Community Ministry in Practice

Reflections on Our SICA CPD Evening - Thursday 23rd April 2026

Written by Rev. Diane McLeish

On the 23rd of April, Aileen and I had the privilege of holding space for the Scottish Independent Celebrants Association (SICA) in a CPD session exploring Community Ministry / Celebrancy, what it is, why it matters, and how it is lived in real communities.

Although the session was designed for ministers and celebrants, the heart of the conversation speaks to something much wider: how we show up for one another, how we build trust, and how ceremony grows out of relationship.

The evening was warm, honest and deeply personal. It was nice to have some of our own Open Sanctuary ministers join us. People shared stories about the communities they belong to, the connections they hope to strengthen, and the ways they feel called to serve. We chose not to record the session, because so much of what was shared was tender and rooted in lived experience. Community ministry is intimate work; it asks for presence, not playback.

What we offered that night was not a lecture, it was community ministry in practice.

Aileen, who is completing her Ordination Year and already serving beautifully within her own community, brought her experience of working with schools, care homes and local groups. I brought my own journey of building relationships across Perthshire over many years. Together, we held a space where people could reflect on what community ministry / celebrancy means to them.

What We Explored Together

We began by grounding ourselves in the values that help us gather well: listening with care, respecting individuality, holding confidentiality, and allowing the tone to stay gentle and spacious. These simple principles are the foundation of my community ministry.

Participants arrived with one‑page maps of their communities, the people they know, the groups they belong to, the places where they feel connected and the opportunities they sense emerging. The conversations that followed were full of honesty, humour and hope. People spoke about the joy of small interactions, the courage it takes to step into new spaces and the desire to serve in ways that feel authentic.

Aileen and I shared our own stories too. My early celebrancy work began in small rooms, mother‑and‑toddler groups, care homes, community halls, long before I ever stood in front of larger audiences. Those early conversations within my communities led to naming ceremonies, which led to weddings, funerals and memorials as well as other rites of passage ceremonies, which led to invitations from groups I hadn’t even known existed. My work has always grown through relationship, not advertising.

Aileen spoke about her work with young people, care home residents and community groups, conversations about death, grief, remembrance and the things that matter most. Her ministry, like mine, has unfolded organically through trust, presence and genuine connection.

Together, we named a truth at the centre of this work: Community celebrancy is not about self‑promotion. It is about service. It is about showing up where you are needed.

Community Ministry Beyond the CPD Session

For those who don’t know my work, community ministry is woven through every part of my life. It happens in kitchens, care homes, gardens, community halls, funeral homes, and sometimes at the side of a field gate walking my dog Freya. It happens in laughter and in grief, in celebration and in uncertainty.

Ceremonies, whether weddings, funerals, namings or memorials, are not “events” to me. They are human crossings. Thresholds. Moments where something shifts and people need to be held with gentleness and care.

A special part of my work is what I think of as Anam Cara, soul‑friendship. It’s not a service I offer; it’s a way of being with people. Deep listening. Presence without judgement. Walking beside someone through whatever life is asking of them.

No two days are the same. Some mornings following our Open Sanctuary morning meditation I begin with writing vows or eulogies. Some days are spent meeting families. Some days are spent travelling across Perthshire, singing badly in the car, or walking Freya through the woods to reset my spirit. But every day is rooted in the same intention: to serve with love, integrity and presence.

Why This Work Matters

Being a celebrant is not a job. It is a privilege. I get to stand beside people at their most significant moments, welcoming new life, honouring love, marking endings, and supporting people through transitions. I get to witness the courage, tenderness and humour that make communities what they are.

Looking Ahead

For those who missed the CPD session, we hope to offer another conversation in the autumn. Community ministry can be explored in so many ways and it is endlessly rewarding.

And to all my communities I want you to know that I am here. As a minister as a companion, and as someone who will stand beside you whenever life asks you to pause.

With much warmth,

Diane