Read Pastor Stephen's announcement made to the congregations of the parish on January 27, 2008.
It is with a strange mixture of feelings I announce that I have been led to accept the call to Australian Lutheran College (the Seminary of the LCA where pastors, teachers and lay workers are trained) as Lecturer in Pastoral Theology (specialising in counselling).
I have to say that, as I look back over the last weeks since receiving this call, I have basically known from the beginning that God was leading me to accept it. Since then I have been attending to the due process of considering a call: praying, testing the immediate impressions, checking on details relating to housing and schooling for our children, and other matters related to the position itself. All this careful consideration and discussion we have done has only confirmed the conclusion that God is indeed calling me to take up this call.
It will be a huge change, after almost 19 years of parish ministry with its weekly pattern of preaching and leading public worship, and pastoral care, teaching and counselling, to go back to academic life. Part of me is looking forward to it and part of me is wondering how I will cope! I am aware that it will not be an easy job, with ALC facing budget cuts, lack of resources, lack of administrative assistance and other problems. Strangest of all will possibly be teaching alongside those who have been my respected (even feared) mentors.
I count being asked by the church to serve in this way a huge honour and privilege, just as I realize the weight of trust and responsibility that comes with this role, being one of those who trains and shapes the pastors and teachers and church workers for the future of the church.
I will be going back to tertiary study again, part time – this time to gain further postgraduate qualifications in pastoral counselling. After 20 years of doing it in actual pastoral practice, it will be kind of strange to go back to studying it – the life long journey of learning and growing continues.
I will also teach part time right from the start, taking over more of my full time lecturing load as my study load gets lighter over the next 2-3 years. At this stage I am not yet sure what exact outcome this postgraduate study will have. I am hoping that my present qualifications and experience will enable me to gain immediate entry into a doctoral program, either at ALC itself or via the Adelaide College of Divinity. This planning will be done over the next months.
We will be staying a little longer than is normal after the acceptance of calls in the church, leaving only at the end of the second school term here in Victoria, in late June. We opted for this timing to enable our children to make their transition to their new school (St John’s, Unley) more smoothly and to allow a better lead time for the planning we all (including the leaders of this parish) need to do.
At this point I want to acknowledge the wonderful way in which the members of this parish handled this situation. The way our members have been generous and supportive over this last year while I have had extra District commitments, and the way they have now handled this situation shows their heart for the LCA.
You have all demonstrated enormous maturity and love, and have been understanding and helpful to me despite the costs that you have had to bear. I have been able to consider this call without feeling pressured in any way by you, even though I am aware that after such a short ministry among you, some of you may well feel disappointed at facing a change again so soon.
We have been and still are very happy, settled and at home among you here. And we will be sad to leave. You have become our extended family. And we value your friendship very highly.
Over these next 5 months we still have some time together and some work to do. I plan to go on as per normal, and remain as engaged and involved as I can. I hope the time we still have can be meaningful and a blessing to us all. Thank you and God bless you.