Record of Service - Len Jude - Uniting Church in Australia

ANNUAL MEETING – PRESBYTERY & SYNOD SARecord of ServiceReverend Leonard (Len) John Jude31 October - 2 November 2013Len was born in St Arnaud, Victoria, in 1948, andlived in a number of towns in country Victoria beforehis family settled in Bendigo. Len’s family wasinvolved in the Methodist Church, where heparticipated in worship, Sunday school, ChristianEndeavour, Methodist Order of Knights and youthgroup activities at a number of churches. He wasconfirmed at Forest Street Bendigo and taughtSunday school at Quarry Hill. Len’s secondaryeducation was at Bendigo High School after which hewas trained as a Primary School teacher at BendigoTeachers’ College and taught in country Victoria forseveral years. Len was a member of the BendigoYMCA Harriers, serving as president and receivingfrom the YMCA a ten year service award thathighlighted his encouragement of younger members.After Len and Marie’s marriage Len continue teachinguntil their move to Victor Harbor SA, when, in 1972,he commenced study at the Adelaide Bible Institute(now BCSA). This move came about through a desireto explore a sense of call to missionary teaching andthe impact of a teaching mission by the Rev GeoffreyBingham, then Principal of ABI. During Len’s threeyears at BCSA he had his faith and vision expandedthrough the teaching and fellowship and completedhis Licentiate of Theology through the MelbourneCollege of Divinity. Whilst at Victor Harbor Len alsotaught Sunday school at Adare Methodist, and servedas Student Pastor in the South Coast United Parish,preaching at Nangkita, Goolwa, Port Elliot, Adare,Newland and Yilki.During his third year at BCSA, Len felt called topreaching and to ordained ministry in the MethodistChurch. He candidated, was accepted for training andbegan study at Parkin-Wesley College in 1975, duringwhich time he was a Student Pastor in the StirlingDistrict United Parish. Len has fond memories ofministering with the folk in the congregations ofAldgate, Stirling, Mylor, Bridgewater, Verdun,Ironbank, Scott’s Creek and Mt Lofty.At the 1976 annual meeting of the MethodistConference Len was placed on the stationing sheet togo to Lucindale, in the state’s South East. So in 1977it was off to Lucindale with Marie and three children towork as a probationed Minister. Len completed aDiploma of Religious Education and was ordained inthe Lucindale Uniting Church on December 19 th 1978,by the South Eastern (SA) Presbytery, later namedThe Coorong Presbytery. Len travelled extensively forpreaching opportunities at Lochaber, Francis,Naracoorte, Wrattonbully, Lucindale, Avenue Range,Marcollat and Greenways. Amalgamation withNaracoorte, sharing leadership of the Naracoorteyouth, leading the Biscuit Flat Bible study, harvestthanksgiving in a shearing shed, a visit by the GodSquad, an evangelistic mission, a Lay witnessweekend, vacation Bible Schools, arranging schoolseminars, leadership of the Presbytery children’scamp at Robe and Agricultural Show outreach werehighlights of the five years at Lucindale. Len servedthe Presbytery as evangelism contact person and asresult attended a Vision Valley Conference onevangelism. Len also taught ‘Equipping Lay Personsfor Ministry’ with its emphasis on listening skills.In 1982 the Jude’s moved to Cleve to share ministryin the County Jervois Parish. Many kilometerstravelled on dirt roads between Wharminda, DarkePeak, Driver River, Rudall, Arno Bay, Coolanie,Cowell and Cleve further expanded Len’s appreciationof country life and the faith of the people. Teachingwith Christian Endeavour, leadership of a youngadults study group, co-ordination of the EyrePresbytery children’s camp at Thuruna, facilitating thefirst Christian Option Programme with the ScriptureUnion team, teaching Humanities at Cleve AreaSchool with the Ministers’ Fraternal, serving on CleveArea School Council, holidays at Arno Bay, Port Neill31 October – 2 November 2013 Presbytery and Synod meeting Record of service: Rev Len JudeA10.6

