Family and Faith

When children play, they often pretend at being a doctor, a teacher, or a fireman – not usually a minister. But Rev John Hughes used to preach sermons and hand out communion grape juice from behind his grandmother’s piano bench at his childhood home in Fort Worth, Texas. So in many ways, it’s no surprise he went on to develop a vocation in ministry. He grew up in the United Methodist Church, and when he moved with his wife Rev Jennifer Hughes to Australia in 2009, it wasn’t a big adjustment to join the Uniting Church. ‘There is way more in common than there is different,’ said John. ‘The things that were different between the two churches were all things I felt quite at home in, such as the strength of lay leadership – I think that the ministry of all believers is a really important part of the protestant tradition and I think it mirrors very closely the kinds of things Jesus prioritised.’ Having completed a Masters of Divinity and a double degree in Psychology and Spanish, by the time he came to Australia, he felt ready to pursue his vocation to ordained ministry and was placed with Jennifer as the ministers of Brougham Place – where they have been untill recently. As well as being a minister for his diverse and intergenerational congregation, he’s also a parent to two boys. Finding the right balance between the non-traditional work schedule of being a minister and still managing to be available for his kids can be challenging. ‘Because ministers are passionate about the work they do, they often give all their time and energy to the church because of their faith and their commitment and everything else, and so maybe their family doesn’t get as much time as they want. It’s hard … I don’t ever want my kids to blame God for my failings.’ Ministering to children, teenagers and young people has also been an important part of his ministry to date, and he has a keen eye for how the church as a whole can more effectively nurture young people. ‘Young people can smell inauthenticity from miles away, and the church needs to be honest in who it is, but also open to change, like asking what is faith like in 2022 for someone who’s fourteen? Really the opposite of faith is fear – not doubt.’

John credits the support of the Brougham Place congregation for aiding him and Jennifer in managing both parenting and their work. It is bittersweet then that they both left the congregation this September, with John commencing as the Minister of Pilgrim Church alongside Rev Mark Hewitt this October.

‘There are a lot of losses, it’s hard when you’re moving on to say – okay, I’m not going to be a part of what’s next for this place. But I am excited about what’s coming, now is the opportunity to explore some of the things I would have done differently in the past.’

by Emelia Haskey

Because ministers are passionate about the work they do, they often give all their time and energy to the church because of their faith and their commitment and everything else, and so maybe their family doesn’t get as much time as they want.