Minute of a meeting of St Columba Church of Scotland New Charge Leadership Team held on 10 January 2013 at 20 Bramble Close, Inverness at 7.30pm. Present: Alan Fraser, Annette Maclean, Andrew Wilson, Duncan Chisholm, Marion Manson, Murray McCheyne, Scott McRoberts & Ken Morley (Chair) 1. Constitution Ken read from 1 Thessalonians 5.5-11 & constituted the meeting in prayer. 2. Approval of Minutes of 13 December 2012. The Minute of the meeting on 13 December which was for the discussion of a single issue, namely the building project, was approved. Matters arising from the earlier Minute of 12 November 2012: Alternative office space for Annette and a mobile phone for Scott will both be reviewed at the next meeting. 3. Building site update Andy Wilson gave an update. The proposal to erect a temporary building on the Tesco site which we had submitted to Highland Council was not acceptable to the Council. It was decided we should consider that project to be at an end. Other possible sites for longer term use have presented themselves. Sites for short term use are potentially available. After discussion about how we take the matter forward and what role the Client Group is to have, it was decided that we should continue to pursue the idea of a short term use building, in particular, space in the new Fairways Mall development. Andy is also tasked to continue to keep a look out for a longer term home. The Client Group meet next on 17 January 2013. Action Andy & Client Group 4. Pastoral care & Congregational Roll Pastoral Care It was great to see Marion (co-ordinator of the pastoral care team) at the meeting, having herself just been in hospital. No major issues or immediate needs for pastoral care were reported by the team. It was agreed that at the next meeting of the Pastoral Care team there should be discussed how the team can keep up to speed with various differing needs. One item that Scott has had mentioned to him on pastoral visits is the need for some folk to have lifts to Church in order for them to attend. Action Pastoral Care Team Congregational Roll It was noted the statistical return to the year end is complete and discloses an overall drop of 1 member. 26 out of 93 members are in regular attendance on Sundays. Changes to the Roll agreed or noted at this meeting were: 42
The request made in December 2012 to forward the membership lines of George & Heather Christie 5 Kinmylies Cottages, Kinmylies, Inverness IV3 8PL to Inverness: Old High St Stephens was noted. The removal of Gordon Robertson, 21 Drumblair Crescent, Holm, Inverness, IV2 4RJ, by reason of death was noted. The change of addresses of Jean Cassells, to Clachnaharry Nursing Home, Inverness, IV3 8RA and Mrs Marion Manson to Flat 11 Islands House, Island Court, Island Bank Road Inverness IV2 4SB were noted. The receipt of Membership Certificates from Inverness: East of Rev Scott and Mrs Heather McRoberts, The Manse, 20 Bramble Close, Inverness IV2 6BS in January 2013 was noted. It was also noted the congregational directory is in the process of being updated. Mention was also made briefly of the desirability of having a process perhaps including a written leaflet about membership for any who might enquire in future, including the 14 adherents on the membership roll. Action: Scott. Review: date to be identified 5. Safeguarding report A training evening for the leadership team will be held on 14th January 2013. 5 creche workers (in addition to Eilidh who is already recruited) are currently going through the process of being disclosed and registered. Otherwise barring one volunteer, all current paperwork for those involved in working with children or vulnerable adults is in place. Action: Annette chasing up paperwork of each Part of the procedure for all regulated work is an interview. Annette suggested that for the congregation s crèche workers this is done on a less formal manner at one meeting with all involved, which was agreed and further training for all new volunteers will be arranged for early Spring. Action: Annette Review Date: end of May 43
6. Forthcoming services & gatherings Scott explained his intention is to go through John s gospel during 2013, and it was agreed that once a month there would be an all age time together after which there would be a congregational lunch. The this time tomorrow slot for inclusion in Sunday services was also agreed. If Scott is away on holiday Stewart and or Trevor will be asked to help out, as they are able. Others who are to be involved in Sundays are Steve Hay, from Arab World Ministries, 20 January, Rev. Alan MacWilliam Glasgow: Whiteinch on 10 March and Rev. Fiona Smith Inverness: Ness Bank on a date to be identified. Scott indicated his intention regarding the sacrament of Communion would be to celebrate it once every two months. There was a lengthy discussion led by Scott about the leadership team s view on children receiving Communion. The outcome was our primary responsibility in this matter is to hold to scripture and what it teaches, and we have close regard to the law and practice of the Church of Scotland, (Act V 2000 about sacraments) and we also recognise the interlinkness of baptism. If an emphasis were given though to children it would be more in line with a covenant thinking that the children of believing parents would be welcomed to participate in the sacrament of Communion rather than excluded. Scott suggested he spend time with the children as a group and also address the matter with everyone before the next time when the sacrament of Communion will be celebrated (27th January) to instruct what the sacrament of communion is all about. The leadership team also encourages parents in the congregation to discuss the sacrament with their own children. Scott will put together some information about Communion by way of discussion starters. Action: Scott Burns night 25th January The congregation will hold a burns supper on 25 January, in the Scout Hall if available. Action: Murray & Laura to co-ordinate the food and entertainment. Duncan to check availability of the hall 7. Donations to others The requirements of the Church of Scotland regulations (see Act V 1989) about offerings and monies given by the congregation to be kept within the congregation was highlighted and the practice earlier agreed of giving donations to others, including ongoing donations was agreed. There was a strong sense of unanimity that it is highly unlikely anyone would take exception to the donations the congregation makes to others. It was also noted that the Minutes of the decisions to give to others have been made available without any adverse criticism. The matter will be specifically aired at the Stated Annual Meeting, which is likely to be 28 February. Action: Murray 8. Information evening about the forthcoming sexuality debate at General Assembly 44
