Gordon Keith Mackenzie Moyes AC MLC BA (1938 - 2015)

Born 17 Nov 1938 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 5 Apr 2015 at age 76 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Gordon Moyes AC MLC BA is Notable.

Reverend Doctor Gordon Moyes AC MLC BA LLD LittD DD FRGS FAIM FAICD MACE was an Australian Christian evangelist, administrator, broadcaster, humanitarian and politician. He was superintendent of the Wesley Central Mission (now Wesley Mission), Sydney, from 1979 to 2005. From 2002 to 2011, he was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.

Gordon Moyes AC MLC BA was born in Victoria, Australia

Gordon Keith Mackenzie Moyes was born on 17th November 1938 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was the oldest of four children of Norman Moyes, a pastry cook, and his wife Emma (nee Gordon), who made their home in the eastern Melbourne village (later City of Box Hill) of Box Hill. In true Scottish style, Gordon was given the family names of his four grandparents: Gordon and Keith (maternal) and Mackenzie and Moyes (paternal).

When Gordon was seven, he and his Mum found Norman dead in the street. Emma took over the family's pastry shop, raised her children and cared for her mother-in-law, who had dementia. She married again in 1955, to Herbert Vial. Gordon attended Box Hill Boys High School and Federal College of the Bible (now Stirling Theological College) where he completed a Diploma of Ministry. He graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts in 1961.

Gordon married Beverley Vernon in December 1959 in Melbourne.

Christian ministry

Gordon was a minister in the Churches of Christ and the Uniting Church in Australia

Gordon Moyes was ordained as a minister in the Churches of Christ in Australia, serving at Victorian churches in Ascot/Newmarket, Ararat and Cheltenham. In 1979, he was appointed Superintendent of the Wesley Central Mission (now Wesley Mission), Sydney, succeeding Rev'd Dr Sir Alan Walker. ^[1] Following his appointment, he was ordained as a Uniting Church Minister by the Uniting Church in Australia. Gordon led the Mission to become one of Australia’s largest churches and one of the largest non-government welfare providers. In 1978, his humanitarian efforts were recognised through his appointment as Rotary International's Paul Harris Fellow. He resigned in December 2005 after 27 years as the head of Wesley Mission. During this time he gained prominence in Australia as host of the weekly television program Turn 'Round Australia and radio program Sunday Night Live with Gordon Moyes.

In his incredible 'busyness', Gordon accepted appointment firstly, as President of The Boys' Brigade New South Wales in 1983, before also being appointed President of The Boys' Brigade Australia, a position he retained for some ten years. A 'hands-on' president, Gordon brought professionalism to every aspect of this pioneer children's and youth ministry. ^[2]

In 1986, he became New South Wales Father of the Year and was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM). In 1988, he was also chaplain to the Australian Winter Olympics Team in Calgary, and national chairman of Habitat for Humanity in Australia. For his continued humanitarian efforts he was awarded the Rotary International's President's Distinguished Service Award in 1994.

Gordon was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the Australia Day Honours 2002 'for service to the community in the delivery and expansion of social welfare and outreach services through the Wesley Mission, for fostering networks and partnership arrangements with other agencies to make services more widely available, and to religion'. ^[3]

Parliamentary service

Gordon Moyes was appointed by the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) to fill a casual vacancy in the New South Wales Legislative Council in 2002. He was elected in his own right the following year at the State election. From about 2007, Gordon and party leader, Reverend Fred Nile, increasingly fell-out over theological and social justice issues with Gordon 'chastising' party members for their literal interpretation of the Judeo-Christian Bible. In March 2009, the members of the Christian Democratic Party voted to expel Gordon, ^[4] who subsequently continued in parliament as an independent before joining the Family First Party in November 2009. On 26th March 2011, he failed in his attempt to be re-elected to the Legislative Council at the 2011 NSW election.

Honours and awards

Gordon was, deservedly, awarded a number honours, awards and honorary degrees, including:

• Rotary International's Paul Harris Fellow, 1978
• Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa), California Graduate School of Theology, 1985
• New South Wales Father of the Year, 1986
• Member of the Order of Australia, 1986
• Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) from Milligan College, Tennessee, 1989
• Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), California Graduate School of Theology, 1989
• Rotary International's President's Distinguished Service Award, 1994
• Centenary Medal, New Year's Honours 2001 "for service to the church and to the community"
• Companion of the Order of Australia, Australia Day Honours 2002
• Christian Media Australia’s Lifetime Achievement Award, 2014

Select bibliography

Gordon Moyes, Leaving a Legacy

• Inspirational Stories for Aussie Guys, 2014
• Leaving a Legacy, 2005
• When Box Hill was a Village, 1991
• Discovering the Young Church, 1989
• Discovering Paul, 1986
• Discovering Jesus, 1984
• The Secret of Confident Living, 1978
• How to Grow an Australian Church, 1975

Final reward

Reverend Doctor Gordon Moyes passed away, aged 76 years, on 5th April 2015 in Tumbi Umbi, New South Wales; surrounded and survived by Beverley, his wife of 55 years, children and children-in-law Jenny and Ron Schepis, Peter and Trina, David and Leisl, and Andrew and Kylie; and grandchildren and great-grand-children Michael, Georgina, Adelaide, Rachel, Ethan, Cassie, Jack, Brianna, Emma, Chelsea, Tom, Indiana, Scarlett and Piper.

Evangelism remained Gordon Moyes’ great passion through his life: “Essentially I am an evangelist. I just want to tell people about Jesus Christ.”