CHURCH ORGANISATION
This congregation is part of the Church of Scotland which belongs to the Reformed tradition operating under the Presbyterian system of government. For more information about the Church of Scotland in general please click here for its extensive website.
The local congregation is under the supervision of the Kirk Session. This body consists of the minister and ordained elders. The minister moderates the meetings, a Clerk is appointed to keep Minutes and the elders (men and women) are responsible for all spiritual matters relating to the congregation and parish.
A second body, the Congregational Board, is made up of elders and elected members of the congregation (for a three year term). It is chaired by the minister, and a Clerk is appointed to keep the Minutes. This body handles all the temporal matters relating to finance and fabric, including the maintenance of the church and manse.
Recently the Kirk Session has agreed a new structure to develop the congregation and its
future ministries. Rather than continuing the model of the Kirk Session meeting regularly, a number of Task Groups have been set up co-ordinated through an executive Strategy Group. The Kirk Session and Congregational Board now meet annually or as required.
The Strategy Group’s remit is to supervise and develop the congregation’s vision. It consists of the chief office-bearers: the minister, the two Clerks, the Treasurer, Fabric Convener, Church Booking Officer, and Social and Fundraising Committee Convener. Each person is also the Convener of one the Task Groups: Eco-Congregation, Community Partnership, Global Twinning, Children and Youth, Communication, Pastoral Care, Fabric and Social and Fundraising.
Eco-Congregation: Living in a beautiful part of the country, we are encouraging the congregation and parish to responsible stewardship through recycling, reducing the carbon footprint, campaigning and awareness of issues. We have also developed the grounds creating a butterfly garden. Each month a Fairtrade stall is held after the service.
Community Partnership: Believing it is important that the local church serves the local community, in 2008 we approached a local charity, the Forget-Me-Not Club (for more information click on the dedicated page). The idea was to offer them the congregation as a resource to help them develop their own work. The partnership has been so successful it has been extended for another year.
Global Twinning: Believing that in the 21st century we must think and act globally we 
have followed other churches is creating a twinning. We launched this late in 2008 with the Icaciri Church in rural Kenya. We have established links with various groups and personnel within the church and community, and hope in due course to invite members from Kenya to visit us here on Deeside.
Children and Youth: The minister has strong links with the two local primary schools 
and nursery. We have our Junior Church Team and Creche on a Sunday and we look for other ways to engage with young people – possibly through this website – about the gospel.
Communication: we work hard at trying to ensure the congregation and membership know what we are doing and how they can participate. This group includes the webmaster, weekly newsletter editor, resident photographer, and others who work tirelessly to fulfil that remit.
Pastoral Care: The Kirk Session is responsible for looking after its members in especially in times and situations of need. Recognising the changing patterns of work, social and family life in the 21st century the Kirk Session agreed to depart from the traditional model of elders’ districts. We have just set up a new pastoral support system that allows elders to work in supportive teams. It also recognises that our worshipping congregation can be in regular contact with their elders through our after- service coffee, that we continue to visit at home, the elderly and sick wishing a visit, but that for those who do not wish a home visit, and who do not attend church regularly communication with the church is maintained through this website and delivered newsletters.
The last two groups report to the Congregational Board.
Fabric: Though we have a new building, we also have a 100 year old manse and extensive grounds. The Church of Scotland requires its congregations to maintain the buildings in its care by annual inspections and programme of works.
Social and Fundraising: each year the congregation organises a variety of events. Some are primarily for funds such as auctions and the annual Daffodil Tea (see Photos). Others are to bring the congregation and wider parish together for fellowship and fun. These can include Burns Supper, concerts, quizzes, musical evenings.
In addition to the various Task Groups the congregation has one other organisation,
The Guild. Affiliated to the Church of Scotland’s Guild movement, the local branch meets monthly from September to May and through Soup Lunches and other activities raises awareness and funds for the various projects they support over a three year cycle.
In addition to the groups there are a number of individuals who arrange a variety of rotas without which the day-to-day running of the church would collapse. These are the Flower Rota, Tea Rota, Cleaning Rota, Elders Duties Rota, Bible Reading Rota, and Audio-Visual Desk Rota.
When all the people involved in all of the above activities are added together we are pleased that our goal of having a church where everyone is included and everyone is involved is being realised. If you would like to become involved please contact the minister who can put you in touch with the appropriate person.
Office Bearers
