The Vacancy Process - keeping you up to date
Since our minister, Revd Terry Burns, retired in October 2025, we have been 'in vacancy', and the search for a successor has begun. This process can seem long and slow, and it may help to have an overview from our perspective (Presbytery also has work to do) of what's involved, and the progress we are making...
Interim Moderator
When a church is without a minister, Presbytery appoints an Interim Moderator to oversee and validate church and session business. Carol was appointed to start as soon as Terry retired, so we have had consistent cover throughout. In terms of the Vacancy Process, the Interim Moderator is involved in an advisory capacity.
Permission to Call
Presbytery has to grant this, and did so informally at the start of the year. We have now received written confirmation of this.
Electoral Register
Ultimately, it is the congregation who will vote on whether to call a minister, and the Electoral Register needs to be confirmed as up-to-date, so that it includes everyone who will be eligible to vote. Margaret our Session Clerk, worked on this in March-April, and will continue maintain the Register.
Parish Profile
Prospective ministers need information about both the church and its parish, to consider whether this is where the Lord is calling them to serve. The Parish Profile should provide this fairly and openly, including both the attractions and challenges. A small team began work on this in February, and the Kirk Session approved the final draft on August 3rd. It is now available to church members only - if you haven't received a link to access it, see Margaret. The next stage will be for the Nominating Committee to receive and approve it at their next meeting; they can then make it available via the website, ready for any prospective ministers.
Nominating Committee
Presbytery requires the Church to set up a Nominating Committee to oversee the process of finding a minister to recommend to the congregation. This will include advertising and interviewing, and the Committee is required to work in strict confidence. Our Nominating Committee was set up in May and is meeting regularly as needed.
Election of Extra Member on 2nd August, 2026
One additional member of the existing committee was required. Margaret, as Session Clerk, read the required statement about the procedure for electing to the Nominating Committee on two consecutive Sundays. At the end of this service, the sole candidate, along with the proposer and seconder, was announced and duly appointed.
The Manse
Unfortunately, inspections revealed a considerable amount of work needed to bring the Manse up to current standards, and also to resolve some structural repairs. While Culbokie manse looks modern, it is nearly fifty years old. Stuart and our Property Team have worked hard on this since Terry and Cindy moved out in December. They hope to set up contracts soon, and to produce a programme of work that can run alongside our search for a minister.
The Church of Scotland has published several documents, which you can access via the links below, which provide this information in more detail.
- The Vacancy process is a brief one-page summary of the whole, which includes Presbytery's role as well.
- The Vacancy Guidelines (2025) for Sessions and Interim Moderators is easier to follow than the legislation (below), and reasonably comprehensive.
- The Call, Election and Appointment of ministers of Word and Sacrament Act (Act XI 2025) 27p. This is the legal basis for the whole process.