Family, friends and colleagues gathered yesterday to send Rev Deacon Dr Andy Calder into retirement with much love and appreciation for his wonderful work over many years.
Andy is heading into retirement, or ‘rewirement’ as he likes to call it, following an outstanding contribution to the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, and wider community, in the fields of pastoral education and disability inclusion.
Andy has been the Synod’s Disability Inclusion Advocate since 1996, and was Director of Uniting CPE-The John Paver Centre from its formation in 2010 until this week’s retirement.
The large crowd gathered at the Centre for Theology and Ministry yesterday heard wonderful stories about Andy, from a range of people, with one common theme: his dedication and contribution to so many people, on so many levels, in the fields of pastoral education and disability inclusion.
Director with the Summer Institute on Theology and Disability, Rev Bill Gaventa, travelled from the US to be at yesterday’s farewell service for Andy, and spoke of a friendship of over 30 years that began with a letter from Andy asking to work with Bill in clinical pastoral education in New Jersey.
“It’s a huge honour for me to be here today to celebrate Andy’s official retirement,” Bill said.
“It’s been an honour to walk, and work, with Andy for 30 years, and I have learnt much from his work.”
Director-Priorities, Focus and Advocacy with equipping Leadership for Mission, Rev Nigel Hanscamp, paid tribute to Andy’s outstanding contribution to pastoral education and disability inclusion.
“We have appreciated your calm, considered and wise words, and your silence, and have learnt from those,” Nigel said.
“You have also embodied a reminder of the constant need to pay attention in our words and actions for people around disability inclusion and our actions of exclusion.
“Thank you for the ministry you have had among us, with us and for us, and the grace you have offered to us as a Church, as a team and as an organisation here at eLM.
“We give thanks to you for the gift of ministry you have given to us.”
Former Assembly President and Moderator of Victoria and Tasmania, Rev Alistair Macrae, offered a wonderful and humorous insight into a friendship he and Andy have shared for over 50 years and, in doing so, spoke of his deep respect for Andy’s commitment to his faith and to making the world a better place.
“Apart from (my wife) Clare, Andy is probably the longest and most enduring single Christian influence in my life,” Alistair said.
“(As a child) Andy’s character shone through to me and I was drawn to his gentle strength.
“Determined, dogged and stubborn are words that come to mind about Andy … and his early Christian formation exposed him to the Bible and to Jesus Christ, shaping his commitment in word and action to prioritise the needs of those marginalised or excluded by the arrangements or values of the day, be it in church or the wider society.
“Andy’s quiet but unrelenting focus during his diaconal ministry has been deeply pastoral and deeply prophetic.
“He has been a source of encouragement, challenge and inspiration to me, and many others, for over 50 years.
“We love you and we are so grateful for you.”
Andy said much of his work had been informed, and influenced, by an accident in 1986 that needed hospital care and a great deal of rehabilitation over a three-year period.
“My ministry was profoundly shaped by that experience and has reinforced a deep appreciation of a full life, each and every day, with all of the interconnecting threads of friends and strangers represented here today,” he said.
“Justice, mercy and humility have all been Gospel values aspired to over the past 30-plus years … encapsulating the ministry roles of disability advocacy and pastoral care.
“Thanks beyond words go to my family, who have been alongside me with love and support.”
Yesterday’s service included words of welcome and an opening prayer of praise from Rev Sally Douglas, readings from Meredith Allan (Micah 6:6-8) and Susan Stork-Finlay (Luke 10:38-42), Rev Bill Gaventa’s reflection, and prayers of intercession from Rev Duncan Macleod.
The service of conclusion was conducted by Moderator Rev David Fotheringham.
A recording of yesterday’s service for Andy can be found on the Synod’s Facebook page