Presbytery News
Presbytery of Lanark – October 2006 Meeting
The Rev Iain Goring, who is currently the Interim Minister at Carstairs in union with Carstairs Junction, is shortly to leave to take up the interim ministry at Holytown linked with New Stevenston. The Moderator of Presbytery, Rev Dr Graham Houston, thanked Iain for his service in the community over past eighteen months. Mrs Irene Williams, on behalf of the congregation, expressed her appreciation of the contribution Iain had made to the life of the congregation and wished him well in his new appointment.
The Rev. Harry Findlay has been appointed as a Chaplain to Presbytery. Harry was formally the minister at Wishaw: St. Mark’s, a position he held for many years.
The Church of Scotland is currently in a period of change and to facilitate that change a Special Commission on Structure and Chance has been established. The congregations of Biggar, Cairngryffe linked with Symington, Carluke: Kirkton and Kirkmuirhill will represent Lanark Presbytery at the meeting to be held later in the month.
The Annual World Mission Rally is to be held in Lanark: St. Nicholas’ on Wednesday 8th November at 7:30 pm. All will be made welcome.
The Clyde Presbyteries have released preliminary details of their “Nexus” event which will be held in Glasgow, at the SECC, from the 23rd to 25th August 2007. The event will aim to help make connections between Churches across Scotland.
There is to be an “Elders’ Evening” in Carstairs Community Centre on the 20th March 2007. The speaker that evening will be Rev David Currie from the Mission and Discipleship Council and his topic will be “You’re an Angel – talking about faith”
Presbytery of Lanark – November 2006 Meeting
As Christmas approaches many of the Churches in Presbytery are preparing for their special Christmas activities. Amongst these is the United Parish of Carstairs and Carstairs Junction who have arranged an Advent Labyrinth which will be held in Carstairs Junction Church. This will be open on Thursday and Friday, 7th and 8th December, from 2:00 – 4:00pm and 7:00 – 8:30pm. It will also be open on Saturday 9th December from 10:00am till 2:00pm.
Presbytery is to consider the introduction of Marriage Preparation Courses for couples being married within the Presbytery area. The course, for those who would find it beneficial, could include such subjects as finance, living together and becoming a couple.
All congregations are now in receipt of their Ministries and Mission allocations for 2007 together with details of the Presbytery Budget.
Presbytery of Lanark - December 2006 & February 2007 Meetings
Rev Sarah Ross and Mr Tom Smith have been appointed as the Presbytery’s Ecumenical Relations contacts.
Presbytery is to consider having a “Festival of Hope” as a follow on from the “Nexus-Scotland” event which is to be held in Glasgow in August 2007. The Moderator, Rev Dr Graham Houston, is leading the discussion.
The debate on Civil Partnerships took place within Presbytery on the 5th December. Members of Lanark Presbytery voted 20 to 11 against the proposal to approve the blessing of Civil Partnerships.
The Rev John Turnbull, recently retired from Balfron linked with Fintry, has taken up residence in Biggar and has become a member of Presbytery.
Rev Bryan Kerr, formally of Douglas Valley Church, is to be inducted into the charge of Lanark: Greyfriars on Thursday 8th March. Rev Harry Findlay is to be the Interim Moderator and Locum at Douglas Valley.
Revival FM, the religious broadcasting station, made a presentation to Presbytery at its February meeting concerning its Christian Work and witness. Those wishing to tune in will find them at 100.8 FM or online at www.revivalradio.org.uk.
There is to be a World Mission Evening for congregational representatives on 14th June 2007. Further information will be available shortly.
Presbytery of Lanark - March, April and May 2007 Meetings
Representatives of Carluke: St John’s were cited to attended Presbytery to acknowledge the appointment of Rev Roy Cowieson to the vacant charge. The Service of Induction of Rev Roy Cowieson will take place at Carluke: St Johns on 3rd May 2007. Roy Cowieson is currently the minister of a charge in Canada.
An evening for Elders took place in Carstairs Community Centre on the 20th March. Rev Bryan Kerr, Convenor of the Congregational Development Committee, introduced the guest speaker, Rev David Currie. David spoke on how elders can share their faith with the people they come into contact with each day. 94 elders from virtually every congregation in Presbytery attended the event.
Mrs Margaret Warnock from “ECO Congregations” addressed Presbytery on the subject of “Preserving God’s Earth”. She encouraged congregations to consider ways of conserving the earth’s resources to make them available for future generations.
Rev Sarah Ross has returned to her duties as minister at Forth: St Paul’s following her period of maternity leave.
Douglas Valley Church has been allowed to call a minister without restriction and an Advisory Committee has been established.
The annual inspection of congregational records has taken place and most have been found to be in order.
