The Rev Lynne Hall was officially ordained by the Church last Tuesday, after a six-year journey to become a minister.
Mrs Hall has been with the Knapdale Waikaka Church since 2003, and said she felt compelled to fill the vacant ministry position.
"Essentially we hadn’t had a minister, we had interims, part-time and retired people,
"But in 2019 I said to the leadership I felt called to ministry in a format which could suit our parish best," she said.
Training and study is required for ordination, with two main methods of receiving certification.
Mrs Hall said she chose to stick to the region, training and studying as a locally-ordained minister, rather than travelling away.
"Basically, you and the church have an agreement that you will be their minister and they will support you through your training.
"So for all intents and purposes, it’s like an apprenticeship," she said.
Mrs Hall said the ceremony was the official date, but she had been training on the job the entire time.
"Basically, I’ve been their minister for the past four years.
"[Tuesday night] was the first ordination, and the induction for the Knapdale Waikaka Presbyterian Church," she said.
Her training involved taking nine papers to finish a degree in theology and completing a specific programme at the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership in Dunedin.
This involved a training agreement within the Presbytery, where a mentor helped Mrs Hall in the journey to ordination.
"There’s quite a few things about being a minister you wouldn’t know from the theory — the on-the-ground stuff.
"It’s been quite a team effort," she said.
Mrs Hall said her journey to being ordained was one of accumulation, where her work as a teacher and her ties to the community all gradually led her down the road to ministry.
"The path seemed very natural as a progression, rather than waking up one morning and wanting to do it.
"I’m 56 and I think the preparation has been lifelong.
"All the skills I’ve had as a teacher, working in the community, they’ve all added to what I’m able to bring to the position."
With her study behind her and being fully ordained, Mrs Hall said it was an amazing feeling and she looked forward to a future serving her community.
"It’s very special.
"It’s just really cool that it’s happened now.
"I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time, as have the members of the parish," she said.
