The Vacancy Process 2026 - keeping you up to date
Since our minister, Revd Terry Burns, retired, we have been 'in vacancy', and the process of seeking a successor has begun. This 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 what 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. They appointed Carol to start as soon as Terry retired in October, so we have had consistent cover throughout. In terms of the Vacancy Process, the Interim Moderator is inolved, but acts in a purely 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 maintain the Register.
Parish Profile
Prospective ministers need information about both the church and its parish, to consider whether this is where God is calling them to serve. The Parish Profile should provide this fairly and openly, including both the attractions and challenges. A team has worked on this since February, and we last met on 8th July to proofread it. Before we can publish it online, both Session and Members must see it first, so watch for news about this soon after our next Session meeting on August 3rd.
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 has begun to meet.
The Manse
Unfortunately, inspections have revealed a considerable amount of work needed to bring the Manse up to current standards, and also resolve some structural repairs. While Culbokie manse looks modern, it is nearly fifty years old. Stuart and our Property Team have been working hard on this since Terry and Cindy moved out in December. They hope to set up contracts soon, and also establish how much must be done before we can call a minister.
The Church of Scotland has published several documents, which you can access 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.