The Vacancy Procedure Committee of the Presbytery of Lanark met to consider the Call to Dr Elijah Obinna to the vacant charge of Carluke: St Andrew's in deferred union with Carluke: St John's.

The Committee had received all the relevant papers pertaining to the Call, including the signed declaration of the vote to elect Dr Obinna of 209 voted for and 25 against and the Call itself, subscribed by 101 members of St Andrew's and 434 members of St John's and duly proposed that the Call to Dr Obinna be sustained.  The date of Dr Obinna's induction was set for 11 February 2016.

Dr Obinna will be sponsored by the Church of Scotland.  He is required to apply for a Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) which is valid for three years.  It is possible to apply for an extension and, after a total of 5 years, to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

As no objections were received by the closing date of 25 October 2015, Presbytery formally approved the Call at its meeting on 3 November 2015.