Arthur Stephenson was born at North Fremantle, Western Australia, on the 18th February, 1900. He gave his life to Christ when he was 12. Nurtured in the faith by parents who were convinced that the distinctive emphasis of Churches of Christ best represented the faith and life of the New Testament church, A. W., at the age of 21, entered the Federal College of the Bible of Churches of Christ at Glen Iris, in Melbourne, to train for the ministry.

      A. R. Main was principal of the College at the time. The early twenties were the heyday of this diffident Scot's principalship, which stretched from 1910 to 1938. Main, who was concurrently editor of the "Australian Christian", enormously influenced the thinking and tone of Churches of Christ in Australia. He was assisted at the college by T. H. Scambler and R. T. Pittman.

      Arthur graduated from the college in 1924 and entered upon his first ministry at Christchurch, New Zealand, where he remained for two years. It was during the course of that ministry, on 29th April, 1925, that A. W. married Ella Winch. Their mutually supportive partnership lasted almost sixty years. Ella died in January, 1985.

      Following the Christchurch ministry, Arthur returned to Melbourne, where he studied for the matriculation while preaching part-time at Burnley and Camberwell. In 1928, the year he accepted the full-time ministry at Parkdale, he enrolled in Arts at the University of Melbourne. He graduated Master of Arts in 1933. During the later years of his ministry at Parkdale, and during Main's absence overseas, A. W. lectured at the college in Church History.

      After completing six years at Parkdale, Arthur accepted the ministry at Hampton. While at Hampton, he served as joint editor, with R. T. Pittman, of the "Austral Graded Lessons". The worth of his editorial ability was increasingly recognised and, in 1941, when Main relinquished editorship of the "Christian", Stephenson became editor. To allow time for this task, A. W. returned to Parkdale in a part-time capacity. When T. H. Scambler, who had taken over from Main as principal of the College of the Bible, died in 1944, Arthur Stephenson was approached to lecture at the college in Apologetics.

      In 1941, the year A. W. became editor of the "Christian", a committee of the New South Wales Conference charged with establishing a Bible

College in that State, purchased a property on the foreshores of Sydney Harbour at Woolwich. A. R. Main was encouraged out of retirement in 1942 and installed as inaugural principal. Main was succeeded as principal by H. J. Patterson. When Patterson retired in 1950 the principalship was offered to A. W. Stephenson. A. W. assumed leadership of the college in 1951. To give his full time to this new venture, he resigned as editor of the "Christian". Arthur retired as principal in 1969, when he was given the title Principal-Emeritus.

      During the course of his principalship, and on his retirement, Arthur undertook part-time ministries at Burwood, Lane Cove, Chatswood and North Turramurra. Until close to the time of his death, A. W. served as chaplain to the Cooinda Club at North Turramurra, where he gathered an audience who listened as he opened to them the message of the Bible and spoke of Jesus.

      Arthur Stephenson died on Thursday, 3rd March, 1988, aged 88 years. A memorial service to celebrate his ministry was conducted on 10th March, 1988 by Dr. Keith Farmer, the present principal of the New South Wales college. Keith's wife, Margaret, was a niece of Principal-Emeritus Stephenson.

      Arthur Stephenson, in the course of his different ministries, demonstrated a range of abilities.

      His preaching style was unique. It was biblical in the best sense of the term. His sermons were not a patchwork of Bible verses, which in some circles passes for biblical preaching. His approach was to take a single passage, or biblical principle, and open out its meaning. His addresses clarified one central idea, which is the hallmark of great preaching. His preaching married simplicity and profound wisdom. A. W.'s skill was the result of wrestling with the subtleties of classical Greek philosophy, of meditating on the New Testament Scriptures and of cultivating a guileless faith in Christ. His sermons were shaped to inform and edify, and not to display his considerable ability.

      These same qualities informed his lecturing style. I can picture A. W. seated before a lectern that held his Greek New Testament and a volume of the Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges. An elbow, resting on the lectern, supported his long narrow head, which was turned slightly to the side. With the other hand he gently scratched the top of his balding head as he explained in simple terms an obtrusive theological issue. He was infinitely patient when we did not understand. He did not resort to innuendo, sarcasm or theological heresy hunting in order to gain our interest. His lectures were not scintillating, but they were clear and provided a solid foundation.

      As principal, A. W. was dignified, but approachable. While he was quiet and gentle in manner, he was also firm. Because we esteemed "the Chief", he governed us by his demeanour and example. Because he had earned the respect of the churches, we benefited from the esteem in which the college was held among Churches of Christ in New South Wales. His leadership, which on the surface could have appeared diffident, made us feel secure and important. Mutual respect was encouraged. Other students, besides the principal and staff, had to be addressed as "Mr." We were treated as adults and encouraged to treat others similarly.

