'I felt we were not welcome': Kinlochbervie resident 'not happy' over Sutherland Presbytery meeting to discuss radical church restructure
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A KINLOCHBERVIE resident who attended a meeting to discuss plans for a radical restructure of the Church of Scotland in Sutherland, has said she came away unhappy.
Margaret Meek, who travelled with a 25-strong group to Lairg from Kinlochbervie last Thursday for the public meeting organised by Sutherland Presbytery, said they had been made to feel unwelcome.
In an update to Kinlochbervie Community Council on Tuesday, Ms Meek, a community councillor, said: “We were not allowed to speak. It was only for Church elders and ministers to speak and each congregation was given time to say what they had to say about the plan.
“I was not very happy with it and I felt it was a case of the plan is there and they were looking for ratification. The group who went there represented this area and Durness in support of the Church to show how much we appreciate the work that is done.
“I felt we were not welcome which is a real pity.”
In recent years, the Church has supported nine, full-time ministers post across Sutherland, although four of these are vacant.
Under the new proposals, the number of full-time minister posts would be reduced to four and the county would also be carved up into four new parish groupings, one for the north, south, east and west.
Livestreaming technology would be used to allow ministers to deliver sermons to satellite churches and some full-time posts would be supported by pioneer and associate or ordained local ministers.
Kinlochbervie Community Cuncil has previously voiced its concerns over the plans which would mean that there would be no resident minister in the port and the local manse would be sold.
Ms Meek has said the Kinlochbervie and Durness area would “suffer a great deal if the plan became policy”.
However, following the meeting Rev Lorna Tunstall, Brora and Helmsdale, said: “It was actually quite humbling to feel the support in the room and how genuinely and sympathetically most congregations had engaged with the process.”
Rev Tunstall, who is convener of the Sutherland Presbytery planning committee, added: “Some valid points and questions were raised for the team to look at, in particular around the timing and process of any future church unions.”
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: "Every effort was made to give participants time and space to engage at the public consultation.
“Sutherland Presbytery’s planning team are now working on a revision to the consultation document based on the feedback received at last week’s meeting, including a review of proposals for the Northern Parish area. No final decisions have been taken.
"Draft mission plans must be agreed by presbyteries, the Faith Nurture Forum and the General Trustees by December 31.
“Approved mission plans will be reviewed on an annual basis and further changes could happen when Sutherland Presbytery becomes part of the new Presbytery for the Highlands and Hebrides.”
The Church is now to carry out an asset management building audit to assess the suitability of its buildings in the Sutherland area ahead of the presbytery voting on the plan next month.
