First meeting of new Fife Presbytery billed as 'huge celebration'
The online event saw the Rev Jane Barron officially installed as its first ever Moderator.
Her principle role is to chair meetings of the body which is a merger of the presbyteries of St Andrews, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThree years in the planning, Fife Presbytery is part of a wider reform programme to ensure that the Church operates more effectively and efficiently.
Ms Barron, an honorary chaplain at St Andrews University, was installed by the last three people to hold the posts of Moderator of the legacy presbyteries.
She said: "I'm delighted to be part of a new team commissioned to care, challenge, resource, trust and sustain one another across the three historic areas marked by monarchs, martyrs and economists, and follow Jesus in the 21st century.
"We are working to be freed of outlived ways, put mission at our very heart - and pray Christ's invitation 'Come, follow me', recovers anew its edgy, risky, exciting, compassionate love's call."
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMs Barron is the locum minister at Ceres, Kemback and Springfield churches and has previously served in parishes in Israel, Dundee, Aberdeen and St Andrews.
Rev Dr David Coulter, who was previously Chaplain General of the Army, also spoke about his new role as clerk to Fife Presbytery - a position he will take up at Easter.
The meeting featured a conference session with break out rooms covering subjects such as the environment, dementia friendly working, the arts, creative writing, pilgrimage and reaching families and children through Messy Church.
Rev Alec Shuttleworth convened the Fife Presbytery Transition Group which was responsible for getting the presbytery up and running.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe said: “It is so exciting to see people from Crail to Kinghorn to Kincardine reaching out, working together to tell the story of the Kingdom of God in the Kingdom of Fife.”
The next meeting is scheduled for June and members hope they might be able to meet in person at St Bryce Kirk in Kirkcaldy if COVID-19 restrictions allow.