Alistair Macrae
Encyclopedia
The Rev. Alistair Macrae (born 1957) is an ordained
Christian
Minister of the Word of the Uniting Church in Australia
, was formerly a Moderator of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, and is the current President of the National Assembly.
, before moving to Melbourne for secondary education then Melbourne University.
He has degrees in Arts, Theology and Philosophy from the University of Melbourne
and University of Dublin
.
in 1984 and has served in rural, regional and inner city congregations in Victoria, at Mt Beauty, Portland
, and West Brunswick
. He served as Moderator of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania (2000–2003), and as Executive Director of the Uniting Church Centre for Theology and Ministry (2004–2009) in that Synod. He was a member of the Board of Wesley Mission Melbourne and chaired its Social Policy Committee.
He was an inaugural member of the Victorian State Government's Community Support Fund, and served on the Advisory Committee of the Community Alcohol Action network of the Australian Drug Foundation
.
inspired by a photo of a 4WD utility published in The Age
newspaper. Two young people were found dead under their ute
in outback Australia having run out of petrol and then water. Afterwards, local Indigenous people said if the travellers had known where to look they would have found life-giving water within 200 metres of where they were stranded.
His interests include sport of most kinds notably Aussie Rules football, cooking, reading, running, renovating, gardening and being with family and friends.
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
Minister of the Word of the Uniting Church in Australia
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
, was formerly a Moderator of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, and is the current President of the National Assembly.
Early life and education
Son of Rev Donald and Mrs Anne Macrae, Macrae was born in Melbourne and spent most of his childhood in Sale, VictoriaSale, Victoria
Sale is a city in the Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. It is the seat of the Shire of Wellington as well as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale and the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland. It has a population of around 13,336, and is expected to reach a population of 14,000 soon...
, before moving to Melbourne for secondary education then Melbourne University.
He has degrees in Arts, Theology and Philosophy from the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
.
Ordained service
Macrae was ordainedOrdination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
in 1984 and has served in rural, regional and inner city congregations in Victoria, at Mt Beauty, Portland
Portland, Victoria
The city of Portland is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Shire of Glenelg. It is located on Portland Bay.-History:...
, and West Brunswick
Brunswick, Victoria
Brunswick is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland...
. He served as Moderator of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania (2000–2003), and as Executive Director of the Uniting Church Centre for Theology and Ministry (2004–2009) in that Synod. He was a member of the Board of Wesley Mission Melbourne and chaired its Social Policy Committee.
He was an inaugural member of the Victorian State Government's Community Support Fund, and served on the Advisory Committee of the Community Alcohol Action network of the Australian Drug Foundation
Australian Drug Foundation
The Australian Drug Foundation is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation based in Melbourne, Australia. The ADF's work is inclusive of both legal and illegal drugs on a national level and focuses on primary and secondary prevention...
.
President of the UCA
Macrae became President of the UCA in July 2009, at the 12th Assembly. His theme for the three years of the Assemby is "Living Water, Thirsty Land", a metaphorMetaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
inspired by a photo of a 4WD utility published in The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
newspaper. Two young people were found dead under their ute
Utility vehicle
Utility vehicle is used to describe a vehicle, generally motorized, that is designed for a specific task.-Sport utility vehicle:Vehicles similar to a station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis, usually with off-road capability....
in outback Australia having run out of petrol and then water. Afterwards, local Indigenous people said if the travellers had known where to look they would have found life-giving water within 200 metres of where they were stranded.
Personal life
Macrae is married to Clare Boyd-Macrae, a writer, and they have four children, three of whom live at home in West Brunswick.His interests include sport of most kinds notably Aussie Rules football, cooking, reading, running, renovating, gardening and being with family and friends.