Opportunity Knox
Kirk offers a top salary in Geneva But what would he have said?
THE founding father of the Kirk, he preached the value of spiritual riches over material wealth.
So it would be interesting to hear what John Knox had to say about the Church of Scotland’s latest vacancy.
It is recruiting a minister to take over the very church where religious firebrand Knox once delivered his sermons – in one of the richest parishes in the world.
A newly-placed advert seeks a minister for the Auditoire de Calvin in Geneva, where Knox preached between 1556 and 1559. The city is among the wealthiest places in the world, with 144 super-rich individuals per 100,000 residents.
To reflect the cost of living in Switzerland, the Kirk is willing to pay the successful applicant an enhanced salary.
The ad promises ‘a salary package and conditions perfectly adequate to maintain a way of life appropriate to the Geneva situation’. French lessons will also be provided.
How well this would have gone down with Haddington-born Knox can only be imagined.
At the Auditoire, he preached three sermons a week, each lasting well over two hours.
Among his themes was the vanity of worldly wealth. He said: ‘Consider, dear brethren, how much more dolorous and fearful it is to be tormented in hell than to suffer trouble on earth; to be deprived of heavenly joy than to be robbed of transitory riches.’
After the Scottish parliament abolished the jurisdiction of the Pope in 1560, Knox was instrumental in setting up the Kirk.
The advert says: ‘The Church of Scotland in Geneva is prayerfully seeking a new minister to lead our lively international congregation.
‘The lively and diverse congregation, of which approximately one-third are Scots, is composed of people from over 30 countries.
‘Although there is some poverty, Geneva is thought of as an affluent city where materialistic attitudes and problems are found.’
But it makes it clear the new minister will not struggle: ‘The stipend and terms and conditions are based on those for the Church of Scotland in Scotland but adjusted to take account of differences in cost of living, taxation etc.
‘The cost of travel for minister and family is provided at the beginning and end of contract, together with some removal costs. The cost of French language courses will be met as a certain level of fluency enhances not only professional capacity but also helps with everyday life in Geneva.’
A manse is provided, along with electricity, heating, telephone and internet costs.
Local medical insurance for the minister and his family and a pension scheme are also included.