The idea of a meeting of the congregation with an invitation also being made to other neighbouring Church of Scotland congregations for an information evening at which the issues surrounding the forthcoming debate might be aired was tabled. More information would be given imminently by Murray as to what such an evening might look like, but generally it was thought to be an idea meriting pursuit. Action: Murray 9. Presbytery Report 4 December 2012. Duncan s report from the latest meeting was received by prior circulation A Memorial to the late Rev Eric Lacy was led by the Moderator and the Presbytery Clerk read a full and detailed resume of his life history in the Church of Scotland. Events taking place within the district were intimated. The 125 th year commemoration of the Guild was intimated and the printing of a book with the history and photographs of Inverness and Nairn Guilds over the years had reached completion and will shortly be on sale. At the previous meeting it had been agreed to review the Presbytery Committees and perhaps amalgamate one or two of them. Rev Prof Andrew McGowan put forward a motion that a Doctrine & Worship Committee should be included as he felt that the subject should be given more prominence. Following much debate a vote ensued and his motion was carried. The Business Committee was asked to re-draft the proposal and present the review at the next meeting and the formation of the new committees would not take place until June 2013. Rev Janet Mathieson asked that Presbytery to write to Church of Scotland, Edinburgh expressing their views on the paper presented by them on Assembly Remits. This was agreed. It was also approved to elect an ad hoc committee for the annual inspection of church records. The Business Committee convener, Mr Len Cazaly, informed the meeting that the Presbytery Treasurer, Mr Robert Glover, would be standing down in June 2013. Mr Glover was looking for a replacement and members were asked to assist with recommendations. It was agreed to meet the cost of the Clerk in attending the annual National Conference of Presbytery Clerks. Rev Hector Morrison said that Rev Duncan MacPherson, Hilton Church, had now been signed off work until the end of February due to ill health and that he would be prepared to act as Interim Moderator for the additional period. Mrs Sheila Proudfoot, convener of the Education Committee, in her report said that the Quinquennial Visits had now been replaced by an Annual Review of congregations. Training sessions were being arranged for next year and will be open to Presbytery members and Congregation Elders and would take place in March and June, one being on an afternoon and the other on evenings. A Presbytery flag has been ordered to be used for the 2013 celebration of Heart & Soul. Safeguarding courses were being organised and the first ones will be for those that have not been involved in any training previously and then followed by pastoral workers. She emphasised that the attendance of Kirk Session members was now mandatory and she was awaiting a response from Dores & Boleskine and Hilton churches. Training sessions for St Columba NC and Urquhart & Glenmoriston church office bearers have been arranged. 45
The Presbyterial Superintendence convener, Rev Janet Matheson, gave the report in great detail, on behalf of her team, on the Annual Review of certain churches. (This report was held in private and has not been included) She reported that a Reader was to be appointed to St Ninian s & Auldearn Church for a 9 month period from 1 st January. It was planned to perhaps re-arrange the boundaries of Nairn Old and St Ninian s parishes. Three Assessor Elders were being requested from Ness Bank Church to assist at Dores & Boleskine for a period of one year and three Assessor Elders for Auldearn & Dalmore from Inverness City centre churches. Permission was granted to Ness Bank Church to change the congregation records on their Roll Books to a computerised version. The Church & Society convener, Rev Fiona Smith, reported on the progress with the Homeless Project and that there had been many referrals for shelter and housing needs. She said that the funds had been increased to 25000 following a further donation from Crerar Hotels of 5000. She said that Highland Homeless Trust would be providing 1400 meals for Inverness area. The Fair Trade group will be running an event in early March and details will be forthcoming in the new year. On the 23 rd February Take One Action are arranging for the showing of a double film. In the correspondence a letter was received by the Clerk from Edinburgh with a paper on Selection of Youth Representation on Presbytery. A letter was received by the Clerk advising that the Presbytery Clerk would be on Study Leave from 7 th to 28 th January. Papers were available to churches (including St Columba NC) from Edinburgh on Gift Aid and a Manse Condition Schedule. A form was also issued to churches from the Presbytery Clerk requesting Church Statistics as at 31 st December, 2012. The Court adjourned until the next meeting on 5 th February, 2013. The meeting closed with prayer. 10. Correspondence Discussion of the letter received from SU seeking support would be deferred until after the Stated Annual Meeting. Being a Fair-trade congregation is a principle the leadership team agreed is something we could do, but only if someone emerges with a specific interest and desire to take on responsibility for the organisation. 11. Dates of next meeting(s) Day for the leadership team: 9 February 10am - 4.30pm At Kilravock, or North Kessock Mission Hall, or HTC. Action: Murray Stated Annual meeting 28 February, venue to be confirmed Next meeting 14 March at 7.30pm in the Manse. 12. Items for future discussion: i) the website; ii) allocating an area of the Parish to folks for specific prayer focus. iii) having a plan for meetings during 2013. 13. The meeting was closed by saying the Grace together. 46