The Revd Lindsey Sanderson has been nominated to serve as Moderator of the United Reformed Church (URC) National Synod of Scotland following the retirement of the Revd Paul Whittle.
Lindsey graduated from the University of Edinburgh, and has served at Righead URC, East Kilbride since 2012, and Hamilton URC since 2017.
In the late 1990s, Lindsey served the Mission Enabling Project of the Congregational Union of Scotland and went on to serve as Mission Enabler for the National Synod of Scotland, Assistant General Secretary for Action of Churches Together in Scotland, before becoming Minister for East Mains URC and Righead URC
Educated in Philosophy and Systematic Theology, Lindsey trained for ordination with the Congregational Union of Scotland and was ordained in January 1997.
The minister also served as URC representative to the World Council of Churches Central Committee from 2007-2012, and along with her current pastoral duties serves as Chaplain to Revd Fiona Bennett, Moderator of URC General Assembly 2022-23.
A keen choral singer and walker, Lindsey loves the outdoors, and classical music but mostly spending time with her family: husband John, who is also a minister, and their two daughters.
Lindsey said: “I am delighted to receive this nomination and feel very privileged to be invited to serve the Synod, which has nurtured me in so many ways, as its next Moderator.
“I look forward to working with the congregations and people of the Synod in living out our Synod aspirations and participating in the life of the wider denomination and with our ecumenical partners as we seek to be faithful disciples in our ever-changing world.”
On behalf of the General Secretariat, the Revd Adrian Bulley, Deputy General Secretary (Discipleship), shared how much they are looking forward to working with Lindsey in her new role.
“The General Assembly’s panel were unanimous in nominating Lindsey for this role, recognising the gifts and graces with which her varied experience to date has equipped her,” Adrian said.
“The panel were impressed by her ability to reflect theologically on the challenges and opportunities of being disciples in this place and time, her ecumenical engagement and experience, and her commitment to being alongside ministers and churches. We look forward to seeing both Lindsey and the Synod of Scotland flourish in the years to come.”
The nomination is a seven-year appointment which will now be taken to General Assembly to be confirmed. The role begins on 1 January 2024.