The Free Church of Scotland Moderator has returned home from a three-week visit to Australia.
The trip for Rev Calum Iain Macleod was organised by the Free Church’s Inter Church Relations Committee in association with Presbyterian Church of Australia (PCA) and the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia (PCEA).
Calum Iain and his wife Dina also attended a number of gatherings during their visit.
Presbyterian Church of Australia
Calum Iain attended the Presbyterian Church of Australia’s General Assembly of Australia (GAA) held at the Scots Church in Sydney during his first week in Australia.
He represented the Free Church along with several other international guests from various reformed churches. During his visit, he was invited to address the General Assembly twice.
He said: “It was a great honour and privilege to address the General Assembly of Australia (GAA) of the Presbyterian Church of Australia (PCA), held at Scots Church in Sydney, and to engage with commissioners from across the PCA. It was a week of enriching fellowship. One highlight was having lunch with Rev Dr Allan Harman and reflecting on his pastoral and teaching ministry over decades past. I would like to thank the Moderator General, Rev Dr Stuart Bonnington, for his warm welcome, support and encouragement.”
Rev Dr Stuart Bonnington said: “A true highlight of the recent General Assembly meeting of the Presbyterian Church of Australia (GAA) was the official visit of Rev. Calum Iain Macleod and his wife, Mrs Dina Macleod. The influence of the Free Church has greatly shaped Australian Presbyterianism for the gospel good, and it was wonderful for the first time in the history of the GAA to have the Free Church Moderator with us.
“Mr Macleod spoke well and was warmly received by PCA Commissioners across the Commonwealth. It is hoped that Mr Macleod’s visit will lead to a closer relationship between the Free Church of Scotland and the Presbyterian Church of Australia. The two churches share much in terms of a common Reformed Evangelical faith and a desire, in the face of a rapidly secularising Australia and Scotland, to engage in church revitalisation and planting.”
Calum Iain was also invited to meet with the principal, staff and students at the PCA’s Presbyterian Theological College in Melbourne.
Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia (PCEA)
Calum Iain met with representatives of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia throughout his visit and preached in several PCEA congregations including St George’s (Sydney), Hastings River (Wauchope), Manning River (Taree) and Geelong. He also addressed a Bible Study in Northern Rivers (Maclean), where Dina and Calum Iain enjoyed fellowship with Catherine Macleod, a native of Scalpay. Catherine’s late husband, Rev Kenneth Macleod, had previously served as the pastor of Maclean.
The Free Church Moderator also met with Rev Robin Tso, Convenor of the PCEA Inter-church Relations Committee, and Rev George Ball to discuss how closer partnership between the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia and the Free Church of Scotland could be fostered. They explored pulpit supply, student placements and sabbaticals as potential areas of cooperation, with a view to identifying specific opportunities to develop these initiatives and strengthen ties between the two denominations.
Calum Iain said: “It was a joy to connect and fellowship with various congregations during our stay. Everyone was kind and generous to us. Many spoke of their deep sense of appreciation for the rich history and heritage between the PCEA and the Free Church of Scotland dating back to Disruption times. I am confident that we can build on our close association over the coming years.”
He added: “Despite a busy itinerary the entire trip was immensely encouraging. From Sydney to Brisbane to Melbourne with various stopovers in between, including lunch with David and Annabell Robertson in Newcastle, we covered a vast terrain and returned home to the Black Isle uplifted.”
The Macleods also enjoyed some sightseeing with their daughter, Anne Marie, who lives in Melbourne, including a memorable visit to The Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road.
