Lanarkshire Minister Named Moderator-Designate

Thursday October 26 2023

A Lanarkshire parish minister has been announced as the Moderator-Designate of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for 2024-25.

The Rev Dr Shaw James Paterson, minister of Strathaven Trinity Parish Church since 1991, will take up the role on Saturday May 18 (subject to approval of the General Assembly) and serve for a year as the Church’s ambassador.

Dr Paterson was expected to become a bricklayer like other family members before him, but took a different path and he went on to complete four degrees at Glasgow University, including a doctorate.

The father of three, who is originally from Holytown, was told by teachers that there was no point continuing his studies, but was encouraged to do so at home.

“My father recognised something in me and I got in to study biology at Glasgow University,” he explains. “He pushed me in a gentle and encouraging way.

“That moment when they shout Moderator – it will be for my Dad.”

During his time at Glasgow University, he supported himself by working various jobs, including as a tiler.

“I still do some tiling for folk and I’m hands on with property in my church,” he says.

Straight after finishing his undergraduate degree, Dr Paterson married Christine at the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel. She is now a senior member of the community nursing team.

Immediately thereafter he began a degree in divinity.                                     

 “They talk about a calling – it was this sense that God was chipping away and chipping away. I did not want to be a minister and I felt a bit like Jonah – I thought go away, I want to do my career in science.

“Eventually I had a torturous night and I thought of Isaiah 6: ‘whom shall I send…send me’.

“I basically woke up and said ‘OK God you win, send me I’ll do it’. Having made the decision, I then knew it was the right one.”

Reflecting on more than 30 years in a parish, including 10 years also working as a Presbytery Clerk, he says “I have sought to be a faithful and loyal parish minister, which has been a tremendous privilege and honour.”

Dr Paterson adds that he ‘thrives’ on pastoral work, albeit there have been some very tough moments. “Undoubtedly the most challenging point of my ministry has been supporting people around child death. How do you deal with it and stay above your own tears?”

The wish to support people as best he can eventually lead to his doctorate in practical theology, which looks at ministering to those who have experienced early miscarriage.

Dr Paterson believes listening to people is at the heart of supporting people who are going through a difficult time for any reason.

“It means you can try and begin to understand what people have got going on, and convey that their story is important.”

He plans to spend next year ‘listening to as many people as possible’. Acknowledging that ‘there is a lot of upset’ currently across the Church of Scotland, Dr Paterson says that “one of the themes I’d like to have for my year as Moderator is building together – it goes back to my roots”.

“As a Church we have strong foundations and it might not be my building or your building that’s kept, but our foundations are in Christ.

“We need to build together and we need to come together – we need to realise almost everyone is losing something.

“We have to try and get over any sense of animosity.

“We’re a Church together and we need to go forward together to build on the foundations of all our forebears.”

Over 30 years Dr Paterson’s interests have included supporting Loaves and Fishes, a charity in East Kilbride which distributes food, toiletries and clothing to people in need locally.

Seventeen years ago he opened up the church halls to secondary school children at lunchtime two days each week providing a warm space, hot chocolate and toasties. He also set up Strathaven Memory Group for those with memory issues and their carers, is involved with youth musical theatre and is currently a lay advisor within the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow).

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