REV. ADRIANNE MURIEL DEMPSTER died on Sunday 13 December, 2015
Adrianne was ordained as Minister of Deacon on the 28th February, 1998 in the New South Wales Synod. Adrianne’s story is one that is deeply connected to God and interwoven with her husband’s ministry. She served and ministered alongside Graham who was ordained as Minister of the Word one year earlier in 1997.
Before ordination, Adrianne was a qualified teacher upgrading her teaching qualification to a Bachelor of Education in 1981. She also had a great interest in netball and held significant positions for the Australian Netball Association. Adrianne’s ministry began in the early 70’s when they with their 3 children, moved from Brisbane to Canberra so Graham could become the Commonwealth’s National Fitness Adviser.
During the 70’s and 80’s Adrianne served God in teaching Sunday School, leading youth groups, choirs and bible studies. Many of these early experiences as challenging and exciting as they were, shaped and influenced her future ordained ministry. Adrianne espoused a deep and long lasting commitment to ecumenism, she worked cooperatively in team ministry and shared Christ’s love and compassion for people regardless of background and circumstance.
In 1988 in preparation for retirement at 55, they purchased a house in Tathra. God had other plans for both Graham and Adrianne. In 1990 Graham enrolled at St Mark’s to test his calling into ordained ministry and was accepted as a candidate in 1993. The Uniting Theological College offered spouses of Ministry Candidates the opportunity to take courses, so in 1994 Adrianne enrolled in a certificate course and then transferring to a Bachelor of Theology. These decisions to study were all within the framework to be a support person to Graham’s ministry. It was in 1995, when Adrianne started an 11 week intensive CPE Course for Chaplaincy, where she received a call into ordained ministry.
Adrianne and Graham’s first placement together was at South West Rocks. During this time Adrianne fulfilled roles as deputy Chairperson of the Presbytery of the Mid-North Coast, Chairperson of Parklands Cottage Respite Care Centre and on Synod Selection Panel for 5 years. She conducted an ecumenical choir for 7 years, led regular services for 3 congregations, a quarterly healing service and monthly service at a Nursing Home. They ministered and served here for 7 years until retirement in February 2005.
Since retirement, Adrianne facilitated Christian Meditation Groups in their home at Tathra and in Maleny church, attended World Community of Christian Mediators Conference in Malaysia, Ireland and Brazil, trained as leader of Christian meditation groups in 2007, led retreats for Christian meditators, supervised and mentored Lay Pastors, was a member of the Board of the Pastoral Counselling Institute, 2005 – 2008 and minute secretary for Bega Valley Advocates for Timor Leste. Adrianne also completed a 4 year course in Spiritual Direction at Kincumber, NSW.
It was in early 2009, where Adrianne and Graham transferred from NSW Synod to the Qld Synod and found in retirement a call to be Chaplains at Bluecare’s Erowal Aged Care facility in Maleny.
It was here that Adrianne and Graham made a long lasting impact on staff, volunteers and residents of Erowal, as well as the wider community of Maleny and indeed across the Blackall Range. Between them they established a choir for residents, their families, staff and volunteers. They conducted weekly worship services, provided a room closing service, memory day service for the families who had lost a loved one and pastorally cared for all people who set foot on the site. Since mid 2014 Adrianne had enjoyed retirement, again continuing to lead the weekly Meditation Group at Maleny, provide spiritual direction, be the events coordinator for weddings and funerals at Maleny and lead worship across the Blackall Range Uniting Church congregations.
Adrianne graciously, generously, humbly and sacrificially gave all to God and God’s mission. Adrianne was a faithful servant of God who fulfilled her ordination call as Minister of Deacon; she loved those within the church community and challenged them to look beyond the gathered space to those in need. She also loved others beyond the church community welcoming them in to explore God’s love for them. She was a compassionate, dignified, thoughtful, caring and quiet woman who is greatly missed.