Our minister, Rev Roderick J Grahame was inducted on 23rd September, 2010 at a service conducted by Rev David J Logan, minister of St Margaret's in Forfar, and Rev Valerie L Allen, Moderator of the Presbytery of Angus.
The Rev David Jamieson 'preached-in' Roderick on Sunday 26th September, 2010 and this was the first time the congregation were able to see him resplendent in his new cassock.
Roderick originally hails from Monifieth (where David Jamieson was minister), a town in the very south of Angus, and his was the first year to go through Monifieth High School.
After leaving school, he began a BSc degree in astrophysics at Dundee University before transferring to St. Andrews where he gain a BD Honours in Ecclesiastical History and the History of Doctrine. Roderick then had a year out doing voluntary work both on Iona and overseas on a kibbutz in Israel. He travelled extensively too in Europe.
On returning to Scotland he completed his studies by a Certificate in Pastoral Studies (CPS) from the University of Aberdeen.
Roderick was ordained on 13th March 1991 and his first charge was Kilbowie St.Andrew's in Clydebank, a recent union. 13th March is a very significant date for Bankies being the anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz and during his ministry there Roderick had the vision to set up the Blitz Commemorative Chapel inside the Church.He was also instrumental in organising the 60th anniversary commemorations of the Blitz in 2001 as well as being chair of the Clydebank Churches Millennium committee. A role that saw him being invited, with the other officebearers,to meet MPs at Westminster.
In Spring 2002 Roderick was translated to Largs St. Columba's where his organisational talents were put to good use as the Secretary of Largs Churches Together for eight years. He also obtained for the community and congregation a mini bus, thanks to a very considerable legacy left to the Church. Roderick served as Moderator of Ardrossan Presbytery in 2007-08, thirty years on from joining the Kirk !
In the summer of 2010, Roderick was called here to Brechin Cathedral.
Out with the Church, Roderick lists his interests as a "passionate gardener, enthusiastic traveller and erstwhile historian". He has researched his own family tree, discovering that one of his direct forebearers was George Tosh, who lived in Brechin and who was the coachman on the Brechin-Dundee stagecoach. He also enjoys swimming and walking his three black labradors : Butey, Mossie and the new Angus arrival - Smokey.
CONTACT RODERICK :
Cathedral Manse: Phone; 01356 624980
E-Mail: rjgrahame@talktalk.net
STUDY LEAVE
Our minister has begun a programme of study leave that hopefully will lead to a DMin (Doctorate of Ministry) from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Aberdeen University. The programme itself lasts between four to five years, culminating in a 30,000 word Thesis.
Roderick was pleased in the summer of 2011 to be given a scholarship to assist with this study leave and the Ferguson Trust have named him as one of their post-graduate scholars for 2011-14. In addition, the Hope Trust have also been very generous in a second bursury to assist with the study costs.
Roderick had the first of his DMin Seminars in Pittsburgh in August 2011 and has written the first of two papers which are now available for download as listed at the foot of this page.
The first on Reformed Theology is on "The Trinity as intrinsic to worship" (DoM 40) and the second on the Future of the Church is on "The Church as a Narrative Community" (DoM44). They are theological reflections on our worship practice here in the Cathedral and secondly how story has shaped our identity as a Church. Kirk Session and congregation were invited to assist in a practical exercise for the second paper !
Roderick's second period of study leave took place in Aberdeen in January 2012. These two essays flowing from that are available for dowload below (DoM 41 & DoM 43). One is on the place of the Bible within the worshipping community, the second on the relation between Church and State in the context of the Cathedral's life. The first of these essays in particular uses the basic premise of the Church as a Narrative Community as its underpining.
Roderick's third period of Doctoral Studies concluded at Aberdeen on Worship & Ethics in August. An elective course with Prof. Tom Greggs on "The Doctrine of God" at Aberdeen in May has led to an essay which is now posted here. (DMin Elect 1)
Roderick's next two essays examine Theological Diversity in the life of the Cathedral (Worship) AND whether there may be a need for a ritual for the dying person in the Reformed tradition and what such a ritual might look like (Ethics). These essays are now posted as DMin 42 & DMin 45. These CONCLUDE the compulsory element of the DMin course.
Roderick has just returned from Pittsburgh where he shared with his cohort in the last of their class courses. During his time away he decided that his doctoral project would have as its proposed title "Does the Round tower totter ?" and would be a theological reflection on the historical practices within the Cathedral in the light of the promises of God's coming kingdom. This is especially vital in the post-Christendom context in which the Church currently finds itself moving towards. Can anything good be gleaned from the legacy of Christendom ?
He also completed a second elective course with Dr. Darrell Guder on Missional Theology and will be posting his paper here before Eastertime on the Celtic Church in Brechin as a Missional & Witnessing Community.
Roderick's final task before the Research phase is a directed reading course on Eschatology (the doctrine of the last things) with Prof. Tom Wright of St. Andrew's University.
The projected D Min graduation date is Summer 2015.
Downloads
Doctor of Ministry Elect1 paper
( 01/01/1970)
Download
Doctor of Ministry paper 45
( 01/01/1970)
Download
R J Grahame DoM 40 Paper
( 01/01/1970)
Download
R J Grahame DoM 44 Paper
( 01/01/1970)
Download
Doctor of Ministry paper 42
( 01/01/1970)
Download
Order of Service 13th November
( 01/01/1970)
Download
Sermon for Remembrance Sunday 2011
( 01/01/1970)
Download
Doctor of Ministry paper 41
( 01/01/1970)
Download
Doctor of Ministry paper 43
( 01/01/1970)
Download