The future is open

Posted in Faith

After over a decade of service and ministry with the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre and faith community, Rev Dr Gary Stuckey ended his placement with a celebratory service earlier in December. New Times Intern Tom Mitchard spoke to Gary about Stillpoint’s unique ministry and his own plans for the future.

It’s surprising what can arise from an offhand comment.

When Christian author and leader Tom Bandy briefly mentioned monastic communities while leading a workshop in 2004, he could never have guessed the impact these words would have on one of the attendees. But his words stuck in the mind of Rev Dr Gary Stuckey.

“He said, ‘We must always remember that alongside the mainstream church there has existed another form of church, the monastic’,” Gary recalls. “Those words really grabbed my attention and fired my imagination!”

With a background in Christian spirituality and experience leading retreats and quiet days, monastic spirituality had been something that had drawn Gary’s attention in the past – “the spiritual practices of the monastic arm of our Christian faith I found drew me more deeply into my relationship with God,” he notes.

Inspired by Tom’s words, and drawing on his own experiences, Gary began developing an idea for a new faith community. Through the generosity of the Colonel Light Gardens Uniting Church congregation, who he was serving at the time, and with the support of Uniting Foundation, Gary began spending on day per week on establishing the Stillpoint Faith Community.

In September 2005, the first contemplative worship gathering of the Stillpoint Faith Community was held at Nunyara Chapel in Belair. This venue also became the site for the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre, which was established in July 2007. Ann Siddall was originally the Spirituality Centre Director, but retired from the role in 2010. Gary then took on the director role, adding it to his responsibilities as minister of the Stillpoint Faith Community.

During the 11 years Gary has served Stillpoint, he’s had many rewarding experiences of people seeking a deeper connection with God.

“I have had the awesome privilege of journeying with people as they explore how their relationship with God can shape their faithful living, in a world where faith is not always well received,” Gary reflects.

“For many, it has just been the absolute joy of seeing people renewed in their life with God through the prayerful stillness of the Centre, and the gentle witness of others who call Stillpoint their spiritual home.”

Through his encounters at Stillpoint, Gary has witnessed the vast number of people who are open to God and who desire to explore the “spiritual dimension of life”. Stillpoint provided a safe space for people to explore their faith and ask questions.

“The spiritual longing is alive and well in people – we just don’t often pick up on it because we aren’t attuned to the way they express this longing,” he says.

While the rewards have been many, Gary’s time at Stillpoint has not been without its challenges – the greatest of which has been practicing what he preaches.

“We encourage people to slow down, to embrace quietness, to spend time with God, to keep prayer at the centre of their life. The biggest challenge has been to model that way of being – and not always being successful. I often quip that, at times, I’m too busy helping others live the contemplative life!” Gary explains.

The rhythm of prayer and meditation nurtured at Stillpoint, particularly the Liturgy of Hours, has been a “discipline and blessing” that has helped him to meet this challenge.

With the conclusion of his placement at Stillpoint, Gary will soon be called upon to face new challenges and find new rhythms to answer them.

“After a break, I will be seeking placement in a congregation. I have had a good while to discern where I sense my immediate future lies, and this is what I feel most strongly. I hope to be able to continue my work in the area of spirituality, albeit in a more limited way.

“Although I am finishing my placement, and the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre will close by the end of January, the ministry in Christian spiritualty will continue. The Stillpoint Faith Community, as the focus of this work, will base its ministry at Christ Church Wayville from January 2017, and work in other places as well,” Gary explains.

“At the moment, the future is open, but that is okay. I simply remain open to wherever God leads in the future.”

Gary served as Minister of the Word for the Stillpoint Faith Community for 11 years, and Director for the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre for six years. He has also served as a retreat leader, spiritual director and teacher of Christian Meditation. He is a professed monastic member of the Community of the Transfiguration in Teesdale, Victoria.

For more information about Stillpoint’s ongoing ministry, please visit the Stillpoint website.


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Comments

Comments (3)

  1. Amelia Koh-Butler 15 december 2016, 07:53 Link
    The following extract, from the minutes of the last Presbytery and Synod, summarise the impact of the above…
    «Gary’s ministry has been exercised across the state, not just at the Centre. He has led retreats far and wide, been willing to travel, companion and encourage with a ministry of presence in different corners of this Synod and ecumenically. He has quietly, gently and faithfully sustained a place in the life of the Synod for leaders and members of many different congregations and the ecumenical community to come and pray, heal, renew and find a listening ear. Our relationship with God has been deepened.»