By John Francis,
Bruce Peninsula Press
When Brad Inglis came to Tobermory United Church, he called himself “The Lazy Theologian”. This was typical of his self-deprecating style of ministry. In fact, he was generally available 24/7 when needed.
He came to Tobermory ten years ago as a student minister. “Student” was removed from his job title after he completed his MDiv degree in May of 2015 (a busload of Tobermory congregants went down to Hamilton for his graduation ceremony).
Under Brad’s mask of self-mockery and good humour was a determination to make the United Church more inclusive, more relevant and more supportive to the community. In all of these, he was wildly successful.
He started writing a column for the Bruce Peninsula Press (From the Desk of the Lazy Theologian) to keep people up to speed on what was going on around the village of Tobermory and the United Church in particular.
He conducted weddings and memorial services for pretty much anyone who asked and gave help and counselling to anyone who needed them. He never asked about religion except to understand how best to serve.
Church attendance spiked immediately after he arrived and stayed high throughout his tenure. Membership increased modestly but his influence was perhaps more visible in the number of non-church-members who became the backbone of church functions like the Thrift Shop and the Chicken Barbeque.
But after ten years, Brad felt a need to practice ministry in a larger community. He accepted a position at Central United Church in Weston/Toronto, (near Weston Rd and Lawrence Ave) starting Oct 18 but moved to his new digs there on Sept 22. As Brad wrote in his “parting blast” to friends and community: “But here I am after 10 totally amazing years in a place I loved, embraced by community, appreciated for my work, accepted as I am and now have the privilege to share all that I have learned with you folks, with a new group of people. I came as a student minister, feeling broken and having no clue where life would take me, but I knew in my heart that Tobermory was where I needed to be – by the clear blue, healing waters and rugged, landscape and simplicity that would patch me up. There, I found home, friends, love and acceptance and I have been blessed….and I got to create the garden of my dreams! As much as the Jerusalem Artichokes are the bane of my existence, their bright yellow September flowers, waved me on my way!”
His departure is lamented by church and community alike; there are over 200 likes and close to 100 comments on his final Facebook post, not to mention the many expressions of regret and encouragement he has received at church — plus a letter of recognition from MP Alex Ruff.
As Brad says in his “parting blast”, his Facebook and Instagram pages will “go dark” for awhile. “As part of making room for a new minster and giving them a chance to create their own ministry – my broad sweeping blather will go silent for a while and church folks will find they aren’t connected using Facebook. This is a highly recommended process by the United Church of Canada in making a break from a pastoral charge and having a year to recreate ourselves. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you it means that as church folks, you will have time to bond with a new minister and you will always know where to find me.”
He will be missed.
