XXI MOTHERWELL:
7th DECEMBER, 2004
At MOTHERWELL:
DALZIEL ST. ANDREW`S PARISH CHURCH HALLS on the Seventh Day of December, Two
Thousand and Four years, on which day the PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON met and was
constituted in prayer.
136. SEDERUNT
The Rev. James M. Gibson, Moderator,
the Rev. Shaw J. Paterson, Clerk and others as per signed lists in retentis
(Total – 42 Ministers; 3 Deacons: 68 Elders)
137. MINUTES
The Minutes of Meetings XVIII, IXX and XX
(2004) were read and approved.
138. INTIMATIONS
Intimations
were made.
139. OVERTURE
AND INTERIM ACT AMENDING ACT III 2001
The
Presbytery heard a report from the Convener of the Co-ordinating Committee
concerning the above Act.
It was moved and seconded and there
voted: For 115 and Against 0.
The Presbytery called for
the report of the Co-ordinating Committee which was given in by the Rev.
Margaret F. Currie, Convener.
It was moved and seconded:
1. The Presbytery receives the report.
2. The Presbytery appoints the Rev. G. MacDonald (Convener),
Rev. R. Kent, Rev. G. Palmer, Rev. G. Raeburn, together with Mr. D. Alexander,
Miss S. Bell, Mrs. M. Dickie, Sheriff H. Neilson, and Mr. J. Weir as its Review
Committee.
It was moved and seconded as a counter-motion to
Deliverance 2:
The Presbytery instructs the Co-ordinating Committee to
nominate a Review Committee, convened by a Presbyter with a minimum of five
years` service in the Presbytery, and to bring the nomination to the February
meeting for approval.
On a vote being taken For and Against, it carried For.
3. The Presbytery instructs
the Review Committee to review the procedures and the total organisation of the
Presbytery including the Presbytery Office.
4. The Presbytery instructs the Review Committee at each
Business Meeting of the Presbytery to inform the Presbytery of the area of the
Presbytery`s work it has been considering and the area or areas it is then
going on to examine, to enable anyone who wishes, the opportunity to submit a
relevant contribution to the Committee.
5. The Presbytery congratulates the Rev.
Fiona Maxwell on her appointment to the church and parish of Dalmuir Barclay.
ADDENDUM
The Presbytery gives power to the
Co-ordinating Committee to appoint two Ministers and two Elders, together with
the Presbytery Clerk, to meet with representatives of the Presbytery of Lanark
to consider the Remit from the General Assembly “to re-visit the matter of the
size and number of Presbyteries with a view to enabling them to fulfil their
missionary responsibilities more effectively” and to report back.
The Deliverance as amended was then agreed to.
141. CHURCH AND SOCIAL INTERESTS
The Presbytery called for the report
of the Church and Social Interest Committee which was given in by Mr. Duncan M.
Gray, Convener.
It was moved, seconded and agreed :
1. The Presbytery notes that the Rev.
William McKaig wishes to withdraw his nomination as part-time Chaplain at
Coathill Hospital, for personal reasons.
2. The Presbytery seeks nominations from ministers for this 1.7
session post as part-time Chaplain at Coathill Hospital.
142. PASTORAL SUPPORT
The Presbytery called for the report
of the Pastoral Support Committee which was given in by the Rev. Karen E.
Harbison, Convener.
It was moved, seconded and agreed:
1. The
Presbytery receives the report.
2. The
Presbytery receives the report on the Quinquennial visit to East Kilbride: Old,
commends the Minister, Kirk Session and congregation for their team work,
dedication and vision: for their work with a wide variety of people and age
groups within the church; and their
desire to engage with their community.
3. The Presbytery receives the report on the Quinquennial visit to Larkhall: Trinity, commends the Minister, Office Bearers and congregation for their hard work and faithful ministry to each other and to the community in which they are set, providing a welcome place for everyone; and for their shared and positive view of how the churches in Larkhall might co-operate in worship, work and witness.
143. PARISH PLANNING COMMITTEE
The
Presbytery called for the report of the Parish Planning Committee which was
given in by Mr. David Alexander, Convener.
It
was moved and seconded :
1. The Presbytery receives the report.
2.
The Presbytery notes the concurrence of the Parish Appraisal Committee
in relation to the call to Hamilton: West on the basis of a Reviewable Tenure,
to be reviewed on the occasion of a vacancy at Hamilton: Burnbank lw North or
at 5 years, whichever is the earlier.
It was moved and seconded as a Counter Motion to
Section 2 a new Section 2 and 3.
2. The Presbytery cist proceedings in relation to Hamilton:
West until the Parish Planning Committee, as part of the review of the Hamilton
attestation area, has consulted with representatives of Hamilton: Burnbank,
Hamilton: Gilmour and Whitehill; Hamilton: North, Hamilton: Old, and Hamilton:
West.
3. The Presbytery instruct the Parish Planning Committee to
proceed with these consultations without delay and report to the February
meeting.
On a vote being taken For and Against, it carried
Against.
3. The Presbytery grants a call to Hamilton: St. Andrew`s on the basis of Reviewable Tenure, to be reviewed on the occasion of a vacancy at Hamilton: St. John`s or at 7 years, whichever is the earlier.
