Scottish Baptist Lay Preachers Association

The association was first formed at a meeting held in Charlotte Chapel Baptist Church, Edinburgh on Tuesday, 12th May 1925 with the object of preparing a list of names of lay preachers to be submitted to the Baptist Union of Scotland. Any preacher who had served the Scottish Baptist churches with acceptance for at least two years could be considered eligible, given the further recommendation of the committee.

Up to 1978, business was conducted by a committee answerable to the Council of the Scottish Baptist Union. Restructuring of the Union led to the committee becoming a Core Group within the department of Church Life. In 1982, the Core Group was disbanded, and the Association then came to be run by an autonomous Lay Preachers’ Committee.

Although the Association is independent of the Baptist Union of Scotland, close links still remain. The SBLPA are represented by the Secretary and President alternately at the Baptist Union Council Meetings. An annual report of the work of the Association is presented to the Union’s Council and to the Scottish Baptist Union Assembly.

Presidents of the Association

• 2013 – Present             Douglas Inglis             (Newton Mearns)
• 2008 – 2013                Jim McFarlane           (Kirkintilloch)
• 2003 – 2008                Michael Wray              (St Andrews)
• 1996 – 2002                 Albert Clark                 (Ayr)
• 1992 – 1996                  George Petrie              (Broxburn)
• 1989 – 1992                  William Fleming        (New Prestwick)
• 1985 – 1989                  Jim Parratt                  (Bearsden)
• 1983 – 1985                  Philip Staley                (Morningside)
• 1981 – 1982                  James Fleming
• 1978 – 1980                 John Sharp
• 1973 – 1978                  J Grant
• 1957 – 1973                  W A Hunter
• 1946 – 1957                  H J Fraser
• 1929 – 1946                  G S Kirby
• 1925 – 1929                  R F Conway

General Secretaries of the Association

National

• 2007 – Present             Glen Cartwright         (Newton Mearns)
• 1993 – 2006                  Fraser Mitchell          (Partick)
• 1985 – 1992                   Philip Staley               (Morningside)
• 1981 – 1985                   Harry Graham            (Shettleston)
• 1974 – 1981                   Philip Staley                (Morningside)
• 1972 – 1973                   John Grant                  (Paisley)
• 1964 – 1972                   George Kerr                (New Prestwick)

East

• 1963 – 1976                   C McDonald
• 1962 – 1963                   G Kerr
• 1957 – 1962                   W Fleming
• 1953 – 1957                   C A Welsh
• 1928 – 1953                   A McKinlay

West

• 1968 – 1976                   J Brown
• 1967 – 1968                   H N Graham
• 1946 – 1967                   T Kerr
• 1943 – 1946                   C A Welsh
• 1938 – 1943                   D H Rankin
• 1937 – 1938                   C A Welsh

1925 -1937

• 1929 – 1937                   A B Burgess
• 1925 – 1928                   G S Kirby

Treasurers of the Association

• 2012 – Present             Lionel Gibbs                (Stirling)
• 2000 – 2012                 Alan Milnes                 (Leslie)
• 1988 – 1999                  Peter Lanigan              (Falkirk)
• 1985 – 1987                  Philip Staley                 (Morningside)
• 1983 – 1984                  Ron Leatham               (East Kilbride)
• 1979 – 1982                  Harry Graham             (Cathcart)