Gordon Keddie

After graduation, Richard Marriott and I took a trip to Turkey, ostensibly to trap small mammals in the Taurus Mtns. No mammal cadavers survived trapping, but a great time was had by all. I went home to Edinburgh and did a DipEd at EU (1966-67) and subsequently taught Biology at Trinity Academy, Edinburgh (1967-70).

Conceiving a call to Christian ministry, I went to the USA to study at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia (1970-72, 73-74), became part of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of N. America, graduated M.Div from RP Theol. Sem., Pittsburgh (1972-73). After grad work back in Philly, I was called to the RPC of North Hills, Pgh, where I served as pastor (1974-81).

In May 1974, I married Jane McMillan, of Coldenham, NY- a "daughter of the manse." I met her in 1971 when supplying her father's pulpit. She was 18 (I was 26) and home from college after her first year. Forty years on we are happily married and God has given us three sons and one grandson (so far). The boys were all born in Pittsburgh and love to remind me that I am the "foreigner" in the family!

From 1981-86, we lived in Scotland, mostly in Wishaw, where I served the Wishaw RP Church (The RPs are the lineal descendants of the persecuted Covenanters of the 17th century - still a tiny, separate denomination from the other Presbyterians in Scotland). The boys acquired N. Lanarkshire accents. Mom was still very Yankee and dad clung to his "soft lowland tongue." The boys all sound like Yanks now!

In 1986, I was called to a church (now Grace RPC) in State College, Pennsylvania. This was basically a student group - State College is the home of the Pennsylvania State University (40,000 students, 11,000 faculty/staff, ie half the population of the town itself). We were there for nearly 18 years (1986-2004) and saw the church solidly established. During that time I wrote a bunch of books - mainly popular commentaries on books of the Bible - and did a bit of conference speaking. Google has recorded some of these footprints.

In 2004 I was called to Southside RPC, Indianapolis, Indiana, where I now serve as Sr. Pastor of an increasingly lively congregation. (see www.southsiderp.org for a picture of the work. If you want to hear a sermon - you'll need 45 mins - we are serious about preaching and the Bible - see www.reformedvoice.com/ssrpc). I hope to continue until I am 70.

For relaxation, we vacation in interesting places - Yellowstone is great for (real and ex)biologists - and I read military history and check the BBC every day! Oh! I am still a British citizen, and will always be a Scot, but I also have a US passport.