Three times the reason to make the move to Tamworth

When Reverend Geoff Flynn came to Tamworth in September last year he was, quite literally, the answer to the prayers of not one, but three congregations.

The Tamworth Regional Uniting Churches, which includes the Tamworth City Uniting Church, Southside Uniting, as well as a group of smaller churches called the Peel Valley congregation – West Tamworth, Gowrie, and Hallsville, had been without an ordained minister for over four years.

Reverend Flynn moved up from Wollongong where he had been working with the Wollongong Mission for nine years. He says he was drawn to the opportunity to work across three congregations.

“Also the fact that they had not been able to find a suitable person for several years – they’ve been without a minister. So I guess I felt I wanted to respond to that need.”

A bigger crisis than doctor shortages

While we hear a lot about doctor shortages, the shortage of ordained religious leaders, of all faiths, and particularly a declining number of Christian ministers, of all denominations, is at a much greater crisis level.

Reverend Flynn noted that there has been a shift with partners of ministers now often having professional careers, making placement of ministers in regional areas more challenging than times past.

“They’ve often partnered with another person who has a career. It’s often difficult to for both careers to find opportunity in a regional community,” Reverend Flynn said.

And its a shortage that hits regional areas hard. Often religious ministers are the front line of mental health care in smaller communities, and perform an important role in maintaining community cohesion. While lay preachers can make sure there is some kind of service of a Sunday, and retired ministers can step in for a wedding or funeral, studies have found the absence of a minister results in congregation members feeling disconnected, alone or even abandoned, which is not dissimilar to the impact observed in people who are only able to access a doctor by telehealth.

And the pressure on religious leaders is similar to our stretched GPs, with significant stress and burnout leading to many considering quitting.

There is one perk of employment as an ordained minister with the Uniting Church that was beneficial for Reverend Flynn and his wife: they didn’t need to look for housing. They have been provided with a manse – a home owned by the Church specifically for the minister to live in, usually directly adjoining the church or close to it – in East Tamworth, which meant they didn’t need to look for housing.
“It makes it much easier when you’ve got the accommodation provided for you, especially in the current market” he said.

Budget time for a chat

Like many we have spoken to in this series, Reverend Flynn says he was surprised by the friendliness of the people.
“You have to budget a bit more time when you go somewhere, because you’ll talk to more people, whether it’s at the shops or when I’m visiting with people, you just have to budget a bit more time for conversation.”

“For example, you don’t just pay for your petrol. You can have a little conversation with the with the person serving you.”

“It’s more relaxed, it’s not as busy as the cities can be.
“It’s very pleasant, It’s a nice way of interacting with people.”
Reverend Flynn is also at an advantage when it comes to making new friends.

“I already know probably at least 100 people here in Tamworth from the day one that want to know me and I can connect with from the day I arrived.”

He’s made friends outside of the church too through his love of music.
“I’ve joined the Sinfonia, which is a string orchestra with the Conservatorium of Music here in Tamworth, because I play the violin.”
“I’ve really enjoyed the friendship of the folk who are a part of that of that group.”
“It’s also helped that my wife went to school in Quirindi and grew up in Werris Creek. So she has some cousins and school friends here in Tamworth, which we’ve been able to reconnect with.”

Is it God’s Country?

To others considering a move to the region, Reverend Flynn said it’s a great place to come and live and raise a raise a family.
“I just have a sense that Tamworth has a vibrancy about it, and it’s it’s easy to access the majority of services that you need.”
We couldn’t resist the opportunity to ask the man of God the question: is the New England God’s Country?

He laughed and said: “Gerringong is God’s Country, having come from the Illawarra! Tamworth would be God’s country if it had the beach.”
“I think I would also have to say, there is still a deep Christian spirituality here in Tamworth.

“And in that sense, I guess you could say it is God’s Country because there is an openness here to to acknowledging the beauty that God has provided us.”