We’ll be on Scottish soil by the time you read this. We look forward to spending time with
family and friends and connecting with congregations. I’ll summarise the dates and events at the
end of the letter, and I hope we’ll see you there.
The last few months have gone by in a bit of a blur, but one weekend stands out clearly. From the
23rd to 25th August 2024, the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian celebrated 100 years as an
established African church. Events included launching a book that reviewed those 100 years
and considered the years ahead, unveiling a commemorative plaque, a victory march and a celebration service. Thousands of people from Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and beyond joined the
events, including Malawi’s President and Vice President and Zimbabwe’s Vice President. Public
events are always colourful, but it was a delight to see people gathered in unity and wearing
the special centenary cloth designed for the occasion.
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one
mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. – 2 Corinthians 13:11
Being united, working together and encouraging one another are foundational practices in a healthy church. Yet, these attributes are sometimes illusive just as much here as in Scotland and elsewhere. We pray that these celebrations and all the collaboration that has gone into them will be a step towards a more lasting unity. Similarly, it was a delight to mark the end of our first cohort in the Emerging Leaders Programme and to hear their commitment to continue moving together as a group of leaders gathered from across CCAP’s five synods.
In July, we hosted a meeting of the Church and Society Programmes from the three synods in Malawi to consider ways to work together in preparation for the upcoming elections in 2025. The last elections were far from peaceful, and recent events in Malawi, including the tragic death of the Vice President in a plane crash, have created a complex political environment. At times like this, the voice of peace from a united church becomes all the more critical.
Moderator Visit
We had the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, with us at the centenary events. He arrived in Blantyre with his wife, Christine, and Carol Finlay from the Church of Scotland office in Edinburgh. We travelled together to appreciate the church’s work across Malawi, including through partnerships with the Kirk. On one stop, at Mulanje Mission, I was reminded of another Malawi connection to my hometown of Kirkcudbright. Rev Hamish Hepburn was a missionary in Malawi before returning to Scotland and taking up work at St Mary’s Church, Kirkcudbright. The Moderator opened a bridge that was constructed through a twinning with Thondwe community and gave a lecture at Zomba Theological University, where he had the chance to appreciate progress in building the new Postgraduate Studies Centre.
Deputation Programme
From this busy programme, we have returned to the UK for deputation. We hope to have the opportunity to reconnect and make new connections. The programme of visits is as follows:
| September | |
| Sat 21st | Largs Parish Church (Family Fun Day) |
| Sun 22nd | Dundonald Parish Church (All Age Service) |
| Mon 23rd | St Blane’s Church, Dunblane |
| Tues 24th | John Knox Church, Stewarton |
| Wed 25th | Alloway Parish Church (am) Ayrshire Guilds Together (pm) |
| Thu 26th | New Cumnock Church |
| Fri 27th | St Michael’s, Dumfries |
| Sun 29th | Gatehouse Parish Church |
| October | |
| Sun 6th | East Kilbride West (Morning Service) East Kilbride Old (Messy Church) |
| Mon 7th | Blantyre Old (Leisure Group) Hamilton Cadzow Parish (Women’s Group) |
| Wed 9th | Wishaw Old Parish Men’s Club Guild Gathering, Dalziel St Andrew’s |
| Thu 10th | Uddingston, Viewpark Church Falkirk Trinity Church |
| Fri 11th | St John’s Parish Church, Carluke |
| Sat 12th | Strathven Trinity Church |
| Sun 13th | Kirk of Holy Rood, Grangemouth Larbert East Parish Church |