Richard delighted with new role at High Kirk Presbyterian

REV. Richard Houston was delighted to be ‘ordained and inducted’ as the new Associate Minister at High Kirk Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Mar 2013, 09:48 GMT
Richard Houston (seated second left), who was ordained as associate minister of High Kirk Church, is pictured with Rev. Norman Cameron (High Kirk Minister), Eddie Kirk (Moderator of Presbytery), Henry Clements (Clerk of Session) and members of the Ballymena Presbytery Commission. INBT13-264ACRichard Houston (seated second left), who was ordained as associate minister of High Kirk Church, is pictured with Rev. Norman Cameron (High Kirk Minister), Eddie Kirk (Moderator of Presbytery), Henry Clements (Clerk of Session) and members of the Ballymena Presbytery Commission. INBT13-264AC
Richard Houston (seated second left), who was ordained as associate minister of High Kirk Church, is pictured with Rev. Norman Cameron (High Kirk Minister), Eddie Kirk (Moderator of Presbytery), Henry Clements (Clerk of Session) and members of the Ballymena Presbytery Commission. INBT13-264AC

The 34-year-old Rathcoole native has just completed a two-year full-time ‘assistantship’ at the Thomas Street congregation and is looking forward to the responsibilities that his new role will bring.

He said: “I am going to be ordained which means I am now a full member of Kirk Session; take part responsibility with the sacraments, which in our tradition are communion and baptism.

“I have also been given a special responsibility for both local and global mission, working with young adults and exploring new avenues of Church growth”, Richard added.

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Talking about the outreach aspect of his ministry, Richard said: “One very exciting project that I have been and will continue to be engaged with is the establishment of a centre on the Doury Road Estate.

“That centre is going to occupy a house in the top end of the estate in an area of high social deprivation and dereliction, a place that is very much forgotten. We currently have applications into the planning authorities to be able to occupy and use one dwelling in Alexander Park for our outreach and social action endeavours so I am leading that team and looking forward to seeing it established.

“In addition to opening the centre, we are running a number of evangelistic courses out and around the town, Christianity Explored being the main one and we would be seeking other avenues to push and promote that on a continual basis.”

Mentioning his task within High Kirk itself, Richard said: “I will have a special responsibility towards young adults. This will involve seeking to adapt the presentation of our church services to better suit a young adult audience. Then I also want to see those people establish where their gifts, strengths and passions lie and to see them released into ministry within our organisations and also our outreach endeavours. “

Richard feels that staying at High Kirk is obedience to God’s call and he looks forward to what the next three years will bring.

“The words I would want to be communicating would be that I am excited about the work of God’s Kingdom through High Kirk in the area of mission and outreach”, he said.