On my office wall, just above my computer, is my ordination parchment. There are a number of signatures on it, including that of a now disgraced and defrocked minister, a long retired minister whom I saw a couple of weeks ago and who is still healthy, and the signature of the Moderator, George Tuttle. I have no pictures of that day, so I have no idea if George Tuttle was present, but his signature reminds me that I am one of a long line of ministers of the Gospel. Thank you, George. Well done, good and faithful servant.    

This afternoon the Very Rev Bruce McLeod, the 25th Moderator of The United Church of Canada, sent along these poignant memories:

"Memories well up and over at the news of George's passing. During my term at the national office, George's mediating presence at the Executive was such a positive influence. TIme and again, he would wait until both sides of a particular issue had debated their strongly held positions. Then he would rise with a motion that would somehow take the best of both, and propose a wise and informed course where the church could follow forward.

"I also remember George as a teaching assistant (or some such title) at Emmanuel College sixty years ago where his friendly, listening, accessible, spirit encouraged so many beginners - including me - more than he knew. In later years, Joyce and I loved it when he occasionally visited a relative at her church in Thornhill, and we would renew old friendship over lunch.

God blessed the whole church through George. We are so grateful, and we miss him."

George was a professor, principal, pastor and mentor for me.  He was principal at St. Stephen's college during my three years there in what was the "last class" of basic degree training for those entering ministry.  He saw those years as a last chance to be creative in the design and delivery of theological education--recognizing that the College's task was to prepare "generalists" for the work of the United Church.  That meant our education was not focussed on the memorization of history and theories but on the disicpline required, combined with the skills needed, to be able to undertake ministry as a process of life-long learning, drawing from previous experience, searching out new resources, and applying anyalytical skills to see how God would use all of that in any particular moment of the Church's life.  This "style" did not work for everyone--I loved it.

Once active in the Church courts I quickly learned and appreciated George's gift of bringing differing sides together.  He would begin speaking by what he appreciated in that which was proposed, then acknowledge those who might find weaknesses in the proposal as presented and somehow (although after a  while you knew it was coming!) manage to bring both sides together with his own discernment of the best way forward.

We should not forget his long-standing commitment to issues that today fall under our "social justice" label.  I understand he was investigated by the RCMP during his days of teaching at what is now VST, and I think he wore that as both a badge of pride and as proof that he was on the right track!

George often began our classes with "well kiddies and pals" and that pretty much set the mood:  yes, he was the teacher, but he was always a friend and went out of his way to ensure that each student was affirmed academically and pastorally.  I graduated St. Steves 41 years ago and give thanks for the numerous times during those years that George sought me out for a chat, coffee, reflection and laughter at some of our individual and mutual experiences.

This kiddie says thanks to a wonderful teacher and with a tear in my eye gives thanks for the life of a great pal.  The United and worldwide Church has been blessed by this good man.  George has enriched us all.  Praise God!

I was a commissioner to General Council in 1988 and relatively new to ministry.  Along with Deborah Laing I was a small group leader for a number of people.  Though we were not at table groups that year, we gathered in a 'consistent clump' in the auditorium.  It was a contentious meeting as you may remember, but one item that received less press was the formation of the All Native Circle.  I believe George Tuttle was in our small group.  He was so attentive to me, interested in where I was serving and the dynamics there, and appreciative for the "leadership" I was offering.  At the time I remember being "awed" by his presence, impressed by his humbleness and thankful for his encouragement.  He certainly exhibited the qualities of wisdom, insight and encouragement in a unique way which was a special blessing!

Thank you all for these wonderful tributes to George and his ministry. Following are notes which have poured in from former moderators over the past day. Please forgive my informality by referring to these faithful friends by name only and not title, here:

Bill Phipps' immediate response to the news was about what a gentleman George was. Today Bill followed up with this note:

Last night I saw Mike Lewis (very strong First Nations advocate from Port Alberni, delivered apology from the congregation there). When I mentioned to him that George had died, he was quite saddened, and immediately called him a gentleman, the term I had used. As a young person, he was at the General Council when George was elected, and really appreciated George's listening to them.

