John MacFarlane was a Presbyterian elder, a talented treasurer, and a strong believer in ecumenism. He passed away on Jan. 29 at the age of 96.
For more than two decades, MacFarlane worked with the Caribbean and North American Area Council, which at the time was a regional body of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. From 1984 to 2002, MacFarlane was the group’s treasurer.
“His sense of vision for CANAAC and WARC in those days was remarkable,” wrote Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the organization that succeeded WARC in 2010. “Among other things he was an ardent advocate for ensuring that the contributions of Caribbean churches were not judged simply on the basis of their financial contributions. Each church no matter what their financial standing was valued for all the ways in which they contributed.”
In the tribute published on the WCRC’s website, Nyomi praised MacFarlane’s “remarkable attention to detail and his knowledge of WARC and CANAAC history” as well as “his great sense of humour.”
Today, CANAAC represents 20 churches in the Caribbean, the United States and Canada. The WCRC boasts a total membership of 230 churches in 108 countries.
MacFarlane served as an elder at St. Andrew’s, Ottawa, for 55 years. His family, friends and church celebrated his life with a funeral service on Feb. 2.
“John has left a great legacy,” Nyomi wrote. “We will miss him on this side of eternity.”
