CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON

 

 

 

VIII       MOTHERWELL: 2nd October, 2007

At MOTHERWELL: DALZIEL ST ANDREWS PARISH CHURCH HALLS on the 2nd Day of October, Two Thousand and Seven years, on which day the PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON met and was constituted in prayer.

 

Post preces sederunt

 

87.       SEDERUNT

            The Rev. Derek Hughes, Moderator, the Rev. Shaw J. Paterson, Clerk, and others as per signed lists in retentis (Total - Ministers;44  Deacons; 1 Elders; 83 and  12 Corresponding Members).

 

 

88.       TRIBUTE

            The Rev. Derek Pope in fitting terms paid tribute to Mrs. Eileen Milne, Presbytery Elder, who died on the 24th September, 2007.  The Clerk was instructed to hold the tribute in retentis and send a copy, together with an expression of sympathy of the Court to her husband.

 

89.       WELCOME

            The Moderator welcomed Mr. Michael Gargrave, from Edinburgh Presbytery and to his placement at East Kilbride: Claremont.

 

90.       MINUTES

            The Minutes of Meetings V11 (2007) were read and approved.

           

91.       AGENDA

 

92.       INTIMATIONS

 

93.       TEARFUND REPRESENTATION

            The Moderator invited Mr. Peter Chirnside who addressed the Presbytery and outlined the work of Tearfund. The Moderator warmly thanked Mr. Chirnside for his presentation.

 

94.       TRANSLATIONS

            The Moderator expressed the good wishes of the court to Rev. Dr. Ian Thom on his translation to the Church and Parish of Dunfermline: North.

            The Presbytery called for the report from Parish Planning Committee which was given in by Rev. Alan Gibson (Vice Convener)

            It was moved, seconded and agreed.

            Presbytery agrees, according to the Presbytery Plan the congregation of Shotts: Calderhead Erskine should be allowed to call a Minister without restriction.

            The Moderator expressed the good wishes of the court to Rev. Scott Raby on his translation to the Church and Parish of Clackmannan.

            The Presbytery called for the report from Parish Planning  Committee which was given in by Rev. Alan Gibson (Vice Convener)

            It was moved, seconded and agreed.

            Presbytery agrees to sist the vacancy proceedings at  Coatbridge: Old Monkland.

 

95.       RETIRALS

            The Presbytery of Hamilton having received a letter from the Rev. Colin A. Sutherland intimating his retiral, and having given permission at its meeting on 6th March, 2007 cited the congregation to appear for their interests.  Parties were called, appeared and spoke.

            The Presbytery called for the report from Vacancy Procedures Committee which was given in by Rev. Michael Lyall.

            It was moved, seconded and agreed.

            The Presbytery agrees to loose the Rev. Colin A Sutherland from his charge as of

            31st October, 2007, the date of his retirement.

            The Presbytery of Hamilton having received a letter from the Rev. Arthur Barrie intimating his retiral and having given permission at its meeting on the 1st May, 2007 cited

            the congregation to appear for their interests.  Parties were called, appeared and spoke.

            The Presbytery called for the report from Vacancy Procedures Committee which was given in by Rev. Michael Lyall.

            It was seconded and agreed

            The Presbytery agrees to loose the Rev. Arthur Barrie from his charge as of 31st October, 2007, the date of his retirement.

 

96.       PRESENTATION OF READERS AND STUDENTS

                        The Mr. William Wilson introduced to the Moderator -  Richard Beattie, Sheena Bell, Bill

                        Hawthorne, Sam Hewitt, Leslie Queen, Rowan Robertson, Steven Preston, Fiona Ogg, and             Roddy Dick.

 

97.       BUSINESS COMMITTEE

            The Presbytery called for the report of the Business Committee, which was given in by Mr. David Alexander, Convener.

 

            It was moved, seconded and agreed

 

            1.   The Presbytery receives the report.        

2.   Uddingston: Park

            Presbytery instructs the Clerk to convey to the Ecumenical Relations Committee the        continuing dissatisfaction at the admission of the Rev Bruce McDowall to the United Free            Church without a certificate and to seek assurances that, in furtherance of the Covenant             between the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland, no further         seceding congregations or seceding Ministers will be admitted by either denomination.

     3.      Graduated Return to Work

(i)    Presbytery notes that the guidelines concerning graduated return to work are not clear and

        can lead to a misunderstanding of the process.

 (ii)   Presbytery notes that an Interim Moderator stands down at the point the minister returns to work

        but could have a continuing involvement in supporting the minister although the Presbytery can

        also appoint someone else in that capacity.

(iii)  Presbytery notes that before returning to work there should be a meeting involving the minister,                Ministries Council staff and Presbytery to establish a schedule of duties.

