Pioneer minister appointed to serve Scottish Borders village

A new pioneer minister has been called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in a Scottish Borders village.

Pamela Kennedy will work among the people of Cardrona near Peebles to nurture an innovative new way of being the church in the community.

The 46-year-old is being ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament at Innerleithen, Traquair and Walkerburn Parish Church at 7pm this evening in front of family, friends and colleagues.

The service is being streamed online.

Mrs Kennedy said: "I am very excited to be taking up this new role which is a fantastic opportunity for creative working in Cardrona which is not far from my home in Peebles."

Innovation

A former educational psychologist with Scottish Borders Council, she hopes to build up a team of people to help her in her role which will last up to 18 months after which consideration will be given to continue the work.

Mrs Kennedy said: "The first thing we will be doing is going out and meeting people in the community and listening hard to what they want and need.

"I want to find out what they love about living in the village which has a population of less than 1,000 and try and identify meaningful and impactful mission outreach opportunities.

"For example, there is a group of people who are trying to do what they can to support Ukrainian families who are currently living in the hotel at Cardrona.

"Every week they organise a meal for them which is fantastic and I want to explore how we, as the Church, can get involved in that good work and support them.

"For me, this pioneer role is about getting amongst the people where they are and connecting in ways that are meaningful to them.

"Many of them might not ordinarily venture into a church building and I want to communicate the love of Jesus with them in an easily accessible way."

Mission outreach

Mrs Kennedy said having a physical presence in Cardona is important and she will be exploring possibilities.

She revealed that she might even look into buying a gazebo to set up in the village at appropriate times where she can meet people.

Mrs Kennedy, who also worked for a spell as a secondary school English teacher, said: "My ministry might not look anything like a conventional church in the Scottish Borders but that is incredibly exciting and fascinating.

"We are thinking outside the box to try and do things differently because God is not finished with Scotland and is definitely up to something in the Borders."

Married to Dougal with whom she shares Roderick, 12, and Struan, 11, Mrs Kennedy expects she will also get involved with the mission of Innerleithen, Traquair and Walkerburn Parish Church on occasion.

The minister there is Rev Fraser Edwards and the pair met when they were distance learning students at Highland Theological College in Dingwall.

Born and raised in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Mrs Kennedy did her probation at Loanhead Parish Church in Midlothian under the supervision of minister, Rev Graham Duffin.

He said: "We really enjoyed having Pamela at the church.

"She is very gifted and got on well with people and built up good relationships.

"That will stand her in good stead in her new ministry and I think she will do very well."