A former Denny High School head teacher has followed a family tradition by becoming a Church of Scotland minister at the age of 63.
Rev Stephen Miller’s late father Rev William Hastie Miller had been a minister in Lanarkshire and Fife and his mother the Rev Rev Margaret Michie, of Kinross Parish Church, became an Ordained Local Minister (OLM) in 2013 aged 75.
Mr Miller retired as head teacher of Denny High School in 2020 after a 40-year-old teaching career.
His sister-in-law Rev Eileen Miller is Fife Presbytery pastoral care co-ordinator.
As volunteers OLMs are not full-time ministers and do not have their own charge.
Last Tuesday, November 12, Revs Michie and Miller were among the many friends and family attending their relative’s ordination at Auchterarder Parish Church as an OLM.
Attendees also included Mr Miller’s daughters Paula and Jill and his youngest grandchild Ellie, just 25-days old.
An elder for 38 years, and a church organist for 39 years, he will provide pulpit supply on Sundays.
However, his main role comprises work within Perth Presbytery and the Church of Scotland nationally.
Mr Miller said: “I had always thought that I would be mainly serving in some locum ministry-type capacity, but during my probationary year with Rev Kenny Stott at Perth North Church, I had a strong sense of calling to do something to support staff in schools.
“Post-Covid, I had become aware of the changing nature of the challenges within schools in terms of the mental health and resilience of both staff and pupils.
“While pupils have a range of mechanisms of structural supports within schools, although stretched and under-resourced, staff have relatively few – and they are coming under increased pressures both from within school communities and in terms of societal expectations.
“Until we review matters in June 2025, I will be devoting 50% of my time exploring, developing and sharing best practice in relation to chaplaincy support to staff in schools, mainly, but not exclusively, based in Perth Presbytery in the first instance.”
For the rest of his time Mr Miller will be seconded to the national church as co-ordinator of the Education and Schools Group.
He said: “This work has three strands: supporting the work of Church of Scotland reps on local authority education committees and encouraging good lines of communication between church reps and their respective presbyteries; arranging training and resource circulation for those working in schools’ ministry; and advising the national church on policies relating to education.”
Mr Miller, who completed his placements at Dunblane and Lecropt and Perth Riverside churches, added: “I want to pay tribute to Perth Presbytery who have honoured that strong sense of call and given permission for me to undertake pioneering work within schools and the world of education.”
Stephen’s father Rev William Hastie Miller had been minister at Cleland Parish Church from 1962-1969 and Markinch Parish Church 1969-1972.