printed 14 March 2024
Learn for two minutes
Members of the Scottish Parliament have welcomed a minister who has been referred to as to steer a brand new congregation in Angus.
Greater than 20 cross-party MSPs have pledged their help for the Rev Adrian van Tonder, non secular chief of Brechin and Farnell Parish Church.
That is the primary full-time minister in South Africa to be referred to as to steer the brand new mandate, which was formally shaped final yr.
The movement tabled by North East of Scotland Checklist MSP Tess White mentioned: “Parliament congratulates Brechin and Farnell Parish Church on its new minister, the Reverend Adrian van Tonder.”
Reacting to the information that his induction had been acknowledged at Holyrood on February 13, the minister mentioned: “I’m very shocked though I’m deeply humbled by it.”
Nice pleasure and success
Mr van Tonder holds a level in theology from the College of Pretoria in South Africa and has been ordained as a minister within the Dutch Reformed Church.
He served at Welgeluk Church in his hometown of Oudtshoorn and later ministered at Aliwal North Church earlier than in search of a name to serve abroad.
Married to Sanel, with whom he has two younger sons, he heard in 2021 that Kirk was encouraging ministers to return and serve in Scotland.
The next yr, the household moved to Glenrothes to take up a place as minister at St Columba’s Parish Church and later took up a brand new function as affiliate minister at Glenrothes Cluster earlier than transferring to Brechin and Farnell Parish Church.
Mr Van Tonder mentioned: “My calling to the ministry is one thing that has taken me via many trials and tribulations and has introduced me a lot pleasure and success.
“As a pacesetter, I imagine that God has referred to as me not solely to serve the religion communities of Brechin and Farnell but in addition to serve the broader neighborhood.
“Being a presence in the neighborhood and partnering with different organizations and teams to attempt to make a distinction”.
Religion Love and Unity
Brechin and Farnell Parish Church describes itself as a various and vibrant congregation “on the coronary heart of the neighborhood”.
A mission assertion says, “We satisfaction ourselves on being a beacon of heat, friendship and development.”
“On daily basis, we try to embody and share God’s boundless love, reaching out to the touch the lives of everybody we encounter.
“Our doorways are at all times open, inviting you to hitch us in celebrating religion, love and unity.”
The Rev Dr John Ferguson, Clerk of the Presbytery of Perth, mentioned: “I’m delighted to listen to of the induction of Adrian in Brechin and the popularity of Farnell Church by the Scottish Parliament.
“It was an awesome event with an actual sense of pleasure about beginning a brand new ministry in a brand new congregation.
“For Presbytery, it is rather encouraging that MSPs acknowledge the significance of our congregations and the vital function they play in our communities.”
prayer
The Church of Scotland is dedicated to supporting and inspiring those that take up politics as a career of public service.
It acknowledges that regardless of variations of opinion on particular person insurance policies or ideologies, those that run for elected workplace accomplish that from a place of serving to to higher the lives of their fellow residents.
