Cornerstone No. 186, page 2
Letter from the Interim Moderator
Being a minister can be quite a lonely occupation… none of that water-cooler
chat about the week-end with colleagues, or inter-changes various over lunch
in the staff canteen. So, finding a good friend who understands from the inside
how ministry works, and who can bring a sympathetic supportive friendship, is
a great blessing.
In my previous charge, in a small
town in East Lothian, there were no
fewer than 27 ministers who came
and went in my time there – some
of whom were easier to get along
with than others, and some who
simply wanted to do their own thing,
and had little interest in anything
beyond a token connection.
It was a great delight, therefore, to
find in Ian a warmth of welcome and
a shared approach to ministry, that
was mutually supportive and
genuine, and I have appreciated,
since very first contact, when he
was interim Moderator for Geneva, and I was making tentative enquiries, his
friendship, humour and wisdom.
Which is why it is no hardship to return the favour, and serve as Interim
Moderator at Lausanne, for the time being. I hope I can be as supportive to Ian
as he was and has been to me.
Ministry can be a lonely occupation, and the support, prayers, friendship and
love of a congregation is a huge need and a huge blessing when it is given, and
I’m sure Ian and Helen will have that from the congregation of fellow pilgrims
who make up the church at Lausanne. Where better to draw strength,
sustaining love and enfolding prayer, than the people who make the Christian
journey with you?
This is my first experience of living abroad, and there are and have been,
important lessons to be learned about how people do things differently, about
how busy some people are… and about how precious the connections with the
life of the church are, how important worship and fellowship are for balance,
direction and spiritual growth. It’s been wonderful so far to see the level of
commitment and expertise within the life of the church, and to begin to unravel
the stories that have brought people to Switzerland, and made them stay!