Taking an Ecumenical Step
When baby Andrew Moyes arrived on the 4th of January, 1970, speculation was rife. Was it sheer coincidence, or indisputable evidence of Gordon’s superb planning ability, that each of the Moyes’ children arrived at 2 1/2 year intervals? Andrew proved to be the last of the tribe, rounding off the occupants of the manse to a neat half dozen.
About this time the scarcely known word “ecumenical” began to be on everyone’s lips. Church leaders and members around the world, whatever their particular denomination, discussed the matter pro and con. Rev Moyes made no effort to hide his feelings on the matter and it came as no surprise to many people when he accepted an invitation to speak in a Roman Catholic Church.
“The infant Ecumenical Movement received a great boost when Rev Gordon Moyes accepted an invitation to preach in St Francis’ Roman Catholic Church in the heart of Melbourne.” ‘The Advocate’ of August 12, 1971, carried a feature accompanied by photographs and written by newsman Tony Ryan, in which he gave a full report.In true showmanship style Gordon began his address by presenting his hearers with several rivetting pieces of information. He said:
“If your son was a statistic, he would be three times as likely to go to a mental hospital as to university.
“Ten Melbourne people attempt suicide every day.
“One Marriage in every three goes through periods of great strain.
“Forty-two percent of hospital beds are taken up with patients needing psychiatric treatment.
“We spend $20 million each year on tension-reducing and sleep- inducing prescriptions.
“Australia has 300,000 problem drinkers.”
Then he went on to say that he did not quote these statistics to worry people, but because he wanted to show them a better way of living.
“The prescription we need to try is in the New Testament,” said Rev Moyes. “The way to peace is explained by St Paul in his epistle to the Philippians. At the time of writing Paul was sick, in prison, and under sentence of death, yet his words were, `I have learned that whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content.’ Mr Moyes followed on with St Paul’s eight-point plan of how to find inner peace.
“Number 1. STAND FIRM. In the spiritual warfare that we wage against the pressures of a secular, affluent and often godless society, we will only find release from anxiety when we take a firm stand for what we know is right. St Paul has written: `Stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.’
“Number 2. STICK TOGETHER. Disagreement, if allowed to fracture the fellowship between people, will also fracture the serenity of the soul. As St Paul told us, `I entreat Euodias and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.’
“Number 3. ALWAYS REJOICE. Being happy when things go wrong is difficult. One of the secrets of serenity is the ability to rejoice over even small things and to lift the spirit to overcome even the greatest of tragedies. `Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice,’ was St Paul’s message.
“Number 4. BE BIG-HEARTED. If there is one thing that eats away at the hearts of men, it is smallness of mind, peevishness, bitterness and jealousy. In time of trouble, don’t be nasty or revengeful. Be forgiving, loving and approach life with a smile. `Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand,’ wrote St Paul.
“Number 5. DON’T BE ANXIOUS. The first step in overcoming worry is to face it squarely. Sometimes corrective action is needed. Sometimes attitudes or morals need to be disciplined. Sometimes confession and forgiveness must first be sought. Only when the corrective steps are taken can the anxiety be allayed. St Paul’s words were: `Have no anxiety about anything.’
“Number 6. PRAY ABOUT IT. Instead of worrying about your problems, talk to your Father in Heaven about them, and let Him handle them. `...but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.’
“Number 7. ACCEPT HIS PEACE. If you follow the steps to this stage, you can then accept God’s peace. You can never create this peace for yourself. You can only accept it as `a gift from God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.’
“Number 8. THINK POSITIVELY. Fill your mind with thoughts that are good and true and you will abide in peace. Fill it with bitterness, envy, lust, greed, pride, and it is to be expected that your body will reflect the condition of your mind.’
“St Paul concluded his epistle: `Finally, brethren, whatsoever is true, whatsoever is honourable, whatsoever is just, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is lovely, whatsoever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard in me, and the God of peace will be with you.’”
The newspaper reported on each of the eight points. A similar resume of the sermon was printed on the back of the programme handed out at the Church of Mary Immaculate, Ivanhoe on 21 November, 1971.
