Stawell resident and leader of the Stawell Church of Christ Terry Dunn has been appointed for the new role. 

His appointment was endorsed by the Churches of Christ in Victoria and Tasmania and the local congregation. 

Mr Dunn said he feels honoured to have been appointed as interim pastor. 

“I’ve been leader of the church for four years in October,” he said. 

“I was told I would be appointed to this role six weeks a go.

“On July 1 I will be officially inducted to the role.” 

Mr Dunn is a contract painter, but said he will be scaling down his work to spend more time at the church.

He also said he will be getting some income from the church for his new role at the church.

Mr Dunn said his aim as pastor will be for the church to be more involved in the life of the community. 

“I’m wanting the church to become the heart of the community again such as through our speaker program and our men’s group,” he said.  

Through Stawell’s Church of Christ Mr Dunn has run speaker programs for the community on topics such as Ross River virus, after experiencing the virus himself, and family violence. 

Mr Dunn has recently been appointed as chaplain for Stawell Men’s Shed. 

“Everyone is welcome at the church,” he said.

“I want the church to be seen as relevant to the community, as well as getting involved and supporting people in the community which is really what the church is all about.” 

Mr Dunn has worked in numerous community roles including 15 years with the State Emergency Service, with 12 of those years as a controller. 

He also worked as a social worker for seven years in the 1980s.

He later became the director of the Stawell Adult Centre for intellectually disabled people. 

Stawell resident Jenny Pearson said Mr Dunn’s appointment is an important step forward for the church.

“The appointment was welcomed with great enthusiasm and anticipation,” she said.