Simon Hansford
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Notability|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Simon Hansford
BA, BTh.
| honorific-prefix = The Reverend
| image =
| caption =
| office = Moderator of the
Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of New South Wales and the ACT
| term_start = {{start_date|2017|9|29|df=y}}
| term_end = {{end_date|2023|9|14|df=y}}
| predecessor = Rev. Myung Hwa Park
| successor = Rev. Faaimata Havea Hiliau
| office2 =
| term_start2 =
| term end2 =
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|6|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sydney, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Australian
| party =
| spouse = Fiona Hansford
| relations = Richard Hansford (father)
Rupert Grove (grandfather)
| children = 2 daughters
| residence =
| education = Newington College
United Theological College,
North Parramatta
| occupation = Minister
| profession =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Simon Richard Hansford (born 3 June 1963) is an Australian Uniting Church minister who served as Moderator of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of New South Wales & ACT between 2017 and 2023.{{cite web |url=https://nswact.uca.org.au/about-us/moderator/ |title=Moderator Rev. Simon Hansford |publisher=Uniting Church in Australia Synod of NSW & ACT |accessdate=29 September 2017}} He is known for his advocacy of changing drug laws in New South Wales[https://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/7082100/church-advocates-compassionate-drug-reform-to-save-more-regional-lives/ The Northern Daily Leader Simon Hansford leads case for drug law reform] Retrieved 7 June 2024.[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/07/we-will-save-lives-in-regional-australia-by-treating-drug-use-as-a-health-issue-not-a-criminal-one The Guardian We will save lives in regional Australia by treating drug use as a health issue, not a criminal one] Retrieved 7 June 2024. for his support of the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum[https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/tension-over-church-stances-on-voice-20230924-p5e75t.html SMH Tension over church stances on Voice] Retrieved 7 June 2024. and that there is there is no place for domestic and family violence in his church.[https://victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/content/dcj/dcj-website/dcj/community-inclusion/multicultural-communities/resources-for-religious-and-community-leaders/religious-and-community-leaders-speak-about-domestic-family-violence/reverend-simon-hansfords-message.html NSW Communities and Justice] Retrieved 7 June 2024.
Birth and family
Hansford was born in Sydney, the son of Barbara (née Grove) and Richard Hansford. His maternal grandfather was Rupert Grove (1906–1982), of whom the Australian Dictionary of Biography states: "in the progression towards the union of the Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Australia, Grove made a decisive impact."[http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/grove-rupert-howard-12572 Australian Dictionary of Biography – Rupert Howard Grove (1906–1982)] Retrieved 24 January 2017, Rupert Grove and his son-in-law, Richard Hansford, were partners in the Sydney legal firm McCoy, Grove & Atkinson.[http://mccoygroveatkinson.com History of McCoy, Grove and Atkinson 1887—2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531122608/http://mccoygroveatkinson.com/ |date=31 May 2017 }} Retrieved 24 January 2017.
Education
Hansford attended Newington College (1970–1980) commencing in the Preparatory School at Lindfield.Newington College Register of Past Students 1863-1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 82 He studied for the ministry at the United Theological College (1988-1990) at North Parramatta, which is now a part of Charles Sturt University.
Clerical life
His first ministry placement was in Dubbo, New South Wales, in 1991. After 12 years in Dubbo[http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/807938/reverend-hansford-to-step-down-from-st-andrews-pulpit/ Daily Liberal – Reverend Hansford to step down from St Andrew's pulpit] Retrieved 8 November 2016. he spent three years in Queanbeyan. He then served as Presbytery Minister in north-western NSW for seven years before his 2012 appointment as the Minister of Southside Uniting Church in Tamworth.
Marriage and children
Hansford is married to Fiona and they have two daughters, Rachel and Miriam.[http://www.insights.uca.org.au/features/finding-our-new-way-forward-in-the-grace-of-jesus-christ-rev-simon-hansford-is-moderator-elect Insights – Rev. Simon Hansford is Moderator Elect] Retrieved 8 November 2016.
References
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