Never too late to take on a new challenge for OLM Aileen: 'God is never done with you.'

Approaching her 70^th birthday a time of life when most people are thinking of winding down, Rev Aileen Binner has taken on a new challenge as an Ordained Local Minister (OLM).

Mrs Binner, who lives in North Connel, was ordained at her home church of St. Modan's, Ardchattan Parish, but she will principally serve as an OLM with Kilchrennan, Dalvich and Muckairn, a role she will combine with her job as ministries co-ordinator for Clèir Eilean Ì, the Presbytery of the Highlands and Hebrides.

This includes providing coverage for vacant congregations as interim moderator.

Mrs Binner said: "I will be 70 next year and I am so excited that I have this new role as OLM alongside working as a ministries coordinator and interim moderator.

"It shows that God has a sense of humour and He is never done with you."

Appropriately for someone born on Bute, islands have featured largely in her interim moderator duties which have seen her visiting Islay and Jura, Bute, Barra and Tiree, as well as mainland parishes including Oban and Glenorchy and Strathfillan and as far north as Old High St Stephen's in Inverness.

Sharing the Christian journey

As an OLM, although an unpaid voluntary post, she is now a qualified Minister of Word and Sacrament and able to give the sacraments which she was previously unable to as a Reader in the Church of Scotland.

"As I worked with more congregations and was asked about baptisms and weddings, I realised that I felt called to be involved in every part of folks' lives in church instead of just handing them on to another minister. It was that call to the sacraments that really spoke to me," Mrs Binner said.

That call was reinforced early in her probationary year with Rev Christine Murdoch in Garelochhead, who allowed Mrs Binner to take the lead for most of a communion service, other than the blessing.

"That was an incredible experience," she recalled.

"The veil between us and the Holy Spirit seemed so much thinner. Being able to share every stage of the Christian journey with people is very meaningful for me."

It is the latest stage of a ministry journey that began back in the 1990s when her minister at the time suggested she try preaching.

Despite her initial reluctance, Mrs Binner took up the challenge and began training as a Reader.

"It has been an incredible journey," Mrs Binner stated.

"I have grown spiritually, I have grown in confidence and over the years, people have said to me: ‘Do you not think you should go in for ministry?' But I didn't train until I was in my 40s and at one stage you couldn't train for ministry if you were over 45 so I could always say I was too old."

That changed when a visiting minister asked if she had considered become an OLM and she eventually signed up for an assessment weekend where she remained convinced she would be rejected.

"A few days later, when I checked my emails, I found out that I had been accepted for OLM training and I was ecstatic. At that point I knew what I had to do," she said.

"I didn't have a degree, so studying for a certificate in theology through Aberdeen University was hard, but God sustained me and I got through and the things that I learned doing that have helped deepen my faith and realise that it is OK to think differently."

Husband Andrew, who has been a great support through her ministry journey, was joined by son Alastair, daughter Victoria and their families at Mrs Binner's ordination service in Benderloch, which was also well attended by friends and Presbytery colleagues. However, her second daughter, Louise, who lives in Australia with her wife and sons, was unable to attend.

When not on ministry duties, Mrs Binner, who previously worked for community support charity Home Start, enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and crocheting – she is currently busy making poppies for this year's Remembrance Day commemorations.