Notices
Following the ongoing consideration over a number of years to review the training of Church of Scotland ministers, the General Assembly voted to move to one academic partner who would take the leading role in training Church of Scotland ministers and appointed a panel to make a recommendation. This process has been underway for several years, and while delayed by Covid is now reaching a conclusion.
After a rigorous process and careful consideration, the Selection Panel recommends that Trinity College (University of Glasgow) be invited, as the Panel’s preferred institution, to become the Lead Academic Partner of the Church of Scotland to train national ministers of word and sacrament and deacons.
The Panel judged that their submission was the boldest, most innovative and forward-looking response to the current challenges and opportunities of Initial Ministerial Education, with the decision focused primarily on the formation of ministers and not on budget savings.
This recommendation is subject to Trinity College (University of Glasgow) working in January and February 2026 with the Director of Studies and the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team of the Church to develop and agree:
(a) A Memorandum of Understanding, setting out partnership duties and responsibilities;
(b) The academic training package for ministry candidates, which must be fully costed and approved by both parties.
This will bring new opportunities for the Church and enhance changes to ministerial training.
The universities/academic centres of New College (University of Edinburgh), Christ College (University of Aberdeen) and Highland Theological College (University of Highlands and Islands) will continue to play an important role in training our Ordained Local Ministers and Readers, as well as those participating in our apprenticeship programme. They will also provide Continuing Professional Development for those undertaking training in worship and missional studies
The panel’s recommendation will be put to the 2026 General Assembly, and a final decision will be made.
At present, just under 80 people in the training process will eventually undertake a national ministry as full-time ministers of Word and Sacrament, Ordained Local Ministers, Deacons or Readers. The number who enter ministry from each partner varies from year to year.
Elections webinar
The Church of Scotland's Parliamentary Officer will be holding an elections/hustings information webinar at 12:30pm – 1:30pm on 29th January and it is open to all.
It will have a distinctly Scottish flavour although will also cover local elections in England and also very briefly touch on the Welsh Senedd Elections too.
There is an image attached and a link for registration here:
Https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/e8H_Enx6SU2XjeKaT0hHpg
Devolved and local elections in Scotland, Wales and England are just around the corner. This webinar will give you all the information you need make sure members of your church are ready to vote on May 7 2026.
We’ll cover pre-election topics like how to hold hustings for your local candidates, as well as information about what you need to do to be able to vote on the day, and ideas for how your church can prayerfully support all those taking part in elections across the UK.
This webinar is being hosted by the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office and the Joint Public Issues Team
To share a page on social media there is a link here: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/events/getting-your-church-election-ready-a-guide-to-hustings-voting-and-prayer
The NHS Grampian Christmas Carol Service is available to watch on YouTube here.
From Rev Dr Paul McKeown:
If folk in Presbytery know of members/friends in hospital over the festives they might want to send them the link to watch. The theme is 'finding peace when things aren't peaceful', and we hope it'll give a wee bit of encouragement to both staff, patients and relatives over the next few weeks.
This is just a quick note to let you know about the Presbytery Service being held on the 13th of February for Long Service Certificates. The service will be hosted at Cults Parish Church at 7pm. The preacher for the service will be the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev Rosie Frew, who will be presenting the long service certificates.
As a reminder:
Long service certificates, signed by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, have to date been available for presentation to Elders and others in respect of not less than thirty years of service. At the General Assembly of 2015, it was agreed that further certificates could be issued at intervals of ten years thereafter. If should be noted that the certificates are to recognise period of service, which might not be the same as period of ordination (in the case of elders). In the case of Sunday School teachers and Bible Class leaders, the qualifying period is twenty-one years of service. Certificates are not issued posthumously.
There will be an opportunity for a church group photograph with the Moderator at the end of the service, as well as a tea to follow the service.
It would be appreciated if you could intimate this event to your congregation in due course, indicating that all are welcome to attend.
We would ordinarily include the names of the recipients in the Order of Service. Therefore, the deadline for providing us with names for the service is Monday the 9th of February.
Save the Date for Presbytery Prayer Day
More details forthcoming!
Guild Newsletter
The Church of Scotland Guild are happy to share their December newsletter with you!
Placement Supervisor Training 2026
Any Minister can apply to be considered for participation in Supervisor training, as long as they are serving in a context which enables them to work with a ministry Candidate as they carry out one of their mandatory placements with them. As such it is generally only open to those serving full time as ministers of word and sacrament.
