Church and Social Leadership
Throughout his life, Wilson was an active participant in first the Presbyterian Church of Australia and then the Uniting Church, formed after the union of many congregations of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, Methodist Church of Australasia and Congregational Union of Australia into one denomination. He held a range of senior positions in the Church including:
- Moderator of Assembly, Presbyterian Church in Western Australia (1965)
- Moderator, WA Synod, Uniting Church in Australia (1977-1979)
- President of the Assembly, Uniting Church in Australia (1988-1991)
- Deputy Chairperson of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (1991-1994)
- President, Australian Chapter, World Conference on Religion and Peace (1991-1996)
Wilson was the first layperson to be the President of the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia. He was particularly concerned with encouraging the broad Australian community to gain an understanding of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history.
In retirement, he travelled widely to Aboriginal and church events, and was an active member of a refugee education scheme near his home.
Read more about this topic: Ronald Wilson
Famous quotes containing the words church and, church, social and/or leadership:
“The Tories in England had long imagined that they were enthusiastic about the monarchy, the church and beauties of the old English Constitution, until the day of danger wrung from them the confession that they are enthusiastic only about rent.”
—Karl Marx (1818–1883)
“It is the custom of the Roman Church which I unworthily serve with the help of God, to tolerate some things, to turn a blind eye to some, following the spirit of discretion rather than the rigid letter of the law.”
—Pope Gregory VII (c. 1020–1085)
“... to most mortals there is a stupidity which is unendurable and a stupidity which is altogether acceptable—else, indeed, what would become of social bonds?”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)
“During the first World War women in the United States had a chance to try their capacities in wider fields of executive leadership in industry. Must we always wait for war to give us opportunity? And must the pendulum always swing back in the busy world of work and workers during times of peace?”
—Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)