Update on the Vacancy: March 14, 2024

Last Sunday we announced that Presbytery had said that Houston & Killellan Kirk and Langbank Church needed to come to some sort of arrangement where we can work together.

The Kirk Sessions from both Houston & Killellan and Langbank met and agreed unanimously that we would like to become a linkage, so it would be Houston & Killellan Kirk linked with Langbank Church.

A linkage means that we still remain our own churches, with our own finances, our own buildings and so on – but the one thing we will share is a minister. That has some other, smaller, implications but these can all be sorted out in the finer detail.

Everybody on both Kirk Sessions had clearly thought the decision through and carefully considered the pros and cons.

We are hoping that Presbytery, and then 121 (Church of Scotland Headquarters), will also agree with us that a linkage is the best option going forward.

However, if Presbytery or 121 do not think that this change is for the best, they will come back to us and ask us to re-look at the whole structure again. Unfortunately, if that happens it takes more time, and that means we will be without a minister for a bit longer, because this decision has to be sorted out first.

Change affects us all in one way or another so I would ask you to think of everyone in both churches at the moment, to pray about this change, and to be open about it – because a change will happen.

Once the change is settled, Houston & Killellan Kirk and Langbank Church will probably work together on various things in the coming years and both congregations have strengths and talents we can share.

This is an exciting opportunity to spread God’s word and His mission in these areas, and further afield, by working together.

Rev Barbara Ann Sweetin

Update on the Vacancy: February 2024

Houston & Killellan Kirk is currently in what is known as a vacancy, which means that the church doesn’t have its own full-time minister and will need to advertise for a new one, once all the necessary boxes have been ticked and we are able to do so. Unfortunately, it is a long process, but we will keep you updated with what is happening.

At the moment there are two stumbling blocks: firstly, under the Presbytery plan for our area, Houston & Killellan Kirk will have to have either a union, or a linkage, with Langbank Church.

Discussions between the Kirk Sessions of both Houston & Killellan Kirk and Langbank Church are underway. Once both Sessions reach agreement – which may take some time – we will seek the views of all our Elders. Both Houston & Killellan Kirk and Langbank Church Sessions will vote on it before the matter goes to a congregational vote.

We will hold a meeting with the congregation ahead of that vote, to make sure that everybody understands what they are voting on, and what the outcome of the vote will mean for our church.

The second stumbling block is the Manse; all manses will soon be required to a minimum of a ‘C’ rating for energy efficiency and at present our Manse is a ‘D’. The good news is that work on the property can be carried out while we are resolving the first matter with Langbank Church.

Rev Barbara Ann Sweetin