Author: Sandy

(Story originally published in Crosslight, written by Deb Bennett 2015)

Rev Deacon Jean Mayers has been a minister with the Uniting Church for 12 years, for the last five at Numurkah and Nathalia/Picola churches. While juggling commitments as a minister in three congregations with grandmother duties would be enough for most 77 year olds, Jean decided that she wanted more of a challenge.

Last year, Jean decided that she wanted to ‘trade places’ for a month with a minister from the Church of North India (CNI).

Jean spoke with her long-time friend and Bishop of the Church of North India (CNI), Bishop Samantaroy (Bunu), who shared her excitement at the idea.

“The aim of the exchange was to ‘swap places’ – to be totally submerged in each other’s church and to learn from one another’s ministry, comparing and contrasting with one’s own, each other’s cultures and customs,” Jean said.

After consulting with a myriad of people throughout the Uniting Church – church councils, presbytery, moderator and general secretary, and UnitingWorld – it became clear that this initiative had not been undertaken before. Although all expressed enthusiasm, Jena found there was little anyone could offer in the way of practical advice.

Rev Vijay Kumar was chosen by Bishop Bunu to take part in the exchange. The congregations of Numurkah and Nathalia/Picola helped to pay for Vijay’s visit, and UnitingWorld offered to pay for his travel insurance. April of this year was chosen as the time for the swap to take place, as the weather in both countries would not be too challenging.

Mindful of the difficulties inherent in overseas travel, Jean said she also planned well in advance in case there was a “spanner in the works’. As she explained, there were plenty of those.

“I had had previous experience in sponsoring an Indonesian deaconess on a visit some eight years ago and so was aware of the difficulties which can arise – especially with visas,” Jean said.

It turned out Jean was right to be concerned. After a lot of paper work and phone calls, the visa was finally granted after the Office of the Minister for Immigration intervened in the week Vijay was due to depart.

In the meantime, Jean’s congregation were busy preparing for Vijay’s visit.

“It was decided that a month would be a good period of time for the exchange,” Jean said.

“Time tables were drawn up for both of us in order that we experience day-to-day life as a minister in each other’s placement; a ‘Vijay committee’ was formed consisting of people from my congregations, and roles and jobs assigned.”

Vijay finally arrived on 25 March this year, a week before Jean headed off to India.

Jean arrived in Delhi on 1 April and flew on to Amritsar. She describes her experience in India as truly ‘life changing’. While issues such as poverty and the unjust caste system were challenging, the faith of the people in the face of adversity was inspiring.

“To hear of female infanticide from mothers, talk with people recovering from HIV, and to see how UnitingWorld – on our behalf – is helping in education, brought forth mixed feelings including powerlessness, anger and admiration at the way people made the best of their lives.

“I was invited to preach in the Amritsar Cathedral and participated in worship, aided by an English speaking interpreter with the Hindi speaking congregation. Home praying and laying-on of hands, pastoral visiting, Easter foot-washing, praying in the cemetery, Bible study, requests from pregnant women praying for a son, driving out demons, made up aspects of my daily time table.”

While understanding the cultural and economic reasons why women wanted boys, Jean explained she declined the invitation to pray for a son.

“I learned that 99 per cent of the congregation had been members of the Dalit caste (lowest caste in the Hindu caste system) and that they are very passionate about their faith and love of God. There were differences when compared with my ministry, such as administering communion to 400 communicants compared with 60 at Numurkah.

“Nevertheless there were many similarities in both the Indian and Australian experience. It truly was a learning experience.”

Jean stayed in Amritsar for a week after Vijay returned so they could discuss their experiences together. Both agreed the exchange had been a successful learning experience.

When asked, Jean is unsure who suffered the greatest culture shock.

“It took both of us a couple of weeks to settle back into our respective placements and we both suffered stomach upsets and sleeplessness on return. After seeing so much deprivation, I found it hard to adjust to my western lifestyle; Vijay of course had experienced western excesses and comparative luxury. How much harder it must have been for him on his return.”

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.