"It is humbling and exciting to have the opportunity to serve here,'' Mr Masters said yesterday.
The church's role in New Zealand culture was changing, but "that does not mean that the church doesn't have a role to play'', he said.
A University of Otago bachelor of theology graduate, Mr Masters (33) previously served for four and a-half years as the minister at St John's Presbyterian Church in Rotorua, before returning to Dunedin early last year.
Among his experiences in Rotorua were some tough times, when the church accidentally burned down in early 2017.
He then worked closely with the community and helped prepare to rebuild.
"We discovered how much goodwill there was towards us in the community and incredible generosity and hospitality towards us.''
Mr Masters last week handed in his thesis for an Otago master of theology degree, which he had worked on since heading south last year.
He now plans to do a lot of listening and learning, including about First Church's multicultural congregation, which includes members of the Cook Islands and Samoan communities.
"I'm looking forward to getting to know the people, being a part of the church community and discovering how First Church can partner with the people of Dunedin in building a peace-filled and gracious city.''
New Zealand's overall spirituality was reflected in many ways, including in a love for the environment, and a desire to overcome poverty and better support people who were struggling, he said.
He believed that God was "present in the community and in people's lives'', and the church could contribute positively to the wider society.
"We can meet people where they are and partner with them,'' he said.
Mr Masters succeeds both the Rev Dr Tokerau Joseph, who in late 2017 "accepted a call'' to become minister of the Mairangi and Castor Bays Presbyterian Church in Auckland's North Shore, and associate minister the Rev Anne Thomson who recently ended her ministry at First Church.
Mr Masters and his wife Jo have two children, Adam (7) and Natalie (4).
Mr Masters will be formally inducted to First Church in a service at 7pm tomorrow.
