This is part of a series of posts over the summer where members of the Presbytery Staff Team write posts for the website in place of Stella. This week: Natasha Hepburn (Congregational Support Officer)
Hello! I’m Natasha, the Congregational Support Officer for our Presbytery.
I live in rural South Aberdeenshire and, outside work, I’m a mum, dog owner and chief organiser of a busy household. Like most people, I spend a fair amount of time trying to remember where everyone is meant to be, what needs done next and why there is always more washing.
Washing is one of those jobs that never really feels finished. Just when the basket is finally empty, somebody appears with another armful—and I know that church volunteering can sometimes feel much the same.
No sooner have the minutes been written, the forms completed or one repair organised than another email arrives, another requirement changes or something else needs attention. Much of this work happens quietly in the background and can feel never-ending and, at times, rather thankless.
Having served as a Session Clerk myself, I know how much time, patience and care it takes to keep a congregation running. I also know that the people doing this work are often juggling jobs, families, caring responsibilities and challenges of their own.
Those unseen tasks matter. They create the foundations that allow worship, pastoral care and service to flourish. Part of my role is to recognise the burden they can place on volunteers and, wherever possible, help make things clearer, more manageable and a little less lonely.
What does a Congregational Support Officer do?
My role is to help congregations navigate the practical parts of church life. That includes Annual Inspections of Congregational Records, safeguarding, Congregational Action Plans, governance, health and safety, training and a variety of other questions that do not always fit neatly into one category.
The most important thing I want people to know is that I am here to help, not to catch anyone out.
Some office-bearers have years of experience, while others have stepped into a role unexpectedly and are learning as they go. Nobody arrives as a Session Clerk, Safeguarding Coordinator or Property Convener already knowing everything.
Please do not sit worrying about something because you think it is a silly question or something you should already understand. Church language, legislation and paperwork can be confusing—even those of us who work with it every day sometimes need to stop and check what something means.
Sometimes people contact me with a clear question. At other times, the starting point is simply, “I’m stuck and I don’t know what to do next.” Both are absolutely fine.
Finding our way through uncertainty
We are living through a period of significant change across the Church of Scotland. Congregations are adjusting to unions, team ministries, new parish boundaries, fewer ministers, changing buildings and increasing demands on a smaller number of people. National structures and processes are changing too, and it can sometimes feel as though the guidance has changed again just as we were beginning to understand it.
Uncertainty can be unsettling. It is difficult to plan confidently when we cannot yet see the whole road ahead.
We do not face that uncertainty without hope. The structures and shape of the Church may change, but our calling remains: to worship God, care for one another and share Christ’s love within our communities.
Much like my own life, the life of the Church is always changing—and change does not usually wait until we feel ready for it. I have learned that we cannot always choose what changes around us, but we can choose how we respond.
Adapting is not about surrendering what matters or pretending that difficult circumstances are easy. It is about having the courage to look honestly at where we are, recognise what is still possible and take the next faithful step.
The way forward may not look like the path we originally imagined, but that does not mean it cannot lead somewhere hopeful.
Recognising what is still possible
I see enormous strength, wisdom and potential within our congregations, even when difficult circumstances make those things harder to recognise. Where resources are limited and people are tired, there are still gifts to be discovered, relationships to be strengthened and new opportunities to serve our communities.
Across this enormous Presbytery, people are quietly doing remarkable work. They are caring for those who are lonely or grieving, creating welcoming spaces, supporting families, maintaining buildings, leading worship and keeping congregational life moving through a time of enormous change.
My role is not to arrive with a ready-made answer or tell congregations who they should be. It is to listen, help them recognise their strengths, explain the options available and support them as they decide what comes next.
With the right support, something that initially feels overwhelming can often be broken down into manageable steps.
Inspection as an opportunity for support
One of the largest pieces of work I coordinate is the Annual Inspection of Congregational Records. I know the word “inspection” can immediately make people nervous, but it is not intended to be a test.
The purpose is to confirm what is in good order, identify anything requiring attention and offer support to put it right. A missing document or misunderstood requirement does not mean that anyone has failed. It simply shows us where the next step is needed.
That principle runs through all my work. Whether you are completing an Action Plan, responding to a safeguarding requirement, reviewing your records or trying to make sense of a new responsibility, my aim is to help make the task feel clearer and more manageable.
Taking the next faithful step
I will not pretend to have every answer immediately. What I can promise is that I will listen carefully, be honest, help you understand your options and work with you to find a practical way forward.
I bring experience of life within a local congregation as well as an understanding of Presbytery and the wider Church. I also work closely with the rest of the Presbytery Staff Team, our committees and colleagues at the national Church offices. If I am not the right person to answer your question, I will help you find whoever is.
You do not need to understand the whole process before asking for help. You do not need to have all the paperwork organised or know precisely what you need. We can begin with where you are, identify what matters most and work out the next step together.
We may not be able to see the whole journey yet, but we can face change honestly, support one another and take the next faithful step together.
So, if you have a question, need help with a form, want to talk through an idea or have reached the stage of staring blankly at your computer screen, please get in touch.
Change may be unavoidable, but facing it alone is not.