Edinburgh Northwest Kirk

Cramond Kirk and Pennywell Kirk

Phone 0131 336 2036    

Scottish Charity no SC006457

Basis of Union : Cramond Kirk and The Old Kirk & Muirhouse Church

BASIS OF UNION

 

The congregation of Edinburgh: The Old Kirk and Muirhouse (Church of Scotland) (SC006457) and the congregation of Cramond Kirk, Edinburgh (Church of Scotland) (SC003430) will be united from a date to be determined by Presbytery, and that on the following terms and conditions:

 

  1. Name: The name of the united congregation will be Edinburgh Northwest Kirk: Cramond Kirk and The Old Kirk and Muirhouse (Church of Scotland) and Scottish Charity Number SC006457 will be retained.

 

  1. Transference of Property and Funds: The property and funds belonging to or held on behalf of each congregation will belong to or be held on behalf of the united congregation and any transference necessary will be duly effected.

 

  1. Places of Worship: Both churches at present used and occupied by Edinburgh: The Old Kirk and Muirhouse (Church of Scotland) and Edinburgh: Cramond Kirk (Church of Scotland) congregations will be the places of worship of the united congregation.  However, the building at The Old Kirk and Muirhouse, currently designated B in the Presbytery Mission Plan, will be subject to upgrade planning or release by 31st December 2025, as indicated in the Mission Plan, to provide the best solution for a physical mission presence in the area. In the interim, services shall be conducted each Sunday at times and church(es) to be decided by the Minister and Kirk Session, subject to the approval of Presbytery.

 

  1. Territorial Responsibility: The bounds to be served by the united charge will be the bounds of the parishes uniting or as the Presbytery will determine.

 

  1. Kirk Session: The elders of both Kirk Sessions will form, with the minister, the Kirk Session of the united congregation.

 

  1. Congregational Management: The temporal affairs of the united congregation will be administered by the Kirk Session in terms of the Unitary Constitution, the Delegation of Assembly being authorised to issue the appropriate Deed of Constitution to the said congregation.

 

  1. Minister: Both charges being vacant, the united charge will proceed to the election of a minister, inducted on a Basis of Reviewable Charge, in terms of Act VIII 2021, section 9 (1), and that on the following conditions:
  1. The Presbytery shall review the appointment five years from the date of induction of the minister.

b)  At the review, the Presbytery shall consider with the Kirk Session:

  • Whether the life of the congregation exhibits the five Marks of Mission, i.e.

To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom;

To teach, baptise and nurture new believers;

To respond to human need by loving service;

To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation; and

To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.

  • The success or otherwise of reaching out to younger generations, the unchurched and local community groups;
  • The extent to which a leadership core has been established and developed to enable the resourcing of all aspects of church life;
  • The effectiveness or otherwise of building relationships within congregations, with other denominations and with the wider community to create new connections in Christ’s name; and
  • Such other matters as may be relevant by that time.

 

  1. Following such review, the Presbytery shall take a further decision on the future arrangements for ministry to the congregation, recognising that one of the options available to it is the termination of the tenure of the charge on giving the minister six months’ notice in writing.

 

  1. Manse: The manses of both Edinburgh: The Old Kirk and Muirhouse Parish, Church of Scotland congregation and Cramond Kirk, Church of Scotland congregation will be retained until the united congregation shall, with the agreement of Presbytery, decide which property shall form the manse of the united congregation. The remaining manse will be retained, sold, let or otherwise disposed of within three years of approval of the union, always subject to the titles on which it is held, and subject to the approval of the Presbytery, and, if necessary, of the General Trustees or the General Assembly. The free proceeds of any such sale or let will (a) if falling within the scope of Act VII 1995, be credited to the benefit of the congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund or (b) if not falling within the scope of the said Act, be held and applied for fabric purposes in connection with the properties of the congregation.

 

9.  Ministerial Support: The stipend of the Charge will be paid in accordance with the terms of the National Stipend Scheme.

 

10.  Power to Readjust: While the articles and terms will form the Basis of Union for the two congregations now uniting, the united congregation will be free, like other congregations, to adjust arrangements under the authority of Presbytery as need may arise.

 

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