At twenty five Michael Mair is looking forward to leading his own congregation in Edinburgh when he becomes the youngest ordained minister with the Church of Scotland tonight (January 23).
A special service will take place at St David’s Church in Broomhouse, Edinburgh, at 7 o’clock for the graduate of New College, Edinburgh University. The service will be conducted by Reverend John Cowie. The Reverend Ian Gilmour, Moderator of the Presbytery of Edinburgh will ordain Michael Mair, making him the new minister of the church.
The Reverend Doctor George Whyte, Presbytery Clerk of Edinburgh will also take part in the service.
After graduating, Michael, spent time as a trainee minister at Wardie Parish Church and as a member of the chaplaincy team at the city’s Western General Hospital helped provide pastoral support for patients. He was a probationary minster at Dalmeny linked with Edinburgh Queensferry Church. He also acquired ministry experience in Culloden, the Shetland Islands and in the Church of Scotland’s Presbytery of Europe.
The new minister said he hoped his ordination would encourage other young people to consider taking up the calling to ministry.
He said: “The General Assembly last year heard about the dearth of young people becoming ministers. My ordination means I will become one of a handful of minsters under the age of thirty. I hope my ordination can inspire other young people to think about the ministry or even for elders just to become more involved in the lives of their church.”
The Very Reverend Albert Bogle addressed the need for new blood into the ministry during his year as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He told the assembly there is perhaps a need to establish a bursary support scheme to encourage congregation members and others to come forward for ministry. –
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