Alan Spivey is one of our synod ministers (not the only one) who celebrates his ordination golden jubilee during 2007. At a recent service at his home church of Northate, Darlington he was surprised when the minister, Tjarda Murrary, spoke about his ministry and made a small presentation. As he later said, "It was totally unexpected: in the first few moments I also was wondering with the children who it could be of whom Tjarda was about to speak!"
Here are a few extracts from his "thank you letter" to the church, in which Alan reflects on ministry over the past half century: -
Reflecting on the half century of Ministry, first in a Church of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion at Cheshunt, then into the RAF and subsequently the Army as a Chaplain to H. M. Forces, to St Columba's (North Shields), Kirkheaton with Holmfirth and finally with Methodist Churches in Middlesbrough. It is, in away, a Methodist (then) sandwich.
The Cheshunt Church was founded by the Connexion that sprang up through the preaching of George Whitfield, a close associate of John Wesley, whose followers, I believe, went either into the Congregational or the Primitive Methodist traditions. Cheshunt College itself, where I trained, began in Trevecca (South Wales. Guide me O Thou great Jehovah was written for its opening). It moved to Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, (where Isaac Watts was once Minister), thence to Cambridge until it united with Westminster College, almost in anticipation of the formation of the United Reformed Church.
It prepared me well for a ministry of interdenominational outlook, for it welcomed in training men and women from the Baptist, Anglican and Methodist traditions. It fitted well the role I enjoyed and learnt from in the Forces, for wherever I served I was regarded as the Chaplain for the 'Church of Scotland and Free Churches'. The Forces environment esteems "establishment” and I relished the occasions where it helped considerably to say to a C.O. "representing the established Kirk I hope to enjoy the same preference as my Anglican colleague, Sir!"
Since 1957 I have ministered within Churches that have endured, and still do, serious decline. In our faith-filled buoyant moments we are right to be not downcast. It is our Lord's 'body' in which we work and He will fulfil His purpose in His time. His earthly body was abused by the society of His earthly days. His Churchly body has suffered many times of distress and reversal. We must bear in mind that, before these present days, there have been years when resurrection vision and enterprise were formative and exciting and good for the world in which we serve the Lord of the Church. Like the sower, it is not for us to measure the harvest, nor to judge the field in which we work, but rather to get on with the tasks set before us. This always calls for faith, hope and love, even when their fruits come wrapped in grief. The grief will pass, the joys will be fulfilled.
One did not enter this work without the knowledge that it would be financially tight and that tensions galore could arise. Sometimes these arose in one's mind simply because one is the paid person in a hard working volunteer force, whether secretaries, treasurers, elders (deacons) and Church members. I tried to respect the fact that any Church is made up of usually very willing, very capable, often visionary people, but every one a giver of time, talents and treasure - giving voluntarily for their love of Christ and His Church. It was at times an embarrassment to ask much of such people. This is my opportunity to recall the debt we in the Ministry owe for the love, forbearance and support that congregations of faithful people give.