He was Principal of United Theological College, North Parramatta, New South Wales, from 1975 to 1989. Previously he was the minister of Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church, Wellington, New Zealand. Dr Ferguson did his theology at the University of Otago and his post graduate work at Cambridge in the early 1960's.
Passion is a richly textured word.
To act with passion is to drive forward with willed intensity and emotional flair. Passions arise out of the dark levels of human responses, are often not able to be controlled and may have hurtful consequences. The same word describes the person who suffers in the experience, particularly when they accept what is poured out on them with such intensity. They cannot avoid the suffering and remain faithful to their task at the same time. They are the victims of suffering but do not lose their dignity in what they suffer.