Prospective Supervisors are required to contact the Faith Action Training Team via the email address, MinistriesTraining@churchofsoctland.org.uk , expressing their interest. They will then be invited to the Church of Scotland Learning platform space dedicated to Supervisors in order to view a short introductory video and access the application form. In order to seek presbytery approval, those applying are required to submit their completed application form to the committee in their presbytery which is responsible for oversight of ministry training. Fully signed off forms should be emailed to the Faith Action Training Team.
The attached document lists the competences that a placement Supervisor would be expected to have, some of which will be developed during the training. The attached document gives the proposed dates and also provides a summary of the training process.
Treasurers Hub Volunteers, we're looking for you!
We want to create a Treasurers Hub to support and advise congregations in our presbytery.
It is a free service to congregations within the Presbytery bounds under the auspices of the NENI Presbytery. The service will be provided by competent, experienced personnel on a voluntary basis and is intended to be available within normal ‘office’ hours and congregations seeking to use the services of the Hub must understand there is no mandatory obligation on the Hub to provide the service at any given time.
Purpose of the Treasurers Hub
- Knowledge base for inexperienced/new Church Treasurers
- Coaching, mentoring, guidance for inexperienced/new Church Treasurers
- Shared resource for Churches unable to fill Treasurer vacancies
- Minimize Church financial spend on outsourcing
- Increase consistency in preparation and presentation of accounts
If you are ready to help, feel free to approach mikeleys41@gmail.com with note of your interest to be involved. Thank you!
Opportunities to Participate in the Church Nationally
Dear fellow members of the Church of Scotland,
The Church is going through a time of significant change, locally, regionally and nationally.
The people who make the decisions about the Church nationally include staff, those who attend the General Assembly, and those who, between times, make time to participate in a national group or committee. The Nomination Committee now needs your active support to find the right people to serve on these groups and committees.
Maybe you, or someone you know, have the potential to rise to the occasion. We are looking for people with vision and determination, who are willing to help our Church in the years ahead as we work our way through the challenges and the necessary restructuring to make the Church of Scotland fit for the future. A short video, accessible here, explains the process in further detail.
Those who wish to serve are invited to complete an online nomination form, accessible here on the Church of Scotland website, with someone – from their local congregation or Presbytery – saying they support the nomination. We ask you to complete the form because the more relevant information we have, the better we can do our job of placing people on the various groups and committees. If you encounter any difficulties in completing the form, you may wish to seek assistance from a trusted individual, such as your Minister.
Serving nationally is a good way of getting to know the Church better and engaging with others from across the country and beyond. While it needs commitment and can be demanding, it is a real opportunity to extend one’s Christian service and witness.
It should be noted that, due to the high expectations placed on Candidates in Training, Probationers and Ministers in their first year following ordination, they are not normally invited to serve on committees.
Nominations must reach us by Sunday 18 January 2026. We will treat the forms confidentially and consider them carefully. We meet on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 February 2026 and those selected will then be contacted. This is to seek permission from the individual for their name to go to the General Assembly in May 2026 for approval. Appointments commence after the General Assembly.
Not everyone will be asked to serve, or sometimes they may be asked if they are willing to serve on a committee or group other than those they have mentioned on their form.
We are keen to receive nominations from a broad representation across the church and depend on you and others spreading the word and actively encouraging involvement.
Any queries on the nomination process should be emailed to nominations@churchofscotland.org.uk
Resources
Christmas with Christian Aid
When armed conflict swept through Chance’s community, she knew her family had to escape to survive. Clutching her newborn baby and rallying her children, Chance fled on foot. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we’re working through our partners to deliver financial assistance and clean water to people who’ve been displaced and marginalised, like Chance and her family.
We know that Advent and Christmas are busy times for churches. With this in mind, our suite of worship and fundraising resources is designed to complement what you might already have planned for the season. Order or download resources via our website.
Introduction to Suicide Prevention
These are online sessions via Teams open to anyone who in Aberdeen City or Moray. Dates are:
19th November
11th December
13th January
This link will take you to booking.
Worship Leading and Preaching Courses
The University of Aberdeen has launched two updated courses to help church members develop skills in worship leading and preaching.
The two courses will commence as follows:
- Leading Worship – 26 January 2026
- Preaching – 20 April 2026
Both courses are six-weeks in duration involving recorded lectures, live online tutorials and online material.
The system is set up so that the individual will be charged a £50 fee to be paid at time of registration by credit card, and then they also provide confirmation of what their church and then presbytery are contributing and their contact information so that the invoices are sent to those two organisations.
