God is Calling

By Emelia Haskey

Rev Gary Stuckey is almost ready to retire – almost!

After being ordained as a Baptist Minister in 1982, and serving the Uniting Church since 1988, and as Minister of Seacliff Uniting Church since last year, Gary is finally preparing for retirement.

‘The start of the journey came at a point in my life where I was a young Christian … I was feeling a bit lost, so I decided to go to theological college to learn more about the Christian faith,’ said Gary.

‘It was actually while I was in college that there may be something more to this, this self-awareness that the gifts that I had … that maybe this was a place I was being drawn to. I was drawn to ministry in a gradual way.’

What really piqued his interest after becoming a minister was contemplative and monastic spirituality practices, which he discovered after leaving the Baptist Church during a period of growth and change for him.

This passion was particularly fostered through his service ministering at Stillpoint Faith Community from 2008 to 2016.

‘It all really started when I read a book of Richard Foster’s called Celebration of Discipline. He talks about some of the ancient spiritual practices – [it] opened up a dimension of spirituality that I wasn’t really aware existed in the Christian tradition,’ said Gary.

‘Even when I was in parish ministry or congregation ministry, this was sort of the add-on extra that I was able to offer to the local church and to the wider church.’

Some of the great memories of his time as a Minister come from his very first placement Lefevre Peninsula Parish Church (now known as Lefevre Uniting Church) and the connections with the congregation he served there.

But there were other moments too, where his own congregation really amazed him.

‘[Lefevre] was an environment that was very open, and comfortable and welcoming, and it helped me to transition from being in a Baptist Church to a Uniting Church. When I was at Colonel Light Gardens, being involved with the resettlement of a refugee family and seeing how the church responded to that … it was just brilliant.’

Gary will turn seventy, three days after he officially retires next year, and he hopes to spend his retirement further engaging with his interest in contemplative spirituality. But he does have some advice for those considering a future in ministry.

‘Being a Minister has actually provided me with some really incredible life opportunities … people can have a bit of a stereotype of a Minister, but the Uniting Church gives you a breadth to express yourself,’ he said.

‘Really get to know yourself, because it’s you that God is calling.’