Man charged with rape and guilty of family violence ordained in Tasmanian church

Mathew Harrison (left) is ordained as a deacon by Deloraine Seventh-day Adventist church pastor Darryl Groves (right) in March. ( YouTube: Deloraine Seventh Day Adventist Church ) A man with criminal convictions for family violence and who has pleaded not guilty to a rape charge has been appointed to the role of deacon at a northern Tasmanian Seventh-day Adventist church.

A deacon's role is to help members of the congregation "grow in their spiritual journey" and involves visiting church members. The Seventh-day Adventist Church says it condemns all forms of violence and that "the safety, dignity and wellbeing of all individuals is of the utmost importance".

A man with criminal convictions for family violence who is also facing a rape charge has recently been ordained as a deacon at a northern Tasmanian church. Mathew Murray Harrison, 41, was convicted in the Launceston Magistrates Court in October 2024 of three family violence charges, and was sentenced to four months' jail, wholly suspended for two years.

Magistrate Evan Hughes found the three counts of common assault proven. According to the charge sheet from police, Mr Harrison attempted to headbutt the victim twice, punched her in the face, choked her and threw her. Separately, he has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape.

That case remains before the District Court in Queensland. Mr Harrison was ordained as a deacon at the Seventh-day Adventist church in Deloraine during the service on March 28. The roles of a deacon in the Seventh-day Adventist Church include visiting church members.

( ABC News: Greg Szabo ) At the service, Pastor Darryl Groves said it would be Mr Harrison's role to "come alongside of our church members and to help them to grow in their spiritual journey". "Lord, we just want to thank you and praise you for bringing Mathew to our congregation to lead in this very special way," he said.

Pastor Darryl Groves (right) led a prayer during Mathew Harrison's ordination as a deacon.

( YouTube: Deloraine Seventh Day Adventist Church ) According to the position description, the role of deacon within the Seventh-day Adventist Church includes the following responsibilities: The position description also notes that it is a requirement that all deacons working in a "child-related role" have cleared a working with children check or equivalent.

In Tasmania, that means a working with vulnerable people check. As part of this, a background check and risk assessment are done, which include a national criminal history check that looks at convictions from criminal offences, all spent convictions, any pending charges that have not yet been decided by a court, and any charges that have been finalised but that did not result in a conviction.

It is not clear whether Mr Harrison's role is considered "child-related" by the church. Seventh-day Adventist Church policy stipulates that deacons in a "child-related" role must have a working with children check. ( ABC News: Greg Szabo )