(iv)   Presbytery notes that there should be discussion between the minister, Presbytery and                                         congregational office bearers, initiated by the Ministries Council, before a graduated return

       to work takes place to establish realistic expectations.

(v)  Presbytery notes that the Business Committee has been involved in discussion with the Ministries Council concerning the application of these guidelines.

    4.        Blantyre: Old

         Presbytery agrees that any procedure under Act 1, 1988 should not commence until the                           minister has completed the graduated return to work process.

    5        Wishaw: South Wishaw

(i)     Presbytery approves a further meeting of the Ministries Council representatives with the minister and office bearers of Wishaw: South Wishaw to be held in October.

(ii)    Presbytery instructs that a representative(s) of the Presbytery’s Committee of Investigation be present at that meeting

(iii)   Presbytery instructs the Clerk to advise the Ministries Council representatives that a final report should be prepared by the Ministries Council representatives and submitted to the meeting of the Business Committee for consideration at the meeting of the Committee on 23rd October, 2007.

 

 

 

     6.    Coatbridge: Old Monkland

      Presbytery appoints Rev. Karen Harbison (Convener) Mr. Colin McLean, and Rev. Alan Gibson as the Committee to undertake a review of the 5 years reviewable tender at Coatbridge: Old Monkland.

7.   Shortfalls

            Presbytery notes the following shortfalls to Central Funds.

            Money outstanding to central funds from congregations in Hamilton Presbytery as at end                             July 2007

                                   

 

Pre-2004 Ministry

Pre-2004 M&R

NSF 2005

M&R 2005

M&M 2006

Trav exp pre 31/12/05

Total o/s from previous years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airdrie St Columba's

£32,354

 

 

 

 

£9,154

£41,508

Cleland

£31,267

 

£6,250

 

£9,500

 

£47,017

Hamilton Hillhouse

 

 

£7,179

£2,821

£5,512

 

£15,512

Hamilton Trinity

£5,787

 

 

 

 

 

£5,787

Motherwell St Margaret's

£16,347

£26,710

 

 

 

£9,655

£52,712

Kirk o' Shotts

£15,000

 

 

 

 

 

£15,000

Total outstanding

£100,755

£26,710

£13,429

£2,821

£15,012

£18,809

£177,536

 

 

     8.    Commission on Structure and Change

            The Presbytery agrees in the penultimate sentence, after “being taken” that following sentence    is inserted: “Presbytery recognises that such an approach is at odds with   current interpretation   and application of the Third Article Declaratory to the parish appraisal process, and would      welcome debate on that Article’s appropriateness to our current     missionary mandate”

      Presbytery approves the response to the report of the Commission of Structure and

      Change.

     9.    Sacramental Vessels Survey

      Presbytery encourages Kirk Sessions to participate in the Sacramental Vessels Survey   currently being undertaken by the Committee on Church Art and Architecture.

  10.     Mr Alan Wilson

            Presbytery notes that Mr Alan Wilson, a Probationer within the bounds has been called to             the Church and parish of Dunbarney and Forgendenny and wishes him well for his future ministry.

 11.      Church Names

            Presbytery reminds congregations of the advice from the Solicitor of the Church that the congregational name held on the Scottish Charity Register must contain a place name and     'Church of Scotland', and must be that used on all Church documents.

 

ADDENDUM

            The Presbytery notes that the Kirk Session of Motherwell: South has appointed Mr.Gilmour           Dick, 87 Gavin Street, Motherwell as its representative Elder for the year 2007-08.

 

 

 

 

 

 

98.  PARISH PLANNING

 

      The Presbytery called for the report of the Parish Planning Committee, which was given in by

       the Rev. Allan Gibson, Vice Convener.

 

       It was moved, seconded and agreed:

       Presbytery receives the report.

1.    Hamilton: Cadzow.

      The Presbytery approves the request to refurbish the Upper Kitchen based on contractors’                       costs totalling £7,500 including VAT. Funds are to hand also for £5,500 to be paid from funds held on the congregation’s behalf  by the General Trustees.

2.  Hamilton: Cadzow: The Presbytery approves the request to replace three windows in the gents’   toilet based on contractors’  Costs totalling £1,000 including VAT. Funds are to hand.

3.   Hamilton: South

      The Presbytery approves the request to replace existing kitchen fittings based on contractors’            costs Totalling £29,316 including VAT. Approval is also given to seek grants and loans which may be available.

