Diakonia UCA

Minute of Appreciation – Rev Heather Selwood (Qld Synod 2012)

Rev Heather Selwood has served as a Minister of Deacon since her ordination on the 30th June 1997. While it is her retirement from this ministry which is being acknowledged at this time, she has known and served Christ for the whole of her life, and that life of discipleship will continue in the years of retirement. Prior to her training for ministry, Heather had been an occupational therapist, living in rural towns where John worked as a school teacher, and she had completed a Diploma in Religious Education. It was while living in Laidley that Heather and John responded to a call to ordained ministry. Heather has served in two settlements – Laidley for 3 years, and for the past 12 years in Kingaroy-Kumbia-Wondai-Proston.
Heather has exercised a ministry alongside John, and the strength of their marriage relationship has flowed into their working together in ministry. Heather‟s ministry has been multi-faceted reflecting her many gifts and skills, and has been exercised with love and grace, and with competence and commitment.
Heather worked with Laidley Crisis Care and Blue Care Respite in Laidley, and as a Blue Care Chaplain in Kingaroy and Murgon. In Kingaroy she taught a Lay Hospital Chaplaincy Course for members of the Inland Zone. Her ministry in these areas have shown wisdom, sensitivity and warm acceptance of those amongst whom she has ministered.
These pastoral care skills have also been exercised on the Pastoral Relations Committee of the Mary Burnett Presbytery, in her support of newly appointed lay pastors in the Inland Zone of the Presbytery, her standing alongside lay people who were learning how to conduct funerals in their local congregations, and her general availability to those who sought her guidance.
Heather has enjoyed preaching and leading worship, and has done so with prayerfulness and creativity. Her skills as a pianist have always been offered when required, and her willingness to play for worship at Presbytery meetings and Retreats has been much appreciated. Heather possesses excellent administrative skills and gives attention to detail which has contributed to the ministry of the local congregation, the Zone and the Presbytery.
Along with John, she has served the Presbytery and Synod, and various conferences and seminars, in managing the technologies which have enabled the smooth running of these meetings.
Heather‟s many gifts and skills have been made available to Christ and the Church, and these have been offered competently and humbly where required. She has shown wisdom and insight, thoughtfulness and care, based in a deep and loving relationship with Jesus Christ. We give thanks for Heather‟s ministry, and for the ways in which she has touched the lives of so many people with the love and care of God. Heather‟s sense of humour, her warm hospitality, her warmth and acceptance of people has been a hallmark of her ministry. We pray that Heather and John will have a healthy and blessed retirement, and know that Heather will continue to be a blessing in the lives of many in the years ahead.

Personal Reflection
Having come into ordained ministry as a “mature aged student‟, there was some adjustment to the academic life, especially as our own family were also studying at the time. Through that time, and the following years in parishes, my sense of call from God was always very strong and carried me through times of difficulty and doubt. John and I were called at the same time, and have worked together, and I am very thankful for that. I believe that we have complemented one another in our roles and what we have been able to offer to the church.
Having been in lay ministry roles for many years before our ordinations, we had extra understanding of, and feeling for, the ways in which congregational members contribute to the life of the church. It is they who continue the work when ministers move on (or retire), and maintain the church‟s presence in the community. I believe that it is vital for the church to work within the community, especially through the agencies of UnitingCare. As a deacon, this has been an emphasis for me, although I do consider that it should be an important part of every minister‟s role. The church expresses its mission in the community by means of its agencies, the agencies gain another (critical) dimension to their service, and the people of the community who are served receive so much more. God‟s hands rests on his people when they have a common purpose with their Lord. I thank the church for the opportunity to be enabled to answer God‟s call over the past 15 years.