THE next Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has warned the Kirk is facing "difficult days" as he prepares to take on the key role for a second time after standing down last year due to ill-health.
The Kirk said Reverend Dr Angus Morrison has recovered from surgery to correct an illness, the nature of which has not been revealed, and will take up the role in May.
Mr Morrison, 61, minister of Orwell and Portmoak Church in the Presbytery of Perth, was forced to withdraw from the post last March and was replaced by Right Reverend John Chalmers, who will return to his role as Principal Clerk of the Kirk.
He is the first former Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland minister to take on the position of moderator in the Kirk.
Mr Morrison will steer the next stage of the Church's debate on further acceptance of gay ordination sparked by the appointment of openly gay Rev Scott Rennie to an Aberdeen church in 2009.
The one-year post also includes an ambassadorial role with engagements and visits around Scotland and abroad.
Mr Morrison said it is a "great honour". He said: "I am thankful that a very good recovery, following surgery, has made it possible for me to accept the nomination.
"My wife and I are deeply appreciative of the support and prayers of so many across the Church during this recent difficult period."
He added: "On various fronts these are difficult days for our Church, as they are for many other denominations.
"The Church exists, not for itself, but as God's agent for the extending of His kingdom's just and gracious rule in the world.
"Despite all the problems we face, God's Spirit is evidently at work among us. The challenge before us is to resist distraction."
He added his "main hope and prayer for the year ahead is that it may be possible to encourage a fresh focus on the centralities of our faith and calling".
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