The rainbow never sets

The Elders agreed to a segment in our morning worship where members would tell the congregation, how their christian faith influenced them in their work place. We had some very meaningful presentations in that segment, and I am sure that everyone benefited from it, presenters as well as listeners.

An Elders' retreat also dealt with a similar subject. I had felt that too often our christian faith remained in the realm of the 'private', and not spilling over into our daily life, where it really ought to find its expression.

Later that year, the Parish called Rev. Niall Reid to be their new minister. However, as Nial could not start before October 1990, they asked me to stay on until 1 July 1990. I had asked Presbytery for an early retirement owing to health reasons. I felt quite drained and unable to start a ministry in another Parish. This became fortuitous, as I was able to accept an extension of six months. As it happened, the new building also took longer to finish, and everything worked out in the end.

The first service in the new church was held on Sunday, 17 June, the dedication took place in the afternoon of that day, and our farewell service was a combined service in the new church on Sunday 1 July 1990, followed by a luncheon and farewell speeches.

The Parish gave us a wonderful farewell present. Greg Ewers, the chairperson of Parish Council said in his speech that they had wondered what to give us. They wanted to make our retired life at the beach easier for us, especially when we came home late in the evening, wondering what we would eat. I still had no idea what they were going to give us. A big and heavy parcel was handed over to us, and we still couldn't guess it then. When we opened it, it was a brand new Microwave oven with sensor cooking and automatic this and that. We had never even looked at one, as we thought we didn't need one. But this was a wonderful gift. They had put a lot of thought into it. I don't think we would have ever bought one ourselves, but in retrospect, it was really ideal for us.

Chris Dalton, the secretary of the Council of Elders, gave a beautiful farewell speech, which brought tears to my eyes. I quote it here in full:

Nearly 10 years ago a number of us in Belconnen got a bit of a shock: You were not quite what we expected; You didn't conform to the normal stereotype mould for a Minister and his wife; You were new Australians, Dieter had an accent, Dieter had previously been a businessman, Dieter was a mature entrant to the Ministry.

Very quickly we discovered just how different you were! Alison quickly found her niche, without any presumption about what she should do, or what she might have been expected to do. You didn't want to chair committees, in fact you seemed reluctant to take on obvious leadership roles. You didn't try to be all things to all people, or try to conform. You didn't try to be the ultimate authority on all items in dispute, or the fount of all knowledge. You didn't take sides. In fact, I don't think 'win' is in your vocabulary!

But you encouraged individuals' initiatives in Peace, Refugees (from Indonesia and Kampuchea), Aged care, Social justice, Small group studies, to name just some. You shared compassion, integrity and a burning vision to speak out against injustice.

What are the consequences for us, nearly ten years on? We have been forced to develop our own resources in initiating new areas of ministry and in decision making.

For me, the outstanding feature of Dieter's ministry is the robustness of our lay leadership and participation, and this is no accident. The success of the approach is illustrated by the way difficult and emotive issues have been handled, like the peace group, the church building, Stewardship Australia. All had the potential to divide us - severely. Yet we have come through, perhaps a little bruised, but wiser and stronger. Your style is not up front, yet it's a tribute to you that we have weathered these storms.

Let me expand on this a little. Have you, as a member of the congregation, ever thought how hard it might be for a Minister to 'let go and let God'? knowing he would be the first to be criticised if things went wrong, knowing that inevitably some things would go wrong, and then not trying to defend himself, regardless of whether the criticisms were fair or not.

I think Dieter has experienced this. Have you, as a member of the congregation, ever thought what a difficult congregation we might be? articulate and opinionated, highly educated, professional people with hight expectations of a Minister, yet I've rarely heard Dieter criticise anyone - despite our criticism of him!

In both these ways I belive Dieter has shown great strength of character and humility; an ability to let go and let God, at some cost to himself, but strengthening us in the process.

But any testimony to Dieter would be incomplete without mentioning him as a person, outside his ministry role. Dieter is just another person. I have appreciated getting to know him in this role, caring for an aging mother, the concerned father of four children, the importance of a day off each week to be with his family, the pride in a first grandchild, the love of the beach and coast weekends - waking others in the middle of the night to share the excitement of Halley's comet! a peace activist.

Dieter, you have been a catalyst in drawing out the skills of the congregation. You have set us an example by your strength of character and humility. You leave behind a legacy of an active, outward looking, internally strong congregation, confident and well equipped for the futute, and secure in its knowledge that God is at work through it.

I'm sure in your retirement your own personal ministry will go on, freed from the responsibilities of a parish. I'm sure, too, you will now have more time with Alison and be able to share more evenings with her.

We thank you both for all you have given this congregation and pray that God will be with you as you start this new part to your lives.

We will miss you.

The whole farewell was a most moving occasion, and I will never forget all the fine people of the Melba and Wattle Park Congregations. We had made so many friends during those nine and a half years, it was hard to leave them.