CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON

 

VIII       MOTHERWELL:  3rd  OCTOBER 2006  

At MOTHERWELL: DALZIEL ST ANDREW’S PARISH CHURCH HALLS on the 3rd   Day of October, Two Thousand and Six years, on which day the PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON met and was constituted in prayer.

 

Post preces sederunt

 

83.       SEDERUNT

            The Rev. Mhorag Macdonald, Moderator, the Rev. Shaw J. Paterson, Clerk, and others as per signed lists in retentis (Total –  41 Ministers; 1 Deacon; 74 Elders; 20 Corresponding Members).

 

84.       WELCOME

            The Moderator extended a word of welcome to the Rev. James Mackenzie, Retired Minister, who was admitted into membership at the last meeting.

 

85.       MINUTES

            The Minute of Meeting VII  (2006) was read and approved.

 

86.       INTIMATIONS

            Intimations were made.

 

87.       LINKAGE – HOLYTOWN AND NEW STEVENSTON: WRANGHOLM KIRK

The Presbytery notes the appointment of the Rev. Ian Goring as Interim Minister of the congregations of Holytown and New Stevenston: Wrangholm Kirk.  Presbytery further agrees to hold a Service of Linkage and Introduction within Wrangholm Kirk, on Thursday, 26th October, 2006, Presbytery to meet at 6.45 p.m. for the service at 7.00 p.m.

 

88.       PRESENTATION OF READERS AND STUDENTS

            The Rev. Nan Low introduced to the Moderator Roddy Dick, Caryl Kyle (Students); Malcolm Anderson, Richard Beattie, Sheena Bell, Anne Clemenson, William Cruickshanks, William Hawthorne, Sam Hewitt, Elizabeth Leckie, Frances McCart, Isaac McCleary, Rowan Robertson, Thomas Stevenson, Ian White (Readers); James McRae (Reader Emeritus); Stuart McIlroy, Stephen Preston (Readers in Training).   Apologies were received from Maxine Buck, Frank Haggerty, Eric Hislop, Dickson Keir, Georgina McMillan, Leslie Queen, Alex Smith and William Wilson.

 

89.       OVERTURE ANENT THE MINISTRIES APPEALS PANEL

            The Presbytery called for the presentation of the Overture, given in by the Rev. Nan Low.  It was moved, seconded and agreed that Presbytery accept the Overture and there voted For 116 and Nil Against.

 

90.       BUSINESS COMMITTEE

The Presbytery called for the report of the Business Committee, which was given in by the Rev. Norman B. McKee, Vice-Convener.

 

It was moved, seconded and agreed:

 

1                    The Presbytery receives the report.

2                    The Presbytery notes the demission of the Rev. Robert A. Hamilton from the Convenership of the Business Committee and thanks him for his work over the summer period.

3                    The Presbytery agrees to apply to the Fisher Fund for payment of the Rev. Kay Gilchrist as Locum Tenens at Blantyre: Old, on the basis of one day plus a Sunday, the dates, in the first instance, being from 15th October 2006 until 28th January 2007.

4                    The Presbytery notes receipt of a letter from the Rev. Andrew Thomson, intimating his Demission, through ill health, from his Charge of Airdrie: Broomknoll lw Calderbank with effect from 30th November, 2006, and wishes him well for the future. Presbytery further notes that the congregations will be cited to appear for their interests at the next meeting.

5                    The Presbytery agrees to the appointment of the Rev. Peter Johnston as its representative on the National Council for Mission and Discipleship.

6                    The Presbytery agrees to grant permission for joint services to be held between the congregations of Hamilton: Burnbank lw North on Sunday, 8th October, 2006 at 10.15 a.m. in Burnbank Parish Church; on Sunday, 31st December, 2006 at 11.00 a.m. in Hamilton: North Parish Church; and Sunday, 7th January, 2007, at 11.00 a.m. in Burnbank Parish Church.

ADDENDA

1          Presbytery agrees to the request of the Kirk Sessions of Larkhall: Chalmers, St. Machan’s and Trinity to hold a Joint Morning Service at Trinity Church on Sunday 24th December 2006.

2          Presbytery notes the intention of Wishaw: St Mark’s Parish Church to appoint Mrs Caryl Kyle as Pastoral Assistant with effect from 3rd October 2006, on the basis of one day per week with no commitment to the conduct of Sunday Worship.  Presbytery notes the support of the Ministries Council and the Presbytery’s Ministries Development Committee.

3          Presbytery notes the intention of Uddingston: Park Parish Church to secede from the Church of Scotland and resolves to deal with this business at the November meeting of Presbytery.

4          Presbytery notes the request of the Rev. W. Bruce McDowall to demit his charge at Uddingston: Park Parish Church and resolves to deal with this matter at the November meeting of Presbytery.

 

91.       MINISTRIES

            The Presbytery called for the report of the Ministries Committee, which was given in by the Rev. Nan P. Low, Vice-Convener.

 

            It was moved, seconded and agreed:

 

The Presbytery receives the report.

 

92.       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, seconded and agreed:

 

1.                  The Presbytery receives the report.

2.                  AIRDRIE: CHAPELHALL

                  The Presbytery approves the request to refurbish halls including compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 costing an estimated £70,000. Approval is also sought to seek grants and loans which may be available.

3.         AIRDRIE: NEW WELLWYND

                  The Presbytery approves the professional Second Follow-on Property Report and awaits the response of the office bearers as to the contents and recommendations.

4                    BARGEDDIE

                  The Presbytery approves the professional Second Follow-on Property Report and awaits the response of the office bearers as to the contents and recommendations.

 

93.       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:

 

            The Presbytery receives the report.

 

94.       PASTORAL SUPPORT COMMITTEE

            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 Dalserf, commends the minister, office bearers and members for their ongoing commitment to faithful and successful ministry within their parish area and for their continuing clear vision as they look to the challenges of the future.

3.                  The Presbytery receives the report on the Quinquennial Visit to Caldercruix and Longriggend, commends the minister, office bearers and members on their continued high level of giving and independence from fundraising and other sources of income. Presbytery encourages them in their efforts and vision to make effective contact with new residents, particularly teenagers, in view of the new housing development expected to increase village population by approximately 50%.

 

95.       PARISH DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

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 :

           

            The Presbytery receives the report.

96.       CHURCH AND SOCIAL INTEREST

1.                  The Presbytery receives the report.

2.                  The Presbytery thanks members who take part in the services and pastoral duties at Dungavel IRC.

3.                  Further to a Deliverance of December, 2005, which was extracted to the Social Care Council, the Presbytery instructs the Clerk to again write to the Convener of the Social Care Council expressing Presbytery’s concern that the title “Church of Scotland” is not included and that the Church of Scotland’s well-known logo is not shown in its literature and also in regard to the difficulty in seeing a Cross in the “CROSSREACH” logo.  The Presbytery further instructs the Clerk to ask the Council to ensure that the style and typography of future publications be amended to give due prominence to the Cross and also to the Church of Scotland’s well-known logo.

 

 

96.       ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business the Presbytery adjourned at 7.58p.m. to meet in hunc effectum on Thursday 26th October 2006 at 6.45 p.m. for 7.00 p.m. within New Stevenston: Wrangholm Kirk, for a Service of Linkage and Introduction of Interim Minister: and for Ordinary Business within Motherwell: Dalziel St. Andrew’s Parish Church Halls on Tuesday 7th November 2006 at 7.00 p.m.