Feel free to download poster 1 and poster 2 for your churches.
Here is the link to register for both courses.
You're invited to School Ministry Training: An exploration of Easter Resources - 28 January 2026, 9.30 am -12.30 pm
Join us for a practical and creative morning designed to equip anyone working with children and young people for the Easter season. We’ll introduce a curated mix of free and paid resources, followed by short presentations from our contributors highlighting their favourites.
You will take part in two workshops, each exploring the Easter story from a different angle. Workshop Facilitators include Sue Thomson (Educational Resources Manager at the Scottish Bible Society), Susan Leslie (Former Primary Headteacher, Academic and Teacher Trainer), Rev Steve Younger (Baptist Minister and CVE Chaplaincy Specialist) and Lat Blaylock (Consultant National RE Adviser and Editor of RE Today)
These facilitators will guide you in adapting resources for a wide range of ages and contexts, helping you find engaging ways to bring the story to life. We will contact you again on receipt of your initial interest to ask you to select preferred options.
There will be an optional reflective space available during the break with worship music and prayer prompts. We’ll also share a few additional resource ideas before closing with a short time of commissioning as we prepare to walk with children and young people toward Easter.
Book your space here: Exploring Easter Resources - School Ministry Training - 28th January 2026
Please click here for details of an invitation to bid for a grant of up to £25K in the field of "Christian Engagement with Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Scotland".
The deadline for bids is 31 Jan 2026. There is more about The Paristamen Charity on their website.
First Aid Course - 14th February 2026, 9.30 - 4pm
Old Machar Church will be running a First Aid Course on 14th February, from 9-30 till 4 pm. The cost is £120 plus VAT. Discuss with your Kirk Sessions if they are willing to finance it.
If you are interested, please email secretary@oldmacharchurch.org
Funded places available for church growth - LyCiG conference
The Seeds for Growth programme has been seeking to identify ways to support congregational revival. Evidence has demonstrated that one of the most effective approaches is from the “Leading your Church into Growth” (LyCiG) process.
LyCiG offers a non-denominational, accessible, inspiring, and enabling conference for everyone who wants to see numerical and spiritual growth in their congregation. Research has found that Church’s whose leaders attend a LyCiG course typically grow their congregation by 10% within one year, and meaningful contacts with young people by 18% in the same timeframe.
Seeds for Growth now has funding available (on a first come first served basis) to support fifteen congregations to attend the forthcoming conference taking place in Swanwick, Derbyshire from 2nd - 4th February 2026. More information is available here: www.leadingyourchurchintogrowth.org.uk/.
Places at LyCiG conferences fill quickly and if you are interested in attending, please contact Grants@churchofscotland.org.uk to confirm we still have funded places. When applying to us for funding please also email this address stating:
- your congregation and presbytery
- your booking confirmation from LyCiG
- the number of places you have booked on the course (min 3 max 5 and inclusive of your minister/Interim Moderator/Locum)
- confirmation from your Session Clerk that the Kirk Session have been consulted and give support for this application
- confirmation you have support of your Presbytery in making this application
- your estimated travel costs (at 25p per mile if travelling by car)
- the costs of any overnight accommodation, if required for the evening before the conference the congregational bank details for Seeds of Growth to make payment to
Seeds for Growth funds revitalisation in our own congregations and will cover all reasonable transport, accommodation, and course costs for the first fifteen congregations applying to us for funding.
Read Jamie Milliken's reflections on attending the conference here.
We are excited to share an incredible opportunity for your church family this coming May. The Hakuna Matata Children’s Choir, a vibrant and talented group of 12 children from Connect with a Child Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, will be touring the area, and would love the opportunity to bless your congregation with a performance.
These young singers and dancers, ages 9–15, are passionate about spreading the Gospel through music and testimonies. Over the past three years, their inspiring performances have touched hearts across several countries, combining joyful praise, powerful stories, and vibrant Kenyan culture. Their choir name, Hakuna Matata, means “No Worries” in Swahili—reflecting the hope and peace they carry in Christ.
Available Dates in May 2026:
| Wednesdays | Fridays: | Saturdays: | Sundays: |
| May 6th | May 1st | May 2nd | May 3rd |
| May 13th | May 8th | May 9th | May 10th |
| May 20th | May 15th | May 16th | May 17th |
| May 27th | May 22nd | May 23rd | May 24th |
| May 29th | May 30th | May 31st |
About the Choir & Visit:
The choir consists of 12 children and 5 adult chaperones.