4. MOTHERWELL:
SOUTH DALZIEL
The Presbytery approves the request
by Motherwell: South Dalziel to the removal of vegetation from the steeple at a
cost of £5,640 inclusive of VAT. Funds
are to hand.
5. HAMILTON: OLD
The Presbytery approves the request
by Hamilton: Old to have accounts for property matters, totalling £19,006.79
inclusive of VAT being paid from funds held on the congregation’s behalf by the
General Trustees.
6. AIRDRIE:
NEW MONKLAND
The
Presbytery approves the request by Airdrie: New Monkland in providing
facilities to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to church and
separate halls estimated at £32,000. Approval is also given for release of
funds held on the congregation’s behalf by the General Trustees and to seek
grants and loans which may be available.
7. BELLSHILL: MACDONALD MEMORIAL
The Presbytery approves the request
by Bellshill: Macdonald Memorial to provide facilities to comply with the
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to the church halls estimated at £57,000.
Approval is also given to seek grants and loans which may be available.
8.
DALSERF
The Presbytery approves the professional Second Follow-on Property Report on Dalserf and awaits the response of the office bearers as to the contents and recommendations.
The Presbytery notes the
concurrence of the Parish Appraisal Committee in relation to the call to
Chapelhall on the basis of Reviewable Tenure for a period of 5 years with
encouragement to the congregation to use the period before the review to
develop their work and mission in the new housing developments in Chapelhall.
The Deliverance, as amended, was
agreed.
144. NATIONAL PLAN
The
Presbytery called for the report of the Parish Planning Committee on the National
Plan as remitted from the General Assembly 2004, which was given in by Mr.
David Alexander, Convener.
It
was moved and seconded :
1. The Presbytery receives the report.
2. The Presbytery of Hamilton has
significant reservations about both the principle and the detailed basis of
calculation of the proposed National Plan for the reasons outlined in the
accompanying paper. The Presbytery of
Hamilton, therefore, is opposed to the implementation of the proposed National
Plan in the terms outlined.
It was moved and seconded as a
Counter-Motion:
The Presbytery of Hamilton invites
the Committee on Parish Appraisal to give meaningful consideration to the
Presbytery`s recommendations and comments as it seeks to co-ordinate Presbytery
planning through the implementation of a National Plan.
It was moved and seconded as a
second Counter-Motion:
The Presbytery of Hamilton has
significant reservations about both the principle and the detailed basis of
calculation of the proposed National Plan for the reasons outlined in the
accompanying paper. The Presbytery of
Hamilton receives with caution the National Plan.
On a vote being taken For and
Against the two Counter-Motions, it carried For the second.
On a vote being taken For and
Against the Counter-Motion, it carried Against.
The Deliverance was agreed.
The Presbytery called for
the report of the Ministry Development Committee which was given in by the Rev.
Michael G. Lyall, Convener.
It was moved, seconded and
agreed:
1. The Presbytery believes that the present forms of tenure no
longer serve the church well. The
Presbytery recognises that Flexible Tenure is a possible way forward and would
encourage the Board of Practice and Procedure to bring forward detailed
legislation for consideration.
2. The
Presbytery notes receipt of study leave reports from
·
Rev. Una Stewart (Strathaven: West) – Lectures and Seminars at
Princeton Theological Seminary.
·
Rev. Shaw Paterson (Strathaven: Rankin lw Chapelton) – Masters in
Palliative Care.
· Rev. John Fairful (Bargeddie) – attendance at The Shepherds Conference.
146. VACANCY PROCEDURES
The
Presbytery called for the report of the Vacancy Procedures Committee which was
given in by the Rev. Robert Kent, Convener.
It was moved, seconded and agreed:
1. The
Presbytery receives the report.
147. STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE
The Presbytery called for the report
of the Stewardship and Finance Committee which was given in by the Mr. David
Watt, Convener.
It was moved, seconded and agreed:
1.
The Presbytery receives the report.
2.
The Presbytery notes that a revised format of Congregational Accounts
has been approved by the General Assembly`s Board of Stewardship and Finance
and distributed to Congregational Treasurers and instructs congregations to
report in this format in respect of the year ending 31st December,
2004.
3.
The Presbytery instructs financial courts to satisfy themselves that
appropriate arrangements have been made to ensure compliance with the required
reporting arrangements, including audit, and to submit the examination
checklist completed during the audit process with the Congregational accounts
for 2004.
4.
The Presbytery instructs it’s financial advisory team/accounts
inspection committee to assist Congregations in ensuring compliance with the
revised reporting requirements and to review submitted accounts on a timely
basis.
5.
The
Presbytery notes the views of its Committee on the application of additional
voluntary stipend payments.
The Presbytery called for the report of the Parish
Development Committee which was given in by the Rev. Klaus O. Buwert, Convener.
It was moved, seconded and agreed:
1. The Presbytery receives the report.
149. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further
business the Presbytery adjourned at
9.33 p.m. to meet for Ordinary Business within Motherwell:
Dalziel St. Andrew`s Parish Church Halls on Tuesday, 1st February,
2005 at 7.00 pm
………………………………………… Moderator
………………………………………….
Presbytery Clerk