News archive: Wives and Widows: Unsung Servants of Christ

Joan Ruwoldt displays her Servant of Christ award

In honour of the often unsung servants of Christ who are the wives and widows of Lutheran Church of Australia pastors, the Servant of Christ award for 2009 was given to Joan Ernestine Ruwoldt. The award recognises Joan’s outstanding service to the church through her selfless and crucial partnership in her husband’s long ministry, and her willing and gifted encouragement of residents and families at Tanunda Lutheran Home.

In reading the citation at the service, held at the Concordia College Chapel on 28 November, ALC lecturer and Head of School of Theological Studies, Meryl Jennings, said ‘It is clearly evident that Gordon's ministry could not have been nearly as effective had Joan not been able to do all the driving and assist with many other duties. The work of the kingdom of God was thus enhanced by Joan’s selfless and unassuming service. She has served her Lord and saviour in this way very humbly and faithfully and so assisted in the proclamation of the Word’.

Joan married Pastor Gordon Ruwoldt prior to their taking up parish work in 1955. Gordon was born severely vision-impaired, so Joan was required to give exceptional support for his ministry. A major part of this was doing the necessary driving, especially for all the night meetings and pastoral calls. Being a wife and mother, this meant taking children along, and often they slept in the rear of the station wagon. It also meant that, in emergencies, she had to drop tools in the middle of fruit preserving or doing the family wash to answer the driving call.

While in Millicent, Gordon was a member of several SA/NT District committees in Adelaide; to enable him to attend meetings Joan would have to drive. In their various parishes Joan would assist with typing, duplicating and printing the bulletin, and she often read materials aloud to ensure Gordon’s involvement.

Despite many additional demands made on her time, Joan worked part time as a teachers’ aide at Sedan school, and still uses her counselling studies and practice as a palliative care volunteer at Tanunda Lutheran Home.

Even now, with Gordon in his 80s, and Joan in her 70s, she continues to accompany Gordon as he preaches approximately two out of four Sundays, in parishes as far afield as the Riverland, Southern Flinders Ranges and South East South Australia, and wherever they are requested.

Updated: 19/01/2010 [1.00]