From Bruce McLeod:

Memories well up and over at the news of George's passing.

During my term at the national office, George's mediating presence at the Executive was such a positive influence. TIme and again, he would wait until both sides of a particular issue had debated their strongly held positions. Then he would rise with a motion that would somehow take the best of both, and propose a wise and informed course where the church could follow forward.

I also remember George as a teaching assistant (or some such title) at Emmanuel College sixty years ago where his friendly, listening, accessible, spirit encouraged so many beginners - including me - more than he knew. In later years, Joyce and I loved it when he occasionally visited a relative at her church in Thornhill, and we would renew old friendship over lunch.

God blessed the whole church through George. We are so grateful, and we miss him.

From Marion Pardy:

As with those of you who have responded to date, I am saddened by the news of George's death.

I did not have the privilege of knowing George as some have had. I do recall, however, his ability to patiently listen to contentious debate and, then, calmly move to a mic with resolution that created agreement between those with opposing views, or at least the vast majority.  During my term as Moderator I recall his expression of gracious support and also his genuine regret when he was unable to accept an invitation to attend General Council or some other event.

Thank you for helping us to celebrate George's ministry and life, even as we mourn his death.

From Anne Squire:

One special memory is from my moderator days when the sexual orientation debate was raging.  I had invited all the living former moderators to join me in Toronto to share suggestions for responding to the fury.  George was the one who lived furthest from Toronto, and his immediate response was
that the cost of bringing him to Toronto would be more than his opinion was worth!

I managed to persuade him to come, and I was right.  It was his quiet reasoned response that was most helpful to me.  His warmth and wisdom will be sorely missed. 

From Bob Smith:

Since you and our colleagues have said so many appropriate things about his leadership and pastoral care it leaves me only to mention his astonishing vigour  - like Moses, as an old man, "his eyesight was unimpaired and his vigour had not abated".  I knew him especially through my friendship with Aubrey and Avanell Tuttle, who were active members of Eglinton church when I was minister there, and later at Shaughnessy. The brothers were superb athletes, skiing, hiking and playing competitive tennis.  As old men they loved to get together to play golf even though by the time they were in their nineties Aubrey was completely blind and George was confined to a wheelchair.  Aubrey explained that at such times he would push the wheelchair and George would tell him where the ball went!

I give thanks for his friendship and support during the years when I was in office.

From Walter Farquharson:

I did not know George well but I have utmost respect for the faithfulness with which he has served the church and humankind.  To have passion and balance is indeed rare.  I think of those words from Philippians 4:4 ff -  and I join all of you in rejoicing in a life so well and fruitfully lived and in giving thanks for George and his ministry.

From Lois Wilson:

I was shocked by the news of George's death. He seemed invincible. I succeeded him as Moderator, and well remember his wise words of advice and counsel. I admired his ability to stick-to-it, and his reliable presence at every gathering of the UCC that he could attend. I remember also having to shorten the Mod's stole by 4 inches so it would fit me!!  He was a giant among us in more ways then one.

From Peter Short:

Thank you for allowing me an undeserved association with George Tuttle whom I knew only by a handful of conversations and correspondences. The only Moderator to have ridden a horse into General Council has blessed the church with wisdom and grace, riding easily in the saddle, leaving us poorer for his absence and richer for his having been among us.

From Stan McKay:

I remember his gentle welcoming ways as I was seeking to understand the "ways" of the Church. My last visit with George was on Vancouver Island some years ago. His mind and spirit were as vibrant as ever.  I give thanks to the Creator for the respect and commitment he carried and shared.

Over the years  I encountered Goerge and each time it was a rewarding conversation.  Quiet and deep, compassionate and justice moved through all he did.  Thanks George.  Thanks God.

Thanks again for these true reflections of what we received from George and from God, through George.

Marion Best adds these memories this morning:

We have just returned from BC Conference General Meeting and thus my later response to the news of George Tuttle's death. I was in Vancouver when I heard the news and he was honoured during the Memorials at BC Conference Meeting.

