Valleys minister set to become new moderator
The new moderator of the presbytery of Melrose and Peebles is almost certain to be the Reverend Sam Siroky.
The Ettrick and Yarrow minister was nominated in June and is likely to be elected at a meeting of the presbytery in Kirkhope Church on Tuesday.
Mr Siroky said: "I feel humbled. I'm looking forward to it but I'm a bit nervous at the same time!"
Asked what he hoped to achieve in the year-long job, he said: "I would just like to play my role during challenging times in the church and try to show the human face of the church.
"It's not really a leading role in a political way, it's more trying to implement policies: I'm moderating the meetings, the decisions are made by the presbyteries, the people there."
But he does think the community could work together to make it easier for people to take part in sport or hobbies, as well as attend church.
"It's getting harder and harder with the demands of everyday life and people are so busy. It's very hard when sports activities are on a Sunday – often the children or parents have to choose between the church and rugby or football or some other activity.
"We could accommodate both if we talked to each other and maybe if the activities were in the afternoon, so mornings were free if people wanted to go to church.
"These are the kind of things that could make it easier to attend church."
He acknowledged young adults were among the smallest group going to church, saying: "I don't know what the answer is. It may be that we are just not very good at talking to that age group, but I know there are churches where young teenagers and adults are present in huge numbers."
The 38-year-old father is married to Ester and the couple have six children. Originally from the Czech Republic, where he was also a minister, Mr Siroky has been the valleys' minister for more than seven years, taking over the local charge after completing his Masters in Theology in Edinburgh.
"My father was a minister and I always felt a call to be active somehow in the church.
"Being a parish minister is something that speaks to me, being with people and sharing their burdens, leading Sunday worship – and so far they haven't kicked me out!"
"There are many challenges for the church but I'm an optimist. You can't make people go to church but you can be there for them when they need you, and maybe that's the role the church needs to find itself again, to be there for people when the need arises."
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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