JULY 13, 2003
REMARKS RE CALUM MACLEOD
JOHN M. BUCHANAN, PASTOR
FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

This is an important day in the life of this church. At the 11:00 a.m. service today, the Reverend Calum Ian MacLeod will be installed by the Presbytery of Chicago as an Associate Pastor at Fourth Presbyterian Church.

The event is a departure of sorts from the way we have taken care of the ecclesiastical responsibility of installing ministers in the past — namely at Vespers or a special afternoon service.

The installation itself is conducted by a special Commission of the Presbytery of Chicago appointed for this purpose. There is a sermon — at this installation to be preached by The Reverend John McIndoe, former Moderator of the Church of Scotland — who will be in the full Moderatorial Regalia of his office. Mr. McIndoe was pastor of St. Columbia’s Church of Scotland in London where a newly ordained minister, Calum MacLeod, was called to a position there. Mr. MacIndoe was Calum’s mentor and friend and the one who suggested that Calum might come to the USA for a brief intern experience in urban ministry. Happily the “brief” part of Mr. McIndoe’s proposal hasn’t worked out. That was five years ago and since that time Calum MacLeod has become a valued, respected, and loved part of the staff and the life of the congregation.

A Presbyterian Installation can go on a bit. In addition to the sermon, there are charges — to the new minister which will be delivered by Joanna Adams, and a charge to the congregation which I will do. There is a long list of questions to be asked and answered, and prayers and greetings and welcome — and at the end Calum will be an official Associate Pastor and a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — a huge transition for him. For the occasion Calum’s father and sister are here from Scotland to be with him, in addition to Mr. McIndoe.

It is a very important occasion for the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago as we face an exciting and ambitious future of witness and service. And on behalf of Joanna Adams and myself, I want to say that we are both deeply grateful for Calum’s ministry and deeply happy about the prospect of working with him in the days ahead.

And even though it is a bit much to suggest that Presbyterians worship more than once on the Lord’s Day, I do wish to invite you back at 11:00 a.m. for the festive occasion.
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