5 minute read
Farewell Reminiscences
by Rev. Dr Richard Waugh QSM
Rev. Dr Richard Waugh shared at national conference in Christchurch in 2020, on the occasion of his retirement as National Superintendent 2002-2020. Here are some excerpts from his address:
AUGUST 2001 (UNITED STATES)
Jane and I went to the United States to attend the Leadership Summit in Chicago. We also went on to meet with leaders at the Wesleyan World Headquarters in Indianapolis, and from the West Michigan District. The warmth of our welcome, prayers with people at the Wesleyan headquarters, and meetings with Rev Mark & Sherry Gorveatte, Dr Wayne Schmidt and many others was life-giving. We had come from a time of theological abuse and heartache in the old Methodist church, to be welcomed into a Christ-centred and Biblically honouring caring church where all the leaders were fully devoted disciples. How refreshing it was!
MARCH 2002 (MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA)
The Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia invited many of our ministers to join their regional gathering at Kingsley College in Melbourne. More than 120 ministers attended. I recall the warmth of welcome we all sensed; despite the Kiwi-Aussie banter and rivalry. We cherished our new belonging to a multicultural church family and that we were now part of a collegial and diverse regional church family in our South Pacific context. During all the years since, the Australian church has continued to bless us and I believe we bless them too. Methodist/holiness seminary in the world (with more than 1500 students) Jane and I with our three young children headed to Kentucky. The year’s intensive study helped equip me further with strategic skills, advanced preaching abilities, Biblical study work, and good time for my dissertation studies. Certainly my year at Asbury was a life-giving experience of Biblical and theological study and reflection and writing. I became convinced of the continuing importance of us always understanding and embodying the essence of sound Wesleyan theology.
JUNE 2010 (CHRISTCHURCH)
With others, on the Cashmere hill, we surveyed Christchurch city and prayed for a church plant sometime in the near future. We went around getting a sense of the city and it’s potential. We conferred with local church leaders and our long-time Wesleyan Methodist supporters, some of whom had been praying for many years for a new lifegiving church.
Richard & Jane Waugh at a festive service in 2019
AUGUST 2006 (SOUTH KOREA)
I travelled to South Korea to attend the 2006 World Methodist Conference. It was good to share rooms with Dr Alifaleti Mone of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga. I remember the fantastic presentation on evangelism by Dr Eddie Fox and the call for all the people called Methodists to “Ring the Bells” and be a light to the nations. I was so re-assured that most global members of the world Methodist family are evangelical and mission-minded. At that conference I was nominated as Vice President of the World Methodist Historical Society (and some years later became President). After an affirming process, twelve months later - at a World Methodist meeting in Sydney - our Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand was welcomed as a full member of the World Methodist Council.
JUNE 2007 (KENTUCKY, USA)
Achieving a Beeson scholarship for the Doctor of Ministry programme at Asbury Theological Seminary, the largest
Richard Waugh and Clint Ussher survey Christchurch in 2010 prior to the church plant group
Rev Clint and Jamie Ussher and family were very soon a remarkable answer to those prayers. Praise God for what has been achieved in Christchurch with The Well church plant, the provision of a fine building, and continuing exciting growth. So many of our church plants have similar faithful and prayerful beginnings.
MARCH 2011 (SUVA, FIJI)
At the head office of the Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma in Suva, Fiji, I was part of a visiting delegation of Wesleyan ministers. Pastor Lupeti Fihaki was with me. There was a gradual dawning on the Fiji church leaders that the Wesleyan church was a fully “Methodist” Church - ecumenical, global, growing and wanting to be in good relationship with the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma. We had much the same experience at the Free Wesleyan Church offices in Nuku’alofa in Tonga and with the Methodist Church in Apia, Samoa. It all helped pave the way for us to be recognised as a key part of the John Wesley family in the Pacific and led to further World Methodist Evangelism developments, a visit to the royal Tongan residence, and some years later our hosting of the Fiji Prime Minister in Auckland.
MARCH 2012 (WELLINGTON)
I was appointed chair of the National Church Leaders Aotearoa New Zealand meeting (NCLANZ), taking over from Pastor Ken Harrison of the Assemblies of God. It was an honour for our Wesleyan Methodist Church to have such endorsement of leadership and followed on from my appointment as chair of the Auckland Church Leaders meeting. Many highlight times followed, including being involved in the Bicentenary televised worship by the Marsden Cross, Civic services, Government meetings and regular involvement at the Auckland Cenotaph on ANZAC Days. “If your heart is the same as my heart; give me your hand” is the Old Testament quote that is famous in John Wesley’s Catholic Spirit sermon. I have always believed passionately in participating in the wider Body of Christ and see it as an essential characteristic of our Wesleyan Methodist Church.
AUGUST 2012 (BRISBANE AUSTRALIA)
Hills Church in Brisbane was the venue for the important inauguration of our new Wesleyan Methodist South Pacific Conference (SPC). We were welcomed by aboriginal leaders and with wonderful worship. Certainly, a privilege to serve as the first President of the Conference. The SPC continues to unite us in a large and diverse family of Christians who affirm the priority of the warmed heart and active mission in the name of Christ. I am pleased that our new National Superintendent, Rev Brett Jones, serves as current President.
MARCH 2013 (BOUGAINVILLE)
Visiting Bougainville was something of a life-long goal. I was pleased to assist at the Wesleyan Methodist annual conference, with ordinations and bringing greetings of love and practical care from the South Pacific Conference and our New Zealand church family too. Here in New Zealand we have been much assisted by the North American church and the Australian churches. It is vital we continue to be a conduit for mission beyond ourselves and especially overseas and our nominated mission field of Bougainville. So many other highlight memories that I don’t have time here to recount. Richard concluded his sharing saying, “Because of God’s grace it’s always a privilege to be called to serve in any ministry role, especially that of an ordained minister and church leader. It has been an honour to serve the mission of Jesus Christ.”