      When Arthur Stephenson took over the editorship of the "Christian" from A. R. Main in 1941, he inherited several tensions.

      Many of those who had been encouraged by Main to undertake university work, and had developed the capacity to think independently, were restive with the "Prof's" control, in later years, of divergent opinion through his censoring of unwelcome material when it was presented for publication in the "Christian". When A. W. took over as editor he encouraged those frustrated with what they took to be Main's conservatism, to express themselves, particularly through the Open Forum.

      The second issue he confronted was a growing tension between those enthused over developments that would lead eventually to the formation of the World Council of Churches in 1948, and those who regarded these developments with alarm, if not horror. Arthur Stephenson's approach was to recall the movement to its origins through an extensive series of editorials on the Campbells, the American pioneers. He pointed out that Churches of Christ had arisen largely through the need for some considerable body of Christians to recall the Church to its essential unity, a spirit-generated visible unity based on an across-the-board acceptance of the basic teachings and practices of the New Testament Church.

      A. W. was a peacemaker, though not at the expense of what he considered basic New Testament teachings. In his editorial work, Arthur's sharp, subtle mind cut to the pith of issues which it analysed in clear and concise terms. His later editorials reflect the chilled atmosphere of the cold war and were written under the shadow of the bomb.

      Arthur Stephenson's clarity of thought and expression was also evident in books and pamphlets he wrote or edited.

      His first venture, which was indebted to A. R. Main's previous researches was a brief history of Churches of Christ in Australasia, "Pioneering for Christian Unity in Australia and New Zealand". He next edited a centennial history, "One Hundred Years of Churches of Christ in Australia", published in 1946. In his retirement, in 1984, he published a history of the New South Wales Churches, "Victories of a Century".

      A. W. was a keen supporter of the Federal Historical Society, under whose auspices he wrote a biography of H. R. Coventry, a Churches of Christ missionary in India. He also wrote histories of the Winter, Piper and Stephenson families and a brief biography of Thomas Bagley, a preacher, evangelist and Home Missions organiser. In his later years he was working on a biography of Will H. Clay.

      Arthur Stephenson was closely involved with Conferences of Churches of Christ. He was president of the Victorian Conference in 1943, president of the New South Wales Conference in 1956 and Federal President in 1968. On several occasions A. W. attended and participated in World Conventions of Churches of Christ. In 1955 and 1960 he embarked on lecture and preaching tours of American and British churches and theological colleges.

      Among Churches of Christ in New South Wales he was looked up to as an elder statesman. In debate on contentious issues he would rise from the floor to clarify differences and to calm the atmosphere. Because of his integrity and firm convictions, his word was trusted. His informed and common sense approach frequently won the day. Because of the esteem in which he was held, his advice and counsel was frequently sought by individuals and churches.

      Because he was committed to the ideals of Churches of Christ, Arthur Stephenson involved himself with Christians of other Churches. He was an active member of the New South Wales Council of Churches, of which he was president for three years. He was the first person to be elected for more than a one-year term. He represented Churches of Christ in public forums and served on such bodies as the British and Foreign Bible Society. He served with distinction on a body that dialogued with leading Catholic theologians, where his opinions, particularly on the subject of baptism, were listened to with respect. Arthur Stephenson's commitment to openness and unity was passed on to those of his students who drank deeply of his spirit.

      "The Chief", as those of us who were his students knew him, had an aura all of his own. His character was marked by a guileless simplicity or--dare I say it?--an unpretentious holiness. Humour was never far away. We felt closest to him when he could break into a chuckle, when his lower jaw would yo-yo up and down almost uncontrollably. Though we had enormous respect for him, and although he did not encourage

students to exhibit an undue familiarity, we were treated as equals and with respect. If we were conscripted to tend the grounds and garden beds of the Woolwich properties, we could be sure that he would be out working himself, in his suit!

      Mrs. Stephenson was a gentle presence. She cared for us when we were ill, and, with the changeover of housekeepers, frequently prepared or supervised our meals. Arthur and Ella complemented and enjoyed each other.

      Sadness and celebration were mingled in my initial reaction when news came that Arthur Stephenson had died. For me A. W. was mentor and friend. During my college days, he, more than any other, influenced the shape of my theology and my ministry. While his teaching was important, it was who he was that counted. His importance in my life can be measured by the fact that through the years I have sought to emulate his sanity, gentleness, simplicity and strength.