There is much happening across our Presbytery at the moment. A few vacant congregations are at the stage of hearing sole nominees preach, and a number of congregations have agreed on joining together and are now celebrating that through services of union. For example, on Sunday, there was a service to mark the union that is now known as Strathdeveron Community Church of Scotland. Next weekend, there will be a service to mark the beginning of Banffshire East. And we're getting a date in the diary for Seafield.
Other congregations are about to vote on the matter or are in the middle of negotiations.
It's not necessarily an easy process to move towards a linkage or union, particularly where history tells a story of separation or differentiation. There are all kinds of things to take into consideration:
- What will the make up of the Kirk Session be and how will it make decisions?
- Which buildings will be used and how?
- Who will the minister be or who will be team comprise of?
- What charity number will be retained and which bank account will be used?
- What will the pattern of worship become - which hymn books, which instruments, which communion ware?
- Who will serve in what role?
And, what will the name be?
A union is a coming together of two or more congregations who have lived a life-time already. It's not easy to give up ways that our familiar to us or be asked to adapt new approaches. We have to get to know new people and begin to view ourselves, not according to what has been, but according to what is coming into being. We have to work hard at not simply being united in name only. And yet, where congregations have embraced all that it means to be united, there is a joy and energy that is exciting.
It strikes me, perhaps unsurprisingly, that unions are akin to marriages. Even down to the question of names. Like a marriage, unions require preparation, commitment, thoughtfulness and a willingness to be compassionate towards each other and to see things from the other's perspective. The big things matter, but so too do the little things. It takes effort to develop a new life together, but it is worth it.
For those who have been through union, is now the time to ask, 'are we united in name only or truly living as one congregation?'
For those contemplating this particular leap of faith, what are the steps that need to happen to make the potential union a successful one?
Rev Stella McBurnie (email address change coming up)
