Meet the Moderator

Moderator of General Assembly 2003/4

The Revd Alasdair Pratt

The Revd Alasdair Pratt

Alasdair, a 'son of the manse,’ was born in 1939 at Stanley, Co. Durham. Raised in Southport and Reigate he graduated from Cambridge University before being trained for the ministry at Westminster College, followed by a one-year masters degree at Yale Divinity School in the USA. He was ordained and inducted at Saltdean in 1966 after which he served a term as Youth Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of England. There followed ministries at Orpington, Sutton Coldfield and Guildford where he has been since 1990. Married to Sheila, a psychotherapist, they have two sons.

In Synods he has been both Secretary and Chairman of Faith and Life Committees and served on the Strategy Committee. At District level he has been President, overseen pastoral consultations and even had an unlikely spell as Convener of a Finance Committee. He was Convener of the national Committee on Health and Healing from 1984-1990 which included the preparation and writing of the booklet 'Stress in the Ministry'. He served for five years as Convener of the Assembly Arrangements Committee.

A key influence in the development of his understanding of church and theology has been the life and witness of the Iona Community in which he served as a youth camp leader. This influence was broadened through time at Agape, the ecumenical centre in northern Italy where he first experienced the reality of the international church as well as reconciliation between different national groups. After the year at Yale he worked in 'A Christian Ministry in the National Parks at the Grand Canyon. This involved leading a small ministry team, conducting worship for the tourists and giving pastoral care to the protestant staff in a strongly Mormon-dominated setting. In many ways this was a greater learning experience than the university setting! He has also had experience of the church in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

The leadership of worship and, increasingly, the enabling of others to do so, along with a deep conviction about the importance and privilege of preaching, are central in his ministry. He has found it particularly rewarding to explore the faith with those who are enquirers, especially with those seeking their way back into church life after a period away. Training with the Westminster Pastoral Foundation, led to working with the Emmaus Counselling Service in Guildford.

 

Highlights

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Clare Short

Read a summary of Clare Short's keynote speech, given on Monday evening.

Moderator's Address

Read Alasdair Pratt's address to Assembly, 'Exile or Exodus?'

A summary is available here

Have Your Say

Join in the discussion about this year's General Assembly