Presbytery & Synod SA31 October - 2 November 2013and Coffin Bay were memorable moments on EyrePeninsula. Len served the Eyre Presbytery as amember of its Pastoral Relations Committee andevangelism contact person.In 1987 Len commenced ministry in the Berri-BarmeraParish. This placement was busy from the outset withthe constant flow of funerals, weddings, welfaresupport, and visitation to two busy hospitals andengagement with the Aboriginal community. Len wastreasurer of the Ministers Fraternal that handled manythousands of dollars of government money foremergency relief. Ministry with the Aboriginalcommunity included baptisms in a home at GerardMission, the baptisms of six or seven Aboriginalchildren in the Barmera church and a number ofAboriginal funerals. Several small groups participatedin the Uniting Vision programme using ‘Twelve Keysto an Effective Church’. Len coordinated andsupported many Glossop High School seminars andChristian Option Programmes in a number of PrimarySchools. Len supported the Kids Clubs and youthgroups and their capable leaders. Evening services atKingston-on-Murray were also a significant part of thevaried ministry at this time, Len led Lay Preachertraining courses and encouraged people to use theirgifts. Confirmation classes were a feature of Len’sministry in Berri-Barmera, resulting in one instance innineteen confirmations at one service. Len served theWakefield Presbytery as convenor of its Faith andOrder committee for a number of years and then fortwo years as Chairperson of the Presbytery officiatingat ordinations, inductions and commissionings,chairing Standing Committee and serving on thePastoral Relations Committee,In 1994, after seven years in the Riverland, Lencommenced a placement in the Onkaparinga Parishliving at Woodside, sharing preaching and pastoralresponsibilities at Balhannah, Charleston, Lobethal,Murdoch Hill and Woodside. During this time vibrantjunior youth and young adults groups, expandingSunday schools, and the emergence of freshleadership evidenced new life. In 1999 Balhannahbecame a separate entity while Len ministered withthe folk of the remaining four Congregations under thenew name of Onkaparinga Valley Uniting Churches.Study groups, teaching seminars, kids club, youthgroup, Lay Preachers gatherings, speaking at craftgroups, conducting services at three nursing homes,support of the Oakbank Area School chaplain, theAlpha course and ‘Forty Days of Purpose’ studiescontributed to growth in faith and the development ofleaders. During this time Len served on the Mt LoftyPresbytery Pastoral Relations Committee and was amember and president of the Woodside RecreationGrounds Committee. Len and Marie’s five childrenwere all married during their stay at Woodside, threeof them in the Woodside church.In 2006, after twelve years in the hills, Len beganministry with the Aldinga-McLaren Vale-Willungalinked Congregations. At the end of Len’s first yearWillunga become a separate entity with Len servingthe Aldinga-McLaren Vale Link. Growth in faith andfellowship continued through Sunday evening sing-alongs,mid-week and home communions, pre and postworship morning teas, the re-establishment of Sundayschools, regular working bees, café church, cafémorning teas where the young serve the older, Len’sleading of two Bible study groups, his preaching andteaching and pastoral work especially at funerals andin hospitals. Services at nursing homes and aged carefacilities gave a chaplaincy feel to some of the workand this was complemented by a steady in-flow ofyounger families and other new-comers taking theirplace in the fellowships and serving their Lord.Len is grateful for the many people in Congregationshe has served, the many colleagues in ministry, bothlay and ordained, the wider church, his teachers andcountless others who have contributed to his life. Heis thankful for the support they have offered in theproclamation of the gospel of God’s grace in JesusChrist, our Lord, and in the worship of our graciousGod.Len’s wife, Marie, continues to offer strongencouragement, faithful support and wise counsel.Their children, Stephen, Talitha, Mark, Naomi, Pauland families are a constant source of inspiration.Len retires on December 31 st 2013 after thirty-fiveyears of ordained ministry, in the assurance thatJesus Christ is Lord of all and that he has brought usthis far by his grace.31 October – 2 November 2013 Presbytery and Synod meeting Record of service: Rev Len JudeA10.7