Experts are needed to advise congregations on buildings

Architectural professionals with a ardour for church buildings and journey are inspired to use for 3 thrilling new posts.

The Normal Trustees of the Church of Scotland are appointing Constructing Officers for the Presbytery of Lothian and Borders, the Presbytery of the South West and the Presbytery of Clare Illian ì, Highlands and Hebrides.

This function consists of assessing, recording and monitoring the situation of non secular buildings inside the boundaries of every presbytery and aiding congregations to plan and prioritize cloth repairs and enhancements.

The Constructing Officer will present the congregation with recommendation on property issues, together with enhancements and new developments.

Candidates should have a acknowledged skilled qualification and no less than three years’ expertise in a big organisation.

There may be presently a staff of six constructing officers appointed by the lay trustees and this quantity is being prolonged to cowl all presbyteries throughout Scotland.

The 2019 Normal Meeting referred to as for a discount within the variety of presbyteries in Scotland and there are actually 11.

The target is to hold out our mission of inspiring native congregations with the excellent news of Jesus Christ and make sure the church is lean and match for progress.

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Rev Scott Rennie, vice-convener of basic trustees, mentioned constructing officer post-holders play an important function.

“Most presbyteries now have one, and in recognition of the distinction they make within the care and upkeep of our church buildings, the Normal Trustees have moved to 100% funding of their posts this 12 months, up from 50% within the earlier contract,” he defined.

The primary constructing officer was the Rev Ian Murray who presently serves within the Presbytery of the North East and Northern Islands.

“The price of hiring a conservation accredited architect or a surveyor is significantly costly, so generally congregations are tempted to do it themselves and hope they get it proper,” he mentioned.

“Prior to now, generally they may have gotten it proper and different occasions they did not.

“Sooner or later we have to be certain that the buildings are correctly repaired for their very own good.”

Constructing officers have saved church buildings hundreds of kilos in remedial work and assist congregations join with native organizations to make sure work is completed at affordable value.

An surprising a part of the job is an more and more pastoral side of their function, particularly the place congregations should put together for the discharge and sale of a much-loved constructing and undergo a grieving course of in addition to a authorized course of.

Clèir Eilean Ì was shaped on 1 January 2024, from the amalgamation of 9 earlier presbyteries from Mull of Kintyre to John O’Groats and from the Western Isles to West Moray.

The Presbytery of Lothian and Borders was shaped on 1 January 2023 from a union of the previous Presbyteries of Duns, Jedburgh, Melrose and Peebles and Lothian.

The geographical space of ​​the presbytery covers the entire of the south-east of Scotland, every part from North Berwick to Teviothead and Higher Tweeddale (Broughton) to Dunbar.

The Presbytery of the South West was shaped on 30 September 2022 from a union of the previous Presbyteries of Ardrossan, Irvine and Kilmarnock, Ayr, Wigtown and Stranraer, Dumfries and Kirkcudbright and Annandale and Eskdale.

The Church of Scotland has undergone important restructuring in recent times to satisfy the challenges of fixing worship patterns, declining ministerial numbers, declining membership and declining incomes nationally and regionally.

That is way over is required to attain our main mission of serving hundreds of property homeowners, sharing the excellent news of Jesus Christ and serving our native communities.

Fewer congregational buildings would cut back strain on congregational funds, release funds and basic earnings for different church missional actions, and create extra sustainable situations.

The Lothian and Borders Presbytery and Presbytery deadline for the South West function is 24 September 2024 at midday whereas functions for the Clèir Eilean ì put up shut on 3 October at midday.

Rev Scott Rennie focuses on the work of Normal Trustees in a collection of Life and Work, which runs till December 2024.

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