No Vacancy

Back in March 2006, you elected a Nominating Committee and charged it with the task of finding a new minister for St John's. At the outset, we prepared a personal profile of our ideal candidate. This set very high standards, but only the best would be good enough for St John's. We learned that, at any one time, there were in the region of 200 vacant charges. Ministers in search of a church could have their pick of these charges. We quickly realised that our search would not be easy, nor would it be over quickly, but we were adamant that God had already chosen our new minister and would lead us, by His Spirit, to that person.

In the past year, we have travelled many miles, visited many churches listened to and interviewed many applicants, but only one satisfied the criteria we set down. On Sunday 21 January, the whole Committee listened to a powerful service, after which we met and made a final decision to invite the Rev Roy Cowieson BD, to be our Nominee to the vacancy here at St John's. This nomination received the full 100% support of the whole committee, including the four representatives from our partner churches in the parish grouping.

Mr Cowieson promises to bring to St John's a wealth of experience, enthusiasm for the Gospel and an engaging, encouraging personality - in short he matches the profile the NC prepared at the start of the search in every details. He also brings his wife, Christine, home we have also met and with whom we've been greatly taken. She is also an enthusiastic church worker and will quickly become a valued member of the congregation.

George Reid
Convenor
Nominating Committee
(discharged!)