I first felt called to ministry when I was 14. I was 24 when I was licensed as a minister in June 1986 and 26 when I was ordained in May 1988. That all seems a long time ago, and I was very young, ridiculously young, but it also feels like yesterday! And yet, so much has happened since that time, so many changes. I got married when I was 22 – also ridiculously young! We had children who are now in their late twenties! Both my parents have died. I’ve been called to different tasks and places– rural ministry and town centre ministry, seaside and now hillside. I’ve had Presbytery responsibilities and national responsibilities – committee memberships and convenerships, and 10 years as a Presbytery Clerk.
As a new minister, my first charge was a new linkage – Largo and Newburn linked with Largo: St David’s. Two congregations now sharing a minister and learning to work together. (They united in 2017.) Let’s be honest: it wasn’t always easy, but looking back, I remember many wonderful, faithful people who nurtured me, let me experiment and supported me. So many happy memories of doing new things – our praise band, holiday clubs, Mums and Tots, Open Door, a hillwalking group, being a Contract Church supported by National Mission. Nationally, I was involved in several boards and committees over the years. I was involved in a significant restructuring in 2003 and became Vice Convener of the new Mission and Discipleship Council in 2005.
2005 also brought a call to Kirkcaldy: Abbotshall and town centre ministry. This meant having colleagues close by and being part of an informal parish grouping. (20 years on the 4 congregations recently united.) When my time with Mission and Discipleship came to an end, I found myself grappling with another call – to be Clerk to Kirkcaldy Presbytery. Not one I ever saw coming! It’s not easy being a Clerk – a lot of paperwork and problems – but I soon found myself loving it. It gave me opportunities to serve and support ministers and congregations, pastorally and practically.
2015 brought big changes. My husband got the opportunity to take early retirement, and my daughter left school. I started to feel that there was another call coming…and in 2017, I was inducted as minister of Bowden and Melrose in the Scottish Borders, places I’d only ever passed through when walking St Cuthbert’s Way. Any thoughts I may have had about slowing down a bit were soon dispelled when I was asked to take on a Presbytery convenership, which led to a big review of the Presbytery Plan, which in turn led to convenership of the Ministries Council and then the Faith Nurture Forum.
After I made my final convener’s speech to the General Assembly of 2023, I returned to my parish, thinking that this would be my focus for the final years of full-time ministry before retirement. How wrong I was! I’m now preparing for the biggest challenge and honour of my life and ministry with excitement and trepidation, yet I’m confident that, as with every adventure, God is with me, watching over me, my strength, and my support.
Lots of changes, but have I changed?
I know that I’ve grown in knowledge and experience, kept learning new things, adapted to new places and responsibilities, and been honed by many opportunities and challenges along the way. I feel I still have the same passion for Christ and enthusiasm for ministry that I had in my teens and twenties.
Have I changed?
When talking with friends, we all say the same thing. We still feel like we did all these years ago, though with some aches and pains. I look in the mirror, and the unruly curls are still there… it’s just they’re now streaked with grey! I’ve grown older, hopefully wiser, but I haven’t changed.
Rev Rosie Frew
