Geoffrey Blackburn
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Herbert Blackburn OAM
(born 7 November 1914) is a Baptist
minister, who served as Secretary and President General of the Baptist Union of Australia
.
Blackburn was born in Melbourne
in 1914, and began his ministry as a home missionary at Beechworth Baptist church in 1934. He completed his studies at the Baptist College of Victoria in 1939, obtaining B.A.
and LTh
degrees, and ministered in the parishes of Hopetoun
and Elsternwick. He also served as an army
chaplain
during World War II
.
In 1947, Blackburn was appointed as the Baptist Union of Victoria's first full-time Youth Director, during which time he completed a B.Ed. at the University of Melbourne
. He served in the capacity of Editor of Sunday School Publications from 1949 to 1972, before returning to parish ministry at Syndal until his retirement in 1986. In addition to this, Blackburn was Secretary of the Baptist Union of Australia
from 1949 to 1971, and its President General from 1971 to 1975. He also served as Vice-President of the Baptist World Alliance
from 1975 to 1980.
Blackburn obtained an M.A.
from the University of Melbourne
in 1965, examining the development of the Jewish elementary school. In 1969 he received a PhD
from the same institution. His doctoral thesis involved methods of biblical study in the Early Christian Church
. He also obtained a DMin from Fuller Theological Seminary
in 1991, writing on cross-cultural ministry.
Blackburn was granted the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1998 for "service to the Baptist church". The Geoffrey Blackburn Library at Whitley College is named in his honour, and he was one of the inaugural inductees into the Camberwell Grammar School
Gallery of Achievement. Rowland Croucher
has described Blackburn as one of the four most admired Australian Baptists, alongside G.H. Morling
, F. W. Boreham and Noel Vose.
Since his 'retirement' Blackburn has engaged in several 'interim' ministries in Victorian churches, including Heathmont and Diamond Valley
Baptist Churches. He is currently the Pastoral Care
minister at Scots' Church, Melbourne
. He is married to Jessie, and has two children and five grandchildren.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 7 November 1914) is a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister, who served as Secretary and President General of the Baptist Union of Australia
Baptist Union of Australia
The Baptist Union of Australia is the oldest and largest national cooperative body of Baptists in Australia. Its current National President is Reverend Dr John Beasy. The BUA is now known as Australian Baptist Ministries - ABM...
.
Blackburn was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1914, and began his ministry as a home missionary at Beechworth Baptist church in 1934. He completed his studies at the Baptist College of Victoria in 1939, obtaining B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and LTh
LTH
Acronym LTH has multiple meanings.* Lunds Tekniska Högskola, Faculty of Engineering at Lund University* Luteotropic hormone, also called Prolactin* Link Theory Holdings, the Japanese fashion company...
degrees, and ministered in the parishes of Hopetoun
Hopetoun, Victoria
Hopetoun is a town which serves as the major service centre for the Southern Mallee area of Victoria, Australia. Hopetoun is situated 400 kilometres north-west of Melbourne on the Henty Highway in the Shire of Yarriambiack...
and Elsternwick. He also served as an army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1947, Blackburn was appointed as the Baptist Union of Victoria's first full-time Youth Director, during which time he completed a B.Ed. at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. He served in the capacity of Editor of Sunday School Publications from 1949 to 1972, before returning to parish ministry at Syndal until his retirement in 1986. In addition to this, Blackburn was Secretary of the Baptist Union of Australia
Baptist Union of Australia
The Baptist Union of Australia is the oldest and largest national cooperative body of Baptists in Australia. Its current National President is Reverend Dr John Beasy. The BUA is now known as Australian Baptist Ministries - ABM...
from 1949 to 1971, and its President General from 1971 to 1975. He also served as Vice-President of the Baptist World Alliance
Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance is a worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations, formed in 1905 at Exeter Hall in London during the first Baptist World Congress.-History:...
from 1975 to 1980.
Blackburn obtained an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
in 1965, examining the development of the Jewish elementary school. In 1969 he received a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the same institution. His doctoral thesis involved methods of biblical study in the Early Christian Church
Early Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
. He also obtained a DMin from Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
in 1991, writing on cross-cultural ministry.
Blackburn was granted the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1998 for "service to the Baptist church". The Geoffrey Blackburn Library at Whitley College is named in his honour, and he was one of the inaugural inductees into the Camberwell Grammar School
Camberwell Grammar School
Camberwell Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day school for boys, located in Canterbury, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
Gallery of Achievement. Rowland Croucher
Rowland Croucher
Rowland Croucher is an Australian pastor, counsellor and author.Brought up in the Open Brethren in Sydney, following a five-year career as a high-school teacher, Croucher began training in 1964 for the Baptist ministry in New South Wales...
has described Blackburn as one of the four most admired Australian Baptists, alongside G.H. Morling
George Morling
George Henry Morling was Principal of the NSW Baptist College from 1921 to 1960. Morling also served as President General of the Baptist Union of Australia from 1962 to 1964....
, F. W. Boreham and Noel Vose.
Since his 'retirement' Blackburn has engaged in several 'interim' ministries in Victorian churches, including Heathmont and Diamond Valley
Diamond Creek, Victoria
Diamond Creek is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Nillumbik...
Baptist Churches. He is currently the Pastoral Care
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
minister at Scots' Church, Melbourne
Scots' Church, Melbourne
The Scots' Church, a Presbyterian church in Melbourne, Australia, was the first Presbyterian Church to be built in the Port Phillip District . It is located in Collins Street and is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Australia...
. He is married to Jessie, and has two children and five grandchildren.