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Dorothy McRae-McMahon

December 15, 2023

Dorothy McRae-McMahon (born 1934) is a retired Australian Uniting Church minister and activist, formerly Minister at Pitt Street Uniting Church—known for its human rights work and local "street level" activism.[1]

McRae-McMahon has been a feminist Christian trailblazer since the 1970s. Involved in women's liberation, human rights, anti-apartheid, anti-Vietnam War and in religious and spiritual matters.[2]

Coming out as a lesbian at the age of 50, McRae-McMahon created a major stir and homophobic attacks, engendering public discussion and acceptance of homosexual clergy.[2]

McRae-McMahon volunteers at a Uniting Church parish, co-edits the South Sydney Herald, speaks at public forums and writes.[2]

Early life, marriage and children edit

Dorothy McRae was born in 1934 in Zeehan, Tasmania, Australia where her Methodist Minister father had been appointed to his first parish.[3] She married Barrie McMahon in 1956 and lived in Melbourne, Victoria. Originally a pre-school teacher, McRae-McMahon spent 16 years at home caring for her four children, born between 1957 and 1969: Christopher Barrie, Robert Anthony, Lindy Louise and Melissa.[4] The eldest, Christopher had an intellectual disability and went into autistic withdrawal shortly after Robert's birth.[5] In 1964 the family moved to Sydney, where McRae-McMahon joined the Australian Labor Party and became involved in peace activism.[6]

In 1987 McRae-McMahon ended her marriage, recognising herself as a lesbian, an identity she made public in 1997, declaring that she had been living in a committed same-sex relationship for many years.[6]

Work and activism edit

McRae-McMahon began her training in the ordained ministry of the Uniting Church in 1976. On ordination in 1982 she was appointed to Sydney's Pitt Street Church where she gathered a congregation committed to a range of activist causes. Their involvement in the anti-apartheid cause attracted the attention of right wing group National Action, which led to a campaign of harassment against the Minister and her congregation.[6][7]

McRae-McMahon has been a Minister in the Uniting Church, a National Director for Mission of the Uniting Church in Australia (1993) and was the first woman to become Moderator of the World Council of Churches Worship Committee. She was instrumental in 'Mothers and Others for Peace', 'Christian Women Concerned', the first Church Commission on the Status of Women and the publication of the Australian Christian feminist magazine Magdalene (newsletter).[2]

In 1997 McRae-McMahon came out as a lesbian at the National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Perth. She resigned from her position later that year.[1] An episode of Australian Story was broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation about her life, family and relationship with the Uniting Church.[8]

McRae-McMahon became a leader in the successful campaign to have homosexual ministers formally accepted by the Uniting Church, arguing that homosexuality is a sign of wholeness rather than moral decay.[9]

McRae-McMahon had occupied a position of power within the Uniting Church but found she was more comfortable embracing a theology of moving to the edge—believing 'the margins are the places where Christ is closest to us'.[10]

Published works edit

  • McRae-McMahon, D. (1993) "Echoes of our Journey: liturgies of the people", Joint Board of Christian Education: Melbourne, Vic
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (1992, 1994). "Being Clergy, Staying Human, taking our stand in the river", Alban Institute: Washington DC
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (1996) "The Glory of Blood, Sweat and tears: liturgies for living and dying", Joint Board of Christian Education: Melbourne, Vic
  • McCrae-McMahon, D. (1998) "Everyday Passions: A Conversation on Living", ABC Books: Sydney, NSW
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2000). "Embracing Diversity: new communities of justice in the 21st century", Anglicare : Hobart, Tasmania
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2000) "Liturgies for the Journey of Life", SPCK: London
  • McRae-McMahon, D., Fidler, R. and Cleary, P. (2001) "What Kind of Republic for Australia?: Direct electionists discuss models and strategies in the aftermath of the 1999 referendum defeat", A Just Republic: Broadway, NSW
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2001). "Prayers for life's particular moments", Desbooks, Thornbury, Vic
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2001). "Daring Leadership for the 21st Century", ABC Books, Sydney, NSW
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2001). "In this Hour: memories for pausing", Desbooks: Thornbury, Vic
  • Maher, T., McRae-McMahon, D., McAvoy, T. (2002) "Why an Australian Republic needs a Bill of Rights", A Just Republic: Broadway, NSW
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2003, 2010) "Rituals for Life, Love, Loss", Jane Curry Publishing, Paddington, NSW
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2004) "Memoirs of Moving On: A life of faith, passion and resilience", Jane Curry Publishing, Paddington, NSW
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2004) "Liturgies for Daily Life", SPCK: London
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2005) "Worship for the Young in Years", Mediacom Education: Adelaide, SA
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2007). "Liturgies for high days", Mediacom Education, Unley, SA
  • Gale, F., Bolzan, N., McRae-McMahon, D., (Ed) (2007) "Spirited Practices: spirituality and the helping professions", Allen & Unwin: Crows Nest, NSW
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2009) "In life and in death: liturgies for harder times", Mediacom Education: Unley, SA
  • McRae-McMahon, D. and Sydney Barbara Metrick (2014). "Rituals for Life, Love and Loss: Prayers and Meditations for Marriage, Birthdays, Baby Naming Loss and grief", Turner House an imprint of Turner Publishing Company: NY
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2013) "A life and death conversation with Ali", Mediacom Education: Unley, SA
  • McRae-McMahon, D. (2015) "Deeply Connected: how to write liturgy", Mediacom Education Inc : Unley, SA

