WILKINSON, Tom, Rev, Prof (1916-2010)
Assembly memorial minute, 2010
Tom Wilkinson was born in Deniliquin, NSW, in 1916. Though dux of the local school, because of the depression he had to obtain a job rather than go on to tertiary study. Some years later he was converted and with others engaged in evangelism. He was called up into the army and served in Western Australia and the Pacific Islands.
He spent a year at Melbourne Bible Institute, then completed adult matriculation, and proceeded to the University of Melbourne and the Presbyterian Theological Hall, graduating with Arts and Divinity degrees. He was ordained and inducted to the Manangatang-Robinvale parish in 1954 and stayed five years. While he respected some fine elders who were Masons, he came to the conviction that Masonry was incompatible with membership in the church. He raised the matter in presbytery and General Assembly, but the outcome of an Assembly committee investigation was unsatisfactory to him, and he ultimately left to join the Reformed Churches of Australia, serving as pastor of the Box Hill congregation.
Before becoming Professor of New Testament at the Reformed Theological College in 1966 he completed an MA at the University of Melbourne, followed by a PhD. After 1977 he often preached in Presbyterian Churches, and in retirement he and his wife Olive moved to Mont Albert. He lectured part-time at the Presbyterian Theological College for quite a few years and continued a preaching ministry. His commitment to the standards of the PCA is shown by his exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith that has been widely used. A volume in his honour, Preaching the Word, was published by the Reformed Theological Review in 2009.
Tom Wilkinson passed away in April 2010 at the age of 94. We give thanks to God for his life and witness, and express sympathy to his wife Olive in her loss.
Gender
- Male