John Davis McCaughey (12 July 1914 – 25 March 2005) was an Irish-born Australian academic theologian, Christian minister, university administrator and the 23rd Governor of Victoria from 1986 to 1992.

Early life and academic career

McCaughey was born in Belfast, Ireland, on 12 July 1914. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1941 and during the next decade he also worked for the British Council of Churches.

In 1953 the McCaughey family emigrated to Australia for him to become the Professor of New Testament Studies for the theological hall at Ormond College, University of Melbourne.

Uniting Church in Australia

McCaughey was a key architect in the formation of the Uniting Church in Australia, which brought together many congregations of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia and the Congregational Union of Australia. He was the primary author behind the Basis of Union, the foundational theological document which led to the formation of the new denomination, and the president of the first assembly of the Uniting Church from 1977 to 1979.

Governor of Victoria

In 1986, McCaughey was appointed as Governor of Victoria by the premier, John Cain, and served until 1992. He also served during the premiership of Joan Kirner.

McCaughey was not an Australian citizen at the time his appointment was announced in December 1985. He took up Australian citizenship in January 1986, prior to the start of his term as governor the following month.

McCaughey's approach to this largely symbolic vice-regal role differed from his predecessor, Sir Brian Murray. He opened Government House, Melbourne, to the public, exchanged the Rolls-Royce car for an Australian-made vehicle, flew business class instead of first class and dispensed with military aides de camp.

Cain said of McCaughey: "He was unassuming, down-to-earth, unfailingly courteous to everybody and unaffected by the trappings of the office." Kirner commented: "He was one of the few people who could bring common good and a broad sense of morality to life." and the final episode aired on 26 October 1958 on ABV (Channel 2). It was aired in Sydney from 27 July 1958 to 2 November 1958 on ABN - channel 2.

Lectures

  • Back to the drawing board: reflections on the idea of a university in Australia (1988)
  • Biblical faith and secular obedience in a pluralist society: the inaugural Rollie Busch lecture at the University of Queensland on Friday 20 October 1989
  • Christian hope: a lectured delivered at the annual conferment of degrees and diplomas by the Melbourne College of Divinity on 23 June 1954
  • Inaugural addresses: the Uniting Church in Australia / by J. Davis McCaughey [and] Phillip Potter. [1977].
  • "Piecing Together a Shared Vision" 1987 Boyer Lecture (1988) ABC Enterprises for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Crows Nest, N.S.W.

Publications

  • Christian obedience in the university; studies in the life of the Student Christian Movement of Great Britain and Ireland, 1930–1950. (1958)
  • Commentary on the Basis of union of the Uniting Church in Australia (1980)
  • Diversity and unity in the New Testament picture of Christ (1969)
  • Gospel for our day (1978)
  • Kingdom, church and world: five studies in St. Matthews gospel. (1963)
  • New Delhi Assembly, World Council of Churches, November 1961: implications for the Australian churches. (1962).
  • Piecing together a shared vision, 1987 Boyer Lecture (1988)
  • Place of the university collegiate residence and its role in society 1980–2000
  • Repining restlessnesse: diversity and dissent (1993)
  • Teachings of Jesus for us today (1978)
  • Tradition and dissent (1997) The Miegunyah Press at Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic (pbk)
  • Joint
  • Ronald Frank Henderson 1917–1994: a tribute (with Jean McCaughey) (c1997)
  • Victoria's colonial governors, 1839–1900 (with Naomi Perkins and Angus Trumble) (1993) Carlton, Victoria Melbourne University Press at the Miegunyah Press.

References

  • McCaughey Centre: VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing
  • The McCaughey story