UBS Appoints New General Secretary

READING, England - The United Bible Societies (UBS) has appointed the Rev Fergus Macdonald to its top post of General Secretary. Mr Macdonald, 61, was appointed by the UBS Executive Committee to replace the Rev Dr John D Erickson who is retiring in April 1998. Mr Macdonald is expected to take up his duties on January 1, 1998.

Mr Macdonald, the General Secretary of the National Bible Society of Scotland (NBSS), has served many years with the Bible Society movement. Prior to becoming General Secretary of the NBSS in 1981, Mr Macdonald was on the NBSS board (1971-1981), including a term as chairman. He was also the Secretary of the Cumbernauld Branch of the NBSS. He has served in various roles with the UBS, including membership (and current chairman) of the Europe-Middle East Regional Committee and on the UBS Executive Committee.

Expansion

Under Mr Macdonald's leadership the program of Scripture distribution in Scotland has been expanding. "Our ministry is to distribute the Scriptures, but it is not just a question of numbers," he said. "We must seek to provide Scriptures in ways which demonstrate their relevance to questions that people are asking today. Part of my vision for the UBS global fellowship is to see Scriptures published in a growing variety of formats that will lead readers, hearers, and viewers into a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ."

Mr Macdonald is a minister of the Free Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) and served as moderator of the General Assembly in 1987. His experience has brought him into touch with a wide range of issues facing today's society, including involvement in the Church of Scotland's Committee on Alcohol and Drugs, the Religious Advisory Committee to Scottish Television, and "Gospel and Culture" consultations in Scotland.

Mr Macdonald has had wide exposure to the international and inter-church community, particularly as the Executive Chair of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization and as a member of the Central Council of Action of Churches Together in Scotland. He is also chairman of the Forum of Bible Agencies, a voluntary association of 16 non-profit Bible translation and distribution agencies which desire increased cooperation.

Big picture

The chairman of the Executive Committee and President of the American Bible Society, Dr Eugene Habecker, said, "Mr Macdonald is not only gifted in seeing the 'big picture', but also has a keen eye for detail which will improve our day-to-day operations significantly."

Mr Macdonald served as pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Peru, and was a lecturer at the Lima Evangelical Seminary in Peru and at the Bible Training Institute in Glasgow. His Master of Arts specialty was in Geography and Psychology, and his Bachelor of Divinity specialization was in Hebrew and Old Testament. Mr Macdonald speaks English and Spanish.

"One of our top priorities must be to look at our programs and ask whether or not they are most effectively serving the churches and other Christian agencies," he said.

Mr Macdonald is married to Dolina, and they have five grown children.

This page was last updated on Monday, 27th October 1997.