LONG-TERM vacancy. The words occur more often now than ever in the past. Declining numbers of ministry candidates graduating, increasing numbers retiring – we all know the problems.

Or do we?

Crimond linked with Lonmay Churches found themselves in that situation nearly 20 years ago. Crimond became vacant when minister, the Rev Hamish Lyle, died some 17 years ago. Lonmay became vacant when their minister, the Rev Alan Fawkes, retired.

Gordon Reid, Elder in Maud and Savoch Church and reader, Tim Barker, member and elder at Macduff Parish Church and Locum to both churches, take up the story.

“I undertook training as firstly, an Elder Moderator in 2010 and then as Elder Interim Moderator in 2013. In 2014 I was appointed by Buchan Presbytery to be Elder Interim Moderator to Crimond linked with Lonmay in February 2014,” says Gordon.

“When the charges first fell vacant, both churches had had ministers so it seemed it would simply be a matter of filling them.

“As the years went on though, gradually it began to occur to the churches that it might take longer than anticipated.

“The problem with a long-term vacancy is that when prospective ministers view the charge and see the length of time it’s been vacant, it is almost taken as read that there ‘must be a problem’ and they turn away.

“With this charge, nothing could actually be further from the truth. Both churches have brilliant, hard working office bearers. The fact they are still willing and working there after such a long time in vacancy testifies to that.

“Location appears to have a deciding influence. Anything outside the central belt appears to have a harder time finding a minister. Buchan presbytery, a rural presbytery in Aberdeenshire, has a few vacant charges – including my own church of Maud.

“With estimates of 600 ministers by 2021 to minister to all the churches in Scotland – it’s going to get harder and harder to call a minister to an individual charge.”

Tim Barke explains: “Lonmay parish is a mixture of farming and fishing communities.

“Crimond Parish has the church near the centre of the village.

“When the churches first fell vacant,

I thought we’d find a minister but there was uncertainty whether it would be a two-linked or three-linked charge. The time it took to resolve that to everyone’s agreement, meant that time had already elapsed since the vacancies occurred.

“A variety of Interim Moderators did their best but both churches began to feel a little neglected.

“The really positive thing though is the way that both parishes decided to get on with the work of the church.

“Lonmay encouraged their Boys’ Brigade and Sunday School. Fundraising was seen as essential both to meet financial demands but also to have time to meet together outside of the Sunday service – to foster community. The Kirk Session would meet informally to maintain the life and work of the church and it is to their credit that the work has continued so well.

“At Crimond, a weekly Cosy Corner was set up on a Tuesday and a ‘Soup and Sweet’ lunchtime meal was provided once a month. “Both churches appreciated the quality of Readers but consistency was lacking, and the appointment of a Locum met this need.

“Both churches formed Action Plans which ensured new developments took place. Now there is a monthly assembly in two local primary schools, a Messy Church in both churches, a monthly Café Church starting in the New year, Family services and several groups formed for those who want to explore their faith further.

“We have contacted every minister in the Church of Scotland, as well as every new probationer. We advertise in Life and Work and we’ve even gone to Heart and Soul to recruit.

“Initially we felt very neglected and unsupported but, as time has gone on, with the appointment of a Locum, followed two years later by an Elder Interim Moderator, the churches feel that they can move forward with or without a Minister. They accept that realistically they probably will not get a Minister but are exploring alternatives, for example a Hub Ministry. They are focusing on maintaining Christian witness in the two parishes.

“Being without a minister has certainly meant that Elders and members take a more active part in the life of the church, and both churches are in contact with a much larger number of folk through their activities.”

Photo: iStock

With estimates of 600 ministers by 2021 to minister to all the churches in Scotland – it’s going to get harder and harder to call a minister to an individual charge.

Gordon says: “The first things that had to be considered upon my appointment was a change in mindset as here was an

“Elder” not a “Minister” coming in to lead the churches.

“Since I was appointed there has been very little intervention from presbytery. Mostly the Locum and I are left to get on with it.

“It’s far from having been a negative experience though.

“Working with the good folks of Crimond and Lonmay has been a great challenge but very rewarding. It is always difficult to try and change a mindset that has been established over such a long time but I feel that we have a close working relationship. The work of the Locum is greatly appreciated and Tim devotes an endless amount of his time and abilities to leading and moving these two churches along in

Christian witness. I have a great deal of respect for Tim and know that we work well together and indeed I would find it quite difficult without his help and support.

