Minister offers thieves spiritual help
The lead minister for St John’s Kirk, Rev. John Murdoch has said that the thieves who stole money from his church may need emotional and spiritual help.
Two glass charity money collection bowls near the entrance to the church were broken into and a reported three figure sum of money was taken on Saturday, June 9.
The bowls have been replaced and more small donations have already been made by visitors.
Despite this Rev Murdoch would take a more peaceful approach if he ever saw the assailants again.
He said: “We’d love to think that who ever did this that they would come back into the church one day.
“We’d very happily give a warm welcome to that individual, or those individuals, and see if there are ways that we can help because anybody that steals money from a church is clearly in need of emotional help, practical help and spiritual help.
“We would want to offer the hand of friendship all the while that person admitting what they did was clearly wrong. ”
Rev Murdoch knows that although good security is important, he does not want it to deter visitors.
He said: “There are certain procedures that we are going through. We will continue to do what we can to welcome people into the church and be increasingly vigilant concerning security measures at the same time.”
Police say that there are no further developments at this time. St John’s Kirk