Letter from Interim Moderator

Letter from Interim Moderator, Dr Peter Murdoch

24th January 2025

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

Peter