A consultation has been launched to discuss radical new proposals to reform the Church of Scotland in Perth and Kinross - with 14 church buildings under threat of closure.
The planning and development committee of the Presbytery of Perth has produced a draft mission plan to determine how limited resources should be allocated over a five-year period to ensure that the Church meets 21st Century mission needs.
Members of the presbytery are being asked for their views concerning the proposals for change which is a work in progress and subject to amendment.
The plan prioritises allocating resources to support congregations with “the greatest potential where there is evidence of growth, sustainability and innovation”.
The presbytery has 45 church buildings within its boundary and is asking members to consider the possible closure of 14 of them sometime within the five-year life-span of the plan.
These are Cleish, Portmoak, Arngask, Forteviot, Forgandenny, St Leonard’s in the Fields, two buildings attached to Craigie and Moncrieffe, Kilspindie and Rait (one building), Collace and Trinity Gask.
Presbyters have been advised that two buildings connected to Mid Strathearn Church and one building in Crieff may have to be closed.
Convener of the Presbytery of Perth’s planning and development committee Rev Allan Wilson said: “We are at the beginning of a process to determine how limited resources should be allocated to congregations over the lifetime of the draft mission plan which is five years.
"It is a significant time of change and the proposals, which are based on evidence provided to the committee by congregations, represent a concerted effort to continue the mission of the Church and nurture green shoots of growth within the limitations set by the General Assembly.
“It requires increased co-operation between congregations and the sharing of resources across existing parish boundaries.”
Aimed at supporting the breadth of church life, the draft plan suggests that some congregations could be united and others, which have shown less evidence of growth in recent years, may be placed under presbytery guardianship to ensure that they continue to function.
St John’s Church in Perth city centre is one such congregation being considered and would be allocated resources for ministry to enable it to focus on worship on Sundays and perhaps during the week.
It is proposed that St John’s pastoral care needs would be handled by St Matthew’s Church and Perth North Church would support its ongoing city centre outreach work.
The plan sets out proposals to form new worshipping congregations, team ministry networks and mission churches.
It contains a commitment to further develop the pioneer work of the community minister at Bertha Park, including the acquisition of a building opposite the new High School by the general trustees, the property holding arm of the Church of Scotland, and a willingness to develop ecumenical partnerships where possible.
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland have instructed Presbyteries to reduce their current staffing levels. For the Presbytery of Perth, the number of Ministers of Word and Sacrament and Ministries Development Staff posts is to be reduced from 26 to 16.5 - a 37 per cent reduction.
The decision was taken last May against a backdrop of declining numbers of people training for the ministry, a reduction in financial contributions and falling membership.
Mr Wilson said reducing the number of ministries posts by 37 per cent has been a task that “none of us relished”.
“We recognise that they represent real people and real communities within our presbytery,” he added.
“However, not only have we taken seriously the requirement to reduce the number of ministries in Perth and Kinross, we have also taken seriously Jesus’ call to mission and discipleship.
“This is an opportunity to refocus our efforts and prepare for ministry in the years ahead and some of these changes may have been needed for some time.
“We are confident that in this plan we offer a considered, effective and robust structure for ministry.”
The consultation will last for eight weeks and a comprehensive audit of buildings using an asset audit tool provided by the general trustees will also inform the plan as it progresses.
A new plan must be agreed by the Presbytery of Perth, the Faith Nurture Forum and the General Trustees by December 31, 2022.
Looking to the future, Mr Wilson said the presbytery is committed to considering any proposal to buy a former church building and maintain it for community use.
