Reverend Kim Hurst grew so fond of Malta she moved from northeast England to become the first female minister to be appointed to St Andrew’s Scots church, in Valletta.
Rev. Hurst, 52, will be holding her welcome service today at 7pm supported by Archbishop Paul Cremona and the international community.
She is possibly the first ordained female priest in Malta but she does not let gender define her role.
“I never describe myself as a female minister. I describe myself as a minister who happens to be female.
“As a woman, there would be things that I’m able to do that men are not comfortable doing just as there will be things male ministers would do that might be difficult for me,” she said, adding she was happy to work alongside any gender, nationality or religious denomination.
I don’t think that when we’re looking for a priest we should look at their gender but rather at their heart
“I don’t think that when we’re looking for a priest we should look at their gender but rather at their heart, their love for God and the people they work with,” she explained, adding it was not up to her to say what the Catholic Church should do. The Catholic Church refuses to ordain female priests.
It has been 40 years since the Methodist Church in England ordained its first woman.
St Andrew’s Scots church, at the junction of South and Old Bakery streets, opened in 1857 and was originally erected for a Presbyterian congregation. Eventually, the Methodist congregation from the former Methodist church in Floriana joined the Presbyterian congregation to form a united congregation and St Andrew’s became a Partnership church of the Church of Scotland and the Methodist Church.
Nowadays, the church has members from 20 different countries and serves as the headquarters of the International Association for Refugees that works with migrants.
English language lessons are held there weekly for anyone who would like to integrate within the community.
The church runs Malta Microfinance, a micro-loan scheme aimed to help stabilise family and community groups.
Originally from Gateshead, near Newcastle, Rev. Hurst has been a priest since 1998 and applied to come to Malta as both her husband, Steve, who has been visiting since 1968, and herself are fond of Malta.
“We saw this as an opportunity to serve God somewhere that was precious to us and at the same time be able to care for the international community.”
Before becoming a priest, Rev. Hurst worked with young people with drug and alcohol problems and felt that the next step was to care for their parents as well. As a minister, she now cares for people of all ages.
Apart from looking after the worshipping life of the church, the Methodist minister also carries out chaplaincy work at Mater Dei Hospital.
“I want to be involved in the community and not just in the church. I am here to love and care for the people of Malta, whether they are Catholic, Protestant or non-Christian.”
http://www.saintandrewsmalta.com/