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Talking Ministry

Each month, the Church of Scotland's 'Talking Ministry' series will share a personal story from a Minister of Word and Sacrament. This follows on from 2021 and 2022's articles which also featured those in Ordained Local Ministry, the Diaconate and Readership.

If you would like to consider how God might be calling you to serve at this time, you may want to discuss further with your minister or be in touch with your Presbytery to explore local opportunities.

If you are interested in exploring a call to the recognised ministries of the Church, you can find more information on our vocations page and can contact ministry@churchofscotland.org.uk for a Discernment Conversation with one of the Recruitment Team.

2025 stories

Rev Hilda Smith

April 2025: Rev Hilda Smith

For April, Rev Hilda Smith looks back at a career which ranged from city ministry in Glasgow to serving in ...

March 2025: Rev Melvyn Wood

For March, Rev Melvyn Wood looks back on a career which has ranged from the big city to seaside towns ...

Rev Stewart Goudie

February 2025: Rev Stewart Goudie

For February, former engineer Rev Stewart Goudie talks about why he changed careers and left his home city for parish ...

January 2025: Rev Elisabeth Spence

For January Rev Elisabeth Spence talks about a varied career which has included parish ministry, industrial chaplaincy and helping establish ...

2024 stories

December 2024: Rev Everisto Musedza

For December, Rev Everisto Musedza reflects on a spiritual journey which has taken him from Zimbabwe to Argyll’s Cowal Peninsula.

...
Ian Morrison

November 2024: Ian Morrison

For November, Ian Morrison speaks about his role as an Ordained Local Minister, which he combines with a career as ...

David Lloyd OLM

October 2024: David Lloyd

For October, David Lloyd speaks about his role as a trainee Ordained Local Minister (OLM) based at St Andrew’s Church ...

September 2024: Rev Louise Purden

For September, Rev Louise Purden speaks about her role as minister of Bonnyrigg Parish Church in Midlothian.

Pamela Kennedy

August 2024: Rev Pamela Kennedy

For August, Rev Pamela Kennedy speaks about moving from a pioneer minister role to becoming a parish minister at Culloden ...

Rev Alex MacCallum

July 2024: Rev Alex MacCallum

For July, Rev Alex MacCallum speaks about his role as the full-time minister of Word and Sacrament at the churches ...

June 2024: Rev David Nicolson

For June, Rev David Nicolson talks about what inspired him to leave a career in broadcasting for service in the ...

May 2024: Probationary minister Dawn Westwood

For April, Rev Kerr Wintersgill and Rev Moira Taylor Wintersgill reflect on their own journeys towards ministry and their current ...

April 2024: Rev Kerr Wintersgill and Rev Moira Taylor Wintersgill

For April, Rev Kerr Wintersgill and Rev Moira Taylor Wintersgill reflect on their own journeys towards ministry and their current ...

March 2024: Ruth Kennedy

For March, Ruth Kennedy talks about taking faith into the digital sphere with the Church of Scotland’s online worshipping community, ...

February 2024: Stuart Finlayson

For February, Rev Stuart Finlayson speaks about his role as community pioneer minister for Forres and West Moray.

Kirsty Forsyth at the sea side

January 2024: Kirsty Forsyth

In our first interview of 2024, Kirsty Forsyth talks about why the Church of Scotland Diaconate is such a good ...

2023 stories

December 2023: Rev Andrea Boyes

For December, Rev Andrea Boyes speaks about her role as minister for Durness and Kinlochberive in Sutherland, the challenges of ...

Rev Attie Van Wyk

November 2023: Rev Attie van Wyk

For November, Rev Attie van Wyk speaks about the spiritual journey which has led him to become Minister of Word ...

October 2023: Rev George Sneddon

For October, we meet Rev George Sneddon, who is approaching the first anniversary of his ordination as an assistant minister ...

Rev Elsie Macrae

September 2023: Rev Elsie Macrae

For August, Rev Andy Muir speaks about his path to his first charge as Minister of Word and Sacrament, and ...

Rev Andy Muir

August 2023: Rev Andy Muir

For August, Rev Andy Muir speaks about his path to his first charge as Minister of Word and Sacrament, and ...

July 2023: Rev Craig Lancaster

Rev Craig Lancaster is married to Katherine and has been a senior chaplain at RAF Lossiemouth for almost three years. ...

Laura and Cheeko the horse

June 2023: Laura Digan

Each month, the Church of Scotland's 'Talking Ministry' series shares a personal story from those serving in Christian ministry, along ...

Rev Stewart Weaver holding an enormous turnip on his shoulder

May 2023: Shaped by Christian Community

Rev Stewart Weaver talks about his faith journey and role as minister of Portobello and Joppa Parish Church and we ...

Rev Aniko Shutz Bradwell giving a service in the forest

April 2023: A Time for Everything

Rev Anikó Schütz Bradwell speaks about her role as minister of the combined parishes of Humbie and Yester, Bolton and ...

