it explores what ministry renewal looks like in the new normal since COVID.  In his preaching and leadership Mark aims to encourage each person to follow Jesus and become more like Christ in their sphere of influence.   He hopes for a Church that comes alive as it worships God, unpacks the scripture and a community where people share their lives with one another.Mark is married to Lisa, both of whom enjoy coffee without having a clue how to make it.  Mark has two teenage sons who are very different from one another yet share affection for their two cats.

Tim Watson

is Rector of Holy Cross Hackett in Canberra. He studied history and French and worked as a uni lecturer before moving to France in 2002 to join an ecumenical religious community, Chemin Neuf, which grew out of the 1970s charismatic renewal. It was there that he met his wife Kate, an Australian Roman Catholic. Tim was ordained in 2011 and ministered in different contexts in the UK before discerning God’s call to move with his family to Australia in 2018. An experienced musician, Tim has a passion for creative worship that brings together the best of traditional and contemporary styles.

Dave Perryman

is Priest in Charge of the Avon and Bishop’s Chaplain in the Diocese of Gippsland. Dave started out at KFC (which he still regularly advertises in sermons) and worked in the industry for 11 years before entering ministry. He is married to Emma and they have 4 children.
Whilst Dave is relatively new in ministry, he has a passion for new ways of worship and being church. He enjoys thinking creatively and drawing out the gifts of others. Dave seeks to see a church that embraces the vibrance of its diversity and walk the journey together. Dave enjoys playing cricket, video games and music.

Alisha Moyle

Alisha grew up in Gippsland with a Franciscan upbringing. After 10 years in the legal field, she returned to answer the vocational call to pioneer ministry within the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Theology (Melbourne School of Theology)  towards Ordination, with an interest in Franciscan theology and pioneering ministry with a heart for the Anglican Church. In her lay ministry role and calling, her passion is for pioneering the Gippsland Anglican Young Adults Movement established via Synod in 2019 (co-led with Rev. Dave Perryman), from the heart of The Abbey at Raymond Island. Hence, the calling to respond to the invitation in a working partnership with ARNA for future generations – looking forward to what God reveals! In her sabbath time, you will find her at the ocean, writing, socialising with friends or in the heart of the city.

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