Two teenagers have made recent history by becoming elders in the Church of Scotland.
19-year-olds Erica Matteo and Luke Anderson were ordained at a special service in Sandyhills Parish Church, Baillieston in the east end of Glasgow on Sunday 25 October. They’re now part of the Kirk Session, which is responsible for the spiritual life and local leadership of the congregation.
They’re the youngest people in recent Church of Scotland history to be appointed to key leadership roles, but are in good company as Sandyhills’ minister Rev Norman Afrin was one of the Church of Scotland's youngest new ministers when he began serving there in 2018 at the age of 26.
He created an internship programme for the teenagers which saw them attend meetings of the Kirk Session over the last 18 months.
A third of the congregation at Sandyhills are under the age of 30, and people travel from as far away as Ayrshire to attend its Sunday night group for young adults.
The parish church is growing and has seen more than 50 new members join in the last few years.
Rev Afrin said: "It had been mentioned a number of times at Kirk Session meetings that we needed younger elders and Luke and Erica's names both came up as two individuals we see a heart for Jesus in, a passion for the Bible in and a desire for the Kingdom of God in.
"They have brought a depth, and spiritual insight that was very welcomed. They carried a maturity and wisdom and it has been such a joy to watch them grow into this office - they never felt like interns.
"Their contributions were always well received and they were met with warmth, love and open arms. For me as the minister it is just further evidence of how God is at work in Sandyhills Church. How He is raising up a people for such a time as this."
Erica, who works in a local smoothie bar said: "Norman had a chat with me one Sunday and asked if I would like to be an intern elder, and I was just thinking ‘why me?'.
"When I told one of my friends, she did say ‘isn't that for older people’, but all my friends and family have been really supportive.
"I was quite nervous before going into my first Kirk Session meeting but when I walked in I knew everyone there and I calmed down.
"The biggest thing for me has been experiencing the love of my church family, that they wanted younger people to step in and see what being an elder is like. It's all to do with the love the church family have for us."
Luke, who’s a third-year student in sports business management at the University of Stirling, added: "The whole experience has been amazing. We've both had communion duties, and it's been an absolute honour to serve communion, to serve God in that way.
"There's been some interesting times at the Kirk Session meetings but it's all done through love and brought back to prayer."
Luke, who’s now considering becoming a minister, said he feels “a real heart for church and real heart for the Church of Scotland."
Describing the appointments as “wonderful and inspiring”, Rt Rev Gordon Kennedy, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, added that he was encouraged to hear “about young people engaging with the Church in such a committed way.
"My prayers, and I'm sure the prayers of people across the Church of Scotland, go with you both, Erica and Luke, as you walk into this way of service and faith."