Church Welcomes New Ministry Recruits

Monday June 22

^{New trainee minister David Nicolson, with his wife Victoria and their son Finlay}

The Church of Scotland has welcomed a positive early response to its recruitment campaign for new ministers.

Nineteen new recruits to the Church of Scotland ministry have been accepted following the first round of this year’s assessment conferences, with another 34 eligible to be considered in the autumn.

If the majority of those are accepted, it will be the largest intake of trainees for many years and will have met the target of new recruits for the first year of the Decade for Ministry.

The Rev Neil Glover, convener of the Ministries Council, said: “We have been hugely encouraged by the numbers of people signing up for our Vocations Conferences, and also entering our discernment process.

“Being a minister is a remarkable job, indeed more than a job, a remarkable calling.  We believe there are many people, including many young people, in Scotland who are eager to give the best of themselves for the good of others, and Ministry is something which allows them to do exactly that.”

The latest recruits include 29 year old David Nicolson from Stornoway. The married father of one joins the Church following a career making television programmes for BBC Alba. He’s confident working in the media has been a good training ground for full time ministry.

“Now I have discerned my call to serve God, I cannot imagine a more exciting prospect. Getting to satisfy that itch, that inner voice that asks: ‘What was I put on earth to do?’ is thrilling. My hope is to get alongside fellow leaders in the Church and work as a team – utilising everyone's strengths, gifts and callings within the Church to maximum potential.”

Many of the Church’s existing clergy are due to retire over the next 10 years and it is struggling to recruit enough new ministers to fill the gap. No more than 17 people have been accepted for full-time ministry in any year since 2010.

The 2014 General Assembly called for a Decade for Ministry, with the aim of recruiting 30 new ministers for training each year. That was launched at this year’s Assembly, under the title ‘Tomorrow’s Calling’. A promotional video has been viewed by more than 55,000 people in three weeks.

A Vocations Conference at Aberdeen Queen’s Cross Church this Saturday is almost full, with just a few places left.  For more information visit the Church’s Tomorrow’s Calling website.

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