Erica Matteo and Luke Anderson, both aged 19, have been ordained as elders at Sandyhills Parish Church in Baillieston, Glasgow, making them among the youngest people in recent Church of Scotland history to hold this position. The ordination service took place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, and the pair are now part of the Kirk Session, the church's governing body responsible for implementing decisions of the Church's General Assembly and ensuring the congregation adheres to them. According to BBC News, their appointment reflects efforts within the denomination to engage younger members in leadership roles.
The two teenagers completed an 18-month internship programme during which they regularly attended Kirk Session meetings before their formal ordination. The Herald Scotland reports that both Erica and Luke have already taken communion duties during their internship, demonstrating their active involvement in church life. Under Church of Scotland rules, the minimum age for an elder is 18, so both teenagers met the formal age requirement for their positions.
Why were they chosen?
Sandyhills minister Rev Norman Afrin, who himself was one of the Church of Scotland's youngest new ministers when he began serving at the parish in 2018 at age 26, said the need for younger elders had been discussed regularly at Kirk Session meetings. Both Erica and Luke's names emerged as candidates through this process. Rev Afrin described their contributions as bringing
a depth and spiritual insight that was very welcome. They carried a maturity and wisdom and it has been such a joy to watch them grow into this office - they never felt like interns. Their contributions were always well received and they were met with warmth, love and open arms.
What are their backgrounds?
Erica lives near the church and works in a shopping centre's smoothie bar. She reflected on her experience joining the Kirk Session, saying
I was quite nervous before going into my first Kirk Session meeting but when I walked in I knew everyone there and I calmed down. I've really enjoyed every meeting, finding out how the church is run. The biggest thing for me has been experiencing the love of my church family, that they wanted younger people to step in and see what being an elder is like.
Luke is from Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire, and is a third-year student in sports business management at the University of Stirling. According to The Herald Scotland, he has already preached at Sandyhills and nearby churches. Luke is considering becoming a minister himself and explained his motivation for taking on the elder role:
I quite like being in leadership and seeing how stuff works, and I thought I would maybe have some good ideas to contribute. As soon as I heard Erica was the other intern elder, I knew we would work well as a team and bounce ideas off each other.
What does this mean for the church?
Sandyhills Parish Church reports that approximately a third of its members are under the age of 30, positioning the congregation as notably younger than many other Church of Scotland parishes. This appointment comes at a time when church attendance across Scotland is declining and the Church of Scotland is selling off some of its historic buildings. Church guidance has encouraged congregations to consider appointing people over 18 as elders and to create youth-representative roles on Kirk Sessions, reflecting broader efforts to sustain congregational life through intergenerational leadership.
The ordination of Erica and Luke demonstrates one parish's practical response to these challenges, embedding younger voices in decision-making structures and creating pathways for teenage members to develop leadership skills within a supportive community environment.
