Stead was brought to Sunday school at a Gospel Chapel in Brookvale, New South Wales by his grandmother, where he became a Christian.
He also served as a visiting lecturer at Moore College, teaching in the Old Testament department and publishing a number of books (particularly on Zechariah).
[2] Stead was consecrated a bishop on 5 December 2015 by Glenn Davies, the Archbishop of Sydney.
[1] Stead was one of four nominees to replace Glenn Davies as Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, to be decided at a special election Synod in May 2021.
[4] In 2019, the Sydney Morning Herald had described Stead as one of the "leading contenders" for the position.