Meera Atkinson
Rev Ken Williams is the pastoral leader of the Uniting Church in WA. He keeps his hair long and uses a pastoral staff to symbolise the call to shepherd God’s flock.
Unpack the issues...
Husband for over 40 years, father of two adult children and grandfather to five grandchildren, Ken took on the role of Moderator of the Synod of WA nine months ago. Having made a conscious decision to alter his appearance about three years ago, his image assumed new meaning and significance once he became Moderator.
“The story starts innocently but it came to acquire significance,” explains Ken. “One of the members of my congregation said they felt sorry when I got my hair cut. Then I was looking at some stained glass windows in church and at the long hair on Jesus and I thought, ‘I could probably do that'."
“It took me just over a year to get it to where I wanted it. I have a professional hairdresser because it’s not easy to grow your hair long and keep it tidy. I didn’t expect people to find it so remarkable. I think it tells us about paradigms people have and the stereotypes we all put on other people.”
Ken says it quickly became apparent that there was a subversive element to his new appearance and he sees that as positive.
“People are curious and want to know who you are and what you think and stand for if you look different. It seems to create interest in what I might have to say and once people have met me they never forget they’ve met me.”
His first intentional act in relation to his image came when he was nominated as Moderator and asked to supply a photograph. “I decided I didn’t want to have people make an issue of the way I looked after [the decision to choose him as Moderator had been made] so I made a point of having a professional portrait taken so people could see how I look and if they didn’t like it they didn’t have to elect me.”
Ken’s theme for the triennium comes from the verse in John 21: 15-17 where a risen Christ instructs his disciple Peter to "feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep".
“I want people to reflect upon the call of Christ to those who would follow him to be shepherds to God’s flock of people, which is all people,” Ken says.
“We’re not called to have fancy organisations, although we need them. We’re not called to be great institutions, although we can’t get away from having them. What we are called to be are shepherds leading people to good pasture through dangerous places. That is first and foremost what’s needed.
“When I said that would be my theme I also said I’d put a lot of emphasis on visiting congregations, faith communities and agencies because I wanted people to have an experience of feeling pastured. I use a pastoral staff, my banner is a pastoral image and while I think it’s a small point, the hairstyle fits that.”
If some are critical or uncomfortable with Ken’s choice of dress and haircut he believes it is a small minority.
“Some people worry that I’ll be ridiculed and in some quarters I am but frankly if I worried about that I wouldn’t be equipped for this job would I?
“To me in the end it’s not a big deal,” he says. “I don’t think about it all the time but I’m quite determined that — apart from the fact that it’s the way I want to look — I feel it’s fundamentally to the good of what I’m trying to do so I don’t intend to be distracted by the concern of isolated people here and there. It’s just the way I am and that’s okay.”
He does admit that it can sometimes lead to misunderstandings but more often than not he finds these amusing. When out with his wife, wait staff will sometimes address them with, “Good evening ladies”. He has also startled men in public toilets who think they’ve mistakenly gone to the ladies. Ken relays these tales with a hearty laugh.
And to those who say Christians that want to encourage people in their faith should look like the norm of society in an effort to make others feel comfortable, Ken says he disagrees.
“In my view you have to, as your theme says, look deeper, dig deeper. Each of us is made in the image of God but each of us is unique.
“I think we need to learn to value and celebrate — not only diversity generally speaking but also the uniqueness of each person.”
Unpack the issues...
- Do you tend to see people in terms of 'categories' or do you look for what is unique in each person?
- Do you accept what is especially unique in yourself, or do you try to 'blend in'?
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written by David Lewis , July 01, 2009
Ken, Unimpressed. What pretty hair has to do with shepherding I cannot see.
It seems to be an over emphasis in self. whereas the key for Paul was 'npt I but Christ who lives in me'. David.
written by David Lewis , July 01, 2009
I found this article quite disturbing. Nicely coiffured hair has nothing to do with effective and creative shepherding. For Paul the emphasis was "not I but Christ who lives in me". Self obsession detracts from ministry. David
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