I first met George in May '77 when he came to introduce the Kerygma Bible Study materials at a Naramata Centre event. The event was attended by many lay folks with little Biblical knowledge and he brought it all alive for everyone with overhead projections he had produced entitled "The Bible's Own Story In The Life of the Church" complete with cartoons of Biblical characters. People loved it so we had it printed for participants to take home and I still have a copy. Never condescending, he was a brilliant teacher and made learning fun and an adventure.

I attended the General Council in 1977 when George was elected and saw him last at Thunder Bay GC where we had several good visits with he and Eunice.
He would go to the microphone when things seemed to be snarled in the Court and would remind us that the 'rules of order' were there to help us make good decisions, not to confound or tie us in knots. George was a gentleman, a teacher, a scholar, a diplomat, a churchman and a loving family man. His request for a 'low key' service on June 23rd is not a surprise: he was a man of many gifts who carried them in a humble way."

So true, Marion. Many thanks.

I first had the privilege of meeting George Tuttle at his moderator's retreat several years ago where I had been invited to lead the music. We fit like a hand in a glove as word and music blended together at that event.

A few years later he would teach a term on Systematic Theology at Emmanuel College while I was a student there. Even I could understand the subject matter because he had a way of making it easier. One day I was struggling with a paper and he offered to help. We sat in the library for two hours, working on it together. It made all the difference in the world.

A few months later, a cheque for $200 arrived in the mail from the Tuttles. Their custom was to do that every year at Christmas for a student studying theology and I was the lucky one that year. I was very touched by their generosity. Most of it went towards paying the next month's rent, always a struggle, but a wee bit of it went towards purchasing a Christmas bouquet for my dining room table. That was almost 30 years ago and I have never forgotten it.

George Tuttle was many things to many people but what I appreciated most about him was that he was very much a Human Being.

JO Sorrill

Whitby ON

I first met George Tuttle when I was a delegate to the General Council where he was elected.  Over the years that followed we came in contact at events at St. Stephen’s College. Because, I was the minister at McDougall in Edmonton where his father had been minister that created a special connection for us. But, it was my visits with him during his final days that are most treasured. After he moved to St. Charles Manor in Victoria I used to take Eunice in to visit him every week. I would drop her off and an hour and a half later would come back. Often they were having tea but sometimes they would be under the covers having their afternoon nap.

We talked about his election as Moderator and he told me that he was sure that he would not win. In fact, he assured Helen that with the caliber of the other nominees he did not have a chance of being elected. He was only letting his name to stand to make the election more interesting and democratic.  I shared my most vivid memory of that Council. I was a commissioner from the Montreal/Ottawa Conference and we were very disturbed that there was neither welcome in French nor any recognition of the French- Canadian delegates. I complained about that on the floor of Council in French and in English and I was booed.  The strongest memory was that after that incident many people when we met in the connecting tunnels of the campus smiled at me and said, “Bonjour!”  What a wonderful way to apologize. George liked that positive spin on such a situation.

            When George and Helen retired to Sidney, George said, “Helen, you have followed me all through our married life and supported my work in the church with patience and grace. Now, I will only do what you want to do. No more big commitments to the church.”  They went to St. Paul’s United Church their first Sunday in Sidney. Helen noticed an announcement about retired men meeting on Monday morning and suggested that George attend and get to know some of the men. On Monday morning he went over to the church and introduced himself. Then, he asked if there was anything he could do?  He was told that a room had to be sent up for a meeting and if he would put out the chairs that would be helpful. He did this, had coffee with the men and went home. Helen inquired how the morning went. George confessed, “Well, they made me a chairperson!” And he got the predictable response from a frowning Helen.

            On one visit about a month before he died George was talking to me about having a good death. He said that his father and grandfather had good deaths because they had a sense of accomplishment and no regrets. Then, he expressed his regret that he had not had a more personal and pastoral ministry. I tried to reassure him that people would remember him as a very personable and pastoral person. But, he said he still had his regrets. Eunice was upset because she thought he was really saying, “Goodbye!” I thought he needed to have some intellectual and theological conversation to get his thoughts on another track. I phoned Garth Mundle, George’s successor at St. Stephen’s College, and Allan Saunders, the lead minister at First Met in Victoria and requested that that they phone George as soon as possible. He had an hour phone visit with Garth and a personal visit with Allan. Both found the experience very stimulating. It brought George back into the land of the living and the next week life was good and exciting. 

