Session Meeting - 6 February 2006

Meeting with Presbytery Advisory Committee

The Committee chairman explained the general procedures of the vacancy, not least the structure of the Nominating Committee. It was important that the Nominating Committee should be fully representative of all groups within the congregation and all shades of theological opinion. In addition, there would be observers from the other churches in our embryonic Church Grouping. The maximum number of St John's members on the Nominating Committee would be 13, with the actual number decided by Presbytery.

Once the Church Electoral Role had been attested, the next step was to call a meeting of the Congregation to elect the Nominating Committee. Thereafter, the Advisory Committee would meet with the Nominating Committee to go through the next steps.

The Advisory Committee's initial concern was to discover the kind of ministry that would suit St John's needs. They asked for views from Session. Several members identified characteristics of the ideal candidate for our new minister: he or she should

• not be afraid to preach the gospel;
• have pastoral care as a priority;
• be someone "with energy";
• be sympathetic to the idea of Parish Grouping and working with other churches in the town;
• be willing and able to see others' points of view.

Once the Nominating Committee had been formed, they would proceed to placed adverts in Life and Work etc, and receive applications from interested clergy. Much of the work of the Committee is, of course, highly confidential, but would concern the reduction of the initial lit of applicants to one clearly favoured candidate. At this time, the Committee would invite that person to preach as Sole Nominee to the whole Congregation, who would then vote to accept him or her, or not.