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200+ Year-old St. Andrews Kirk Partners with Covenant Life Presbyterian Church in Historic Merger

Wed, Apr 12th 2023, 12:59 PM
Community/Charity

On Easter morning, a day that celebrates a Christian ritual of rebirth around the world, an historic rebirth took place in Nassau. 

Pastors from two Presbyterian churches took the pulpit with shared voices, sermons and congregations in a single space, unveiling a partnership between the well-established national institution, 213-year-old St. Andrew’s Kirk and the high-energy six-year-old Covenant Life Presbyterian Church. 

The historic merger, nearly a year in the making, arose out of discussions on a collaboration to hold a theology conference. 

Through e-mails, planning meetings, and even a lunch, the pastors from both churches realized not only did they share basic theological dictates, each has strengths and weaknesses that could complement one another on an ongoing basis long after the conference ended. Both churches are Presbyterian-governed and Reformed in their theologies, explained St. Andrew’s Kirk Pastor Bryn MacPhail, and each, he added, has a lot to gain from the other’s strengths. 

“Each congregation did a ‘gaps’ analysis, and we discovered that the Kirk’s weaker areas were areas of strength for Covenant Life Presbyterian Church and vice versa,” said MacPhail. “The Kirk offers the stability that comes from a 213-year-old ministry with excellent facilities, experienced leaders and a strong connection to a healthy denomination. Covenant Life (CLPC) is led by an experienced Bahamian pastor, Julian Russell, who has developed and nurtured young, energetic leaders passionate about sharing the gospel.” 

The timing, it turns out, was serendipitous. Covenant Life’s lease was running out and it was going to be forced to look for new premises—not an easy task for a young church with 50-60 members.

With after school and other community programs serving the neighbouring Bain and Grants’ Town communities, St. Andrew’s large congregation of 200-300 will benefit from the support of at least 30 members of Covenant Life who made their membership in the merged church official on Easter Sunday with up to two dozen other Covenant Life congregants likely to join. 

Pastors will share duties with MacPhail remaining Senior Pastor but at 85% of his current responsibilities. Covenant Life Pastor Julian will also be calling on lay pastors including Rekeno Carroll, a popular seminary student. And all agree the music is likely to play a greater role as both applaud contemporary along with classic. 

“We have already been greatly blessed by the members and leaders of Covenant Life Presbyterian Church since they began worshipping with us in January,” said MacPhail. “As they take this step to become members of St. Andrew’s Kirk on Easter Sunday, we see the kind Providence of God at work. Our mantra over the last few months has been, ‘We are better together’. 

“This is proving to be true as we augment all of our ministries with gifted persons from CLPC. CLPC’s founding pastor Dr. Julian Russell has done an excellent job equipping others to be leaders. We are adding to our Session (elders board) two of their “ruling elders”, Anthony Stubbs and Rekeno Carroll, and installing them on Easter Sunday. This is a historic moment in the 213-year history of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk, and with Covenant Life PC coming on board our future looks brighter than ever."

Services will continue to be held on Sundays at 10:30 am at the Kirk, as congregants call it, on Princess Street across from The Central Bank in the heart of historic Nassau.

 

On Easter morning, a day that celebrates a Christian ritual of rebirth around the world, an historic rebirth took place in Nassau. 
Pastors from two Presbyterian churches took the pulpit with shared voices, sermons and congregations in a single space, unveiling a partnership between the well-established national institution, 213-year-old St. Andrew’s Kirk and the high-energy six-year-old Covenant Life Presbyterian Church. 
The historic merger, nearly a year in the making, arose out of discussions on a collaboration to hold a theology conference. 
Through e-mails, planning meetings, and even a lunch, the pastors from both churches realized not only did they share basic theological dictates, each has strengths and weaknesses that could complement one another on an ongoing basis long after the conference ended. Both churches are Presbyterian-governed and Reformed in their theologies, explained St. Andrew’s Kirk Pastor Bryn MacPhail, and each, he added, has a lot to gain from the other’s strengths. 
“Each congregation did a ‘gaps’ analysis, and we discovered that the Kirk’s weaker areas were areas of strength for Covenant Life Presbyterian Church and vice versa,” said MacPhail. “The Kirk offers the stability that comes from a 213-year-old ministry with excellent facilities, experienced leaders and a strong connection to a healthy denomination. Covenant Life (CLPC) is led by an experienced Bahamian pastor, Julian Russell, who has developed and nurtured young, energetic leaders passionate about sharing the gospel.” 
The timing, it turns out, was serendipitous. Covenant Life’s lease was running out and it was going to be forced to look for new premises—not an easy task for a young church with 50-60 members.
With after school and other community programs serving the neighbouring Bain and Grants’ Town communities, St. Andrew’s large congregation of 200-300 will benefit from the support of at least 30 members of Covenant Life who made their membership in the merged church official on Easter Sunday with up to two dozen other Covenant Life congregants likely to join. 
Pastors will share duties with MacPhail remaining Senior Pastor but at 85% of his current responsibilities. Covenant Life Pastor Julian will also be calling on lay pastors including Rekeno Carroll, a popular seminary student. And all agree the music is likely to play a greater role as both applaud contemporary along with classic. 
“We have already been greatly blessed by the members and leaders of Covenant Life Presbyterian Church since they began worshipping with us in January,” said MacPhail. “As they take this step to become members of St. Andrew’s Kirk on Easter Sunday, we see the kind Providence of God at work. Our mantra over the last few months has been, ‘We are better together’. 
“This is proving to be true as we augment all of our ministries with gifted persons from CLPC. CLPC’s founding pastor Dr. Julian Russell has done an excellent job equipping others to be leaders. We are adding to our Session (elders board) two of their “ruling elders”, Anthony Stubbs and Rekeno Carroll, and installing them on Easter Sunday. This is a historic moment in the 213-year history of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk, and with Covenant Life PC coming on board our future looks brighter than ever."
Services will continue to be held on Sundays at 10:30 am at the Kirk, as congregants call it, on Princess Street across from The Central Bank in the heart of historic Nassau.
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