Church 'General Secretary' Announces Retirement

Wednesday July 22

Pauline Weibye, the first Secretary to the Council of Assembly of the Church of Scotland, has announced that she is to retire next year.

Mrs Weibye will have spent six years in the role, which she describes as 'general secretary' of the organisation. It involves managing the church's central administration, overseeing an annual turnover of £120m and coordinating the activities of other councils so they work collaboratively.

She said: "This has been so much more than a job – it's been a huge privilege to serve the Church in this way.  I've had a unique insight into the lives of Christian folks up and down the land, doing their best in difficult times to live out the Gospel message. Challenging?  Yes, sometimes, but all big organisations have their difficult moments. We manage to make a difference to people's lives and that's what keeps me and all of my colleagues going. I shall be retiring from the day job but fully expect to keep serving the Church at a local level."

The role of Secretary to the Council of Assembly was created when the General Assembly of 2009 agreed to split the role of Principal Clerk.

The Rev Dr Grant Barclay, Convener of the Council of Assembly, said Mrs Weibye had been instrumental in shaping the national Church into a smoother running and more coherent organisation.

"Given the Church's Presbyterian nature it was a bold step to create a senior coordinating role. The impact Pauline has had in helping people work together has vindicated the decision. She has overseen the Church's move towards a balanced budget, achieved much needed pensions reform and enabled a more strategic focus for the  Church's central work.

"Since the earliest days of the church, Christians have found that working together is challenging but, at its best, it enables God's purposes to be worked out in real life. Pauline has exemplified leadership which is filled with faith and a deep desire to serve other people. Her contribution in this pioneering role has been immensely appreciated."

Recruitment of Mrs Weibye's successor will begin in the autumn, and the appointment has to be ratified by next year's General Assembly.

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