Dr Peter Pearce, a psychiatrist, who was present at the service commented that: “The few short steps taken by Rev Moyes up to the pulpit of St Francis’ were long steps toward ecumenicity.”
“It was an historic occasion—” reported a Roman Catholic church paper. “This was the first time a Protestant has been in the pulpit at St Francis’ and Mr Moyes was asked to speak on Anxiety and Tension in peoples’ lives. Following a modern mass at which Mr Moyes was an observer, he preached on Philippians chapter 4.” The report concluded by saying, “The audience appreciated that someone could give concrete help and advice. Many ordered Mr Moyes booklets.”
Eager to take advantage of all this publicity Gordon suggested that they postpone their annual leave. “Let’s take our holidays in the middle of the year, Bev. I’ve got some good ideas that’ll keep our church open in the summer.”
Many Protestant Churches suspended their Sunday evening services during the summer holidays, but Gordon’s Church advertised “Five Special Sunday Evening Services during January 1972” and invited the general public to attend.Another of his projects for the new year was a workshop for the community’s Sunday School teachers. 75 teachers met and Gordon began the proceedings with one of his unforgettable statements:
“Like the family doctor who dropped in when he was passing; the friendly dinosaur and `the good old days’; the Sunday School as most adults remember it, is no longer with us.”
A murmur of assent rippled through his audience and smiling faces assured him that he had their full attention.
“Modern Sunday Schools are known for their new features,” he continued, “and one of these is flexibility. Nowadays some Sunday Schools meet on week days, or monthly, or every day during school holidays.
“Find out which day, and what time will best suit the parents to bring or send their children along to `Sunday’ School.“Children learn best by doing,” he continued. “Have small classes for individual attention and keep the children busy with Bible or church related activities.”
He ended the workshop with a challenge: “We must first dedicate ourselves body, soul and spirit, to the One Who said, `Let the little ones come unto Me, and forbid them not.’” In April Ian Corlett and family arrived to assist in the Cheltenham ministry and this left Gordon and Beverley free to make a brief trip to Sydney.“While we’re here, Bev, we must meet Alan Walker and see what he’s got going,” Gordon made the suggestion sound as if the idea had just come to him but Beverley knew him well enough to realize that this was part of their reason for coming to Sydney.
“You’re never short on ideas of your own,” she retorted.
Reverend Alan Walker and the activities of the Methodist Central Mission were the focus of attention among many evangelical clergy and Beverley knew that Gordon had a knack of personalizing and sometimes improving on another person’s ideas. She also knew that he wanted to promote his church’s community presence in Cheltenham, and Community Aid was one of the Methodists’ major roles. Back home again it surprised Gordon that so many other churches called for his services, Blackburn in Victoria, Launceston in Tasmania, Caringbah in NSW. Glenelg in South Australia were content to wait until 1974 if he would promise to minister to them.
However, Cheltenham invited Gordon to renew his ministry to them for another five years and for the time being that settled any thoughts of moving from Victoria.
For some time reports on world famine conditions had dominated the media and charities everywhere worked hard to raise money for the less fortunate. The Young Adult Fellowship of Cheltenham Church of Christ decided to have a banquet with a difference. They advertised and sold tickets in the usual way, but when the guests arrived on the appointed night, they were told that all the tables bore numbers and they must randomly select a number.
A score of tables dotted the banquet hall and waiters ushered the guests to their choice. Each table bore the name of a different country. In a dark corner the ETHIOPA and BANGLADESH tables had no tablecloth or eating utensils—entirely bare except for a bottle with a bit of candle stuck in the neck. Guests who sat there were served with a handful of cooked rice and a glass of water. Some of the other tables fared a little better, but the food was restricted in quantity and variety.
Tables with names like AUSTRALIA, U K and U S A, represented the affluent countries of the world. They were laid with spotless linen tablecloths, sparkling silverware and crystal. Food was plentiful, appetizing and courteously served. The guests at those tables dined happily basking in light, warmth and music.
At the end of the meal, when those from the starving countries were still ravenously hungry and would gladly have eaten the left- overs from the richer countries’ repast, they had to sit and watch good food being thrown into garbage bins.
No more graphic representation of world needs could have been portrayed and the self-denial appeal profited from it.
