At a meeting of the Kirk Session in Tayvallich Church on 15th August 2017 the meeting was constituted in prayer by the Moderator, Rev Clifford Acklam.
SEDERUNT
Present were Moderator, Rev Clifford Acklam, Session Clerk, Mr Alan Cameron, Fabric Convenor, Mr Russell Anderson, Elders, Mrs Valerie Cameron,
Mrs Norma Kelly, Mr David Logue, Mrs Louise Logue, Mrs Libby MacDonald, Miss Ealasaid Mackay and Mrs Catherine Paterson.
APOLOGIES
None were received
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the meeting of 20th June 2017 were approved Proposed by Mrs Louise Logue
Seconded by Mrs Libby MacDonald
MATTERS ARISING
Holiday Club Benmore – Two local children have attended the Glen Coe Centre fifty per cent funded by this congregation. Mrs Logue had contacted other local families with church connection but no one was free to attend Benmore this summer. It is hoped that children from this parish will be able to participate in 2018.
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr & Mrs XXXXX have again written requesting that they be allowed to purchase a house building plot on the glebe at Inverlussa. This case was considered and rejected by Kirk Session on 4th October 2016. The request was again fully considered and it was agreed that no land is for sale. The Session Clerk will advise the enquirers of this decision.
INVERLUSSA CHURCH
A meeting took place at Inverlussa on 2nd August 2017 between office bearers and the convenors of the Presbytery Property, Business and Ministry Committees. Rev Lindsay Schluter, Convenor of the Presbytery Property Committee, advised that Presbytery’s decision to instruct the congregation to sell Inverlussa could be revisited. There would, however, have to be a strong case for the retention of the building and the following reports would have to be commissioned in time for the November meeting of the Presbytery Property Committee.
* A report by a conservation architect
* A report by a structural engineer
* A rot infestation report
* A heating survey
* Full costings for making the building Disability Discrimination Act compliant including the provision of an appropriate toilet facility.
* An electrical report
* A draft business plan for the future use of the building.
If the building were to be offered for sale, it may be possible to continue using it as the General Trustees are currently looking at trials whereby a building could continue in use until a short time before completion of a sale. The General Trustees department have also confirmed that we own only the building and ground below it (the footprint of the building). We do not own the graveyard or the boundary walls. The General Trustees had also advised that under the main Grants Scheme any church building being considered would have to be guaranteed to remain a Place of Worship for fifteen years within the Presbytery plan. It was clear that the level of repair now required would cost far in excess of the sum for which we had originally budgeted in 2013. Having considered the foregoing information, Session moved to a vote on the future of the Inverlussa Church building.
The Motion “This Kirk Session wishes to proceed with the sale of Inverlussa Church building.”
FOR the Motion – 6
AGAINST the Motion – 2
Abstentions – 2
The motion was therefore carried. The Session Clerk will advise the Presbytery Property Convenor.
A report on the condition of the roof structure has been commissioned from Argyll Roofing. On receipt of this report, a decision will be made on whether it will be appropriate to continue to use the building pending sale.
REPORTS
Minister
Rev Acklam outlined the work which he had been doing during his study leave. This involved intensive study of the Art of Transitional Ministry with the Presbyterian Church of USA.
Stewardship
Mrs Norma Kelly commented that she was very happy with the results of Christian Aid Week 2017 and that further sums over and above the £700 recorded had been sent direct to Christian Aid by contributors.
Safeguarding
Nothing to report.
Presbytery
Presbytery representatives visited Inverlussa Church on 2nd August 2017.
Treasurer
Mrs L Logue was pleased to report that Gift Aid had been recovered for the tax year ended April 2017 and also that two years worth of Gift Aid under the Small Gifts Scheme had been recovered.
Fabric
Mr R Anderson reported that the new water supply to Tayvallich Church should be completed very soon as the contract had now been placed with D A MacDonald, Contractors. Plumbers will also be engaged to check that valves and pipe joints suit mains pressure and the under basin water heater will also be repaired or replaced.
The bell at Bellanoch Church is still to be repaired.
SESSION ADMINISTRATION
Training
Mr D Logue reminded us that there is a one day conference in Stirling on 23rd September and that he would have spare seats in his car. The event is being organised by the Church of Scotland, Messy Church Scotland and Stirling Presbytery. Issues to be addressed include maturing Messy Church discipline families, borrowing from our church traditions and inter-generational church. Speakers will include Lucy Moore, the founder of Messy Church.
WORSHIP & MISSION
Services
Harvest Celebration will be held on 24th September in Tayvallich Church.
Evening Services will be held in Tayvallich Church at 6.30 pm on
Sunday 20th August 2017
Sunday 17th September 2017
Messy Church
Meetings will start in October. A planning meeting will be held in Tayvallich Church at 7.00 pm on Thursday 21st September 2017.
Alpha Course
Mr & Mrs Logue propose to run another course in October again in Achnamara.
Cafe Connect
We are short of helpers for Saturday 2nd September. Volunteers sought.
A.O.C.B.
The next issue of Life and Work will be distributed by Mrs L MacDonald.
D.O.N.M.
The date of the next meeting will be 26th September 2017 at 7.30pm in Tayvallich Church.
The meeting was closed by saying the grace together.