Former United Church moderator who ‘walked the talk’ dies at 96

The United Church of Canada has lost one of its most influential figures with the passing of Very Rev. N. Bruce McLeod, who died on Jan. 12. McLeod was just weeks away from his 97th birthday.

An eternal optimist who dedicated his life to serving others, McLeod was the United Church’s 25th moderator, holding the role from 1972 to 1974. Before his death, he was also the denomination’s eldest and longest-living former moderator.

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Born in Toronto in 1929, McLeod earned a bachelor of divinity degree from Emmanuel College in 1953, followed by a master’s degree from Columbia University as well as a doctor of theology designation from Union Theological Seminary. Fiercely dedicated to social justice and interfaith relations, McLeod led a number of congregations in Toronto, Hamilton, Port Credit, Ont., and other communities, as well as serving as commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission and director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

Through decades of work both in and outside of the United Church, McLeod championed women’s rights, including the right to bodily autonomy, and was outspoken against racism and an early ally of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. He marched for civil rights and wrote countless op-eds about the injustices he stood against. McLeod also travelled extensively, relishing his connections with diverse people. In an interview with Broadview last April, McLeod recalled a 1973 delegation that included Anglicans, Presbyterians, a Muslim individual and McLeod. When a colleague said, “I can’t tell you apart,” McLeod remembered quipping, “Neither can God!”

In the early 1980s, McLeod entered provincial politics, winning the Liberal nomination for the St. George riding in Toronto. He lost the election to a Conservative candidate, but never lost his passion for creating change, spending the next decades advocating for human rights. In 1987, he anonymously spent the night at Seaton House, a men’s shelter in Toronto, and later wrote about the experience for the Toronto Star, shedding light on the poor conditions unhoused residents experienced in the shelter system. McLeod was also a frequent contributor to Broadview’s predecessor, The United Church Observer, and in the 1980s, co-hosted the TV show Spirit Connection with Mardi Tindal, moderator from 2009-2012.

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“Bruce was a biblical, theological, spiritual prophet, pastor, preacher and poet, rooted in the conviction that it was the world God created in goodness and love,” says Very Rev. Marion Pardy, 37th moderator of the United Church. “He ‘walked the talk’…His lament, as his life became more physically limited, was that he could no longer be on the front lines protesting the injustices in our country. He could support others who did, however, and he did.”

McLeod was known to be both clever and kind; a thoughtful, eloquent and charismatic man with an exceptionally strong moral compass. He loved people and he loved God, expressing his hopes and reverence for the world through a poetic lens.

A close friend of my grandparents for over 60 years, McLeod would visit our family cottage on Muldrew Lake near Gravenhurst, Ont. As the sun set one summer evening, McLeod settled into a reclining chair near a large window that overlooked the water. “Look at that sky!” he said to us in awe. “I see those colours of the sunset, all those beautiful shades from nature that Crayola could never imagine, and I know God’s paintbrush is at work.” He loved prose, art, music and good conversation, never shying away from difficult topics but approaching each one with compassion and care. McLeod valued people and community over possessions, understanding that living well is a state borne from love rather than economic standing.

In the April Broadview interview, McLeod reflected on his life and career while acknowledging the troubling times, but also sharing his wisdom from decades of working on the front lines of justice. Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., McLeod remarked that the arc of moral justice is long, but it bends toward justice. “I want to be on that journey, on that bend,” he said, encouraging readers to channel their disappointment and frustration into action. “People might wake up and use the short, glittering time they’re here for good, rather than for making the right stock market moves or something. What a bore that is.”

Rt. Rev. Kimberly Heath, current United Church moderator, described McLeod as having a writer’s soul. “He spoke in images that resonated. His life and work are an example for me as I make my own way in this role,” she says. “As we grapple with the loss of two former moderators in such a short time, I am aware of the blessings and legacies both Robert Smith and Bruce McLeod have left, not just for me as moderator, but for the church as a whole.”

McLeod is survived by his wife, Rev. Joyce Kelly, whose dedication to his care allowed him to age in place, as well as three daughters and three step-children. McLeod was also a devoted grandfather and great-grandfather to many, and will be lovingly remembered by friends, colleagues and parishioners from all walks of life.

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Erin Pepler is a journalist and the author of Send Me Into The Woods Alone: Essays on Motherhood. She lives in the greater Toronto area.

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