Bishop Paul Barker trained as an actuary before studying theology at Ridley College, Melbourne. He graduated in 1989 and was ordained deacon and then priest in Melbourne in 1990.

He was a curate in the Parish of Cranbourne in Melbourne’s South East Growth Corridor. Bishop Paul completed a PhD in Old Testament in England, 1993-6, and then served as Vicar of Holy Trinity Doncaster (1996-2009), an Examining Chaplain, Archdeacon of Box Hill (2001-2009) and Visiting Lecturer at Ridley College.

From 2009-2016, he was with the Church Missionary Society based in Malaysia, teaching in Seminari Theoloji Malaysia, as well as being a Visiting Lecturer in Old Testament and Preaching in various seminaries in India, Pakistan, Myanmar and Thailand. From 2014-2016 he was also the Asian Regional Coordinator for Langham Preaching and Langham Scholar Care, training preachers throughout Asia.

Paul was consecrated in November 2016 as Bishop for Jumbunna, part of the diocese of Melbourne comprising the outer southern and Eastern suburbs.