CHURCH NEWS: Inverness East Parish Church on Academy Street is one of the first in the Highlands to be asked to rescind its call for a new minister
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An Inverness church is one of the first in the Highlands to be asked to rescind its call for a new minister.
Inverness East has been looking for a new church leader for two years, but after a decision at the Church of Scotland's general assembly, it will no longer be given leave to make an appointment.
Busy Inverness East Church, which post pandemic welcomes 70-80 people each week to worship, describes itself, as "an evangelical congregation within the Church of Scotland".
It's building is on Academy Street in the city centre.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: “The church is currently undergoing bold reforms to ensure it operates more efficiently and is fit for purpose in the 21st century.
“It is making good progress in streamlining its regional governance structures, which will see it organised in around 12 presbyteries which will be properly resourced to help shape the life of the church for effective mission.
“In May this year, the General Assembly approved a plan to reduce the number of full-time equivalent ministry posts within the church as a whole to 600.
“Commissioners agreed a target to have no more than 60 charges vacant at any one time by the end of 2025 as part of reforms to mitigate financial stress, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Presbyteries across the country are engaged with taking the decisions of the General Assembly forward which also includes reducing the number of buildings as part of the ‘Well Equipped Spaces in the Right Places' programme."
The programme will see a review of church buildings and lands and its best use for the communities they serve.
He continued: “Inverness Presbytery, which is set to be integrated into a wider Highland Presbytery, is currently preparing a new mission plan which will see the good news of Jesus Christ shared in more varied and exciting ways.
“It was decided that it was not appropriate to continue to look for a new minister at Inverness East Church while this comprehensive work is under way.
“The traditional arrangements in parishes that the public have been used to for many years will change but people can be assured that they will continue to have access to a minister and a place of Christian worship.”
