[2] English born, he grew up in Canberra, attending Deakin High School.
He received a Bachelor of Education from the University of Canberra in 1979 and worked as a school teacher.
In 1996 he was awarded a Bachelor's degree in Theology from the Sydney College of Divinity and was made a deacon in 1995 and a priest the following year.
He was awarded a Master of Ministry from the School of Theology at Charles Sturt University in 2022 with a focus on Pastoral (Professional) Supervision.
Stead served as a priest in the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn and was collated as an Archdeacon and installed as Rector of the Parish of St John's Wagga Wagga in 2004.