A fully ordained Presbyterian minister practicing in Kyogle for many years, Phil and his wife Karen and children Rachel, Tim and Naomi made a considered move back to Inverell six years ago. 

The demands Tim’s severe disabilities caused the family to evaluate their situation in Kyogle.

“It became too difficult to stay in full-time work and keep up with Tim’s needs. So, Inverell’s home; it’s my home. It was the only place that Karen and I could consider moving to where we knew we’d get looked after from day one,” Phil said.

“When I came here, I would have been hoping a part-time assistant’s job; doing some quiet role in the church that didn’t cause me and my family stress.

“I didn’t consider that I would ever get a call to this role,” he reflected.

For the first four years back, Phil acted as school chaplain for Inverell High School. 

At the end of 2012, the previous Presbyterian minister left his position, and Phil’s life took a turn back toward formal ministry.

The church began their search for a new senior minister. They asked Phil to temporarily take on the role and he piloted the congregations, gaining familiarity with the families and faces. After a formal search, the church and congregation voted to accept Phil for the position.

Though that year gave him an understanding of the current situation, Phil was long familiar with the edifice on Vivian Street.

His grandfather Donald Campbell was senior minister for the same church and his uncle David Wiedemann is minister to Delungra Presbyterian Church.

“There’s a lot of teachers and a lot of church workers in my family,” Phil said. He is the son of farmer Geoff Wiedemann and teacher and author Elizabeth Wiedemann.

The Inverell Presbyterian Church presently ministers to over 200 people with a regular attendance around 170. Phil said he would like to inspire the congregation to make an impact in the community extending beyond the comfort of the church walls.

“If I’m going to have any influence here, I want to see this church be better at breaching its culture; be better at reaching out to groups in the Inverell community that traditionally, we haven’t had any contact with,” Phil said.

He said though a minister’s job is demanding, he has the support of his wife and children and feels thankful for the welcome received from the congregation.

“In favour of this church, it’s a church that’s taken really good care of us, and really, that’s why I’m able to back to serving this church full-time, because they have cared for us so well over the last six years. Otherwise it would have been impossible,” he admitted.

“I don’t think there’s another church in the world that I could serve full-time. This is my home church, it’s my family church.

“To be honest, it feels like God’s been preparing me to do this all my life, and it fits better than anything I’ve ever done.”