Fresh Words and Deeds: The McCaughey Papers

'Davis McCaughey has become something of a legend in his own life time', says Peter Matheson, in his Preface to Fresh Words and Deeds,- as a scholar, teacher, preacher, as Master of Ormond College and as leader in church and state.' This book follows on from a first collection, Tradition and Dissent, which gathered together his words from his university and public life. This complementary collection focuses on his theological work.

The title of this collection, Fresh Words and Deeds, draws upon a phrase from the United Church of Australia's foundational document, The Basis of Union. The Church, it insists, links 'fresh words and deeds' with the 'inheritance of literary, historical and scientific enquiry' and the 'faithful and scholarly interpretation' of Scripture that are the hallmarks of an informed faith. David McCaughey ensured that these were the characteristics of the educational, pastoral, social and political activities that he found himself involved in.

This book has been published to mark the ninetienth birthday of the fifth Master of Ormond College. It is indeed an expression of gratitude for some fifty years of stimulating theological teaching and leadership.