The Moderator's diary
During their year in office, the Moderator visits two Church of Scotland Presbyteries; travels to partner churches overseas; represents the Church of Scotland on historic and national occasions; supports the work of Committees, congregations and organisations; and meets with interfaith and ecumenical bodies.
Below are details of the engagements in the moderatorial diary this month.
- 2 March 2025
The Moderator will preach at Innerleithen, Traquair and Walkerburn church. During his time in Malawi in August 2024, Dr Paterson visited the congregation in Thondwe, with whom the Borders church is twinned.
- 4 March 2025
The Moderator will attend an online meeting of the Scottish Church Leaders Forum.
- 5 March 2025
The Moderator will remotely attend the Inaugural Lecture of Hannah Holtschneider, Professor of Contemporary Jewish Cultural History at the University of Edinburgh.
- 9 March 2025
The Moderator will travel to Ayrshire, to preach and lead Communion at Kilwinning Abbey, and then to officially open Thrive Stewarton Community Shed, a mission initiative of John Knox church.
- 12 March 2025
The Moderator will meet with the Free Church Moderator, who is visiting Edinburgh, before meeting with Bishop Raphael of Ilion, Ecumenical Patriarchate, Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain.
- 13 March 2025
The Moderator will preach at the annual Clydebank Blitz ecumenical memorial service at Kilbowie St Andrew's, before attending a Civic Reception.
- 16 March 2025
The Moderator will preach at New Wellwynd Parish Church in Airdrie.
- 17 March 2025
The Moderator will visit and bless the new Clyde Presbytery Office, before joining the Presbytery Clerk and Presbytery Moderator for lunch.
- 19 March 2025
- The Moderator will attend a Church Leaders Round Table Discussion in Edinburgh, with Christian Aid Partners from Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
- 23 March 2025
The Moderator will preach at a united service of Cheviot Churches in Kelso, before having lunch with the congregation.
- 24 March 2025
The Moderator will meet with Lady Haughey CBE, Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire, at her office in Motherwell.
- 25 March 2025
The Moderator will have lunch with the Presiding Officer, before delivering Time for Reflection in the Scottish Parliament.
- 26 March 2025
- The Moderator will preach at a service organised for the Scottish Parliament community, before meeting with Bishop Rob Saner-Haigh, Bishop of Penrith, who is visiting Edinburgh.
- 27 March 2025
The Moderator will attend a Lunch in Motherwell which New College Lanarkshire are hosting in his honour.
- 28 March 2025 - 1 April 2025
The Moderator will engage in the second of two visits during his year in office to the Presbytery of the South West. Dr Paterson’s final visit to the Presbytery will include preaching at a joint service in Castle Douglas, spending time with a number of local congregations and at Lockerbie Memorial Gardens, as well as a visit to Steven's Croft, a renewable energy power station.