Rev. Dr Graeme Ferguson: A Visionary of Faith and Education

They say that the past is a different country and that they do things differently there. To understand the contribution that the late Rev Dr Graeme Ferguson made to the Uniting Church in NSW one must go back to the hope and optimism of the mid 1970s. An exciting new indigenous church was being planned and rethinking theological education was at the heart of that dreaming.

The three churches heading into union decided to unite their theological education faculties, and, in 1975 United Theological College (UTC) was born. Each of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches had their own ministerial education in place and academics and teachers with agendas, careers and egos. In an extraordinarily visionary move, a young, energetic outsider was selected as first Principal of UTC.

Graeme Ferguson, aged 39, came from the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand with an impressive academic CV including a PhD from Cambridge and ten years in a congregational setting. He and his new wife Mairi had moved to England in 1960 for Graeme’s doctoral studies on Calvin. Graeme spent time in the early 1960s in Berlin working with refugees and formed a life long commitment to courageous ministry engaged with the world. From 1965 he had been Minister in a cutting edge ecumenical setting in Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church Wellington. Here he honed his pastoral skills, learned to be adventurous and generally flourished. Writing of this period in his book, Signposts on the Way he said "the task of the Church is to discern the places in the life of the city where Christ is about his saving work and set out to join him there."

Once in Australia he took to the task of uniting the three faculties in a herculean task using the talents at his disposal:

Firstly, a strong intellect; he never gave anyone the impression that he was listening to them, but any decision he made was informed by actually having carefully considered every snippet of information that was needed to resolve the matter.

Secondly, he had an idiosyncratic personality that disarmed, surprised and endeared.

Finally, Ferg (as he became widely known) had an unshaking belief in the church and was not willing to be disappointed by it. He signed off letters with the energetic “Justice and Joy!” and could not imagine that others did not share his optimism and his commitment to resurrection faith.

In summing up Graeme’s contribution, colleague, Geoff Barnes wrote:

“Ferguson succeeded in maintaining a team spirit, he valued the wisdom of his colleagues and enjoyed the cut and thrust of ecclesiastical politics and theological debate. He was willing to be vulnerable, to take advice and make changes to his proposals. Personal idiosyncrasies added to the genuine affection students and staff felt for Ferg... And when deep emotion flowed into his pulpit rhetoric one often felt the unmistakeable and unforgettable presence of God…In the classroom his thoughts were sometimes so elevated that students were quite bewildered. Other colleagues and students remember his support and encouragement and mentoring, his love of theology and his ongoing passion for theological education.”

Graeme’s period as Principal was rich and full. His speeches at Synods were legendary and he fostered optimism for the future of the church that was contagious. He was an advocate for the College, his students and intelligent Christianity.

Students were struck by the compassion and warmth of their College’s leader. Graeme always delivered any announcement of an illness or other bad news with a wavering voice, compassion in his heart and love apparent. As a passionate advocate for his students, many UTC graduates were indebted for his advocacy for their cause. He revelled in variety and difference and pre-empted the diversity that was to come after his time. Many conservative students were bemused to receive an invitation into the Principal’s home addressed to them and their “Significant Other”.

Former Moderator, Simon Hansford, recalls presenting himself to Ferg, aged 19, with a story of his call to ministry. Simon presented his case to a man who didn’t look him in the eye, but spent the conversation rolling and unrolling his tie. At the end of the conversation Graeme’s wisdom was that Simon should come back in five years time. It was good advice.

At Graeme’s funeral his daughter told a beautiful story about how the Ferguson family spent their summer holidays whilst in Australia. Graeme would write to coastal congregations seeking a place to park their caravan for the approaching January. After a time they settled on Ulladulla as the family’s holiday destination. The children’s job once there was to unpack both a bookshelf and the books to fill it for their father’s next month. When not reading he was fishing, swimming or preaching in the local church.

Graeme took his role as theological leader for the NSW church seriously and travelled widely through the state. On one country visit, explaining the new church’s theology of baptism some men apparently rudely confronted him with the claim that his presentation went over their heads. “Well, raise up your heads!” was his exasperated retort.

Later in his time in Sydney Graeme became focussed on bringing the Centre for Ministry in North Parramatta into being. Another ecumenical task was working to create the Sydney College of Divinity. His academic heft and worldwide reputation meant that visitors to the College in his time included highly regarded scholars such as Walter Brueggemann.

At the end of 1988 Graeme returned to NZ, to his third big job – this time as a city minister at St David’s Presbyterian Church, Auckland. His pastoral skills and his intellectual capacity made him a natural for this role.

Graeme retired from St David’s in 2000 and spent an active and vibrant retirement as he aged, despite health challenges that would have stopped a lesser man. His son, Rev Ian Ferguson relates with pride that his father’s final sermon was in February this year on Waitangi Day, when he passionately denounced the New Zealand government and advocated for justice and reconciliation. 

A prayer for Graeme Ferguson, written by Rev Dorothy McRae-McMahon to acknowledge his retirement from UTC, sums ups some of his character traits:

“Thank you for the grace filled life of Graeme Ferguson. Thank you for all he does in affirming the ministries of women in our church. Thank you for his little pomposities and his good humour when we tell him about them.

Thank you for a man who can cry with you in his office one day and will walk past you with great formality the next day saying ‘Morning Ms McMahon’ as though you hardly know him.

Thank you for a minister whose eyes fill with tears when he preaches because he feels and cares…Thank you for his dry wit, his daring imagination, his courage and sense of adventure, his genuine loving kindness and relations with all sorts of people, including me.
Thank you for his marvellous laugh, his endearing humanness, and his great faithfulness to your gospel.”

Graeme is survived by Mairi, his wife of 65 years. He was the father and father in law for Ian and Beth, Harriet and Kym, Alastair and Leisa, and Cathy and Andrew, foster father of Cassandra and grandad to his 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild. 

Graeme’s life and ministry is a beacon of hope and resurrection life for our world. His ministry greatly enhanced the Uniting Church in NSW and we are all the poorer for his passing. 

Rev. Michael Thomas is currently Minister at Crows Nest Uniting Church. He was a student at UTC from 1984 until 1986. Like many ministers of his generation Michael is grateful to Graeme for his leadership and service

Thank you for a minister whose eyes fill with tears when he preaches because he feels and cares…Thank you for his dry wit, his daring imagination, his courage and sense of adventure, his genuine loving kindness and relations with all sorts of people, including me. Thank you for his marvellous laugh, his endearing humanness, and his great faithfulness to your gospel...