Contributions edit

  • McRae-McMahon, with Tony Fitzgerald QC and John Uhr, contributed the foreword to Noel Preston's 2006 book, "Beyond the Boundary : a memoir exploring ethics, politics and spirituality", Zeus publications : Burleigh, Queensland.

Honours, decorations, awards and distinctions edit

  • 1977: Jubilee Medal from the Queen for work with women in NSW.[6]
  • 1987: Australian Government Peace Medal.[11]
  • 1988: Australian Human Rights Medal.[12]
  • 1992: Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Macquarie University for her work with minorities and contribution to the spiritual life of the community.[11][13]
  • 2014: Grand Stirrer award recipient, Edna Ryan Awards.[14][15]
  • 2016: Community Hero Award ACON Awards.[16]

Notes and references edit

  1. ^ a b "The Australian Women's Register". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Grand Stirrer Award" (PDF). www.ednaryan.net.au. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  3. ^ McRae-McMahon, Dorothy (2004). Memoirs of Moving On: A life of faith, passion and resilience. Paddington,NSW: Jane Curry Publishing. p. 6. ISBN 1-920727-09-4.
  4. ^ McRae-McMahon, Dorothy (2004). Memoirs of Moving On: A life of faith, passion and resilience. Paddington,NSW: Jane Curry Publishing. p. 95. ISBN 1-920727-09-4.
  5. ^ McRae-McMahon, Dorothy (2004). Memoirs of Moving On: A life of faith , passion and resilience. Paddington,NSW: Jane Curry Publishing. pp. 74–75. ISBN 1-920727-09-4.
  6. ^ a b c d Swain, Shurlee (2014). "McRae-McMahon, Dorothy". The Encyclopedia of Women & Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia.
  7. ^ Williams, Graham (19 August 1988). "Hate comes to Rev Dorothy's church". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Dorothy McRae McMahon: Australian Story". YouTube. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  9. ^ Zwartz, Barney (17 July 2003). "Uniting Church Set to Approve Gay Ordinations". The Age. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  10. ^ McRae-McMahon, Dorothy (July 1998). "Living on the Margins[homosexuals and the church]". Lesbians on the Loose. 9 (7): 9 – via APAIS.
  11. ^ a b "McRae-McMahon, Dorothy (1934-)". Trove National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Human Rights Awards 2017, Previous Winners (1988)". Australian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Dorothy McRae-McMahon". Simon&Schuster Australia. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Dorothy McRae-Mchahon". Edna Ryan Awards. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  15. ^ Turnbull, Lyn (8 November 2014). "Stirring up the status quo". The South Sydney Herald. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Honour Our 2016 Award Recipients". Honour LGBTI Community Awards. 1 August 2017.

