Maximising the resources agreed at each General Assembly, the Presbytery Mission Planning Committee take an overview of parishes looking at their size, structure (eg stand-alone, linkage or parish grouping), and ministerial allocation, to ensure that ministerial workload is not too cumbersome for some and less for others. We also seek to determine other necessary assistance through centrally paid posts.

When a vacancy arises in a parish, the Presbytery Mission Planning Committee are responsible for assessing and recommending whether, in the changing climate of the church, a charge is given permission to call. Should Presbytery give permission to call, we subsequently assist congregations to fill their vacancy through our Vacancy Procedure remit.

In conjunction with the Presbytery’s Property Committee, we also seek to ensure that the buildings each congregation occupies, whether for Sunday Worship or other missional activities, are suitable for use. While the Presbytery Mission Planning Committee has no single authority in the fine detail of what is necessary to improve buildings, we do have the remit to ensure that local congregations are investing in their buildings so that mission for the future in each parish is sustainable.


The remit of the Presbytery Mission Planning Committee is:

• to implement parish appraisal matters in accordance with the Presbytery Plan.
• to conduct an annual review of the Presbytery Mission Plan.
• to consider and advise on all applications to carry out fabric works the cost of which exceeds the current Financial Limit declared by the General Assembly, with a view to advising the Presbytery whether the building involved is a necessary building in terms of the ongoing missionary strategy of the Church.
• to receive and consider all requests for amendments to parish boundaries and to negotiate amendments with Kirk Sessions.

About the Convenor

Convenor: Rev Alison McBrier

Email: AMcBrier@churchofscotland.org.uk