Presbytery is being represented at the Church of Scotland National Youth Assembly by three young people, two from the United Parish of Carstairs and Carstairs Junction and one from Forth: St Paul’s.
A meeting for congregational prayer promoters has been arranged for Tuesday 24th April at 2:00pm in Glencaple Parish Church.
Mrs Jackie McQueen from the State Hospital, Carstairs addressed Presbytery on the Pastoral and Spiritual Care service operating in the hospital and gave an insight into the day by day requirements of the patients.
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will convene in Edinburgh on the 19th May 2007. Lanark Presbytery will send two Commissioners from each of the following congregations:- Law, Carluke: Kirkton, Coalburn linked with Lesmahagow Old, Lanark: St Nicholas’ and Lanark: Greyfriars.
It has been agreed that Presbytery meetings should take place in a number of venues rather than always meeting at Lanark: St Nicholas’. In 2007-08 there will be two meetings held elsewhere in Presbytery in addition to the Communion Service which is usually held in the Moderator’s charge.
Presbytery is considering establishing a link with the Presbytery of East Seoul, South Korea. As a first step Lanark Presbytery propose to invite a group of around six people to visit Presbytery in the autumn.
Blackmount Parish Church is to receive an interior refurbishment at a cost of £35,000. These plans represent an exciting redevelopment of a traditional rural parish church building to make the space more contemporary and usable.
Presbytery of Lanark - June 2007 Meetings
Rev Alison Meikle of Lanark: St Nicholas’ is the Moderator of Lanark Presbytery for the year 2007-08.
There is to be a special meeting at Douglas on the 28th August 2007 to discuss The report of the Special Commission on Structure and Change. This Special Commission is consulting with Presbyteries concerning the administrative changes which were introduced two years ago with a view to determining there success or otherwise.
The charges due for a Quinquennial visit in 2007-08 are Glencaple l/w Lowther, Carluke: St John’s and Crossford l/w Kirkfieldbank.
The Presbytery Plan, which is a ten year plan for congregations but reviewed annually, will in future have to take account of the available buildings, there suitability, there use and there cost. As a consequence congregations will be asked for information concerning costs and usage of buildings by the end of the year.
The visit by the representatives of the Presbytery of South Korea will take place from the 27th August to the 8th September. There is to be a Presbytery Reception on Wednesday 29th August at 7:00pm at Hollandbush Golf Club. All are invited. Tickets cost £17.00.
The date of this year’s World Mission Rally is Wednesday 14th November. The venue has still to be confirmed.
Following the success of the elder’s evening held in March a series of training events for those involved in leadership within congregations have been arranged. The first course will take place in Biggar on 5 Wednesday nights from 26th September to 31st October (missing out school holiday week.) The “You’re an Angel” courses will be led by Rev. David Currie.
A Child Protection Training evening for volunteers will be held on Monday 27th August at 7:00pm in Lanark: Greyfriars Church Hall. The course will last 2.5 hours.
There is to be a second Elders Training evening on Tuesday 30th October at a venue still to be determined. The subject on this occasion will be pastoral care and bereavement support. The course leader will be Rev Peter Johnston from Blantyre.
The next Prayer Promoters meeting will be held on Tuesday 9th October in Glencaple Church Hall at 7:00pm.
And finally a reminder that NEXUS takes place in the SECC, Glasgow from 23rd to 25th August.
Presbytery of Lanark - September 2007 - October 2007 Meetings
Rev Iain Goring has been appointed as Interim Moderator at Carnwath from the 17 September 2007.
Mrs Jessie Bryce is to make a presentation on the Church of Scotland’s Parish Development fund at the Presbytery meeting on the 5 February 2008.
Ms Eildon Dyer is to make a presentation on behalf of Christian Aid at the Presbytery meeting on the 4 March. She has recently been appointed as the Area Co-ordinator.
Child protection training will take place in St. John's Church, Carluke on 27 November 2007 and that co-ordinators should contact Rev. Sarah Ross to book places.
There are presently vacancies for Chaplains at Roadmeetings and Lady Home Hospitals.
Rev Bryan Kerr has been appointed as interim chaplain covering Carstairs State Hospital for the term of Rev B Gauld’s sick leave. His duties began on Oct 3 2007.
Note that the Ministries and Missions Allocations for 2008 for Symington is £19,402 although this has been reduced to £18,093 under Presbytery’s discretionary powers. The allocation in 2006 was £17,800. This represents a 1.6% increase.
Presbytery of Lanark - November 2007 - March 2008 Meetings
The following have been nominated by Presbytery for the General Assembly Councils and Committees, Rev Roy Cowieson (Carluke: St John’s) for the Ministries Council, Rev Dr Graham Houston (Cairngryffe l/w Symington) for the Publishing Committee and Rev Sarah Ross for the Ecumenical Relations Committee.
