JourneyOnline
32nd Synod members have today elected Rev David Baker for a second term as Queensland Synod moderator. Ashley Thompson catches up with David to reflect back on the first 18 months of his first term.
Ashley: Why did you put your hand up to be moderator again?
David: I was nominated by Bremer Brisbane Presbytery because they thought I still had something to offer and I was ready to offer it to the church if they wanted to take it.
A: What do you hope to improve on in your continued term?
D: Our relationships across the life of the church, our effectiveness and our purpose.
A: What unexpected things have you learnt in the role?
D: The support and love of the church. The encouragement of people and a sense that they really were looking for church to strengthen and support them. It wasn’t as lonely as I thought it would be!
A: What dangerous idea are you most excited about?
D: That we enter into silence and solitude.
A: What do you do to relax after a hard day of moderating?
D: I walk the dog. I take him down to an off-leash space and play with the dog.
A: What is the funniest thing that has happened to you at church?
D: One day, when I was doing an adult baptism, I asked the person her name and it was different from what I expected. It was a shorter name and I said, “Oh were you baptised like that?” and said she “No … I’m here to be baptised now!” *face palm* I didn’t feel stupid at all!
A: What is your favourite church weasel word?
D: Concern. We are concerned.
A: If you had $100 000 to start a mission, what would you start?
D: I would go into my community and find the unloveliest people that were there and work out how we love them.
A: What is your karaoke song?
D: “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” by The Beatles.
A: What is the ideal morning tea to serve after church?
D: Flat whites and blueberry Danishes.
