Firstly, welcome to Hobart – how have you been finding Tasmania?
The best thing about Hobart is the people – they’ve got a great attitude, a great openness and good sense of humour that reminds me of the people of Ireland, where I come from. My wife when living in Sydney, traveled to Tasmania in her twenties, and loved the contrasting landscapes. I can see what she means - Tasmania has many beautiful places.
What is your spiritual background, and what has helped make you?
Well, I used to work in offices, and got into ministry late in life through volunteering, in choirs, youth fellowship, and youth work, and started ministering in a county parish in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. From this I studied for ministry and then spent some time in the Methodist ministry in County Tipperary in the middle of Ireland. From there, I left to spend time raising the children, who are now 5 and 6 years old. I was raised in a church family and one of the turning points in my faith was observing a flatmate, who had never been to church bringing a fresh perspective on the Christian faith. It was wonderful to see what Jesus can do and encouraged me to be more involved with God.
What is it that keeps you going when faced with setbacks?
My father was a minister, and there was a moment in my late teens that I felt God’s presence in a very real way, and that was the start of a journey of personal faith which has evolved. We change with age and I believe we are changed also into a growing understanding of God. There is an awareness, regardless of my frailties, of a loving God who is at work among people, through stories of change and transformative process. One of the stories of change are where there are practical changes in issues of social justice.
What do you find to be your greatest challenges?
These changing times are perhaps the greatest challenge we all face, especially young families who are busy during a week. One area of change in society concerns technology. It's great that people are more 'connected' by electronic messaging. It's great to have rapid communication as long as it doesn't take the place of people continuing to meet up - to be community. People still need time to recharge their batteries. One of the aims in our church is to be an authentic, helpful and supportive community. Also, the aim is to slow down a bit and draw back to being community.
We are a small, developing community that is aiming to provide a fun family atmosphere. One activity we do is Music Together - a music group for toddlers that is gentle and unhurried. Parents can relax over tea and coffee, while their children are having fun. We're hoping to develop the idea of sanctuary, a place to worship and be uplifted. We have a family oriented service that explores worship in various ways. We do modern music, with the language of the service being everyday and straight-forward. We do crafts also for the children, which they enjoy. Another challenge is the number of choices we make each day. A supermarket has maybe fifteen types of breakfast cereal, for instance. In wider choices, the challenge is to discern about what helps build us up, and what is not edifying. This is a challenge for us all in the community. Another challenge is the need to respect and understand other faiths and beliefs. To share what is real and what resonates for us.
What do you enjoy most in your personal interactions with members of your congregation?
They are open and expressive of where they’re at. There is a “can-do” attitude; of giving things a go, even if they’re not used to it. They have made myself and the family so welcome and this has been deeply appreciated. The ability to have a sense of humour is also something I like in the interactions with the congregation and the interests/skills people have are always great to hear about. I also enjoy when people say what is helpful and encouraging in their faith life.
Have there been any moments in your ministry you wish you could go back and change?
There have been moments in the past where I should have been clearer about what truths are in God's word. There are words in the Bible that challenge us all to make a difference. It's all part of the learning process. I have also reflected on the need to balance church life with the bigger picture, the wider community where people from all walks of life and beliefs meet.
Nigel McBrien ministers at the Uniting Church on Melville St.
Nigel can be reached at families.wesley.uca@bigpond.com
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