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Synod celebrates ministries

The Moderator Rev Bruce Johnson (right) welcomes newly ordained minister Rev Bruce Raymond

In a moving celebration of ministries the Synod honoured the memory of ministers who had died since the last Synod, gave thanks for those who have retired or are retiring and recognised those commencing ministry.

Former Moderator and retiring minister Rev Dr Ray Reddicliffe welcomed the time of transition which for him had highlighted the importance of personal relationships while the Rev Alan O’Hara lamented the changes in ministry styles.

“It saddens me that home visitation and pastoral care are things of the past,” Rev O’Hara said.

Rev Robert Weyer retiring after 34 years of ministry spoke of the importance of preaching in his ministry.

“Through persistent struggling for word picture, stories, turns of phrase, good structure, humour and other emotions, God’s word comes alive as I preach first to myself and then to others,” he said.

Rev Kaye Hacker saw retirement as just another step along her ministry journey.

“I have retired now but I am still a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia and will always be so. The call of God on my life is still there.”

Other retiring ministers included Rev Kevin Bachler, Rev Malcolm Bottrill, Rev Jan Chalmers, Rev Les Comollatti, Rev Phillip Hulme, Rev Bernie Jarius, Rev Dr Dennis Robinson, Rev Harold Strong, Rev Ruth Harding and Rev Colin Weightman.

Rev Robyn Kidd and Rev Peter Lockhart told the stories of those who had died since the 26th Synod.

These were Pastor Vern Edwards, Rev Jack Dregmans, Rev Bevan Favelle, Rev Ian Graham, Rev Robert Harris, Rev Lalomilo Lima, Pastor Benjamin Schultz, Rev James Sweet, Rev Antony Telgenhof, Rev Nevin Vawser and Rev Keith Warner.

Newly ordained ministers since the 26th Synod were Rev Peter Taubner, Rev Brian Kickbush, Rev Jeanette Gillam and Rev Bruce Raymond. Mr Peter Gavill was commissioned as a Youth Worker and Mr Dave Thomas as a Community Minister.

A MP3 audio recording of the memorial minutes read at the 27th Synod of the Uniting Church Queensland Synod on 2 November 2008 honouring the memory of those ministers who had died since the 26th Synod are available HERE (3.4MB)

Photo : The Moderator Rev Bruce Johnson (right) welcomes newly ordained minister Rev Bruce Raymond