I’m sometimes asked for a Bio/CV when I’m speaking here or there. Here’s a bare-bones version of it (with still much more than most will need) :

REV. DR. ROWLAND C. CROUCHER

(DIRECTOR, JOHN MARK MINISTRIES)

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name : Rev. Dr. Rowland C. Croucher BA, BD, MEd, LTh, DipRE, DMin

1. BIODATA:

Born in Sydney, N.S.W. in the 1930s

Parents Reg and Sadie Croucher (‘Open Brethren’, both now deceased)

Married (for 54 years) to Janice nee Higgs. She served as an ordained pastor on the staff of three Baptist churches: then until recently associate pastor for pastoral care East Doncaster Baptist Church; BA, BTheol, LTh, DipRE.

Four adult children: one son, three daughters (all with post-graduate degrees), six grandchildren (33 to 8).

Hobbies: Family, fine music, reading, writing, most sports, chess, checkers.

2. EDUCATION: Mortdale Primary School (Sydney) 1943-1949. Sydney Boys’ High School (1950-1954): Leaving Certificate, Commonwealth Scholarship. University of Sydney, 1955-1956. Bathurst Teachers’ College, 1957-1958: athletics blue, top male academic honours, ‘A’ practice teaching grade. N.S.W. Baptist Theological College, 1964-1968: Sister Sanders Scholarship, college awards for dux (each year), theology (twice) and preaching. Ordination, N.S.W. Baptist ministry September 24, 1968. L.Th., Dip. R.E., Melbourne College of Divinity, 1966, 1968.  BA, University of New England,1969 (Majors – English, modern American literature). M.Ed., University of Sydney, 1974:  Educational Psychology, Education and Social Change, Sociology and Education, Communication and Educational Technology; Long Essay: ‘The Diffusion of Innovations in Religious Organizations’). BD, Melbourne College of Divinity, 1979, majoring in pastoral theology and pastoral care. Doctor of Ministry, Fuller Theological Seminary, 1990: Theology of Ministry, Theology and Practice of Preaching, Spirituality for Ministry, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Renewal in Church and Ministry. Manuscript for publication: ‘Your Church Can Come Alive: A Practical Handbook for Pastors and Church Leaders’ (409 pp.). Began PhD. Monash University (demitted in the 1990s). 

3. VOCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

Preaching since age 13 (and non-stop since: in 38 countries, 700+ churches in most Christian denominations).

Vacation/ part-time jobs : Sales assistant, taxi-driving (1964-1971), tram conducting, lift-driving (Sydney pylon lookout), salesman (books, subscriptions to charity), labourer, factory storeman, geography teacher St. Andrews’ Cathedral Choir School, Sydney; national service (infantry – 1956, 1957).

Teaching : Five years in N.S.W. State high schools 1959-1963 (English, Social Studies). NSW Baptist Theological College 1967-1968 (English, New Testament Greek); Sydney Missionary and Bible College 1966-1968 (Communication theory, NT); Bible College of Victoria 1974, 1976, 1978, 1981 (Communication Theory). Doctor of Ministry intensives: Baptist Theological College Malaysia (four times), Bible College of NZ, Fuller Seminary (Spirituality for Ministry), Melbourne College of theology. Other: Harvest Bible College, Tabor College (Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney) – and many others…

Staff-worker Intervarsity Fellowship , working with Christian student groups in Australian and PNG universities and colleges, 1968-1970.

News-writer/broadcaster for Christian Broadcasting Association, Sydney, (1971-1972).

Senior Pastor, Narwee Baptist Church, Sydney (1964-1967) with two other staff; Blackburn Baptist Church, Victoria (1973-1981), with 25 salaried staff, 7 pastors; First Baptist Church Vancouver B.C. (1981-1982), nine staff. Plus associate and interim ministries from two weeks to 18 months in other churches: Ashfield, Ettalong, Sydney Central, Gymea, Narwee (NSW), Wandin, GlenEira (Vic.) Baptist Churches; St. Martins’ Community Church, Collingwood. 

Leadership Enhancement Consultant with World Vision of Australia, a resource to clergy and lay church leaders (1983-91). Seminars: Your Church Can Come Alive, Church Growth, Stress and Spirituality in Ministry, Time Management, Ministry as Empowerment, The Mission of the Church: Justice, Compassion, Evangelism; Christian Leadership etc.

From April 1 1991 Director John Mark Ministries – a specialised ministry to Australia’s and the world’s pastors, ex-pastors, church leaders and their spouses.

National Chaplain: Freedom2B (LGBTI community)

4. PUBLICATIONS: BOOKS

1986/1996 RECENT TRENDS AMONG EVANGELICALS, 96 pp. (Also translated into Portugese) (Albatross/John Mark Ministries)

1987 STILL WATERS DEEP WATERS: Meditations and Prayers for Busy People , (Ed.), (Sydney: Albatross; England: Lion Publishing; also published in India). (Reprinted many times: about 35,000 in print).

1991 HIGH MOUNTAINS DEEP VALLEYS: Meditations and Prayers for the Down Times (Albatross/Lion 393 pp.).

1991 RIVERS IN THE DESERT: Meditations and Prayers for the Dry Times (Albatross/Lion).

1992 GENTLE DARKNESS: Meditations and Prayers for Illumination (Albatross/Lion).

1991/1997YOUR CHURCH CAN COME ALIVE: A Practical Handbook for Pastors and Church Leaders (J.B.C.E., 1991, JMM 1997). 1991 GROW: Meditations and Prayers for New Christians (JBCE)

1993 LIVE: More Meditations and Prayers for Christians (JBCE).

1996 THE FAMILY: At Home in a Heartless World (HarperCollins)

1996 SUNRISE SUNSET: Prayers and Meditations for Every Day of the Year (HarperCollins).

1997: GENTLE DARKNESS (Albatross/Lion): final book in the Still Waters series, with an index to all five in the series.

2014 (Forthcoming): Q&R (Questions & Responses): The Thirty Most Difficult Questions I’ve Ever Been Asked (Mosaic Press, Melbourne). 

Booklets etc.: chapters in various books; 50+ Television programs; 100-200+ journal articles, 100+ hours radio programs, editor GRID (World Vision of Australia’s Leadership Letters – quarterly: 23,000 circulation).

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher 

jmm.org.au   [email protected]

Updated February 2014.