Two teenagers ordained as Church of Scotland elders in Glasgow

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 13:02 · Archive

Two 19-year-olds have been ordained as elders at a Church of Scotland parish in Glasgow, among the youngest in recent history.

Erica Matteo and Luke Anderson, both 19, were ordained as elders at a special service at Sandyhills Parish Church in Baillieston, Glasgow. They are now part of the Kirk Session, responsible for the congregation's spiritual life and local leadership, and are among the youngest people in recent Church of Scotland history to receive such appointments.

The church has a notably young congregation, with a third under the age of 30. People travel from as far as Ayrshire to attend its Sunday night group for young adults. The parish has grown significantly, welcoming more than 50 new members in recent years. The church's minister, Rev Norman Afrin, was himself one of the Church of Scotland's youngest new ministers when he began serving there in 2018 at the age of 26. He created the internship programme through which Matteo and Anderson attended Kirk Session meetings over 18 months before their ordination.

Matteo, who lives near the church and works in a smoothie bar in Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries shopping centre, said she was surprised when asked to be an intern elder, noting that some friends thought the role was for older people. She said her friends and family have been supportive.

How it is being reported

• Two teenagers become youngest Church of Scotland elders in recent historyTwo teenagers have become the youngest people in recent Church of Scotland history to be appointed to leadership roles.Glasgow Times · 27 Oct, 15:41
• Two teenagers ordained as Church of Scotland eldersErica Matteo and Luke Anderson - both 19 - were ordained as elders at a special service in Sandyhills Parish Church in Baillieston.BBC Glasgow And West · 27 Oct, 14:09
• Teens become youngest in recent Church of Scotland history to be ordained as eldersTwo teenagers at a church in the east end of Glasgow have become the youngest people in recent Church of Scotland history to be appointed to key leadership roles.The Herald · 27 Oct, 12:14

In this story: Erica Matteo · Luke Anderson · Rev Norman Afrin · Sandyhills Parish Church · Church of Scotland · Baillieston · Glasgow

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log