Gosford Anglican Church’s Famously Pro-Refugee Priest Says He’ll Run For Senate Next Election

Father Rod Bower of Gosford Anglican Church has announced he’ll run for Senate at the next federal election, joining the growing tide of independents stepping up to tell the government enough is enough.

Even if you’re not religious (or from Gosford), you’ve probably heard of Father Bower — he’s the priest behind Gosford Anglican Church’s famously progressive signs. Over the years, Bower has used those signs to slam the government’s treatment of asylum seekers, broadcast messages of support for the LGBTIQ community, and call for someone, anyone, to do something about climate change.

And now, Bower wants to have a crack at bringing those messages to federal Parliament. He announced his intention to run as an independent at a pro-refugee rally on Saturday, where he also called for kids to be evacuated from Nauru.

“I could no longer stand by and allow the ethical framework of our nation to be decomposing before our very eyes,” he said, to cheers from attendees.

“I hope to be able to take a message to our nation that says to generations to come that we will never again allow the denial of human rights to be used as a viable political strategy.”

Looking for a team to help establish a renewed ethic in #Auspol
Experience welcome! pic.twitter.com/awHhoE6I1a

— Fr Rod Bower (@FrBower) October 27, 2018

Bower said that if elected, he’ll resign as an Anglican priest. While that would be a huge loss for Gosford Anglican Church, it might just be what Canberra needs.