21st August, 2007

Rev David Pitman is the moderator of the Uniting Church in Queensland. Married to Marcia, the 66-year-old has four adult children - Michael, Tony, Belinda and Michelle - and eight children.

Three words that describe me are...passionate, proactive, compassionate.

For me, being a Christian means...living the way of Jesus.

I became a Christian when...I realised that the claim of Jesus on my life was irresistible

I see my role within the church as...providing strong spiritual, pastoral and missional leadership consistent with the vision and values of the Uniting Church of Australia.

The Bible is...a means by which God continues to inform, guide, illuminate and challenge the church, and me, in a context of rapid change.

My favorite book of the Bible is...the Gospel according to John.

I hear from God when...I am alert to the possibility that God can and does speak at any time through scripture, experience, circumstance, worship, creation, or the person (people) I happen to be with at the time.

The best thing about following Jesus Christ is...sharing with Him in making the truth He taught and lived a reality in the world today.

The hardest thing about following Jesus Christ is...it demands my all and sometimes I feel really tired.

Three things I believe are worth fighting for are...justice and compassion for the poor and disadvantaged, an inclusive, generous and hospitable society, and honesty in both church and politics.

Someone I admire is...my wife, Marcia, who quite properly refuses to live in my shadow, is her own person in every way, and constantly challenges me to do the same.

When relaxing I really enjoy...music, reading, movies and woodturning, but cooking most of all.

Apart from the Bible, a book I'd recommend is...Working the Angles by Eugene Peterson, in which he suggests that the primary role of Christian leaders is helping people be attentive to God.

I recently laughed when...playing with my 12 month old grandson, Joshua, who laughs infectiously most of the time.

I wished you'd asked me about...my plans for “retirement” in 12 months time. In retirement I intend to spend more time with my family, do some travelling, and continue to serve Christ and the church in specific ways appropriate to my gifts and experience.

~ www.ucaqld.com.au.

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FOR PREVIOUS INSIDE THE CHURCH...

"Church to me now means...very little if by 'church' you mean the institution, the building or the Sunday service. If you mean 'church' in the Biblical sense, then I am intrinsically part of the church as it is centrally part of me. I get sick of us discussing 'church' as though it's a third party 'out there'. The church is 'in here' - it is an organic, messy, Godly, dynamic collective of followers of Jesus and i continue to be amazed that I've been called to join its company."

We talk to Rev Michael Frost, academic, author, evangelist and member of the missional community - Small Boat, Big Sea - in Manly...... | more...|

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Howard Langmead, 52, is the vicar of St John's Anglican Church in West Brunswick, Melbourne, Victoria, as well as a part-time stand-up comic, social commentator, laughter workshop facilitator and podcaster... | more...|  

"The best part of my role is... Seeing people transformed into new or better followers of Jesus."