The Assembly Trustees

Rev David Cameron

Convener Minister of New Laigh Kirk, Kilmarnock who brings both parish ministry experience and an understanding of the challenges facing the National Church as Trustee and Convener of a number General Assembly, Presbytery Committees and Local Community Organisations.

Rev Keith Blackwood

Vice-Convener Keith has been the Minister of Mannofield Church in Aberdeen since 2007 and before that in Bearsden Baljaffray. He has served as Moderator of Aberdeen Presbytery and has convened different Presbytery Committees including Business and Finance, Ministries, and Congregational Support. Nationally he has worked with the Recruitment and Training Task Groups of the Church of Scotland and recently served on the Social Care Council’s CrossReach Board.

Geoff Miller

Vice-Convener Geoff is a member at Burntisland Parish Church and has been involved in various Churches over many years as Elder, Session Clerk, Treasurer, Resources Convener and other leadership roles. He has been involved in restructuring Church management and in local Church partnership working. Geoff recently retired as Group Finance Director of an employee-owned international manufacturing Group and is currently its Non-executive Chairman.

Rev Norman Smith

Administrative Trustee. Norman is Clerk to Lothian and Borders Presbytery. Previously minister of Granton Parish Church, Edinburgh; Convener of the Mission and Discipleship Council and New Charge Development as well as a former director of Fresh Expressions UK, Norman brings significant experience of developing mission at all levels of the church.

Rev Adam Dillon

Ordained in 2003, Adam has worked in urban priority and rural parishes and is currently the minister at Sherbrooke Mosspark in Glasgow. Having served as a Presbytery Clerk and as Convener of the Safeguarding Committee, Adam brings a wide experience of the church and its governance.

Crawford Gillies

Crawford is an elder at Dunkeld Parish Church, where he chairs the Finance Committee. After qualifying as an accountant, and studying business in the US, he spent over 20 years as a management consultant advising major corporations across Europe. For the last 20 years he has acted as a Chair or Non-Executive Director in a wide variety of organisations from the private, public and charitable sectors. He is currently Chair of The Edrington Group and Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

David Harrison

Member at Aberfeldy Parish Church. David has extensive experience in business management working across multiple industries including aviation, manufacturing and IT. With a particular interest in finance, David convenes the Assembly Trustee Finance Group.

Rev Deon Oelofse

Deon is the minister at Elgin Parish Church since 2017. Before moving to Scotland, he was a minister for fifteen years in the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) in South Africa. In the DRC, he was procurator of the Synod of the Eastern Cape and member of the General Synod’s Judicial Committee. Since moving to Elgin, Deon has served on various Presbytery committees and community bodies in Moray.

Jean Couper CBE

Member at Cathcart Trinity Church, Glasgow, and previously an Elder at Orchardhill Parish Church, management consultant specialising in strategic HR, with board experience of numerous public, private and third sector organisations.

Michael Yuille

Michael is an Elder and Treasurer of St Blane’s, Dunblane. Ordained in Eaglesham Parish church in 1982, Michael has served in a number of churches over the years as Treasurer, Sunday School leader and Worship Leader. A Chartered Accountant, Michael has experience of Higher and further Education institutions and the retail sector.

Rev Prof Philip Ziegler

Professor of Christian Dogmatics at the University of Aberdeen and associated with the Session of the Cathedral Church of St Machar's, Phil has many years' experience in ecumenical and theological education for ministry in the Kirk and before that in the United Church of Canada.

Rev Sarah Ross

Rev Sarah L. Ross has been a parish minister for over 20 years across 3 parishes, currently at East Kilbride: Moncreiff. Serving on Ministries Council for 8 years, with significant service in pioneer and emerging church, presbytery planning, Path of Renewal, Go For It, along with Ordained Local Ministry and Readership policy development. Consistent involvement in Presbytery including Ministries, World and Community, Business Committee and Congregational Support. Her focus is on missional development and leadership skills, and asks the ‘why’ or ‘why not’ questions.