The Gospel message of Jesus Christ never changes, but the way we package it must.

I’m minister at New Laigh Kirk in Kilmarnock. I’m married with three children.

I don’t know where the time has gone. They grew up in our congregation as a manse family, with a freedom to be themselves and express themselves within the constraints of what I hope has been okay parenting.

They mixed weekend worship, with weekend activities. My wife and I flitted from swimming, football, and modern jazz dance and ballet, and everything the BB, Guides and school activities threw at them. They loved being involved, often at the expense of coming to church. All in their twenties now they come to church on Christmas and Easter Day because their mum insists. They have no interest in church as it is today. Every now and again they dip into what I post on our digital platforms, and say, ‘I like what you did today dad.’ But not enough to share and invite friends. Two have moved away from home and I encouraged them to at least try the local church – no takers. It’s a story repeated among many families including that of Dave Kendall our Chief Officer who is an elder and worship leader at the West Kirk, East Kilbride.

My own ministry context is urban town with a gathered congregation the product of two unions in 10 years. Another union is just about to happen. It’s not the same as three or more linked charges across a wide geography like many around the country; a pattern that has emerged through presbytery planning in answer to our reduced numbers of ministries and too many buildings that are in need of much repair and maintenance.

My congregation had been building pre-pandemic enjoying a large attendance with a good mix of generations, including young families and children. Coming out of the pandemic, some of the families are missing and we get just three to seven kids on a Sunday morning. The teenagers have gone too and that’s despite the efforts of our locally paid family and youth workers.

“What to do?” is the big question on all our minds.

I’ve read all the books there are on the topic, the ones that claim to give us the answer on how to address the needs of the small, rural, urban congregations, only to discover that to many authors, ‘small’ means a church of less than two hundred and ‘rural’ means a town of less than ten thousand.

You’ve probably heard of independent churches adding hundreds of members every year, too.

Where does this leave the ministers and Elders of a church of forty in a community of five hundred? Or scale that to a congregation of 160 in a parish population of 30,000. Or five Church of Scotland parishes in a population of 500,000. What does church growth mean in such a congregation?

The pandemic accelerated a lot of the issues we face today. Nationally, regionally and locally we are waking up to the reality we now face. The traditions we have held on to are in need of disruption. It’s well overdue because we have lost our children, our young families and young leaders from our Church.

The Church talks about joining God in his mission.

‘Let’s see what God is doing in our communities and join him.’

I believe that is merely rhetoric if it is not put into action in practical ways.

You and I have experienced first-hand the things that happen when we are imprisoned by the past; when risks are not taken and uncharted territory left unexplored; when a refusal to accept that an old model has passed its sell by date and a new, fresh approach is needed.

Whilst innovation has to be a priority for us it is difficult and often comes at a cost, be it financial or otherwise, but we MUST stay relevant and explore our provision of options. It takes time; it will involve painful decisions, many already made. I believe that we have a responsibility to the Church of today, and tomorrow, to provide a variety of ways of hearing, learning and growing through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that allow for all ages and stages to feel able to be part of the life of the Church in a way that is compatible with 21st century life.

The Gospel message of Jesus Christ never changes, but the way we package it must.

Rev David S Cameron, Convener Assembly Trustees