Call Waiting … & Answering

Our season of Easter moves from shock and awe to call in a matter of weeks. At the end of March we were uplifted in Easter’s joy and, before we had time to catch our breath, Jesus is calling, re-calling and re-membering disciples at a great clip.

Bewildered disciples and potentials (collective noun – a bewilderment of disciples?) are caught fishing, blinded on the highway and given dream therapy, as part of a jigsaw of invitation from the risen Christ.

Paul’s call is one of the new order, meeting the risen Christ in mystery, rather than face to face, a sign for the church of which we are now an inheritor.

The business of call is rarely a comfortable, or convenient one. A friend of mine used to say “I don’t mind where I am called, as long as God doesn’t ask me to go to Africa.” Her most recent ministry was in Hillston, so I’m not sure about comparisons.

Many of you now know that I have been called, and appointed, to the role of Moderator of the NSW & ACT Synod of our Uniting Church. This role commences in September next year, and until that time, I am the “Moderator Elect”.

The role of the Moderator is a pastoral and prophetic one to the church and the community. It is not an administrative task – that belongs to others. So my call to this ministry is to exercise my particular gifts for the whole church.

I am sad that this came in such a surprising way for our Congregation, but the need for confidentiality seemed to outweigh any other concerns. I was only able to tell a few of our leaders and couple of other critical people in the days before the Synod meeting.

I want to be very clear; I love being the Minister at Southside. I rejoice in our shared idiosyncrasies and achievements. I celebrate our journey together, and our efforts to be God’s people in God’s world, bearing witness to Jesus Christ. This call is a reflection of God calling me to a new place – a challenging, rigorous, blessing.

I want to have the opportunity to meet with as many of our Congregation who wish to about this – to ask questions, to talk about how we are feeling, to pray, rejoice and even be sad together. I am humbled by the many promises of prayer for me, for Fiona, Mim and Rach, and for the Church, in the last week, offered by friends and new friends from all over the place.

Please be assured of my continued commitment to Southside, for our mission and ministry plans as we adjust – together – to what God is asking all of us. We will continue talking with Tamworth City and Peel Valley Congregations about our future and explore what we might share and discover together.

Please pray for me, for each other, for Southside and for our whole Uniting Church as we move into this new call. And please, if you want to chat, flick me a text, pop me an email, rip through the office, or even ring me!

Grace and peace.