External links edit

  • Dorothy McRae-McMahon on The Australian Women's Register
  • Interview with Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Sydney Oral Histories, City of Sydney
  • Dorothy McRae-McMahon in Conservation with Richard Fidler, ABC Radio, Sydney
  • Magdalene on JSTOR Open Community Collections, University of Divinity Digital Collections, Mannix Library

December 15, 2023
dorothy, mcrae, mcmahon, born, 1934, retired, australian, uniting, church, minister, activist, formerly, minister, pitt, street, uniting, church, known, human, rights, work, local, street, level, activism, mcrae, mcmahon, been, feminist, christian, trailblazer. Dorothy McRae McMahon born 1934 is a retired Australian Uniting Church minister and activist formerly Minister at Pitt Street Uniting Church known for its human rights work and local street level activism 1 McRae McMahon has been a feminist Christian trailblazer since the 1970s Involved in women s liberation human rights anti apartheid anti Vietnam War and in religious and spiritual matters 2 Coming out as a lesbian at the age of 50 McRae McMahon created a major stir and homophobic attacks engendering public discussion and acceptance of homosexual clergy 2 McRae McMahon volunteers at a Uniting Church parish co edits the South Sydney Herald speaks at public forums and writes 2 Contents 1 Early life marriage and children 2 Work and activism 3 Published works 3 1 Contributions 4 Honours decorations awards and distinctions 5 Notes and references 6 External linksEarly life marriage and children editDorothy McRae was born in 1934 in Zeehan Tasmania Australia where her Methodist Minister father had been appointed to his first parish 3 She married Barrie McMahon in 1956 and lived in Melbourne Victoria Originally a pre school teacher McRae McMahon spent 16 years at home caring for her four children born between 1957 and 1969 Christopher Barrie Robert Anthony Lindy Louise and Melissa 4 The eldest Christopher had an intellectual disability and went into autistic withdrawal shortly after Robert s birth 5 In 1964 the family moved to Sydney where McRae McMahon joined the Australian Labor Party and became involved in peace activism 6 In 1987 McRae McMahon ended her marriage recognising herself as a lesbian an identity she made public in 1997 declaring that she had been living in a committed same sex relationship for many years 6 Work and activism editMcRae McMahon began her training in the ordained ministry of the Uniting Church in 1976 On ordination in 1982 she was appointed to Sydney s Pitt Street Church where she gathered a congregation committed to a range of activist causes Their involvement in the anti apartheid cause attracted the attention of right wing group National Action which led to a campaign of harassment against the Minister and her congregation 6 7 McRae McMahon has been a Minister in the Uniting Church a National Director for Mission of the Uniting Church in Australia 1993 and was the first woman to become Moderator of the World Council of Churches Worship Committee She was instrumental in Mothers and Others for Peace Christian Women Concerned the first Church Commission on the Status of Women and the publication of the Australian Christian feminist magazine Magdalene newsletter 2 In 1997 McRae McMahon came out as a lesbian at the National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Perth She resigned from her position later that year 1 An episode of Australian Story was broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation about her life family and relationship with the Uniting Church 8 McRae McMahon became a leader in the successful campaign to have homosexual ministers formally accepted by the Uniting Church arguing that homosexuality is a sign of wholeness rather than moral decay 9 McRae McMahon had occupied a position of power within the Uniting Church but found she was more comfortable embracing a theology of moving to the edge believing the margins are the places where Christ is closest to us 10 Published works editMcRae McMahon D 1993 Echoes of our Journey liturgies of the people Joint Board of Christian Education Melbourne Vic McRae McMahon D 1992 1994 Being Clergy Staying Human taking our stand in the river Alban Institute Washington DC McRae McMahon D 1996 The Glory of Blood Sweat and tears liturgies for living and dying Joint Board of Christian Education Melbourne Vic McCrae McMahon D 1998 Everyday Passions A Conversation on Living ABC Books Sydney NSW McRae McMahon D 2000 Embracing Diversity new communities of justice in the 21st