34 mins
The Big Question
QUESTION
Karen Hamilton DCS, Cambuslang Parish Church
John Urquhart, organist at Stair Parish Church, Ayrshire
“When I think of women in the ministry and their influence I think about the many deacons that have touched my life and guided me in my journey.
“I could mention Janie, welcoming me into her flat back in 1985. Helen and Catherine who spoke to me about the Diaconate when I was exploring my path, or Kay my supervisor during my training.
“I realise that many deacons have influenced me, however I would like to mention Moira McCallum DCS who inspired myself and many others in the Diaconate. Moira was a lecturer at St Colm’s college where I studied.
“When I first met Moira – I was a bit in awe of her.
“There was no reason to be. “Moira encouraged me not just in learning the class subjects but she also helped me to grow and learn about myself and my possibilities in ministry.
“Leaving St Colm’s, we all had a great friend for life in Moira. In her retirement I could still learn much from her. Moira was warm and encouraging not just to me but to many others, ministers of the Diaconate, Word and Sacrament, Prayer Partners and to the people she met in various churches.
“Moira had a great sense of humour and a brilliant laugh. I know that there are many who would say that Moira McCallum DCS was a great influence in their faith and journey, for that we celebrate Moira and her ministry.”
“Growing up in a manse I was surrounded by Christian teaching and example which gave me an understanding of Christianity.
“However, it was my mum’s faith and trust in God that inspired me to develop my own faith.
“Pioneering the way forward for people with disabilities, my mum became the first visually impaired deaconess in the Church of Scotland.
“Breaking down barriers and leading the way forward, her approach of working with people from both ends of life is inspiring.
“She developed Christian education in schools and ministered to those who had been isolated in their own homes. “Her buzz for life is infectious and the light of Christ shines through her, leading people to Jesus.
“Her involvement within the national and the world church challenged my own thinking.
“As a result, I attended the General Assembly as a Youth Rep, which in turn widened my opportunities within the church and nurtured my faith.
“She has inspired me to help others to grow their faith by helping at holiday clubs and other church led community events.
“It is thanks to my mum that I have had the opportunity to grow and nurture my faith.
“The Church is full of influential women be it at Messy Church, in the Guild or quietly working away in the background making a diff erence. I’m glad the Church is celebrating this milestone.
Amy Hannah, Family and Community Worker, Kilmarnock: New Laigh Kirk
The Rev Arthur Christie, (retired) of Anstruther and Cellardyke, St Ayle l/w Kilrenny
The Rev Jean Kirkwood, minister Dunfermline: Townhill and Kingseat
“I joined the church when I was seventeen years old.
“At that time, the youth worker, Alison, at my home church offered me a voluntary role as a youth leader within the Sunday School.
“Together, with some more team members, we led 10-14 year olds through games, crafts and teaching plans.
“She allowed me the freedom to write my own plans and organise my own strategies for leading the kids.
“I continued to develop my own faith, along with the kids I was leading, because I had Alison’s guidance to help me along the way.
“She introduced me to diff erent and unique ways of worship, prayer and leadership.
“Along with this, she has always been a good friend and a great source of comfort to me.
“Alison helped me to explore my faith and view it in a way I would understand so that I could pass on the same lessons from the bible to the kids in the way I had learned them.
“I learned so much from Alison and whilst she was leading both the young people and myself through faith, she was doing more in her role that I didn’t even realise.
“She always kept a calm and smiley face.
“I find that inspiring; to not let simple things get you down and to always keep smiling.”
“When newly ordained, I was delighted to find that retired but very active, the Rev Effie Campbell was leading worship at an Ayr church.
“Effie had been a late entrant to ministry too, and she was an excellent preacher. Everyone who spoke of her did so with admiration and love.
“Her smile radiated warmth, and her prayer and choice of scripture was offered with sincerity and humility. Effie had gravitas, a centeredness of faith which you felt come not just from the joy of life but through pain too.
“We became friends. She was generous with her time and shared her advice to me.
“‘It’s simple. Love your people, be there when they need you, be real and always keep in touch with Jesus, because they’ll always know when you’re not!’”
“Effie’s sense of humour shone through whether dressing a fairy on top of the tree, entertaining Guilds, or ministering to her parish.
“Effie gave me support to be myself at a time when several people [men of course] were trying to shape me into what they thought a minister ought to be. Effie could talk for Scotland, loved being at the heart of any group but was also a great listener and servant. Effie was a Mary and Martha and showed the value of servanthood and sitting at the feet of Jesus.
“The Rev Euphemia Campbell died on June 16 2010 aged 88.
“Once met never forgotten, and like so many women of her and our present generation, the bedrock of church life.”
“One woman who has impacted my life of faith was Mrs Kinloch.
“Already retired by the time I met her, she had served as a missionary in what is now Pakistan.
“She had also been a school teacher and a minister’s wife, but I only ever knew her as the organist in our church, and as my piano teacher.
“From the age of five until I was 18 years old, I visited her home every week and it’s fair to say that any skill I have in music or piano is directly a result of her eff orts.
“I now know that Mrs Kinloch did this out of love for she charged a minimal fee, according to what my parents could aff ord.
“As a child I found her to be infinitely patient, never cross, always encouraging.
“I knew her as a committed member of the church and I grew to understand that she was a person with a deep faith in God.
“I don’t recall any words spoken about Jesus but I do remember her kindness, faithfulness, humility and generosity.
“Mrs Kinloch’s encouragement impacted me greatly.
“In my early teens, when our minister asked me to play the keyboard in church, I agreed to try.
“Mrs Kinloch thought I could do it.
“It was my first venture into finding my own place in church life, a step towards who I am and what I do today.
“I thank God for Mrs Kinloch and for placing me within her influence.”
This article appears in the May 2018 Issue of Life and Work
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