Chris Barnett was farewelled this week after 15 years with the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.
By Andrew Humphries
As Chris Barnett reflects on many years of service within the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, he hopes he has been able to broaden thinking around the many benefits offered through ministry with children and families.
Chris was farewelled this week at a Release of Ties service at the Centre for Theology and Ministry in Parkville, bringing to an end 15 years of leadership within the children and families, and intergenerational areas.
“I trust I have been able to both offer and model hope, optimism, enthusiasm and encouragement as I’ve sought to serve the whole church,” Chris said.
“I hope I have been able to broaden the vision of what ministry with children and families can be, and equip the church for the living out of such a vision.
“I am grateful to have played a part in deepening our theological understanding of children and in the shift to a more intergenerational approach to ministry.
“There has been a growing understanding that engagement with children and their families is the responsibility of the whole church leadership, including ministers, pastors and church council members, not just those in designated ‘children’s ministry’ roles.
As he has sought to serve the Uniting Church, Chris said he, in turn, had been nourished by the many relationships he had developed over 15 years of service and connection.
“I have been greatly blessed by the breadth of relationships that the role has drawn me into – locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, across the Uniting Church and beyond,” he said.
“I have experienced opportunities to serve way beyond what I could possibly have imagined when I began in the role.”
Executive Officer with equipping Leadership for Mission, Duncan Macleod, paid tribute at the Release of Ties service to Chris’ outstanding work.
“Chris has embodied the Synod’s priorities of mission and ministry with children, youth, their families and young adults, and ministries which foster diverse gathered communities of renewal and Christian practice,” Duncan said.
“We look forward to partnering with Chris as he moves into new roles in the wider church, and we continue to explore ways to resource the Uniting Church’s commitment to intergenerational ministry.”
Chris is moving on to a part-time role with Intergen, an organisation committed to the support and resourcing of ministry with children and their families across Australia.
Comments are closed.