Hallelujah - meet the "inspirational" class of 2023

Published on 14 June 2023

Meet the next crop of Church of Scotland ministers - the class of 2023.

The group attended the final conference of their probationer training period at the Conforti Institute in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire last weekend.

Probationer Kirk ministers
Left to right: Alex McCallum – New Kilpatrick Parish Church, Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire (FT) Hazel Shaw – Moncreiff Parish Church, East Kilbride (FT) David Sim – Hilton Parish Church, Inverness (FT) Anne-Marie Simpson - Duffus, Spynie, Hopeman in Moray. (OLM) Ewan Ritchie – Dunfermline Abbey, Dunfermline, Fife. (FT) Rev Fiona Smith, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Steven Henderson – Lyle Kirk, Greenock (OLM) Susan Galloway – Juniper Green, Edinburgh Jillian Storrie – St John’s Parish Church, Hamilton (FT) Cindy Campbell – Bermuda (OLM) Jade MacLean – Ardnamurchan, Lochaber. (FT) Julie Hearty – Springfield Cambridge Parish Church, Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire. (FT) Ian Armstrong – St Mark’s Parish Church, Stirling (OLM)

They had a busy programme of activity focusing on missional outreach and how the Church can look out into the communities they serve and meet people where they are at.

One of the themes examined was Asset Based Community Development – focusing and engaging with the treasures of a community rather than the deficits.

The group visited Govan and Linthouse Parish Church in Glasgow to see locally inspired missional projects and well as hearing from others at the grassroots of congregational life who are leading their congregations to growth.

This included a meeting with Rev Fiona Smith, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly, who talked about how good governance enabled and supported healthy, missional communities to evolve and grow.

Fresh perspective

Rev Eleanor McMahon, Recruitment and Training Manager for the Church of Scotland, said: "This is an inspiring group of people who have given themselves wholeheartedly to ministry training.

"The majority will serve as full-time ministers and are now about ready to apply to vacant congregations with permission to call.

"Others will equally serve more locally within their Presbyteries as Ordained Local Ministry. (OLM)

"Together they will bring a fresh perspective, energy and commitment to the life and mission of the Church that challenges congregations in new ways and support their growth and outreach.

"I am excited by what each of them will bring to the Church and can't wait to see how God uses them in the future."