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Top Presbytery role for Clermiston minister

A GERMAN-speaking Clermiston minister has become the new Moderator of Edinburgh Presbytery.

Reverend Alistair Keil, who has been at St Andrew's Clermiston Church for over 20 years, was sworn into the role at Tuesday's Presbytery meeting at Palmerston Place Church, taking over from Reverend Peter Graham.

Mr Keil said that during his Moderatorial year he hopes to encourage more elders to participate in debates at Presbytery, even if that leads to disagreement, as well as introducing a more responsive style of worship.

Originally from Elgin, Mr Keil worked in a bank before coming to study at Edinburgh's New College from 1976 to 1982.

He did his probationary year at Richmond Craigmillar, before spending four years as an associate at Liberton Kirk. He became minister at Clermiston in 1989.

Mr Keil is something of a veteran, having previously convened the Pastoral Care, World Mission, Property, and Deployment of Resources committees in Edinburgh. He has also advised the World Mission and then Church and Nation departments of the central Church.

With a keen interest in German literature, Mr Keil hopes to build up links between his home congregation and a church in Jena, in eastern Germany. He has also preached at Edinburgh's German-speaking congregation on Argyle Terrace.

The post of Moderator of Presbytery is an honorary one held for 12 months. Meetings of Presbytery are chaired by the Moderator, who leads worship and rules on points of order. The Moderator will also attend civic and church events across Edinburgh in an ambassadorial capacity.

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nr/11/02/10

Friday 5, February 2010

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