Radical plan for churches given green light by Moray Presbytery
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A RADICAL plan to reshape how the Church of Scotland is run in Moray has been given initial approval.
Moray Presbytery met in Buckie's North Church to discuss the Draft Presbytery Mission Plan for the area in a bid to ensure the church is fit to meet the challenges of the 21st century. It is part of a nationwide process set in motion by the General Assembly in 2019 through their Radical Action Plan which stipulates that each presbytery must have a Mission Plan in place by December 31 of this year.
The draft Moray proposals have now been submitted to the Faith Nature Forum and the General Trustees for approval and, if accepted, would signal a major overhaul in the way Buckie area churches would be run, with the congregations being brought together in a single union. At present, each church in the area has its own governance and office bearers.
Findochty and Portknockie would become Local Mission Churches while Cullen would be transferred to the Buchan Presbytery before the creation of a larger North East and Northern Isles Presbytery in January 2023.
Buckie area churches would be served by one stipended minister, one non-stipended minister and a ministry development worker.
The buildings at Enzie in Portgordon, Buckie South and West and Rathven would be disposed of by the church by August 2027. However, Rathven hall would be retained.
In general, a community which at present has more than one Kirk would see the focus shift onto a single Mission Church.
Moray Presbytery Moderator Rev Jaco Boozaaier, who is the minister for Findochty and Portknockie Churches, said that the process was designed to place the focus on local churches' mission.
He said; "The whole process is one of rejuvenation, readjustment and recalibration for the church as a whole.
"Over the last few decades there's been a steady decline in church members, something which has been accelerated by Covid.
"The Mission Plan was done with a view to renewing mission.
"As [church] communities get smaller and smaller – for example, in Findochty we have fewer than 40 and in Portknockie fewer than 60 – it is becoming more and more difficult to staff the various offices within each church.
"The rationale of the Mission Church is to allow local communities to worship and do what needs to be done in terms of mission and not be burdened with paperwork and having one person spread too thin looking after a number of churches. It's about strength in numbers, mission over maintenance.
"Buildings are very much a focus of the Mission Plans and how we can best use the assets we have.
"Many people equate a faith community with a building and that if the building closes then so does their community. This will never be the case, it's not about closing churches."
Rev Boonzaaier conceded that while it may not be popular with everyone but it was nevertheless process of change which could not be sidestepped.
"I understand why this is upsetting for a number of people," he continued.
"However, it not something we can put off or ignore if we want to re-invigorate our church communities and focus on mission.
"As I said, this is not an exercise in closing church communities. Buildings can be a debilitating burden to some faith communities and we want to help lighten that burden.
"We need to be swift and nimble as we move into the future."
The Mission Plan will be reviewed in five years.
