Over the last couple of weeks we have news of two pastors from North America becoming the Moderator Designees for the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) and the Presbyterian Church in Canada. (Yes, you read that right.)
Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)
First, in what must be a highly unique, if not unprecedented, action in the history of Scottish Presbyterians the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) has named the pastor from the Free Church in Atlanta, Georgia, their Moderator Designee for the 2013 General Assembly. The Rev. Warren Ewing Gardner was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, did his undergraduate work at Geneva College and his theological training at Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Based on the information in the Stornoway Gazette (I don’t see a press release on the denomination’s web site yet) it appears he was ordained by the PCUS in 1972 in Atlanta and he served three churches in that area. He transferred to the Presbyterian Church in America in 1981 and served as a church planter for them in Georgia, for 23 years shepherding the congregation he founded there. In 2003 he associated with the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) and again became a church planter founding his current congregation. The denomination page includes his study at Columbia Theological Seminary so he likely began work on a Doctor of Ministry there (although that is just an educated guess on my part). He and his wife Valerie have five adult children and thirteen grandchildren.
It is worth noting that this might represent a certain Presbyterian reciprocity with Scotland as Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary have been know to get the likes of John Witherspoon and Iain Torrance from Scotland to serve as presidents of those institutions.
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The selection of the Rev. Dr. David Sutherland is also a bit unique but in a different way. Rev. Sutherland was the only nominee for the office when nominations were submitted last fall as no other candidate received the multiple presbytery nominations required to appear on the ballot. While not unheard of, this is an unusual occurrence. UPDATE: I inquired about this to the General Assembly Office and the response was that no one remembered this happening before.
With the nomination situation as it was the Rev. Sutherland was know to be the only candidate for Moderator last fall, and a detailed press release was issued by the PCC at that time. But being Presbyterians and being required to do things decently and in order and according to the Book of Forms, the position became official Tuesday as The Committee to Advise the Moderator met at the appointed time and place to make the nomination final.
Rev. Sutherland has been the pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in St. John’s, Newfoundland for almost 14 years and he has served in other churches in the Atlantic Provinces through his career. (And check out the picture of the church on Panoramio to get a better feel for the setting.) In his career he has served in positions and on committees at all levels of the church including as a presbytery moderator, presbytery clerk, synod moderator and he now serves as the synod clerk. He has a significant number of initials after his name (B.Comm., M.Div., M.Th., D.Min.) but all the bio tells us is that he studied at Knox College. He and his wife Irma have two adult children and four grandchildren. Rev. Sutherland’s son is a pastor at the Bass River Pastoral Charge in New Brunswick.
He will be formally elected and installed as Moderator of the 139th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada when it convenes on May 31 in Toronto.
So our congratulations to both Rev. Gardner and Rev. Sutherland as they prepare for this calling and prayers and best wishes to them for their responsibilities moderating the Assembly and for their whole moderatorial year. May God continue to bless your ministries.