The Secretary General to the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church is to retire next year after 28 years in the position.
Mr John Stuart, who was appointed Secretary General in 1996, is expected to remain in post until the summer of 2024, and will oversee arrangements for the church’s three-day General Synod in June.
“I have been privileged to serve as Secretary General since the 1990s,” said Mr Stuart as he announced his retirement. “The experience has been both rewarding and challenging and I am hugely grateful for the support and dedication of trusted colleagues.
“After much reflection, I have decided that the time has come for me to retire next summer and, once my successor has been recruited, I will look forward to spending time with them in a managed handover.”
Ms Bridget Campbell, Convener of the Provincial Standing Committee, paid tribute to Mr Stuart’s unstinting devotion, selfless dedication and Christian example to all he has encountered.
She said: “John Stuart has served the Scottish Episcopal Church with commitment, devotion to duty and fair-mindedness which are exemplary. No-one could have given more to supporting the Scottish Episcopal Church and our gratitude to and admiration for him cannot be measured.
“As well as being endlessly patient, and willing to take pains to find a consensual way forward, John’s personal kindness to all with whom he comes into contact is a Christian example to us all. As he prepares to pass the baton to his successor, I hope that he will allow himself to take pride in his many achievements and the place that the Church is now in. For all our challenges, thanks to John, we have sound foundations for growth.”
The Secretary General is effectively the chief executive officer of the General Synod Office, which supports the General Synod in its work on mission and growth of the SEC and governance of key parts of its structures.
A recruitment campaign to find a successor to Mr Stuart has begun, with the role currently being advertised nationally. A microsite dedicated to the recruitment process can be accessed by clicking here.
