Agreed basis of deferred linking
The Presbytery of International Charges
BASIS OF DEFERRED LINKING
of The Church of Scotland Geneva and The Scots Kirk Lausanne
The congregation of The Church of Scotland Geneva shall be linked with the congregation of The Scots Kirk Lausanne as from a date to be determined by the Presbytery of International Charges and that on the following terms and conditions:
- Ministers:
(1) The current Minister of the congregation of Geneva shall continue in post until his demission. Meantime, given the vacancy in The Scots Kirk Lausanne, the congregations shall elect a Nominating Committee comprising members from both congregations in accordance with the Vacancy Procedure Act (Act VIII 2003) and Sch.5 of the International Presbytery Act 2016 with a view to their nominating a Minister for election to the deferred linking.
In the event that the Minister elected by the two congregations
(a) is a Church of Scotland Minister, that Minister shall be inducted to the charge of The Scots Kirk Lausanne in deferred linking with Geneva;
(b) is the holder of a Restricted Certificate of Eligibility under s.12(c) of the Admission and Readmission of Ministers Act 2022, that Minister shall be introduced to the charge as the Minister of the deferred linking for an initial period of three years, extendible in terms of s.12(c)(ii) of the Act for one further period of up to three years.
(2) On the demission of the current Minister in Geneva, the Minister of the deferred linking will become the Minister of the linked charge and there shall be appointed an Associate Minister in terms of the Approved Mission Plan.
- Kirk Sessions:
- While the current Minister remains in post in Geneva, he shall continue to be the Moderator of the Kirk Session there, while the Minister ordained or introduced to the deferred linking will moderate the Kirk Session of The Scots Kirk Lausanne.
- On the demission of the current Minister in Geneva, the Minister inducted or introduced to the charge of the Scots Kirk Lausanne in deferred linking with Geneva, shall become the Moderator of both Kirk Sessions.
- The two Kirk Sessions may meet together as they deem it desirable and, in any event, at least once per annum.
- Congregational Management: The temporal affairs of each congregation shall be administered as at present. The congregation of The Scots Kirk Lausanne shall be responsible for all the costs of that congregation, including ministry costs, while the congregation of Geneva shall be liable for all the costs of that congregation, including ministry costs. Any shared ministry or other costs shall be allocated between the congregations as agreed by the two Kirk Sessions when they meet together.
- Transference of Property and Funds: The property and funds belonging to or held on behalf of each congregation shall remain the property and funds of each congregation as at present.
- Places of Worship: The places of worship used and occupied by each congregation shall be the places of worship of the linked congregations. Services shall be conducted at times to be decided by the Minister, the Associate Minister and Kirk Sessions, subject to the approval of Presbytery.
- Manses: The manse in Lausanne shall be the manse of the linked charge, but this shall be reviewed by the Kirk Sessions in consultation with the Presbytery on the occasion of a vacancy. The Manse in Geneva shall on the demission of the current minister be available for the occupation of the Associate Minister. On the demission of the Minister of the linked charge, the Kirk Sessions shall determine which manse will be the manse to be occupied by the new minister and, failing agreement, this shall be determined by the Presbytery.
- Acceptance of Basis: Before proceeding to induct or introduce a Minister to the charge of the Scots Kirk Lausanne in deferred linking with the congregation of Geneva, Presbytery shall submit this Basis to him or her and obtain and record his or her written acceptance of these presents.
- Power to Readjust: While these articles shall form a Basis of Deferred Linking for the two congregations, the linked congregations shall be free, like other congregations, to adjust arrangements under the authority of Presbytery, and with the concurrence of the Presbytery Mission Plan Implementation Group as need may arise.