Gary Koo | |
---|---|
Bishop of the Western Region | |
Church | Anglican Church of Australia |
Province | Province of New South Wales |
Diocese | Diocese of Sydney |
Installed | 20 December 2019 |
Predecessor | Ivan Lee |
Orders | |
Ordination | 2006 (as deacon) 2013 (as presbyter)[1] |
Consecration | 20 December 2019 by Glenn Davies |
Personal details | |
Born | Gary Siew Leong Koo 1968 (age 55–56) |
Nationality | Australian |
Denomination | Anglicanism |
Spouse | Pearl |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | University of Sydney (medicine) Moore Theological College (theology) |
Gary Siew Leong Koo[2] (born 1968)[1] is an Australian Anglican bishop who, since 20 December 2019, has served as an assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, becoming the third Bishop of the Western Region.[3][4]
Koo was born in 1968 in Sydney, as the son of two Malaysian migrants. He was educated at James Ruse Agricultural High School[5] and then studied medicine at the University of Sydney.[6] Koo was brought up as an atheist, but the death of his mother while he was training as a doctor at University caused him to reassess his views and he converted to Christianity.[7]
After graduating from university, Koo worked as a doctor for a time.[7] He then decided to study theology at Moore Theological College.[3] and was ordained deacon in 2006 and priest (presbyter) in 2013.[6]
Koo served as a pastor and church planter for the Chinese Christian Church Sydney. He later was appointed as a minister within the Anglican Diocese of Sydney at St Paul’s Carlingford and North Rocks, where he was eventually made rector, a position which he held for seven years prior to his appointment to the episcopate.[6] He served as acting rector at Berala from 2013 to 2015.[1]
In November 2019, Koo was appointed as Bishop of the Western Region in the Sydney Diocese, a role which involves overseeing congregations in the Blue Mountains, Hills District, Hawkesbury, and Parramatta areas.[8] He replaced Bishop Ivan Lee, who was the first Anglican bishop in Australia to have a Chinese ethnic background and who moved at that time into a new episcopal role strengthening church growth.[9][3] Koo was consecrated bishop in St John's Cathedral, Parramatta by Archbishop Glenn Davies on 20 December 2019.[3]
As assistant bishop, Koo has chaired the Diocese's COVID-19 taskforce throughout 2020.[10]
Koo is married to Pearl and has two children.[6]