Followers of Christ are called to give thanks to God and to one another and to be encouragers. A most significant “Thank you ” took place in this week’s Synod. Herein a fine illustration of giving thanks:
A speech at the 101st Synod of the Diocese of Tasmania by Anne Brown to second a motion proposed by the Bishop of Tasmania that, This Synod give thanks to Almighty God for all that Mr Russell Morton has contributed as Registrar of the Diocese of Tasmania in building a healthy church … transforming life:
When I was asked to second a motion to thank God for you, Russell, for all you have done in our Diocese in your professional capacity, my immediate response was yes. As I thought of what I might say, I also thought of my interactions with you:
ü As a Trustee of the Diocese and more recently as Chair of Trustees
ü On a number of Diocesan committees and Boards of Anglican Agencies
ü Being asked to go on other committees and being given permission to say no
ü As a churchwarden in a parish
And I thought we should consider what Russell’s experience as Registrar, which later morphed into the role of Director of Business Services, and as Secretary to the Trustees of the Diocese and to several other committees has given him that might be useful in life after being Registrar of the Missionary Diocese of Tasmania.
Knowing that Russell has recently taken up the reins as National Chair of CMS Australia, I thought that was a tangible enough role to test the skills and attributes he has demonstrated.
One thing I have learned about CMS during Russell’s tenure as Registrar is their statement “Pray Care Give Go”. But the interesting thing for me is that, unlike our parish treasurer who fondly remembers Russell in a former life as his teacher and Head of Middle School at Hutchins, my introduction to Russell and Sue was as CMS missionaries who came back to Hobart from Thailand after an experience which mercifully defies the imagination, let alone experience, of most of us of bringing the students and teachers safely through an attack on their school where Russell was Principal, and out of Pakistan under circumstances that could have been horrendous without a firm trust in, and love of, and by God. Whatever else can be said of Russell’s tenure as Registrar, and there is much that could be said, he has consistently demonstrated a great support for Bishop John’s vision of A Healthy Church, Transforming Lives for our Diocese and he has encouraged us all as parishes and Anglican agencies to capture the vision. He is capable of seeing the big picture and has demonstrated CMS’s vision which is “to see God’s Church growing in all the world as lives and communities are transformed by Christ.”
A chairman needs to be able to chair meetings and Russell has demonstrated this competency in holding pre-Synod meetings in the north, northwest and south of the Diocese which I for one have found extremely helpful in growing my understanding of the Synod business papers. Russell’s chairing of these meetings has also helped the Synod run more smoothly than it once did which is always an advantage.
Russell also chaired meetings in parishes before they started the process of seeking out a new rector. These meetings were often the beginning of the help that was afforded parishes as they embarked on this process. I remember that Russell’s overheads were appreciated in our parish and we asked him to come back with the overhead equipment to help us when we were farewelling our associate priest a few months later. I know this thoughtfulness and giving of Russell’s and Sue’s time to worship with us on a Sunday morning and to join in our low tech farewell presentation was much appreciated by Kevin and his family. This is just one of the many times where Russell has demonstrated that he is prepared not only to make time for any role to which he commits but also to go above and beyond what might be expected of that commitment.
As many in this room will know, the role of leader or chairman can be an extremely lonely position at times when one has to demonstrate moral courage or to accept and use authority. Russell has demonstrated that he can accept and fulfil that criterion because how many of us know the challenge and anguish that Russell has endured as the initial face of the Anglican church and at times protector at Church House in relation to victims of abuse. While Synod is to be commended for the courageous but necessary decisions it has made, we can all thank Russell for what it has cost him to carry out our decisions.
Many of us have also appreciated Russell’s wisdom, advice and listening ear when we have brought our problems and anxieties to him and left him to deal with them, whether they have been ministry or asset related, or a personal concern.
A chairman of a Board today must be concerned with governance and with policy making. Russell has become a fellow of the AICD and has successfully undertaken courses with them. On a practical view, he has helped with implementing better processes for Diocesan Council and its committees. In his role as Secretary to the Trustees, he has worked with us in better documenting our policies and procedures.
CMS requires faithful stewardship in ministries to which God calls us and Russell has learnt much in his role as Secretary to the Trustees including grappling with mortgages, leases, maintenance of buildings, cash investments, stock and shares, trusts, variations of trusts, government grants, budgets, financial statements, agendas and very timely minutes and a whole range of people in various places and professions to achieve the best stewardship of our resources and our people. As well as his own life experiences in mission, Russell demonstrates his support and understanding of CMS’s goal to send and support long term missionaries in the way he has supported the various parishes and Anglican agencies, all of whom could be described as being in long term mission.
When I consider that we at St George’s Battery Point have been able to throw at Russell
- Ø Two farewells
- Ø 1 interregnum and appointment of a new rector
- Ø 7 ordinations
- Ø 5 grant applications, six if you include the first unsuccessful attempt with the Tasmanian Community Fund – which we should because Russell walked the application across the road to State Treasury himself so it was submitted in time
- Ø 3 treasurers – we went from an octogenarian who kept meticulous double bookkeeping accounts to a young woman with a Bachelor of Commerce studying to become a CPA who was wooed by a young man in Roslyn’s choral group, they got married and moved to France for nine months and she handed the books over to Tom who was one of Russell’s students at Hutchins
- Ø A partnership with the Southern Midlands which has become very important to us and to them, so as far as we are concerned the Imagine Project is alive and kicking and we are delighted to see amendments to the Parish Administration Ordinance take this into account after Russell took our concerns to Paul Cavanough
- Ø A tricky situation about our Diocesan assessment which has resulted in further amendment to the Assessment Authorisation Ordinance
- Ø A large inheritance held in shares outside the pool with the Trustees of the Diocese
And St George’s Battery Point is not only believed to be the smallest parish geographically in the whole of Australia but is also a one centre parish so my mind bogles to think as to what the rest of you have lobbed into Russell’s court.
Abraham Lincoln understood that you cannot please all of the people all of the time. Russell has certainly demonstrated an ability to work in fellowship with most of us most of the time. Where that may not have always occurred may require each of us to concentrate on CMS’s first goal which is – God’s Word, the foundation of all we are and do.
Russell, as you look back over your years as Registrar, you should be encouraged by all that has been achieved in and beyond our Diocese in that time, as your being and your work have contributed to this and has often encouraged us. Before I ask everyone to join with me in thanking you and in thanking God for providing you and your talents to us, I thought I could do no better than to finish with the Bible verse and prayer found at the end of each of your emails: Romans 15:13 –
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen
See also, Synod: required reading! and Prayer for Synod.
