Clarence Bester

Episcopal ministry

On 21 December 2019, Bester was elected as the 11th Bishop of Wangaratta, replacing John Parkes who had recently retired. Before his appointment he was required to manage the diocese's response to the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season which affected the diocese. A planned blessing of the civil same-sex marriage of two priests in the diocese resulting from that motion was called off in September 2019 after the motion was referred to the Anglican Church of Australia's appellate tribunal on its legality. In October 2019, Bester criticised the Archbishop of Sydney, Glenn Davies, for a speech asking bishops who disagreed with the church's doctrine on same-sex marriage to leave the Anglican Church.

Personal life Bester became an Australian citizen on Australia Day 2020.

Bester met his wife Michelle, a recruitment consultant, during his first ministry posting in South Africa. They have been married since 2000 and have two sons.