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"Life and Work" celebrates 40 years of women ministers
in the Church
A Woman's Place
This month marks the 40th anniversary of the decision
to ordain women to the Church of Scotland's ministry on
the same terms as men. Forty years on around one in five
Kirk ministers are women with the number of women ministers
increasing while the overall numbers of ministers drops.
In recent years between a third and a half of the candidates
entering training for the full-time ministry are women.
Current Moderator the Rt Rev
Sheilagh Kesting, the first woman minister to
fill the role, says "I
never imagined it would take quite so long (for a woman
Moderator) and I feel sorry that women ministers who
were nominated previously were not elected." (The
first female Moderator was Kirk elder Dr Alison Elliot
in 2004).
Kesting adds; "I think
it is good that we have now had a female minister and
an elder as Moderator and I hope this means that in
the near future we will not need to think about gender
or status, but only the distinctive gifts that people
bring to the role by being the people they are."
Ready to serve
David Lunan plans to be a "no frills" Moderator.
He is a pastor with 40 years experience engaging with
people beginning at the sharp end in the East End of Glasgow,
returning years later to the city centre as a parish minister.
More recently he has been at the hub of the Kirk's largest
Presbytery with over 150 parishes within its bounds.
When he steps into the Moderatorial chair later this
month and receives the large amethyst ring, a symbol
of office, from the Rt Rev Sheilagh Kesting, there will
be no lace frills around his cuffs or his collar, but
there will be an air of quiet dignity and a desire to
serve.
Along with his wife Maggie, his partner in ministry,
the Moderator-designate will be preparing for this year's
General Assembly and a year in office, by going on a
spiritual retreat to Perthshire. The Lunans hope to
share the benefits of such retreats when they tour Presbyteries
as part of a year of official engagements.
A different day
Former Moderator the Very Rev Dr James Simpson, also
known for his popular books on wit and wisdom, suggests
that bringing back Sunday as a 'different' day could help
individuals and families to "recharge our batteries".
Dr Simpson cites a recent report which highlighted the
negative impact on the social life of families spending
so little time together. "Individuals
and communities lose much when the Sunday becomes indistinguishable
from other days. We need to put boundaries round the acquisitive,
anxious striving in which so many of us are immersed every
other day."
Ends.
Note to News Desks:
For further information, please contact Muriel Armstrong, Acting Editor of Life and Work on 0131-225 5722 ext 229, or on her mobile 07759 371 602.
nr/26/04/08
Thursday 17, April 2008
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