Dear Friends,
I
have the privilege of being the Interim Moderator for the newly linked
congregations of Balfron and Fintry, and Drymen and East Loch Lomond. Whilst I
have met the kirk sessions and a few of you after the Service of Linkage on
23rd January, I realise I
am unknown to many of you so I welcome the opportunity to introduce myself,
explain my role and explain what steps the two churches will go through
in the next few months.
I
am a retired medical doctor (mostly specialising in medicine of older people
but from 1975-81 working in a Church hospital in Nigeria), a church elder and
session clerk at Park Church Stirling and a member of Presbytery. I am married to Sarah, a retired nurse, and
we are blessed with seven grandchildren in Devon and Angus.
My
main responsibility is to support the congregations in their vacancy and help
them through the necessary steps to call a full time minister for the linked
charge in coming months. I am very grateful to the locum ministers who have
supported worship and pastoral care so well and also to your very able and
committed office bearers, elders and other members supporting church
activities.
In
coming months, we will be agreeing a parish profile outlining our vision for
the future, our missional priorities, how we hope to work with and support a
minister address the various opportunities and challenges of the this larger
charge, as well as some of basic information about the linked churches. Earlier this week the two sessions met
together in a very encouraging meeting when it was apparent there is a large
degree of consensus and shared purpose as well as enthusiasm for some of ways
in with we might complement and help one another. The congregations will, in a
couple of months, update their electoral roll, elect a nomination committee, 6
members from Drymen and East Loch Lomond and 5 people from Balfron and Fintry;
in in due course, by God’s grace, vote for a sole nominee.
I
am excited and heartened by hearing of the faith and loving service of so many;
and pray that, trusting in God and the
strength of his Holy Spirit, we might move forward in faith to build on the
witness and endeavours of the past, and to further his Kingdom in this part of
the county.
Blessings