For the churches in Abernyte, Inchture & Kinnaird, Invergowrie and Longforgan ... a "union" is proposed.

On Thursday 31st October the Kirk sessions (active elders) have voted:

Vote - basis of union:  for  against             vote - basis of team ministry:  for   against

Abernyte                         4       0                                                                            4        0

Inchture&Kinnaird        10       3                                                                            10       3

Invergowrie                     9       3                                                                            11         1

Longforgan                     7       1                                                                               7         1

On Sunday 3rd November the congregations (members and adherents, present in their church) have voted:

Vote - basis of union:  for  against             vote - basis of team ministry:  for   against

Abernyte                         19       0                                                                            19        0

Inchture&Kinnaird        16       17                                                                           20       13

Invergowrie                    37       7                                                                            39        5

Longforgan                     15       2                                                                            16         1

What is a union?

A union would bring together into one single charity / organisation these four churches which are separate just now. 

What currently are four parishes, four charities (separately reporting to the charity regulator OSCR and other authorities), with four ‘kirk sessions’ ...

would become one parish, one charity, with one kirk session. In this union, everything would belong to everyone; sharing works best, as in a family, when everyone takes the well-being of the other to their own heart.

Name voted for:

on Sunday 8th Sept. 2024 we all voted on the choice of name and Carse Kirk won by a decent margin.

However, as there's more than one Carse in Scotland, it will be necessary to insert 'of Gowrie' into all official things. So, if we decide to go ahead with the union - and that's a more formal vote that is still to come - our official name will be 'Carse of Gowrie Kirk (Church of Scotland)' but we intend just to be "Carse Kirk" for everyday and local use - if we vote in favour of union.

Who can I ask about all this?

Graeme, Debbie, Jackie - in  Abernyte.

Euan, Menna, John - in Inchture & Kinnaird.

Claire, Susan, Peter - in Invergowrie.

Vivien, Freddie, Alex - in Longforgan.

What is happening next?

On November 3rd there will be a vote on the union itself, yes or no. All voting will be on the same day for each of the congregations and will be overseen by a member of Presbytery. 

Kirk sessions will also have a vote on this. 

Why is a union proposed?

As in many walks of life now (health, education, care, ...) there is a lack of able people to fill all positions. Yet without union we do everything four times over, by four separate people (session clerk, treasurer, ...); in a union there would be far less duplication and we would have more time and energy for the real purpose of the church:

to inspire faith in our communities, to share the good news of Jesus, to bring the goodness that church can be to far more people.  That must be the first task of church and the reason for going into union.

All over the country, churches are coming together in unions - sometimes of just two partners, sometimes quite a number of churches together. Just up the road, the parishes of Fowlis&Liff, Lundie&Muirhead and Auchterhouse are now a union of one parish: Sidlaw Church.

What about my church building?

We envisage a union with four places of worship (so no change in that to the current situation); none of the four church buildings will close because of union, although we will keep them all under review.

Instead union is about re-organising, being better at responding to today's challenges. It is not about closing buildings.

If you want your church building to stay open, it needs to be as fully used as it can be, reaching out to the community. You can help with this: be inviting to your neighbours and others around, get involved in activities, start new activities. Presbytery will review the situation every year.

What will happen if we vote no to union ?

The four kirk sessions and the four Sunday congregations will all have separate votes. If any of these vote no to union, then initially at least that church will remain as is, while the others will have the opportunity to go ahead with union by themselves, though this will require a further vote.

As we are a Presbyterian church, Presbytery has the ultimate say; especially when ministers leave, Presbytery can require union before the congregation is allowed to call a new minister. Typically, Presbytery would send an interim moderator with the task of making a union before the vacancy can be filled.

Recently several congregations who initially voted against union have changed their minds fairly quickly when the other congregations have gone ahead without them. This would require another further vote from all concerned.

What will happen if we vote yes to union ?

The four churches (who each have their own parish, are their own charity, have their own kirk session with office bearers) will become one united ‘church’ (meaning one charity with one united parish) overseen by one united kirk session. This united church will have four church buildings and share one bank account. 

Very early in the new year the united kirk session will meet and decide how it wants to organise itself. 

It will be a fresh start, earnestly looking at the urgent priorities, 

e.g. how to communicate the inspiration, freedom and hope that Jesus gives in a way new generations will be interested in; and how best to structure itself to be responsive to today’s society. 

What’s the point of voting for/against union if Presbytery has the last word anyway?

By choosing to do this now, with our own timescale, our own approach and our own partners, we ourselves can create a union in the way that is right for us. There is more self determination in that and we can be creative as a team together with ministers who know us and live locally, making our own decisions.

What’s the vision (beyond reorganising) ?

In the face of secularisation, disenchantment, individualism and decline, there are many challenges. Much more important is a vision. Your ministers can't wait to get this process behind us so that we can get on with the real work of being the church we desperately need where… 

… despite our differences, we worship, love and serve together, a visible sign to society; 

… community is authentic and hospitable;

… everyone, equally, feels they have something valuable to contribute; 

… and yet there is diversity, also in styles and formats;

… we as a whole seek new ways to touch the hearts of all;

… not only young children and older people find a spiritual home but all generations in their own ways; 

… people are nourished in faith and can grow spiritually; 

… we can explore, adventure and experiment; 

… not finances and buildings consume all time and effort but an ever deeper love of Christ is the focus;

... and we have time and energy to spend with people.

Read more detail here:

About the voting (overview) - published from 8th October 2024 onwards

What to vote on - 1. Basis of union - published from 8th October 2024 onwards

What to vote on - 2. Basis of team ministry - published from 8th October 2024 onwards

the 'pros' and 'cons' of union - this was published in our church newsletter in May 2024

the financial overview of our four charities/churches - published 10th June, revised 24th June 2024

exploring union - published February 2024 (an initial information with less detail)