As promised, this week we are picking up on another new piece of legislation with financial implications for congregations in our Presbytery.
The CALL, ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS OF WORD AND SACRAMENT ACT revises the way in which we handle those congregations who currently do not have an inducted minister. The new Vacancy Procedure Committee is meeting this week to consider the processes that need to be established to ensure that we are guiding congregations appropriately through vacancies.
One of the most significant changes in the legislation is the definition of a 'vacant' congregation. “Vacancy” is now defined as a charge which is without an inducted minister and which has been granted Permission to Call. This includes the situation of a prospective vacancy with Permission to Call where an Interim Moderator has been appointed, as well as the situation with Permission to Call where a member of a Team Ministry has demitted or translated from his or her Role.
Not all vacant congregations are now 'vacant'.
What does this mean in practice?
Well, one of the most practical consequences is to do with the vacancy allowance.
The way in which vacancy allowance operates changed on 1 January 2025.
Instead of every congregation, without a minister, being given vacancy allowance – it is based on the cost of how the congregation chooses to cover ministry during a vacancy. The various scenarios are outlined below.
- The congregation has a locum – this means they receive a locum vacancy allowance which will cover the full cost of 2 pastoral days and a Sunday (around £13k). This allowance is applied to the central locum invoice, which takes away the need to recharge locum costs to the congregation. If a locum is employed locally the congregation is reimbursed that cost.
- The congregation uses pulpit supply – a claim form (for pulpit supply in vacancy) is submitted to the national office and this would be paid centrally.
- There is no locum or pulpit supply – there are no costs to be paid and so no allowance will be payable.
From 1 January 2026, only those congregations deemed to be 'vacant' will continue to have access to this allowance.
Therefore, it is imperative that congregations without an inducted minister consider how this legislation will impact upon how they are able to finance ministry cover next year. If you currently have a locum, but are not deemed to be 'vacant', how will you meet the costs of that locumship from next January?
For some congregations this change may provide an impetus to consider moving forward on adjustments set out in the Presbytery Mission Plan, so that Permission to Call can be given. The Presbytery Planning and Deployment Committee is keen to support congregations in the best way possible as they grapple with determining next steps.
In addition, the Presbytery will be encouraging congregations losing their vacancy allowance to ensure that they budget appropriately for the future.
Mission Action Plans
Under the new act, Kirk Sessions continue to be responsible for preparing a parish profile for the charge. However, a new addition, is that the profile should include (as an appendix) a copy of the current Congregational Action Plan. A template has just been provided by the Office of the General Assembly.
What, you may ask, is a Congregational Action Plan?
At this year's GA, the Presbytery Mission Plan Act was amended to include a new section, which is worth including here in full:
Each charge shall have a five year Action Plan that brings together the vision of the charge for its mission, worship, life and service, taking account of its present position, its capacity and finances. The Action Plan shall set out aims/objectives, a timescale for achievement, notes of annual progress reviews and a traffic light indicator of status, in each of the following areas:
• Worship & Teaching
• Pastoral Care & Fellowship
• Youth & Children
• Local Mission/Community Outreach
• Wider Mission, including Ecumenism, Interfaith Relations and relationships with the World Church (as applicable)
• Finance
• Communications
• Property
• HR/Staffing within the charge eg MDS, Reader, locally employed staff
• Relationship with provisions of Approved Mission Plan for Presbytery
While congregations are obliged to have an Action Plan, they are not obliged to use the template provided and can instead set up the Action Plan as they wish, as long as it includes the new provisions as per the Act. It is expected that the Action Plan will be a living document which will evolve according to local circumstances.
Presbytery will be working out how to support Kirk Sessions in the creation and annual review of their five year Action Plans. But for those congregations which become 'vacant' in the coming weeks/months, Kirk Sessions will need to prioritise the development of an Action Plan, with the support of their Interim Moderator.
There are other changes in the legislation which will make the handling of vacancies a little bit easier. For example, there is a much simplified process around creating an electoral register, provided you are following the new Communion Rolls and Adherents’ Rolls Act, and, one member of the Vacancy Advisory Panel can provide support and advice to congregations on their own (rather than it being a panel of three).
For those congregations who were given Permission to Call prior to 1 June 2025, you will operate under the old Act until the end of this year. After that date, everyone will be working under the provisions of the new Act.
We are looking forward to receiving new guidance for Kirk Sessions and Interim Moderators. In the meantime, if you any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Rev Bob Fowlie (Vacancy Procedure Convener) or me.
Rev Stella