Scots International
  Church Rotterdam

Reverend Derek Lawson has been elected as the new minister of the Scots International Church Rotterdam! On June 5th 2016 our church overwhelmingly voted to accept Rev. Derek Lawson as the new minister for our church, after preaching as the sole nominee for the position. This means that after two years our church finally has a new minister. Derek was born in Dundee, Scotland, and grew up in the congregation of Dundee Parish Church (St Mary’s) where his father was Session Clerk for many years and where Alan Garrity served as Assistant Minister when he was training for the ministry. He studied law at Dundee University, graduating in 1969 and moved to Edinburgh to begin his apprenticeship. There he met Moira, who worked as a secretary in the same law office, and they were married in June 1971. Later that year they moved to Dundee where Derek began a 23 year association with his father’s law firm, finally becoming its senior partner. In 1994 he retired from the legal profession to undertake training for the ministry. He graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity (Honours) Degree from St Andrew’s University in 1997. He was ordained and inducted to the charge of Redgorton and Stanley (just north of Perth) in 1998. While there Derek served twice as Clerk to the Presbytery of Perth and was also its Moderator for a year. He also served on the Church of Scotland Legal Questions Committee. In 2011 he and Moira retired to France where they are now involved with the local Eglise Protestante Unie de France. Additionally he has recently been appointed Depute Clerk of the International Presbytery.

The church does not employ support staff, but relies on church members, who serve the church on a voluntary basis. This includes the Secretary and Treasurer of the church.

Elders are chosen from the members of the church, usually elected to office during the Annual General Meeting. Elders are installed for a period of four years and can be re-installed twice to serve for a total of twelve years. The twelve Elders form the policy making body called the Consistory, meeting every six weeks, chaired by the minister. Elders are on duty by rotation to assist in worship or special church services. Each Elder is in charge of a ‘pastoral area’, a specified geographical area where SICR members live. Elders’ duties include assisting the minister in pastoral care, visiting members and representing the church as necessary.

Like the elders, deacons are chosen from the members of the church and usually elected during the Annual General Meeting. Deacons are installed for a period of four years and can be re-installed twice to serve for a total of twelve years. The twelve Deacons together with the Elders form the Council, meeting every six weeks, chaired by the Council Convener. The Council decides on financial and practical matters. Deacons are on duty by rotation to assist in worship or special church services in particular taking care of the collection and counting of cash.