            When George died I offered to take Eunice in to the Manor if she wanted to spend some time with him before they took him away. She said, “No, I had a nice visit with him yesterday afternoon. He was in a deep sleep most of the time but every time he opened his eyes he said how much he appreciated that I was there. That was a good way to say, ‘Goodbye.”   George - thoughtful and pastoral to the end!

Gordon Cann 

Gordon Cann has been good enough to email me the following lovely note and beautiful prayer which he composed and offered at the memorial service for George, a service at which I am so grateful that B.C. Conference Past President Debra Bowman represented the Moderator, as I was at national the Truth & Reconciliation event in Saskatoon:

"I want to thank you for the blog you set up to allow people to pay tribute to George. I am also going to enclose the Prayer I composed by using that blog for inspiration and content. It made the task so much easier and was well received by the family especially Eunice, John and Julia. Also I want you to know that David Drake used part of your tribute in his opening remarks at the Memorial Service. David meditation was very good. Indeed, the whole serve was very fitting and quite beautiful. George had chosen the hymns and the scripture. .."

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Supplication

We are thankful for the gift of life

especially the life of the Very Reverend Doctor George Tuttle.

We are glad to have seen George’s face,

to experience the warmth of his smile,

to have been influenced by George’s personality and ways,

to love him and to be loved by him in return.

We find grace in the memory of George’s thoughtful,

gentle and caring approach to ministry,

his strong and loving leadership in the church,

his special period of service in Kenya during the year that nation gained independence,

his passion for youth ministry and his time as National Director of Youth Work,

his time as a Professor at Union College in Vancouver,

and his dedication and vision as the Principal of St. Stephen’s College.

We have a sense of great awe of his remarkable work on committees of Presbytery, Conference and General Council,

especially when he was a member of the General Council Executive

where his mediating presence had such a positive influence,

his ability to listen to both sides of a particular issue

and then rise with a motion that would take the best of both positions

that could move the church forward on a wise and informed course.

Blessed is the memory of him as a teacher, friendly, listening, an accessible spirit

which encouraged many more beginners than he ever knew,

that he was never condescending but a teacher who made learning fun and an adventure,

for his encouragement of developing a creative design

in the delivery of theological education

to enable ministers to undertake ministry as a process of life-long learning

with analytical skills to see how God could use one’s ministry

in any particular moment of the church’s life.

We express our gratitude and admiration of his quiet reasonable response in times of crisis,

his rare ability to have passion and balance,

his long standing commitment to those issues which fit under the banner of social justice.

We praise the Holy Spirit that lead the General Council to elect George as our 27th Moderator and the whole church was blessed

by the way he exhibited the qualities of wisdom and encouragement

in his own unique way.

and his graciousness that leaves us poorer for his absence

and richer because he was among us and very much one of us.

We fondly remember that he was a gentleman, a teacher, a scholar, a diplomat, a churchman, and a loving family man.

Above all, there was his love, respect, and appreciation of Helen and Eunice.

For all these things we give thanks and treasure them along with our own unique memories.

George’s deeds and thoughts, love and support will continue to be remembered

and will influence those whom he touched and our larger world,

for we are all woven of one tapestry.

We are thankful that time lessens and memories heal that grief we feel at death,

bringing ever-deeper understandings

and a more loving acceptance of death which came as a friend offering the gift of peace.

We are thankful for the comfort we can give one another,

not only as we have gathered here but in the past few weeks and in the future.

We are thankful that Life continues, passing from generation to generation.

We are thankful for the love that never dies.

It is true that "love bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never ends."

We are thankful for a faith that reminds us:

"in life, in death, in life beyond death,

God is with us. We are not alone.

Thanks be to God."

Let us now with great thanksgiving meditate on George’s life. In a few quite moments of reflection and remembrance.

Stay with us through the night (softly)

VU 182