Updated 9th April, 2015
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Rev Dr Gordon Moyes |
Tributes are flowing for highly respected Australian Christian leader, Rev Dr Gordon Moyes, following his death on Easter Sunday.
The former New South Wales Upper House MP and superintendent of Sydney’s Wesley Mission – some of whom’s writings have appeared on the pages of Sight – died in hospital in Sydney following a brief illness.
Rev Dr Moyes’ son David told Sight that his father had battled illness over the past couple of years but that in recent weeks his health had gone downhill quite suddenly.
He said his father had been surrounded by his family at the time of his death. "We are a very close family and when he passed away, I think there was 22 of us around him…" he said. "He was such an encourager for each of us in pursuing our various callings and dreams in life. He was very much a loving father and I can’t speak more highly of him in that regard."
David said his father would like to be remembered as an evangelist and said it has been amazing to read comments on Facebook after his death in which people had told how Rev Dr Moyes had played an instrumental role in them becoming Christians.
He added that his father was also a strong believer in justice for the vulnerable and marginalised – something he believed stemmed from when as a young boy he and his mother had found his alcoholic father dead in the street – and which had outworked in his life through his care for the homeless and orphans.
David said that while the family was "very sad" at his father’s death on Easter Sunday – the day when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, "we just know that Dad was raised to a new life with Jesus".
In a statement, Rev Dr Keith Garner, the current superintendent at Wesley, said Rev Dr Moyes will be remembered for his contribution in "expanding so many distinctive and enduring Wesley Mission services".
He said Rev Dr Moyes "declared evangelism to be the heartbeat of Wesley Mission" and added that his contribution was not just to those in the church but to the wider community.
Rev Dr Moyes was ordained a minister with the Churches of Christ in 1959, serving at Newmarket, Ascot Vale, Ararat and Cheltenham. He was later ordained a minister in the Uniting Church and went on to serve for 27 years as the superintendent of the Wesley Mission.
During his time as superintendent, the organisation produced ground-breaking documentaries including The Discovery Series – based on books written by Rev Dr Moyes – as well as programs for TV and radio including the weekly half-hour TV show Turn ‘Round Australia and the long-running talkback radio show, Sunday Night Live with Gordon Moyes, both of which he hosted.
Rev Dr Moyes entered the New South Wales Legislative Council in 2002 as a member of the Christian Democratic Party and served with the CDP, as an independent and for Family First for the next nine years during which time he is credited with spear-heading reform in the area of juvenile justice and personal injury compensation.
As well as being awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia in 2002, he was named a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow in 1978, New South Wales’ Father of the Year in 1986 and awarded the Centenary Medal for Distinguished Service to Australia in 2003. Last year, he received a lifetime achievement award from Christian Media Australia.
Rev Dr Moyes, who lived on the Central Coast of New South Wales, is survived by Beverley, his wife of 55 years, his four children and 14 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A thanksgiving service will be held in the Wesley Church at 220 Pitt Street in Sydney at 2pm on Friday, 10th April.
– DAVID ADAMS
