Gospel optimist says Church is 'preparing for growth'

The Church of Scotland has been engaged in a season of transition for some time but is now preparing for growth.

That is the view of Rev Tommy MacNeil, convener of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team, (FAPLT) as work to implement presbytery mission plans takes effect.

He made the remarks at the General Assembly today after being asked for some words of encouragement for people preparing to take on ministry roles.

Mr MacNeil spoke out after Timothy Podger, an elder at Monifieth South Angus Church, said church members recognised the challenges facing the Kirk but probationers and candidates need to be "encouraged in their path forward".

He called for an end to talk about "dismal decline and depression".

In response, Mr MacNeil, a self- proclaimed gospel optimist, said: "I am absolutely convinced that the promise of Jesus, which is eternal and unchanging, who said ‘I will build my Church'," he said.

"I am absolutely convinced that we are in a season of transition, we have known such pain in recent years, but as we reach this bottoming out moment, I think we are going to see the curve turn.

"For candidates, probationers and anyone involved in ministry expression, you couldn't be coming into the Church at a better time because you are an integral part in shifting the focus from a managing decline mindset to preparing for growth.

"What unites us in this hall is our passion for God, our passion for his church and our passion for his communities.

"I think our nation is going to be surprised by what God does in and through our church in the next few years."

Christ revealed

Mr MacNeil said he believed God is calling us as His church to shift from struggling with an Isaiah 6v1 moment to living out an Isaiah 6v8 moment.

"So, our plea as FAPLT to you today is that we respond like Isaiah and say to God, ‘here am I, send me, equip me, fill me, envision me, use me.'

"If we do that, then like Isaiah we'll reveal Christ to our world.

"A revelation of love, hope, and a future.

"God's future for all."

Rev Jade MacLean of Ardgour, Morvern and Strontian with Acharacle and Ardnamurchan in Lochaber, raised concerns about what would happen to the assistant minister bridging scheme, which is scheduled to end in September 2025.

She has not long finished her training and was appointed an assistant minister in February this year.

She described the role as "beneficial" but pointed out that many new ministers were due to come on stream but limited vacancies are available in churches due to presbytery mission plan work.

Rev Bill Wishart, a vice convener of FAPLT with responsibility for the People and Training Programme Group, said: "We are confident that things are moving, vacancies are beginning to open and presbytery mission plans are at the implementation stage.

"So, we are confident that the opportunities are and will be there.

"I make this promise, if the (assistant minister) scheme needs to be extended for people, then we will do it.

"The Church stood up and helped people when they needed it, we did not abandon the people who we had called and trained and we will not do it now.

"So please take that assurance with you today."

Vacancies opening up

Rev Angus Mathieson, Presbytery and Partnership Support Manager for FAPLT, said the bridging assistant scheme is being kept under review.

"The only outstanding mission plans we are waiting for, as a Church, are from the presbytery of Lewis and the areas covered by the former presbyteries of Caithness and Uist," he added.

"FAPLT approved the mission plan for the Presbytery of Forth Valley and Clydesdale and once that goes through, at a presbytery meeting of 1 June, should result in a number of vacancies coming through.

"The contracts that our assistant ministers are on will vary but we are renewing them when a presbytery thinks it is appropriate at this point in time for a period of six months.

"However, there will be situations where presbyteries are committed to allowing congregations permission to call which will means, in some instances, that vacancies will proceed as a priority and we will look at deploying assistant ministers within that presbytery or elsewhere.

"Our forecasting is that vacancies that are coming through over the next three years or so will match the supply of candidates and we rejoice in that."

Mr Mathieson said FAPLT has a duty of care to those on assistant minister contracts and to congregations.

"We recognise the anxieties that people are experiencing and we will journey with them and offer appropriate pastoral care and support," he added.

Visa costs

Meanwhile, Rev Dr Grant Barclay, clerk to the Presbytery of Glasgow, revealed that some ministers from overseas who have yet to find charges have been forced to renew visas for themselves and their families at a cost of nearly £16,000.

He asked FAPLT if they would help people caught in a unforeseen problem.

Rev Everisto Musedza of Cowal Kirk in Argyll and Bute, who is originally from Zimbabwe, addressed the General Assembly.

"I arrived in Scotland in 2021 and I used £19,000 for myself and my family to get here," he said.

"I went through the familiarisation process and I am glad I am in a charge, 11 months in and I am loving it and excited.

"In July, I will need £14,000 to renew the visas for myself and my family and I want to be clear that the Church of Scotland is very explicit and clear what is needed before you arrive here.

"It is not news to us when we get here but I wanted to highlight the predicament that many of us find ourselves in, especially colleagues who are yet to find charges."