Ministry in Australia

talked about as "him" or "his", then I didn't want to be part of that. From then on I was very conscious of inclusive language. I have to thank Nancy Shelly, a Quaker member of the CCIA, for allowing me to experience this conversion. We became good friends and shared many CCIA tasks together.

When Bishop Desmond Tutu from South Africa came to Australia in 1984, I was as a member of the CCIA invited to a speech at St.Mark's. I was able to bring Alison and her mother along for this memorable occasion. Bishop Tutu's humour and humility left a lasting impression on me. He exuded the optimism of faith. In those days the situation in South Africa was still rather bleak. He didn't even have South African Citizenship and was travelling on a travel document, not a passport. Quoting from Ephesians 1:19, he said:

"'How great is God's power at work in us who believe. It is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death.' That strength," he said, "is in us who believe and with that strength we will win in South Africa!"

And as he said that he finished with that famous, infectious giggle. What prophetic words!

To meet people of this calibre gave me renewed strength and encouragement. I often needed a spiritual re-charge, as I found my ministry at Canberra very draining. Our monthly Theological Table Talks at the Forrest Uniting Church were another way of re-charging. Ministers in the UC and lay people were invited to present papers on various topics, which were then discussed. I presented a major paper on the church in China after returning from our Long Service Leave. These discussions were usually very interesting and stimulating. They also provided some fellowship with other ministers in the area.

We were told at College that sermon preparations should be started ideally on Tuesdays, but I rarely got around to it before Saturday mornings. By then I felt the pressure really on as I had to finish the work by the evening. I would often come home by 4 or 5 pm, quite drained, but at least everything was prepared. I never left it till Sunday mornings, or as some ministers said, they let 'the Holy Spirit prompt them' during the service, when they had no time to prepare.

As my workload mounted, some of my administrative work got left behind. The Elders suggested to take on a typist and hand over completely the weekly newsletter. At first we relied on several volunteers, but the work became too much and eventually it was decided to employ Helen Watson on a part time basis. She and her family had newly transferred their membership to our congregation, when she started as our secretary in 1986. She edited our news letter and took on other jobs, which I found most helpful. She continued in that position until well after I left Canberra.

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