Ivan Lee (bishop)

Lee's parents immigrated to Australia from Guangzhou province, China, in the 1950s.[8] Lee describes his family as having been culturally Buddhist; he was excused from mandatory Christian religious instruction at James Cook Boys high school along with other non-Christian students.[8] Lee converted to Christianity at a church-run summer camp and later "horrified" his immigrant parents by taking a year off from medical school at the University of New South Wales to study at Moore Theological College.[8] He completed a theology degree instead of returning to medical school.[8]

Lee served as a presbyter in Manly, Beverly Hills and Merrylands.[8] He worked for eight years as an assistant minister at St Jude's, Carlton, in Melbourne,[9] then became rector of St Aidan's Church in Hurstville Grove.[8]

Lee was elected as bishop of the Western Region in December 2002 by the Diocese of Sydney's standing committee,[1] and was consecrated as bishop on 20 December 2002.[2]

As bishop, Lee took a traditionalist position on the question of women preaching,[8] and on same-sex marriages, stating that, "We don't hold this position as a matter of mere tradition but as the scriptures dictate."[10][11] Lee was part of the leadership of GAFCON.[12][13]

Lee also took public positions opposing racism and, in particular, criticising the anti-immigration positions taken by Drew Fraser, citing the Bible as his authority that "there is equality between all people".[14]

Lee died on 4 March 2020 after having pancreatic cancer for the previous four years.[2]