Session Clerk announces retirement
At the last meeting of the Kirk Session on 4th May, it was with great sadness that we were informed that Graham Jackson would be retiring from the post of Session Clerk after the Communion service on 7th June - a post which he has held for the past twelve years.
Graham Jackson
Session Clerk 1997-2009
A Session Clerk has to have many attributes including being a good communicator, having good leadership skills, good with people, organised as well as a good organiser, decisive and a good decision maker, spiritual and prayerful, keeping calm in a crisis, able to prioritise and to delegate, able to encourage others and of course being able to lead the Kirk Session and to support the Minister.
Graham has all of these qualities as well as being open, approachable and empathic and has always carried out his duties with immense dignity and diligence.
This was especially noticeable during the vacancy when Graham took on the responsibility of ensuring that things continued to run smoothly in St John's. During this time Graham not only had to liaise with our Interim Moderator and ensure that we were complying with the various procedures, he was the first point of contact for members of the congregation and parish. It was due to his encouragement and hard work that the congregation and Kirk Session were able to feel supported through the months of vacancy.
As well as the various duties of the Session Clerk, Graham often took on visiting districts to support other Elders, a task which he did faithfully and diligently. He has also been instrumental in steering St John's smoothly through the recent changes to districts and visiting as well as the development of the Parish Grouping between St Andrew's, Kirkton and ourselves. Graham has been held in high regard by all of us in St John's and his calm leadership will be greatly missed by all of the Elders in the Kirk Session.
We pray Graham, that you will be richly blessed as you take a well earned rest and are able to spend more time with Liz who has always supported and assisted you. Thank you Liz for your patience and understanding.
Graham, we thank God for your faithful service as Session Clerk and pray that you will continue to share your many skills and talents serving the Lord within St John's.
Added 22 May 09 (JW)
