Overwhelming support from Dornoch Firth congregation for appointment of Rev Carol Anne Porter as permanent minister
A permanent minister has been appointed to Dornoch Firth Church of Scotland after an overwhelming vote of support from the congregation.
Rev Carol Anne Porter, who has been serving as locum minister at Dornoch Cathedral, preached at a service on Sunday, January 12, as the only candidate for the permanent position.
The congregation then voted 111:5 in favour of her taking up the post on a permanent basis.
Dornoch Firth Church of Scotland interim moderator, Rev Alistair John Drummond, said: “Carol Anne Porter has accordingly been elected and appointed as the new minister, subject to the approval of presbytery.
“I am delighted to say that before the close of the congregational meeting at which the results of voting were announced, Rev Porter gave her verbal acceptance of the call based on the election result.”
The last permanent minister at the historic cathedral was Rev Susan Brown, who left the post in September 2021 after more than 23 years in the pulpit.
Since then there have been changes to the structure of the Church of Scotland in Sutherland and elsewhere due to dwindling congregations.
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The new Dornoch Firth Church of Scotland charge was formed on January 1, 2024, bringing together the congregations of Dornoch Cathedral, Creich and Kincardine, Croick and Edderton.
The church’s nominating committee chose Rev Porter as the sole candidate at a meeting held at Dornoch on Saturday, December 14.
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Anyone whose name appeared on the electoral register of the Dornoch Firth Church of Scotland congregation was eligible to vote.
Social media users were quick to congratulate Rev Porter on her appointment, with Sally Hudson Ross commenting: “Wonderful news for one and all!” while Duncan Meechan posted: “You do a fantastic job”.
Originally from Bathgate and a former music teacher, Rev Porter was ordained in January 2009 and her first call was to Fraserburgh West linked with Rathen West in the north-east. She then moved to Ludgate Church of Scotland in Alloa.
She decided to move north permanently after visiting the Highland to research an art project on migration past and present.
“I was taking a little time out of the ministry but in the summer of 2021 I began to feel it was time to return,” she said. “This coincided with Susan Brown's departure for the Borders and I was invited to join the preaching rota at the cathedral that autumn, which in turn led to me being invited to continue with the congregation as a locum.”
Rev Porter continued: It’s been a joy to get to know folk in the church and in the communities it seeks to serve. I have really come to love them.
“The new congregation is still growing into itself, which makes it an exciting time to be part of its ministry, what we will become and what new things we will do together are ours to discover.”
“I am so pleased to be able to continue to walk with the congregation and support it in its mission and service to the parish and beyond, they are a terrific bunch of people. I feel so privileged.”
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