From Windy City to Auld Reekie...
City-born minister in first Scots posting as he moves from U.S.
A GLASGOW-born minister has taken over at the helm at St Giles in Edinburgh – his first ever Scottish posting.
Reverend Calum MacLeod is the first new minister at the capital’s cathedral for 40 years.
He comes to Scotland from downtown Chicago which has the highest gun murder rate in the United States.
Mr MacLeod replaces the Very Rev Dr Gilleasbuig Macmillan who was minister of the city centre church from 1973 until he retired in September last year.
Despite being born and educated in Glasgow, this will be Mr MacLeod’s first ministry in Scotland.
He served in Chicago for 16 years growing his congregation to more than 3000 people.
Mr MacLeod announced his decision to leave the church in a letter to members of the congregation.
It said: “We have done much together in my time here. We have experienced the highs of being in community through weddings and baptisms, welcoming new members and we have shared in some deeply challenging events.”
Mr MacLeod said of his appointment to St Giles Cathedral: “It is incredible to have been called to serve at such a historic church.
“I am aiming to share what I have learned in effective urban ministry with a focus on faithful worship and commitment to mission and community outreach.
“These were the pillars with which the church in Chicago was able to grow to the size it became.
“I look forward to engaging the leadership of the cathedral to create a new vision for this new chapter.
“Hospitality is also a very important aspect of the cathedral and I am looking forward to developing this further so we maximise the ADVERTISEMENT potential of this great building in the heart of Edinburgh.”
Mr MacLeod attended Strathclyde University where he obtained a BA in economics in 1989 before graduating in divinity from Glasgow University in 1994.
He is married to American born Missy and their daughter Maddy is at university in California.