century Anglicare Hobart Tasmania McRae McMahon D 2000 Liturgies for the Journey of Life SPCK London McRae McMahon D Fidler R and Cleary P 2001 What Kind of Republic for Australia Direct electionists discuss models and strategies in the aftermath of the 1999 referendum defeat A Just Republic Broadway NSW McRae McMahon D 2001 Prayers for life s particular moments Desbooks Thornbury Vic McRae McMahon D 2001 Daring Leadership for the 21st Century ABC Books Sydney NSW McRae McMahon D 2001 In this Hour memories for pausing Desbooks Thornbury Vic Maher T McRae McMahon D McAvoy T 2002 Why an Australian Republic needs a Bill of Rights A Just Republic Broadway NSW McRae McMahon D 2003 2010 Rituals for Life Love Loss Jane Curry Publishing Paddington NSW McRae McMahon D 2004 Memoirs of Moving On A life of faith passion and resilience Jane Curry Publishing Paddington NSW McRae McMahon D 2004 Liturgies for Daily Life SPCK London McRae McMahon D 2005 Worship for the Young in Years Mediacom Education Adelaide SA McRae McMahon D 2007 Liturgies for high days Mediacom Education Unley SA Gale F Bolzan N McRae McMahon D Ed 2007 Spirited Practices spirituality and the helping professions Allen amp Unwin Crows Nest NSW McRae McMahon D 2009 In life and in death liturgies for harder times Mediacom Education Unley SA McRae McMahon D and Sydney Barbara Metrick 2014 Rituals for Life Love and Loss Prayers and Meditations for Marriage Birthdays Baby Naming Loss and grief Turner House an imprint of Turner Publishing Company NY McRae McMahon D 2013 A life and death conversation with Ali Mediacom Education Unley SA McRae McMahon D 2015 Deeply Connected how to write liturgy Mediacom Education Inc Unley SAContributions edit McRae McMahon with Tony Fitzgerald QC and John Uhr contributed the foreword to Noel Preston s 2006 book Beyond the Boundary a memoir exploring ethics politics and spirituality Zeus publications Burleigh Queensland Honours decorations awards and distinctions edit1977 Jubilee Medal from the Queen for work with women in NSW 6 1987 Australian Government Peace Medal 11 1988 Australian Human Rights Medal 12 1992 Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Macquarie University for her work with minorities and contribution to the spiritual life of the community 11 13 2014 Grand Stirrer award recipient Edna Ryan Awards 14 15 2016 Community Hero Award ACON Awards 16 Notes and references edit a b The Australian Women s Register www womenaustralia info Retrieved 23 July 2017 a b c d The Grand Stirrer Award PDF www ednaryan net au Retrieved 23 July 2017 McRae McMahon Dorothy 2004 Memoirs of Moving On A life of faith passion and resilience Paddington NSW Jane Curry Publishing p 6 ISBN 1 920727 09 4 McRae McMahon Dorothy 2004 Memoirs of Moving On A life of faith passion and resilience Paddington NSW Jane Curry Publishing p 95 ISBN 1 920727 09 4 McRae McMahon Dorothy 2004 Memoirs of Moving On A life of faith passion and resilience Paddington NSW Jane Curry Publishing pp 74 75 ISBN 1 920727 09 4 a b c d Swain Shurlee 2014 McRae McMahon Dorothy The Encyclopedia of Women amp Leadership in Twentieth Century Australia Williams Graham 19 August 1988 Hate comes to Rev Dorothy s church The Sydney Morning Herald p 1 Retrieved 11 June 2023 Dorothy McRae McMahon Australian Story YouTube Retrieved 1 August 2017 Zwartz Barney 17 July 2003 Uniting Church Set to Approve Gay Ordinations The Age Retrieved 12 September 2017 McRae McMahon Dorothy July 1998 Living on the Margins homosexuals and the church Lesbians on the Loose 9 7 9 via APAIS a b McRae McMahon Dorothy 1934 Trove National Library of Australia Retrieved 29 July 2017 Human Rights Awards 2017 Previous Winners 1988 Australian Human Rights Commission Retrieved 29 July 2017 Dorothy McRae McMahon Simon amp Schuster Australia Retrieved 29 July 2017 Dorothy McRae Mchahon Edna Ryan Awards Retrieved 31 July 2017 Turnbull Lyn 8 November 2014 Stirring up the status quo The South Sydney Herald Retrieved 16 November 2018 Honour Our 2016 Award Recipients Honour LGBTI Community Awards 1 August 2017 External links editDorothy McRae McMahon on The Australian Women s Register Interview with Dorothy McRae McMahon Sydney Oral Histories City of Sydney Dorothy McRae McMahon in Conservation with Richard Fidler ABC Radio Sydney Magdalene on JSTOR Open Community Collections University of Divinity Digital Collections Mannix Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dorothy McRae McMahon amp oldid 1169950688, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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