After 16 years of service with UnitingWorld and prior to that serving for 5 years in West Timor, the Reverend John Barr, Associate Director for Church Solidarity (Asia), has indicated he is exploring a placement outside UnitingWorld and anticipates concluding his time with us at the end of 2012.
John’s contribution to the Uniting Church’s commitment to overseas mission has been immense. The dedication he has demonstrated for this work and the respect in which he is held by our partners is well known. UnitingWorld is also deeply conscious of the gift John will leave behind: the enabling of others to engage in the Church’s international mission creatively with both insight and sensitivity.
UnitingWorld will be organising an opportunity to farewell John and express appreciation later in the year.
John has spoken passionately of UnitingWorld’s continuing commitment to the ministry to which he has dedicated so much of his life. The relationship between the Uniting Church and our overseas church partners is always an essential expression of our identity within the church universal.
Asia will continue to be a priority focus for UnitingWorld and we will be taking the opportunity to identify how we can continue to enhance Uniting Church’s valuable set of partnerships with Asian Churches of which John has been so much a part.
Tags: Asia, church solidarity, John Barr, partnerships, resignation, UnitingWorld
