On behalf of the Nominating Committee, I am delighted to inform you that Rev. Johannes Wildner, at present Assistant Minister at St. Serf’s Church, Tullibody, has accepted our unanimous invitation to preach in Maxwelltown West Church as our Sole Nominee at 11 a.m. on Sunday September 12th 2021.

Rev. Johannes Wildner is 46 years old and married to Kåthe, a teacher; they have four teenage children, Agnes, Wilhelm, August and Adele. He is a graduate of Humboldt University, Berlin, and has a Masters degree in Theology from Glasgow University.

In Germany, he was a Parish Minister for seventeen years, before coming to Scotland to take his Masters degree, which he gained with Distinction. Since 2020 he has been Assistant Minister at St. Serf’s as part of a familiarisation placement with the Church of Scotland. He successfully completed the accreditation process earlier this year and he is now a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Church of Scotland.

“The Church of Scotland is on the move, and I want to be part of it”, says Rev. Wildner. He is looking forward to a new challenge, but also looking back on his formative years full of gratitude and fulfilment: “You move from one experience of God to the next – only when you leave your comfort zone do you have the chance to grow and develop.”

Those members on Maxwelltown West’s Electoral Roll who are in church to hear Rev. Wildner on 12th September will be able to cast their votes in a secret ballot after the service. Those eligible members who are watching “on-line” or subsequently on YouTube will need to request a ballot paper from me during the week before 12th September, either through my email address, sessionclerk@maxwelltownwest.org.uk, or by telephone on 01387 261627.

These ballot papers, which will have a unique number, will have to be returned to church in a sealed envelope to arrive no later than Friday September 17th please: Maxwelltown West Church, Rosemount Street, Dumfries DG2 7AG.

This two-ballot process is necessary because of Coronavirus restrictions. I look forward to seeing as many of you as feel comfortable to be in church on 12th September. We will be able to accommodate 65 people if we stay with the one-metre social distancing rules, more if in the meantime the rules are relaxed further.

With every blessing to you all,

David Johnson
Convener of the Nominating Committee