Rev David Easton has been appointed as Locum at Douglas Valley Churches.
The Church Without Walls National Gathering will be held at Ingliston, Edinburgh on the 3rd – 4th May 2008.
Child Protection training for volunteers has been arranged for 27th May 2008 in the Gilliespie Centre, Biggar.
The Congregations attending this year’s General Assembly will be Lanark: Greyfriars, Forth: St Paul’s, Kirkmuirhill, Carluke: St Andrew’s and Carluke: St John’s.
Many congregations are now using CH 4. To this end an open sing-a-long evening has been planned in Greyfriars Parish Church on 2nd April at 7pm for anyone interested in learning some of the newer materials.
Rev Helen Jamieson has been appointed Chaplain at Roadmeetings Hospital, Carluke.
Rev Margaret Muir will be the Interim Moderator at Cairngryffe l/w Symington during Graham’s period of absence on Study Leave.
Rev Anne McIvor is leaving Law to take up the charge of Gigha l/w Cara. Rev Bryan Kerr will be Interim Moderator at Law.
Presbytery of Lanark - April 2008 Meeting
Rev Roy Cowieson (Carluke: St John’s) has been appointed to the Ministries Council of the Church of Scotland.
Rev Margaret Muir will be the Interim Moderator at Cairngryffe l/w Symington during Graham’s period of absence on Study Leave.
Rev Anne McIvor is leaving Law to take up the charge of Gigha and Cara in the Presbytery of Argyll. Her induction will be on the 7th June 2008. Rev Bryan Kerr will be Interim Moderator at Law.
Mr Andrew Brown (Kirkmuirhill) has been nominated as Moderator of Lanark Presbytery for 2008-09. If selected he will be the first elder to be Moderator of Lanark Presbytery.
Rev Iain Cunningham, Dr Sinclair Scott, Rev Dr Graham Houston and Mrs Jenny Worthington will represent Lanark Presbytery on its visit to East Seoul Presbytery, South Korea, in October.
Rev Iain Cunningham (Carluke: Kirkton) has been appointed as Convener of Presbytery’s World and Community Issues for a further year.
Rev Dr Graham Houston (Cairngryffe l/w Symington) has been appointed as Convener of Presbytery’s Congregational Support Committee for a period of four years succeeding Rev Helen Jamieson (Carluke: St. Andrew’s)
Mrs Anna Lumsden (Lanark: Greyfriars) has been appointed as Convener of Presbytery’s Business Committee for a period of four years succeeding Mr Robert Carson (Symington)
Presbytery of Lanark - June 2008 Meeting
As the newly elected representative elder for Symington Kirk, I attended the Presbytery Meeting on 17th June as an observer along with other new elders. The Meeting started with a Communion Service in St. Nicholas Church conducted by Rev Alison Meikle, the retiring Moderator. After the service there was some refreshment then the business meeting continued in the church hall, very much like other church business meetings. The new representative elders were welcomed. The membership of committees for 2008-9 has been organised. Graham Houston is Convenor of the Congregational Support Committee and I am a member of the Ministries Committee. Robert Carson although on longer a representative elder, has been co-opted as an additional elder . The work of Presbytery is mainly carried out by six committees, each of which reports to Presbytery. Among items reported were –
Lambert Allan
Presbytery of Lanark - September 2008 Meeting
This year began with the installation of an elder as Moderator. Mr Andrew Brown of Kirkmuirhill has the distinction of being the first elder ever to be Moderator in Lanark Presbytery. He is handling meetings very well and keeping business moving.
The major event of the autumn was the visit to South Korea by representatives from Presbytery. A report will eventually be issued. However, As Graham was one of the representatives, he has already been passing on some information about it to us and it sounds as if he and Irene had a very interesting time. We look forward to hearing more.
One item of interest is that the Moderator of the General Assembly has a meeting with the First Minister every year. We do not know what was on the agenda but they agreed that they would try to raise the profile of St. Andrew’s Day.
Much of the work of Presbytery is done by its committees. I have been placed on the Ministeries Committee whose main remit is to ensure every parish has the services of a minister. Ideally a minister is appointed to every parish but as the number of ministers is decreasing there are more vacancies and more burden is placed on the other ministers in the area. It is therefore essential that we keep our congregational numbers up, our buildings in good order and maintain our financial position so there is sufficient work and finance to warrant the appointment of a minister to our parishes. The future looks difficult. The Committee is also looking at the work load of ministers and ways in which they may be supported.
Lambert Allan (Elder to the Presbytery)
Last updated 28th November 2008