All in all, I have found the experience very positive, hard work, demanding, time consuming and enjoyable. Being retired,

I have the time to devote to the job and really need that time as I could not have seen myself doing this when I was in full time employment.

I asked Gordon and Tim for any tips for other congregations who find themselves drifting into long-term vacancy.

Gordon thinks for a minute.

“Be prepared to work hard and make the commitment.

“If a church is in a vacancy look for an Interim Moderator who has no other commitments. They will be able to devote the time needed to take the vacancy forward. If you are thinking or are asked to be an Interim Moderator be prepared to work extremely hard as those good folks deserve all of your time and efforts. I think that finally, a great deal of prayer for the Church of Scotland as a whole is required for people to answer the call to Ministry.”

Tim agrees.

“Without doubt, appoint an Interim Moderator who has time and commitment to work with the church/s, to motivate and encourage on-going and developmental work and if possible, appoint a Locum, who can take on much of a Ministers work, but must be willing to do more than simply take the Sunday service/s and the occasional pastoral visits. The Locum needs to become an integral part of the life of the church.”

The Rev Tony Thornthwaite is a minister who has taken on not one, but two long-term vacant charges in the past. He’s currently with Coldside Church in Dundee.

“Twice in my ministry I have been called to a charge after a vacancy over four years. One was in remote rural Sutherland, the other Victorian tenements in Dundee. Both congregations were very different, but the issues of a protracted vacancy were similar.

“Folk have found ways to cope and there is often a long-term locum who looks after Sundays and pastoral visiting. The interim moderator will have tried to guide the congregation but often things will be put off, “until the new minister arrives.”

“The first thing many of the congregation feel is delight that there is someone in post.

“There will be a welcoming party and plenty of offers of help. I accept them all; it is a great way to get to know people. Then there is that Sunday, when, after you have been preached in, you find yourself alone with the new congregation.

“Yes, you will be compared with the ‘old minister,’ who is often on the way to beatification apparently. However, they are also living in hope that after so many years the person who has come will love them.

“I try to change almost nothing. I might want to act like a new broom but I sit on my hands and do nothing new. Why? Because before anything there must be trust.

“Trust does not build quickly. Many wonder why you came after so many years when others didn’t. The congregation needs quite a few Sundays, and sadly a number of funerals; even some joyful baptisms, before they begin to build that trust.

“But this is also a time of delight. Because you are not immediately following in someone’s footsteps the congregation has, by necessity become used to change. They have become accustomed to thinking and managing very well without a minister for several years. This can be the start of real, ‘team ministry’ between the congregation and the new person at the front.

“In my experience, I have found congregations after a long vacancy enjoyable, welcoming, open to change and ready for team work.

“I would recommend such a charge to anyone, and to congregations to see even long term vacancy as an opportunity God is giving you.

The Rev Neil Glover is a parish minister and Convener of the Church of Scotland’s Ministries Council.

“We know there is an increasing number of long term vacancies in the Church. Much of the response to this comes from Presbyteries and ministers who work as locums. Sometimes retired ministers are sustaining the life of the Church. Above all, we are seeing Church members responding to the challenge of not having a minister. Many are discovering new gifts in this way. We see so much energy and life in congregations working without a minister in place.

Lonmay Church

“We are attempting to respond in a number of ways.

“First of all we are trying to promote the possibility of people becoming Ministers. This led to the launch of the very successful Tomorrow's Calling.

“We want to train more people for part-time ministries such as Ordained Local Ministry and Readership. This is important not just to address vacancies, but for nurturing the talents of all God's people. However we realise that this training isn't for everyone and we are working with Mission and Discipleship to develop new forms of training, which will be accessible to more and more Church members.

John Chalmers opening the new hall at Lonmay Church

“Finally, we are looking to develop the ideas for Hubs, introduced at last year's General Assembly. These are ways of structuring the Church that bring together full and part-time Ministers, as well as those called to other Ministries.

“ In my experience, I have found congregations after a long vacancy: enjoyable, welcoming, open to change and ready for team work. I would recommend such a charge to anyone, and to congregations to see even long term vacancy as an opportunity God is giving you.

“These are significant challenges in the life of the Church, and we would love to hear any other ideas as to how we should respond to them.”

For further information www.tomorrowscalling.org