Their performances typically last 1 hour (or a shorter version of 25 minutes for condensed services).
They sing in both English and Swahili, accompanied by drums and traditional instruments.
Their mission includes raising awareness and support for a new dormitory in Western Kenya to house over 700 orphans.
There is no performance fee. We simply ask that your church take a love offering during the service to support this life-changing project.
How You Can Host:
We kindly ask host churches to:
Provide host families for the choir during their stay (usually one week before performance).
Assist with transportation (pick-up/drop-off).
Provide meals and packed lunches.
Optional: Organize local cultural activities or school visits.
Coordinate logistics on the performance day, ensuring choir members arrive one hour in advance.
To see the choir in action, please watch this brief video:
Hakuna Matata Children’s Choir Promo Video
We would be honored to schedule a performance at your church and begin what we hope will be a lasting relationship. Please let us know if any of the available dates work for you, or if you have any questions.
Vacancies
Ministry Assistant for the West Mainland
Ministry Assistant for the West Mainland (Charge 1)
Orkney Islands Church of Scotland
Part Time 9 hours 22 minutes per week (0.25FTE)
Salary £7,383 to £8,347 per annum
Ref: M01/25
Could you be part of something different? We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to use their gifts, skills and experience to make a difference to the lives of the people in our parishes and communities.
We are looking for a Ministry Assistant who will concentrate on the first Mark of Mission to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom, with the postholder largely focusing on Sunday work.
The successful candidate will have significant recent experience in leading worship and preaching with a good knowledge and understanding of congregational life of the Church of Scotland or be willing to learn. The candidate must be a committed Christian with an active Church connection (Genuine Occupational Requirement in terms of the Equality Act 2010) and have a relevant qualification in theology/pastoral care/counselling or similar, or significant, relevant and recent work experience in the area.
It is essential you have the right to work in the UK before applying to work with us. You will be asked to provide proof of your eligibility to work and remain in the UK if you are invited to attend for an interview.
For a full job description and details on how to apply, please click here.
Closing date: At present there is no closing date set and the post will remain open until further notice.
Aberlour Parish Church invites applicants for the post of part-time Locum minister. The successful candidate will provide pulpit supply for Sunday service at Aberlour Parish Church, plus pastoral care within the parish on 1 or 2 days per week. The appointment will commence in January 2026 for an initial period of 2 months, reviewable towards the end of the two-month period. Those interested in applying for the post should email Jane Tweedie, Session Clerk, jane871515@outlook.com.
Events
Theology and Music Conference - 12-15 January 2026
The Scottish Church Theology Society Conference 2026 invites you to gather at Stirling Court Hotel for an inspiring exploration of the rich intersection between theology and music. This annual event brings together renowned speakers, scholars, musicians, and church leaders to share insights, experience, and creativity.
Across four days, participants will enjoy a vibrant program of keynote talks, interactive workshops, and lively discussions. Whether you are a theologian, musician, clergy, student, or layperson, the conference is designed to deepen your appreciation for the theological dimensions of music and to equip you with fresh ideas for worship and ministry.
• Keynote presentations by leading thinkers and practitioners
• Practical workshops for worship and music ministry
• Opportunities for discussion and networking
You can find more information here.
Inverurie and District u3a - 13 January at 10.30am
Inverurie and District u3a goes live on 13 January at 10.30am in St Andrew’s Church Hall, Inverurie.
If you are retired or no longer in full-time work, u3a is meant for you. It brings together people who want to learn new skills and share their knowledge and interests with others. Members can join in a range of activities and share experiences in the company of new friends.
What is u3a?
Meetings are held each month with a guest speaker, to which all members are invited. More importantly, members meet in special interest groups, with topics decided by, and led by, the members themselves. The number and range of subjects is limited only by their imagination and the choices they make.
Founded by the Third Age Trust, it has branches all over the country, with links through a Scottish network to share information and ideas. Each branch is managed locally by its own members to organise groups and events.
What happens now
If you are interested in anything from photography to philosophy, crosswords to cooking, archaeology to arts and crafts, walking to talking, or just want to meet with new people to share ideas, we would like to invite you to our inaugural meeting to find out more. It takes place on
Tuesday 13th January at 10.30am in St Andrews Church Hall, Inverurie
You will be very welcome!
Don't forget to send your news to doskolkova@churchofscotland.org.uk