The decision of the NCCA Annual General Meeting that resulted in my becoming the President of the NCCA is humbling and somewhat overwhelming. I express my appreciation to the Churches of Christ and the member churches of the NCCA for this privilege. 

There are two movements that have been part of my formation. One is my particular Christian tradition, Churches of Christ, of which I am a minister, and lead its national and international mission agency. Churches of Christ has at its heart a desire to contribute to the unity of the church by seeking to be part of the answer to the prayer of Jesus in John 17:21 ‘that they may all be one …. that the world may believe that you have sent me’. This commitment is sourced in a desire to be more effective in Christian witness and proclamation. 

A second reality is a personal journey with the Ecumenical and inter-church movement. This journey has been shaped, in part, by the example and pattern of my father. Throughout his years of ministry, he demonstrated and lived out an understanding of the church beyond that which we named as ‘our church’. I have been involved with Act for Peace, the Christian Conference of Asia and other ecumenical bodies over the past years. 

So here I am the President of the NCCA with a commitment to do what I can with the member churches of the NCCA to be part of a continuing effective and positive witness to the unity of Christ’s Church. 

I want to pay particular tribute to the outgoing NCCA President, Bishop Philip Huggins. In the six years of Philip’s leadership the NCCA went through much change with the restructuring to the Council and Act for Peace. Throughout, Philip has provided gracious and warm leadership and enabled the NCCA to develop stronger relationship with other bodies. Philip has invited people such as myself into being part of the Board of the NCCA and has at all times endeavoured to keep a focus on people first. Prior to his being President of the NCCA, Philip served as Chair of Act for Peace. His contribution to the life of the NCCA was over many years and he will be missed. We wish him God’s blessing in this next stage of his ministry and leadership and also pay tribute to his wife Liz and their family for making it possible for Bishop Philip to serve the council in the role as President.  

Rev John Gilmore 

President, National Council of Churches in Australia