 

 

 

99. STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE

            The Presbytery called for the report of the Stewardship and Finance Committee which was            given in by Mr. R, W. Horne, Convener   

 

            It was moved, seconded and agreed:

1.       Presbytery receives the report

2.       The Presbytery approves that the balance of the Presbytery’s ministries and mission allocations allowance be used to support property projects at Uddingston Viewpark by £ 6000 and at Dalserf by £10,000, to reduce accumulated shortfalls at Hamilton Trinity by £5787, at Hamilton Hillhouse by £7179 and at Kirk o’ Shotts by £9999, and to address unpaid ministerial expenses at Airdrie St Columba’s by £9154, and at Motherwell St Margaret’s by £9655.

3.       The Presbytery reminds all congregations of the need to prepare for full compliance with the updated Regulations Anent Congregational Finance, meeting Scottish Charity law, in preparation of annual reports and accounts to the new format for the current year. 

4.       The Presbytery invites congregations to notify the Convener of the Stewardship and Finance Committee, not later than Monday 22 October 2007, of local mission or major property projects being undertaken in 2008, which may be supported through modification of the proposed 2008 allocations for Ministries and Mission

 

 

 

100.  VACANCY PROCEDURES COMMITTEE

 

         The Presbytery called for the report of the Vacancy Procedures Committee which was given                      in by the Rev. Michael Lyall, Convener.

 

          It was moved, seconded and agreed:

1.       Presbytery receives the report.

2.       Presbytery notes the following actions taken by its Vacancy Procedures Committee.

   (i)    Has appointed the Rev Iain Murdoch as Interim Moderator of the Kirk Session of the parish    

          Shotts: Calderhead  Erskine.

   (ii)    Has appointed Rev John Brewster, Rev Una Stewart and elders as the Advisory Committee                       on the  Parish of East Kilbride:West.

  (iii)      Has appointed Mr. David Watt as Interim Moderator, of the Kirk Session of the  Parish of                           Coatbridge:  Old Monkland

3 (i)   The Presbytery sustains the Call of Airdrie: Flowerhill to Gary Caldwell on the basis of 7  

          year Reviewable Tenure and appoints 24th October, 2007 for his Service of Ordination an                            Induction.

  (ii) The Presbytery notes that Gary Caldwell has written intimating that he has used no undue     influence to secure the Charge, that he accepts the terms of a 7 year reviewable tenure, and   that he will reside in the manse.

4       The Presbytery appoints the Rev. Mhorag Macdonald to be Moderator at the service of Ordination    and Induction on 24th October, 2007.

 

101.     MINISTRIES COMMITTEE

 

            The Presbytery called for the report of the Ministries Committee which was given by the                           Mr. W. Wilson, Convener.

 

            It was moved, seconded and agreed:

1.      Presbytery receives the report.

      Presbytery welcomes the transference of candidature of Mr Michael Gargrave from                       Edinburgh Presbytery and to his placement at East Kilbride: Claremont.

2.      Presbytery notes receipt of a Study Leave report from Rev. Robert Hamilton (Airdrie: New Wellwynd) with regard to his studies on what it means to be a member of the Church today and in the preparation of fresh material for Enquirer’s Classes.           

 

102.     CHURCH AND SOCIAL INTEREST COMMITTEE

 

            The Presbytery called for the report of the Church and Social Interest Committee, which   was     given In by Mr. A.T. Sutherland, Convener.

 

            It was moved, seconded and agreed:

1.         Presbytery receives the report.

   2.      Presbytery instructs the Presbytery Clerk to write to the Principal Clerk to the General       Assembly urging the Church's Board of Communication to ensure that the view of the C of   S so far as it has been expressed by its Boards and General Assemblies be actively communicated to the press, radio and TV.

   3.      Presbytery congratulates the bodies responsible for the resource pack on human             trafficking To be Silent is to be Unfaithful and encourages congregations to use same.

   4.      Presbytery thanks its hospital chaplains for their reports and encourages them to continue           with this important and wishes the Rev. Colin Cuthbert every success in his new post at     Kilmarnock Prison.

 

103.     PARISH DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

            The Presbytery called for the report of the Parish Development Committee which was given in     by Rev J Peter N Johnston, Convener

 

            It was moved, seconded and agreed:

            1.    Presbytery receives the Report.

 

104.     LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE (AREA 1)

 

            The Presbytery called for the report of the Local Area 1 Committee which was given in by             Mr. Colin McLean, Convener.

 

            It was moved, seconded and agreed.

            1.  Presbytery receives the report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

105.     ADJOURNMENT

            There being no further business the Presbytery adjourned at 8.58pm to meet in hunc        effectum within Airdrie: Flowerhill for the Ordination and Induction of Mr. Gary Caldwell on   Wednesday 24th October, 2007 at 6.45pm for 7.00pm and for Ordinary Business within            Motherwell: Dalziel St. Andrew’s Parish Church Halls on Tuesday 6th November, 2007 at         7.00pm.

 

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