The rainbow never sets

i.e. those who were for Union, except members of the Kuringai Presbytery, voted for us, and those against Union voted against us.

When our complaint was dismissed, we appealed to the General Assembly of Australia, our highest court, but as I was not a member there, Max Fox was to bring it to the Assembly in June, but I don't think it was ever heard. Events overtook our concerns.

Very late on Saturday, 18 June 1977, when I had already gone to bed, Fred McKay phoned on behalf of the Negotiators to tell us that we had lost the Albion Park church building to the Continuing Presbyterian Church. I was devastated. It was my sad task to inform all three churches during the services next day of this decision. As we had an evening communion service in the Presbyterian Church in Albion Park, we made it a special occasion. 21 of those who had worshipped there for years, some of them since childhood, came for this closing service. It was an emotional occasion for most, this last time to worship in the place they loved, which held many fine memories for them. I admired their courage. Some picked up a few items which had sentimental value to them, and carried them out of the church over to the Methodist church, which from now on would be their new spiritual home.

*

Our relationship within the Illawarra Presbytery began to polarise early in 1975. I had been elected Interim Moderator for Thirroul, i.e. Presbytery contact person for a vacant congregation. I attended most of their selection committee meetings and encouraged them to find their own minister. Several people made enquiries and listened to services and eventually came up with the name of Max Fox as their choice. After due consultations and interviews the congregation decided to call Max Fox as their next minister. At Presbytery I was about to move that Max Fox's call be sustained, when Bob Thomas rose from his seat and moved that Max Fox's call not be sustained. I was dumbfounded and confused, and didn't have the experience to deal with such tactics. I fumbled and stuttered: "Hey, you can't do that."

But Presbytery just steamrolled me. It came to a vote, and Bob Thomas' motion was approved.

Then I came to my senses: "I'm the interim moderator of Thirroul. I've attended most of their meetings, and they genuinely want Max Fox as their next minister. What is so sinister about him? Why are you doing this to one of the congregations under your care?"

Their suggestion was to start 'de nuovo', all over again from scratch. I was furious. A lot of time wasted, and bitter feelings stirred. After the meeting I heard that those who were anti Union didn't want Max Fox, because he was a good debater and strongly in favour of union. What a

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