A Thanksgiving to God for the life of Russell Morton was held at St David’s Cathedral Hobart last Saturday, 23 February 2013.
Family and friends came from near and far, filling the sunlight Cathedral. The Order of Service had been prepared by Russell and Sue with favourite hymns, Bible readings, prayers and musical items. Their rector, the Revd David Rietveld of Wellspring Anglican Parish, preached and you can find the audio of the sermon, here.
Moving eulogies were given by Alastair and Hilary (Russell and Sue’s children), treasured family friend, Prof Alastair Richardson and Vicar General of the Diocese of Tasmania, Bishop Chris Jones. The eulogies in audio are, here.
Russell retired in 2011 from his role as Director of Business Services for the Diocese of Tasmania and Bishop Chris Jones’ eulogy reflected on this aspect of Russell’s life and service. Fulfilling Russell’s request, the eulogy included numerous quotes! Bishop Chris’ eulogy follows:
God has given us Russell
“God has given us Russell” is how a conversation started with Bishop John back in 2004. The Registrar at the time, Bill Haas, was going to retire and we needed to plan a recruitment process to replace him. You know the drill: position description, advertisements, applications, interviews and so on. Instead, Bishop John had asked Russell and he said “Yes” hence the phrase “God has given us Russell”. Then there was the small challenge to have the various Councils of the Church approve it. However, that happened quickly as he was known to many of us and we concurred “God has given us Russell.”
From 2004 through until his retirement Russell served God through the role of Registrar or should I say, Director of Business Services – a title that he thought more accurately reflected what the role was. Although I am not sure the full range of functions that he performed are adequately captured in that title. As I reflect on his Diocesan ministry I see three dimensions or aspects of his work.
The first was clearly as an administrator.
The Director of Business Services is in charge of all the Diocesan property, organizing the various payroll and HR responsibilities, resolving conflicts and generally keeping the ship afloat. But Russell wasn’t happy with the status quo and knew that the Church needed to act in new ways. “Let the flowers bloom” was the instruction from Bishop John and the Diocese sought to be more creative and innovative.
Not surprisingly this presented challenges as Richard Hooker the 16th century Anglican priest was right when he wrote “Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better.” But Russell was up for it! Whether it was new policies for the Trustees, building extensions, disposals of cemeteries or the development at St James Village Russell threw himself into the task.
It is possible to get so caught up in the demands of regulations, policies and plans that you forget the people and the need to listen. Russell sought to follow the injunction of Saint Benedict to “Listen and attend with the ear of your heart”. This was especially true in relation to the Diocesan response to those sexually abused by church workers. Russell felt the pain and hurt and worked hard to ensure the Church did all it could.
Administration often equates to meetings. How many of you sat in meetings with Russell?
How many of you were pleased that his sense of humour could brighten an otherwise dull agenda?
Russell used humour to lighten the mood and reduce tension. Michael Ramsay, the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury said “Use your sense of humour: laugh about things. Laugh at the absurdities of life; laugh about yourself and about your own absurdity … You have to be serious, but never be solemn, because if you are solemn about anything, there is a danger of you becoming solemn about yourself.”
The second dimension was Russell as a teacher.
Alastair (Richardson) has already referred to the time a Caulfield, Hutchins and Murree. But it was not just in the school context that Russell taught. There was also his preaching, small group leadership and mentoring. There was the article he would send you or the book he would recommend to you.
How many of you learnt something from Russell?
Hang on! How many of you sometimes heard the Headmaster speaking when he talked to you?
He took seriously the challenge of life long learning and so when I met with him to talk about a retirement gift from the Trustees he asked that we pay for him to do an AICD, Australian Institute of Company Directors, leadership course that would help him in his CMS Australia role.
During the last year when I received an email from Russell I would recall the words of John Donne the 17th century English poet priest, “God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice.” During his illness Russell continued to teach about God and to learn from God.
The third dimension was Russell as a missionary.
CMS, the Church Missionary Society, has “a vision of a world that knows Jesus.” Russell and Sue signed up to this vision and served overseas as we have heard. But they also saw the mission field being here in Tasmania. In all the administration and teaching Russell always worked as a missionary seeking to bring about “a world that knows Jesus.” I hope that you have responded generously to the family’s invitation to make a donation to CMS.
How many of you did Russell pray for and open the scriptures with?
How many of you had robust theological discussions with him bordering on arguments, perhaps agreeing to disagree?
Russell was an administrator, teacher and missionary. He undertook these roles with humility and integrity.
Russell was at all times honest and open is his approach, always striving to act justly. He tried hard to live by what William Temple, the war-time Archbishop of Canterbury, preached: “Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself one way or the other at all.”
Yes, God had given us Russell and we thank God for that.
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
The family Death Notice concluded with Psalm 73:26:
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Thank you for posting the eulogies and reflections on Russell – I wasn’t able to be at the service, unfortunately, although I have known Russell and the rest of his birth family for many years. So it was a comfort and challenge to listen to at least parts of the service. Blessings on all involved.
“God had given us Russell”
Russell was beside me on 5th August 2002 when MCS got attacked. I have always praised God for sending Russell Morton as the director of MCS at this specific time of need. God brought Russell for a short time but for the most important time at MCS. Russell gave us a few years of his life but he gave us the most important time of his life. This was the time when every thing changed for us, and things looked most impossible, “God had given us Russell”.
We as a family and staff and students at MCS Thank God for his life and how he shared it with us.
Simon & Apphia Malik