New Moderator for Presbytery of Glasgow_{Published 06 Jul 2022}

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The Reverend Hilary McDougall has taken office as the new Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow. 

Hilary was brought up in Glasgow’s east end and attended Park Church in Uddingston as a child. After attending the University of Aberdeen and Jordanhill College, she taught English and Religious Education at a number of schools across Glasgow. She was then called to the ministry and served for four years in a New Charge Development at Robroyston before taking up the post of Chaplain at Robin House. In 2012 Hilary joined the Presbytery of Glasgow as Congregational Facilitator before being appointed as Depute Clerk in 2019. 

Hilary said, “This year, 2022, is more demanding than ever as everyone involved in ministry is called to focus on creating vibrant mission plans while at the same time, resources are diminishing. 

“We are experiencing an increasing number of Presbytery meetings in order to ensure the business gets done and congregations are enduring many extra meetings over the summer which would normally be a Sabbath period where rest and recovery would be the norm. I am critically aware of the burden this places on individuals who are already working diligently for the Kingdom. 

“As Moderator, I will undertake some civic facing duties during the year but my priority will be to offer support, encouragement and comfort to those who are working hard to imagine a new future for Christ’s church here in Glasgow Presbytery. 

“I have always been inspired by the words of Martin Luther King Jr “We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.” That infinite hope lies in our Saviour Jesus Christ and if I can carry and share that hope through meetings, visits and one to one encounters, I will have done what I believe God wants of me in this role.”