The Revd Professor Robert Gribben is a long time leader in the Methodist movement and the ecumenical movement, and was one of the founding fathers of the Uniting Church in Australia. He was particularly involved in the production of the UCA’s first prayer book. After a ministry chiefly in rural, suburban and central city congregations, he retired as Professor of Worship and Mission at the Centre for Theology and Mission, Melbourne, in 2009. He has been a member of the Christian Unity Working Group since 1994, and its Chair 1995- 2004, serving also on the Anglican-UCA dialogue 2003-2012. He was General Secretary of the Victorian Council of Churches 1989-1995. He served as Ecumenical Lecturer in the Church of England theological college in Lincoln, UK from 1980-84, and was tutor at the WCC Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Switzerland, 1984-84. From 1999 he has been a UCA representative on the World Methodist Council, and since 2001 has chaired its Standing Committee on Ecumenical Relationships, was co-chair of its international dialogue with the Anglican Communion and co-author of its recent report, and a consultant to similar dialogues with the Salvation Army, the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Churches and the Baptist World Alliance.
In the midst of our world, with its trials, sins, hunger, and longing for the rule of love, the prayer of Jesus leads us back to our loving God and Father.