III MOTHERWELL:
At MOTHERWELL: DALZIEL ST. ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH
HALLS on the 7th Day of
March, Two Thousand and Six years, on which day the PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON met
and was constituted in prayer.
18. SEDERUNT
The Rev. Norman B. McKee, Moderator,
the Rev. Shaw J. Paterson, Clerk and others as per signed lists in retentis
(Total – 47 Ministers; 1 Deacon; 76 Elders; 8 Corresponding Members).
19. MINUTES
The Minute of Meetings I and II (2006) were read and approved.
20. INTIMATIONS
Intimations were
made.
21. VACANCY PROCEDURES COMMITTEE
The
Presbytery called for the report of the Vacancy Procedures Committee which was
given in by the Rev. Robert A. Hamilton, Vice-Convener.
1. The
Presbytery notes the following actions taken by its Vacancy Procedures
Committee which
a) has approved the release of the Rev. Randolph Scott from the Parish of
Airdrie: New Monkland lw Greengairs to assume the Call to
b) has appointed the Rev. Ecilo Selemani as Interim Moderator at the Parish
of Airdrie: New Monkland lw Greengairs:
c) has appointed the Rev. Dr. Ronald J. Maxwell Stitt as Interim Moderator
at the Parish of Chapelhall.
2. The
Presbytery expresses appreciation of the work of the Rev. Randolph Scott as
Interim Moderator at Chapelhall.
AIRDRIE:
NEW MONKLAND lw GREENGAIRS
Parties
were called, appeared and spoke.
The
Presbytery called for the report of the Parish Planning Committee which was
given in by Mr. David Alexander, Convener.
It
was moved, seconded and agreed:
The
Presbytery notes that, in terms of the Airdrie Plan, leave be granted to call a
Minister without restriction.
MOTHERWELL:
CROSSHILL
The
Presbytery of Hamilton having received a letter from the Rev. W. Stuart Dunn,
L.Th. intimating his retiral, and having given permission at its meeting on
Parties
were called, appeared and spoke.
The
Presbytery called for the report of the Parish Planning Committee which was
given in by Mr. David Alexander, Convener.
It
was moved, seconded and agreed:
The
Presbytery instructs the Session Clerks of Newarthill, Motherwell: Dalziel St.
Andrew’s, Motherwell: Manse Road, Motherwell: North, Motherwell: St.
Margaret’s, and Motherwell: St. Mary’s, to return completed Congregational
Appraisal Forms to the Presbytery Clerk no later than 17th March,
2006.
The
Presbytery called for the report of the Parish Planning Committee which was
given in by Mr. David Alexander, Convener.
It
was moved, seconded and agreed:
The
Presbytery notes that permission to call a Minister, under the terms contained
in the Motherwell Plan, had still to be granted by the Parish Appraisal
Committee.
22. WISHAW:
The Presbytery, meeting in
Private.
23. PRESENTATIONS
The Moderator presented to
Gavin Black and Margaret Rose, a book token for £100 as a gift from The Baird
Trust given to candidates for the Church of Scotland Ministry in their fourth placement.
The
Moderator presented to the Rev. James Hastie an appropriate gift in recognition
of his services as Interim Treasurer.
24. RESOLUTION TO APPOINT COMMISSIONERS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The Presbytery resolved
that at its next meeting, the Clerk would move the nomination of Commissioners
to the General Assembly according to the rota with the addition of Ministers
and Elders in accordance with the number of places allocated.
Rev.
Arthur P. Barrie Rev.
Mhorag Macdonald
Rev. David
G. Burt Rev. Margaret F. Currie
Rev. Dr. Ronald J. M. Stitt Rev.
Andrew Thomson
Rev.
Lindsay Schluter Rev.
Patricia A. Carruth
Rev. Alan
W. Gibson Rev.
William G. McKaig
Rev. Derek
W. Hughes Rev.
Gordon R. Palmer
Rev.
Leslie W. Thorne Rev.
Kenneth A. L. Mayne
Rev. Agnes
P. Low Rev.
Sandi McGill
Rev. Dr.
John L. McPake Rev.
Robert A. Hamilton
The Very
Rev. Dr. Hugh R. Wyllie Rev.
Shaw J.
Rev.
Norman B. McKee
Ministers, with Ruling Elders, appointed by:
Larkhall:
Trinity
Strathaven:
Avendale Old & Drumclog Coatbridge:
Motherwell:
Dalziel St. Andrew’s East
Kilbride:
Motherwell:
St. Mary’s
Overtown Uddingston:
Burnhead
Airdrie:
New Wellwynd
Uddingston:
Old Strathaven:
Rankin lw Chapelton
together with:
Mr. David
Alexander, Mr. J. David Park, Mr. George Robertson and Mr. J. Paul Cathcart, (Deacon)
25. CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE
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, seconded and agreed:
1. The Presbytery receives
the report.
2. The Presbytery notes the resignation of
Mr. James McRae as an Additional Elder and thanks him for his many years of
service – especially with the Organ Scholarship Scheme from its inception.
3. The Presbytery appoints Mrs. Jean
Schofield to oversee the Organ Scholarship Scheme.
4. The Presbytery appoints Mr. G. Baird (Convener), Rev. A. Low, Rev. A. Moore, Mr. K. Griffith and Mr. W. Hawthorne, to form a Line Management Group for the employees of Presbytery.
The
Presbytery called for the report of the Parish Development Committee which was
given in by the Rev. Peter N. Johnston, Convener.
It was moved, seconded and agreed
:
1. The
Presbytery receives the report.
2. The
Presbytery nominates Ms Jillian Neilson to be Presbytery’s Youth Delegate to
the General Assembly 2005.
