Revelations on proposed changes to organisation of the Church of Scotland in and around Inverness
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DETAILS of draft plans that will involve a radical transformation of how the Church of Scotland is organised in Inverness Presbytery have been revealed, including linking with West Moray.
More than 30 churches and Kirk buildings in Inverness and Moray could be closed under the streamlining plan that must be approved before the end of this year.
And Inverness Presbytery could have the current 30-plus parishes pared back to 13 while seven manses are in line for "release."
The re-organisation in and around Inverness is being replicated in other areas of the country as the Kirk tries to cut costs and remain viable.
The Draft Mission Plan is based on criteria and resources instructed by the General Assembly, the church's governing body.
Given that the entire process must be complete by December 31, 2022, time is of the essence. The Inverness Presbytery mission planning group, therefore, having issued two consultation versions, aim to bring the Draft Mission Plan to Inverness Presbytery in early September.
Rev Mike Robertson, convener of the mission planning group, said: "The task we are faced with is to produce a Mission Plan for the next five years, which ensures we are using limited resources as best we can and doing it as equitably as possible.
"This is a draft plan and is still to be considered by Presbytery in September. However, change is necessary in order to deliver sustainable and realistic new expressions of ministry and church and ensure all buildings are suitable for the needs of mission in the 21st century.
“We recognise that throughout the Inverness Presbytery and beyond, there are buildings where congregations are engaging in positive outreach work to support their communities, so we know that some of these decisions will be difficult. However, a proposed closure of a particular building is not a judgement on the congregation, but part of a mission plan for the whole of the Presbytery area.
“As the Inverness Presbytery Plan, it makes no proposals concerning Ross, but as our Presbytery borders Ross, it will doubtless have a future impact as wider presbytery reform takes shape.
“Whilst there appears to be significant reductions, as a necessary consequence of us not having addressed these issues over recent decades, the plan does not see the church lifting its tent pegs or retreating from the area. Far from it.
“It is pruning and re-shaping to be a missional church, fit for today and the future, for growth.”
The Mission Plan states: "When considering feedback to the committee, we ask Kirk Sessions to work collaboratively with us. We must face the fact that there will be elements we don’t like, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t the Spirit-led way ahead for us all.
"If you think we have arrived at the wrong proposal in a
particular situation, then tell us how you think we could do
things differently. Bear in mind though that this is a complex
puzzle, even a small movement or tweak in one area, can
put a whole lot of it out of sync.
"So, we need to be thinking in those wider terms. What would be least helpful is simply to give us a list of things you don’t like about the plan. The committee are happy to receive questions as well as comments."
Background notes on the Mission Plan state: “It is worth noting not a single congregation is being closed (dissolved) within this plan. Rather congregations are coming together (not unlike a marriage) to forge a new, shared identity.”
Inverness Presbytery will meet to approve the proposal on September 11, 2022. Until then, the plan remains under consultation and the committee can still engage with counter proposals and alternative ideas from Kirk Sessions, provided they are received no later than September 4.
Churches or church buildings such as halls have been scored A for retention or B to be released by transfer, lease, sale, or other form of disposal by a certain date within the life of the five year rolling plan. The date set for category B buildings is the end of 2023 unless otherwise stipulated.
South Inverness has no closures with Ness Bank being retained, and St Columba, which currently has no building has plans to build one in Holm Mills.
The Barn Church in Culloden will be retained and Petty and Ardersier Churches are marked for potential release.
For Inverness East, East Church on Academy Street will be released and Inshes retained.
Crown and St Stephen’s/Old High will unify with Crown Church being retained and St Stephen’s and Old High Church Hall disposed of. The Old High Church has been closed already.
On the west side of the River Ness, Trinity, Dalneigh and Kinmylies churches would be united and eventually share a single building.
In the meantime, Dalneigh and Kinmylies will remain open. Trinity will be released, but might continue to be a church as Inverness Christian Fellowship are keen to continue using it for worship.
In The Straths (covering Cawdor, Croy/Dalcross, Daviot/Dunlichity, Moy and Tomatin), Cawdor Church, Croy Hall, Daviot Church, and Dalarossie Church will be released. Croy Church will be retained and upgraded to function as a multi-purpose building for worship and mission.
The Mound in Cawdor will also be retained as a base for mission/retreat centre in Cawdor, although not for regular worship.
Beauly, Kiltarlity, Kirkhill and Struy could become a unified congregation, and a longer date for release till 2025 has been set for Kirkhill and Beauly churches.
Inverness and Lochaber Presbyteries are holding discussions with a view to exploring the possibility of a full-time minister post around the south of Loch Ness by uniting Urquhart and Glenmoriston, Boleskine (to be disunited from Dores), Fort Augustus and Glengarry. None of the buildings are marked for closure meantime.
In Moray west area Alves, Burghead Findhorn, Dallas, Rafford and St Laurences churchs are marked for release.
