Bruce McLeod

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The Very Reverend N. Bruce McLeod (1930 - ) is a former Moderator of the United Church of Canada (1974-77), President of the Canadian Council of Churches and minister of, inter alia, Westdale United Church in Hamilton and Bloor Street United Church in Toronto. An Old Boy of Upper Canada College and graduate of the University of Toronto, Dr. McLeod did his theological study at Emmanuel College in Toronto and his doctorate at Union Theological Seminary, New York.

At the time of his moderatorship he was the youngest in the history of the denomination. He published and spoke very widely and was noted as a charismatic speaker and attractive spokesman for liberal evangelical Protestantism in general and the United Church in particular. A frequent contributor to the United Church Observer (the national church newspaper) and the secular press, his discreet candour as to the breakdown of his first marriage and divorce did much to induce a greater degree of sympathy to marriage breakdown among church people at a time when divorce carried a measure of social stigma.

During the ultimately abortive further church union discussions with the Anglican Church of Canada Dr. McLeod preached in many Anglican cathedrals across the country and his reserved, literate and appealing message and style comprehensively convinced a sizable majority of Anglican clergy and laity that union with the United Church was a desirable outcome.

In subsequent years he urged greater inclusiveness in the church regarding gay and lesbian Christians and at the same time urged fidelity to the original Basis of Union at a time when conservative and extremely liberal United Church people were at odds as to the essentials of the Church's creed and mission.

Religious titles
Preceded by Arthur B. B. Moore	Moderator of the United Church of Canada 1972–1974	Succeeded by Wilbur K. Howard