3. The Presbytery encourages congregations
to complete the questionnaire on Congregational Development.
27. MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT
The Presbytery, meeting in Private, 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:
The Presbytery meeting again
in
2. The Presbytery notes
receipts of the following Study Leave Application:-
Rev. Andrew Thomson (Airdrie:
Broomknoll lw Calderbank) – an examination of healthcare chaplaincy, in
particular focussing on how the religious and the spiritual needs of patients
are met within a context of pastoral care, from 1st March to 10th
April 2006.
The Presbytery called for the report
of the Church and Social Interest Committee which was given in by Mr. Duncan
Gray, Convener.
It was moved, seconded
and agreed:
1. The Presbytery receives
the report.
2. The Presbytery
recognises that the present Invalidity Benefit System requires overhaul to
provide fairer support for genuinely disabled people, recognising that there
are many who could return to the workforce if suitable provision was made.
3. The Presbytery expresses
concern at the way in which the proposals contained within the Government’s
Green Paper on the Invalidity Benefit System would impinge on those who are
most vulnerable. Concern is also
expressed at the proposal to have employment advisers situated in General
Practitioners’ premises, and the responsibility which would be put on health
professionals generally.
4.
The
Presbytery instructs the Clerk to send a copy of this Deliverance to the Church
and Society Council and Department of Work and Pensions.
It was moved, seconded and agreed as an
Addendum :
The Presbytery expresses dismay at the
content of the production “Jerry
Springer – The Opera” at the Kings’ Theatre,
The Presbytery called for the report of the Parish Planning Committee which was given in by Mr. David Findlay, Vice-Convener.
It was moved and seconded:
1. The Presbytery receives
the report.
2. Presbytery Plan -
Staffing
i) The Presbytery
instructs the Parish Planning Committee to allocate the post of Congregational Development Officer as one of
the centrally deployed paid posts under the Presbytery Plan.
ii)
The Presbytery instructs the Parish Planning
Committee, in consultation with the Ministry Development Committee, to bring
forward definitive proposals concerning the distribution of any additional paid
staff following a decision by the General Assembly on the final number of paid
posts to be allocated to the Presbytery.
iii)
The Presbytery agrees the criteria set out in
Paragraph 6.2 of the report submitted to Presbytery as the basis for the
distribution of any additional posts to a local level that might be made
available to the Presbytery.
iv)
The presbytery instructs the Ministry Development
Committee, in consultation with the Parish Planning Committee, to initiate
discussions with Auxiliary Ministers and Readers concerning possible deployment
to specific locations to establish the numbers available for deployment.
v) The Presbytery agrees the criteria set
out in Paragraph 7.2 of the report submitted as the basis for the deployment of
Auxiliary Ministers and Readers and for the monitoring of the effectiveness of
such deployment.
It was moved and
seconded as a Counter-motion to Deliverance 2:
1.
The Presbytery notes the contents of the report and
thanks the Parish Planning Committee for its diligent work.
2.
The Presbytery is not convinced that the underlying
principles guiding the Forward Planning process as imposed on the Parish
Planning Committee are informed by a coherent theological understanding
concerning God’s involvement in His Church.
3.
The Presbytery does not believe that the Staffing
Plan in its present form leads to a just and equitable sharing of resources and
instructs the Parish Planning Committee to present a coherent unified plan, for
the whole of Hamilton Presbytery, disregarding in particular the boundaries of
attestation areas.
On
a vote being taken For and Against the
original Deliverance, it carried For.
4. 4.
The
Presbytery approves the request, in principle, to erect a timber shed in halls
grounds to house community gardening equipment with all costs, including
applications for statutory approval, erection, insurance and maintenance paid
for by “Quarter in Bloom”.
5. AIRDRIE:
CLARKSTON
The
Presbytery approves the request to carry out investigations to church and halls
in order to confirm extent of repairs required and have report paid for by
grant from the General Trustees.
6. HOLYTOWN
The
Presbytery approves, in principle, the request to rebuild the halls following
demolition after an extensive fire with costs covered by insurance. Plans and costs to be provided for full
approval when available.
7.
The
Presbytery approves the professional Second Follow-on Property Report and
awaits the response of the office bearers as to the contents and
recommendations.
The Deliverance was then
agreed.
30. STEWARDSHIP
AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Presbytery called
for the report of the Stewardship and Finance Committee which was given in by
Mr. David Watt, Convener.
It
was moved, seconded and agreed:
1. The
Presbytery receives the report.
1. The Presbytery receives
and approves the Statement of Accounts for the year ended
2. The Presbytery notes the
opinion on the Statement of Accounts expressed by the Auditor.
3. The Presbytery thanks
the Rev. James Hastie, CA, BD, for his work as Interim Treasurer during 2005
and in the preparation of the Statement of Accounts and Mr. A. H. Adams, CA,
for undertaking the audit.
4. The Presbytery appoints Mr. A. H.
Adams, CA, to undertake the Audit of the Statement of Accounts for the year
ending
31. PRESBYTERY REVIEW
The Presbytery called for the report
of the Presbytery Review Committee which was given in by the Rev. Scott Raby,
Convener.
It
was moved, seconded and agreed:
1. The Presbytery receives
the report.
2. The Presbytery instructs
Local Area Mission Committees to adhere to the remits agreed by the Court on
3. The Presbytery agrees to relax the
principle of one presbyter/one committee only insofar as it may allow
Presbyters to serve on one central committee and their Local Area
Mission Committee.
32. 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 Church Halls on
Tuesday, 2nd May 2006 at 7.00
p.m.
…………………………………………………
Moderator
…………………………………………………..
Presbytery Clerk