25 June 1952 – 20 June 2012
Michael grew up in Canberra, after leaving school he studied Political Science/History and later Political Science at ANU.
Michael went on to have an impressive carrier in the public service working with the Department of Foreign Affairs then the Department of the Special Minister of State in the newly-formed Protective Services Co-ordination Centre working in the Counter Terrorism Branch in 1978.
He later worked with Department of Defence as Executive prior to a move to The Parliament of Australia as Deputy Controller of Security, and later Private Secretary to the Minister for Defence. Michael held a range of positions leading up to ACT self government. He then went on to work with the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department.
Michael is also well known for his commitment to ecumenism and Christian Unity. He played a significant role with the local arrangement committee for the World Council of Churches Canberra Assembly in 1991.
In 1993 he took a Graduate Diploma in Religion Studies and later a Masters in Theology at the Australian Catholic University. In 1997 Michael joined the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) as the Associate General Secretary and Director, Christian World Service until 2001.
After concluding with the NCCA he went onto represent the Catholic Church both at the NCCA triennial meetings and also the NSW Ecumenical Council (NSWEC). One of Michael’s last ecumenical activities was to attend the NSWEC AGM just days before he died.
Michael also served on the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
A committed ecumenist Michael will long be remembered for his involvement in organizing the annual Good Friday Ecumenical Stations of the Cross which included the Catholic, Anglican and Uniting congregations.
The NCCA appreciates the contribution made by Michael Brown to the work of the churches, CWS and the steps he assisted in the quest for greater visible unity.
