25 July 2024

I can see how truly rural charges are reluctant to unite with bigger town charges. People fear three things.  Firstly, their Kirk Session will be swamped by the elders in the larger charge. Secondly, the life  of the newly united charge will be centred on  the town church which has ‘so much going on’ as they say.

Thirdly, the ministry will spend a larger proportion of their time in the town. More people, of course, greater organisational life. In this, there will not be a recognition that ministry in a rural charge is quite different from ministry in a town charge.

There are similar tasks – the conduct of worship, the ordinances of religion, pastoral visiting. But there are several qualitative things which make it different.  In a rural charge, the kirk and the community are inevitably closer and there is an expectation that the minister will be seen and known across the community.

This happens because in smaller communities there is more time to attend non-church events and organisations and thereby get to know different people. Twice as many people in our parishes as in our congregations align themselves to the Kirk. They represent a significant hidden resource and support.

Additionally, all age events are often better attended in the rural environment. It always surprised me how comfortable children, teenagers and young parents felt participating with older people in community  events. This extended into the life of the church and we benefitted from it enormously.

Somehow, it is easier to harness the spirit of the community within the life of the church when the local shop will keep a key for the kirk or the village hall waives its fee for work with children. Unions with bigger charges should build into the ‘Basis of Union’ provision for dedicated rural ministry and safeguard the heart of the Kirk.

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