16/3/1936 - 27/7/2019 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the sudden death of Rev Lindsay Faulkner on 27 July, 2019 at 83 years of age. Lindsay was at home with his wife Nessie, when he suffered a heart attack.

Lindsay has been a man of the Church, since first experiencing a call to ministry while serving as a cook at Griffiths House in Alice Springs in 1956.

Ordained in 1965, he ably served God and the Church in four Synods as a minister of the Word, including a time as Moderator of the Northern Synod from 2001–2003.  

He has continued to serve in ministry since his retirement, settling in South Australia in 2004. He regularly preached in congregations and provided short term supply at Kent Town, Semaphore, and at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. He was particularly supportive of his home congregations of Payneham Road and Argent and served as South Australia’s UCAF President in 2014-15.

Lindsay was a probationer in the Methodist Church at Port Augusta from 1963-64. In 1965, he was sent to Salisbury for two years, where he met and married Nessie. They moved to Lock in 1967 and Semaphore in 1968 for two years. In 1969, he returned to his native Tasmania to serve at Wynyard from 1969-1973, and during part of that placement, was the Immigration Chaplain.

In 1974, the family moved to Mildura in Victoria, for a further three years and during this placement he served as Chaplain to the Base Hospital. The Faulkner’s spent the years 1978-1982 in St Arnaud, before moving back to South Australia, for Lindsay to become Superintendent of the Port Pirie Mission from 1983 to January 1987.

In February 1987, the family returned to Victoria, to Forest street Church in the West Bendigo Parish, where he is remembered for establishing the FoodBank and outreach programs to those in need. He also served as Chaplain to the Bendigo gaol. In February 1994 he moved to Dandenong UC. His final placement was at Alice Springs to the John Flynn Memorial Church from June 2000, until his retirement on 31 October, 2004. 

Lindsay served as Moderator of the Northern Synod, alongside this placement. The times of chairing Standing Committee meetings via a telephone link, were often challenging. While at Alice Springs, Lindsay’s love and appreciation of the Aboriginal people grew, and he was made an honorary elder in a memorable ceremony. 

The Northern Synod commented on his Moderatorial term: “Throughout his term as Moderator, Lindsay brought a dignity, wisdom and pastoral sensitivity that was appreciated by many.”

Lindsay was always active in his faith within local community life, bringing the Gospel to people, by being part of the good works happening in communities. He was a strong advocate for ecumenism and served in leadership with the South Australian Council of Churches for many years. Lindsay also served on the Council of the Uniting Church Historical Society.

Lindsay is survived by his wife Nessie and their children Doug, Jenny and Mark and their families. Please pray for them, and for the members of the Payneham Road congregation, where Lindsay was seen as a father to the International families who worship there.

The funeral for Lindsay Faulkner will be held at Payneham Road Uniting Church, 343 Payneham Road, Marden, on Monday August 5, 2019 at 10am.

Yours in Christ,

Rev Sue Ellis

Moderator
Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia