No message from Mark this week as he is on leave. He will be back for Sunday!

Instead of Mark’s message here is a brief outline of changes coming soon for Nithsdale Churches.

Draft Basis of Union for Nithsdale Churches
(It is a draft but I suspect it will go ahead without significant change)

• All the Nithsdale Churches will be united on a date to be decided by Presbytery.
• Dunscore and Moniaive to unite ASAP and decide a name.
• Name of the united Nithsdale church to be decided.
• All property and funds to be held by united charge.
• Present churches will continue as initial places of worship for the new union.
• Durisdeer and Kirkconnell churches to be sold by end of 2025.
• Thornhill, Penpont and Closeburn to be reviewed within 1 year of the union.
• Only one church from Penpont, Thornhill and Closeburn to remain. Other two to be sold.
• Services of Worship shall be held at times and churches to be decided by the Minister and Kirk Session, subject to the approval of Presbytery.
• Minister to take no more than two services on any Sunday.
• The new Parish will be made up of all the parishes of present churches.
• One Kirk Session to be created for the new united parish.
• The united parish Kirk Session will use the Unitary constitution.
• Mark is one of two ministers allocated to the united charge.
• The present manse (occupied by Mark and Debbie) will remain.
• A second manse selected from all the remaining manses will be occupied by the second minister.
• Remaining manses to be sold.
• These arrangements can be altered by the united charge under the authority of the Presbytery.

Best wishes,

– Colin mitchell, session clerk, dunscore church