Last week
I ran in the Auckland Half Marathon.
The event is not as iconic as the New York Marathon, which was to run on
Sunday. The crowds in Auckland
were not as big as New York – only 45,000 in Auckland, compared to the estimated 2
million who line the streets of the 5 Boroughs’ of New York. But however big or small the crowds
are, one can still feel the power of the crowd support. In Devonport, we ran past 5 kids who
had had a sleep over and were sitting on the front lawn at 7am - cheering us
on. At the finish line there were
hundreds, 7 or 8 rows deep. And
they clapped and cheered for all of us, though they didn’t know who we were, and we
didn't know most of them. That
support gave each of us a palpable surge of energy and a strong sense that we could
finish – no
matter how much we were hurting.
Today I
want to celebrate the support that I have received from many people in the
church as I finish this race, and to acknowledge that without you our
ministries would be nearly impossible.
• Rebecca, my wife and best
friend, who has put up with all the nights and weekends away, and all the stuff
that the church has asked of me, and thrown at us.
• Letitia and Jacinta, our
amazing daughters – your
welcome home is always worth coming home to.
• The Mission Resourcing
Team – Nehu, Esme, Andrew.
• Aso, who was president
when I was ordained, is far more than a colleague and director. He has become a very close friend – wise, prayerful, deeply
caring.
• The Mission Resourcing
Board, and especially Marilyn Welch and Hamish Ott as Chairs
• All of the Synod
Superintendents, Presidents and Vice Presidents, both General Secretaries, and
many many other colleagues and friends – lay and ordained (I don’t distinguish)
• Diana Tana and members of
Hui Poari, who welcomed me warmly on my visits
• Our Korean Ministry
colleagues, and all our conversations and meals.
These
seven years have been a roller coaster ride.
Aso and I
started in the Board of Ministry days, seven years ago.
We have
experienced 3 different forms of Governance, including the Commissioner John
Hinchcliff.
For very
different reasons, we have had 6 Board chairs – 8 if you count the various
reincarnations of Michael Greer
We have
lived through the illness and death of our dearest friend, colleague and
pastor, Andre Le Roux.
I’ve been privileged to go to
South Korea and South Africa – and to be part of the writing and signing of the statement
of intent with the Seoul South Annual Conference this year.
I’ve visited every synod at
least twice, have been Tauiwi EO twice, have served and led 21 Tauiwi Strategy
meetings, and have been privileged to serve on various national ecumenical
Boards and committees on behalf of the church (hospital chaplaincy, uniting
congregations, fresh Expressions, church life survey, NZ Christian Network, and
others).
I am not
the same as I was when I have started. This job - and you - have grown me as a
person. I have grown in faith and
understanding of God and of my fellow travellers. I've tried to lead with compassion and serve with hope.
But at the
heart of all I’ve
done has been the delightful work with congregations and my colleagues.
I’ve used the words delight and
privilege because I mean it.
It has
not always easy (understatement), but it has been an honour to lead and serve
the church as Director and Tauiwi Executive Officer.
If I
leave something with the church, I hope it is this.
The
Church doesn’t
grow –
People grow:
So grow
the people – not
buildings or committees or …
- Live in Faith, Hope and Love.
- Work harder at being colleagues who live the mandate of Jesus to “love one another”
- Build deeper faith in Jesus Christ, with each other and your communities.
- Don’t be scared to confront the bullies - whoever they are.
- Take time to share your stories and doubts with each other, and pray with and for each other.
- At the heart of your ministry, cling to the grace of growing people as disciples.
To my
Christchurch friends -stay strong in the face of tiredness and change or no
change. I know it is hard, but stay strong.
At the
end of every race we make a choice – will I run again, or is it time to hang up my shoes? There
is another race for me, and I am grateful to my friends who have encouraged me
to stay in ministry. The next race
for me will be in Australia.
Next year
we will be living in Melbourne, where I have accepted a congregational ministry
with the Uniting Church of Australia.
Australia is Rebecca’s home, and this is an exciting move for all 4 of us – with delightful new
possibilities.
The
Methodist Church of New Zealand has been a spiritual home and has provided a
fantastic ministry journey. The
thing I will miss most about all this are the friends I have made – from Riverton and Bluff to
the Bay of Islands; Familiar
voices and friendly faces. You
will forever be friends, Whanau.
Finally ...
May our
faith be greater than our fears,
our
courage greater than our cowardice,
and our
hope greater than our cynicism.
In all
things remember this; God is with us.
