Abstract:
Jean- François Bill was a significant church leader of the second half of the twentieth
century. He was born, raised and educated in South Africa, and he lived, worked and
died in South Africa. He possessed a multi-cultural identity. He had a rare academic
ability but was no academic recluse. His varied and intensive ministry was marked
by committed, responsible, constructive engagement. He was a convinced yet
reasonable ecumenist with a powerful social conscience who offered a great deal
to the field of theological education. He had a vision of a responsible church which
was responsible in a practical way by working through the live issues of the day.
This would be a church which would strive for authentic unity and be the leaven in
the lump of the world.