Seoras Orr and family

March 2023: What is God's plan for me?

Rev Seòras Orr talks about the importance of humour in his role as minister of Word and Sacrament in the ...

Andrea Price and her husband, Neil

February 2023: Why am I here?

In February, Rev Andrea Price speaks about her role as minister of St Michael’s Parish Church in Edinburgh and we explore ...

Rev Alastair Duncan seated with a laptop

January 2023: Planting seeds in the city

Rev Alastair Duncan talks about his work as Minister of St George’s Tron, Glasgow and we explore the theme 'Who ...

2022 stories

Sia van Bremt

December 2022: Reader-in-Training Sia Van den Bremt

Sia Van den Bremt speaks about her role as Reader-in-training at St Andrew's Church in Brussels, and we explore the ...

Elijah Odinna and Ann Jackson sitting in a church

November 2022: Rev Dr Elijah Obinna

Rev Dr Elijah Obinna speaks about his journey to become parish minister at Carluke: St John's Parish Church and we ...

Calum Stark and his Wife at a beach

October 2022: Rev Calum Stark

Rev Calum Stark talks about his role as parish minister and participant in the Church of Scotland’s Path of Renewal ...

Rev Lorna Tunstall

September 2022: Rev Lorna Tunstall

Rev Lorna Tunstall talks about her work as Minister of Word and Sacrament in Sutherland and we explore the theme: Ministry ...

Paul Cathcart with Castlemilk Church in the background

August 2022: Deacon Paul Cathcart

Paul Cathcart speaks about his role as a Deacon and we explore the theme: The Next Chapter.

July 2022: Rev Gillian Rooney

Rev Gillian Rooney speaks about her role as the minister at Orchardhill Parish Church in Glasgow, and we explore the ...

Fred Vincent

June 2022: Rev Fred Vincent

Rev Fred Vincent talks about his work as Minister of Glenelg, Kintail and Lochalsh parish and provides a bible reading ...

Hayley Cohan

May 2022: Rev Hayley Cohen

Rev Hayley Cohen speaks about her role as minister of Northesk Parish Church in Musselburgh and we explore the theme: ...

Rev Ross Blackman

April 2022: Rev Ross Blackman

Rev Ross Blackman speaks about his role as minister of Hamilton Old Parish Church and member of the Ecumenical Relations ...

Fiona Tweedie sitting at her desk with a computer

March 2022: Rev Dr Fiona Tweedie

Fiona Tweedie speaks about her role as a statistician with the Church of Scotland and we explore the theme: What ...

Rev Gillian Paterson

February 2022: Rev Gillian Paterson

In February, Rev Gillian Paterson speaks about her work as parish minister of Wellesley Parish Church in Methil and we ...

Nigel Chikanya

January 2022: Rev Nigel Chikanya

Rev Nigel Chikanya talks about his journey into ministry and we explore the theme 'Rooted in God'.

2021 stories

Alison Fenton

June 2021: Alison Fenton

Alison Fenton speaks about her service as an elder and session clerk at Giffnock South Parish Church in East Renfrewshire.

...
Youth team leader Neil Young next to the first piece of public art in Blackhill in 15 years painted by Rogue One.

May 2021: Neil Young

Neil Young speaks about his work as a youth team leader at St Paul's Church of Scotland in Glasgow

Rev Scott Burton at the altar of his church

January 2021: Rev Scott Burton

In the first instalment of our series, Rev Scott Burton talks about his journey into ministry.

Rev Dr Karen Fenwick with her dog Mitzi

July 2021: Rev Dr Karen Fenwick

Rev Dr Karen Fenwick speaks about her role as the full-time minister of Word and Sacrament at Lowson Memorial Church ...

Steven Owens

August 2021: Steve Owens

Steve Owens speaks about studying to become a Minister of Word and Sacrament.

Rev Andrew Gardner

April 2021: Rev Andrew Gardner

Rev Andrew Gardner speaks about his role as an interim minister.

Ellen standing on a beach

February 2021: Ellen Griffiths Weir

Ellen Griffiths Weir speaks about her role as a children and youth worker in Shetland

Rev Mandy Ralph

October 2021: Rev Mandy Ralph

Rev Mandy Ralph speaks about her journey to become a full-time minister of word and sacrament.

Claire Herbert DCS

March 2021: Deacon Claire Herbert

Deacon Claire Herbert DCS speaks about her role as the chaplain at the Lodging House Mission in Glasgow.

Tim Xenophontos-Hellen

September 2021: Reader Tim Xenophontos-Hellen

Reader Tim Xenophontos-Hellen talks about ministry of the word and the conduct of public worship.

Anne Stott

December 2021: Anne Stott

Anne Stott speaks about her role as ordained local minister and presbytery pioneer worker for the Presbytery of Perth and ...

Paul Goode

November 2021: Paul Goode

Paul Goode speaks about his role as an elder at Earlston Parish Church and we explore the theme: 'Pushing at ...

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