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Another ‘first time for Scotland’ was the recent Commissioning of Alice Gilbert as a Church Related Community Worker. Alice is actually Scotland’s second Church Related Community Worker – CRCW for short – as Marie Trubic served from 2017 to 2021. However, Marie came to us as an experienced CRCW and so was simply inducted to her post at the time.

Alice comes fresh from training, undertaken at Northern College, Manchester, and so was commissioned to the ministry and also inducted to the post. The Synod Moderator, Revd Paul Whittle, presided and the preacher was the Revd Dr Noel Irwin, Tutor in Public Theology and Church Related Community Work at Northern College. Noel brought greetings and a message from the Revd Daleen ten Cate, who had served as supervisor for Alice’s major placement. Both Noel and Daleen spoke well of the gifts and contributions that Alice had brought to her course and placement.

The Synod of Scotland looks forward to a renewed engagement with CRCW ministry and the insights that Alice will bring. The service took place on 26^th August at Priesthill United Reformed Church, where Alice will be based, though with her work extending to other parts of the Glasgow Southside Cluster and the whole Synod. (Alice is pictured with the Moderator and the Revd Helen Garton, one of the Glasgow Southside Ministers of Word and Sacraments, with particular responsibility for Giffnock and Priesthill churches.)

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