Leading church figure remembered

Gordon MoyesBy Nigel Tapp

One of Australia’s most respected religious leaders and Christian media pioneers, Rev Dr Gordon Moyes AC, passed away peacefully last month surrounded by his family.

Ordained in 1959 as a minister of the Churches of Christ, Dr Moyes was later ordained in the Uniting Church and served for 27 years as the Superintendent of Wesley Mission Sydney.

Under Dr Moyes leadership, the Mission became one of Australia’s largest non-government welfare providers and a uniquely shaped multi-cultural, city-based church, passionate about sharing God’s love in both word and deed.

It is seen as an extraordinary ministry extensive in its breadth, significant in its range and innovative in its outlook. The scope of its services extend to financial counselling, refugee support, property redevelopment in the central business district, financial sustainability, employment services, child and family support, disability and mental health services, a media presence and retail and conference centres.

Dr Moyes was also a true pioneer in getting the Christian message into the mainstream electronic media.

Turn ’Round Australia, a weekly 30-minute program, first aired on the Ten Network. At the invitation of the management of Channel Nine, the Christian show became a Sunday morning staple on the network for almost 25 years.

He also produced several ground breaking documentaries including The Discovering series, which garnered a worldwide audience.

Dr Moyes was appointed by the Christian Democratic Party to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 2002. He represented the party and Family First for the next nine years and was a passionate advocate for disadvantaged indigenous populations, the homeless, the disabled and the unemployed.

He was once described by former Australian Prime Minister John Howard as “the epitome of effective Christian leadership”.

“And what I particularly salute is the way in which Dr Moyes has led the Wesley Mission to an understanding of the need for the church, in its various outreaches to the community to change and adapt whilst retaining a deep connection with the fundamentals of the Christian religion,” Mr Howard said.

Dr Moyes is survived by his wife of 55 years, Beverley, his four children and 14 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

 

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