Basis of Union

The congregation of Dunfermline Townhill and Kingseat SC008085 and the congregation of Dunfermline St Andrew’s Erskine SC007302 shall be united in July 2024, or from a date to be determined by Presbytery, and that on the following terms and conditions:

1. Name: The name of the united charge shall be Dunfermline St. Columba’s Church of Scotland and SC0 07302 STAE will be retained.

2. Transference of Property and Funds: The property and funds belonging to or held on behalf of each congregation shall belong to or be held on behalf of the united charge and any transference necessary shall be duly effected.

3. Places of Worship: The church at present used and occupied by the congregation of Dunfermline St Andrew’s Erskine shall be the place of worship of the united charge. The churches at present used by the congregation of Dunfermline Townhill and Kingseat shall be sold, let or otherwise disposed of subject to the titles on which they are held, and with the approval of the Presbytery and, if necessary, the General Trustees or the General Assembly. The free proceeds of any such sale or let shall:

(a) if falling within the scope of Act VII 1995, be credited to the benefit of the congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund; or

(b) if not falling within the scope of the said Act, be held and applied for fabric purposes in connection with the properties of the congregation.

4. Territorial Responsibility: The bounds to be served by the united charge shall be designated as the bounds of the parishes of Dunfermline Townhill and Kingseat and Dunfermline St Andrew’s Erskine, or as the Presbytery shall determine.

5. Kirk Session: the elders of both Kirk sessions shall form with the minister the Kirk session of the united charge.

6. Congregational Management: The temporal affairs of the united congregation shall be administered by the Kirk Session in terms of the Unitary Constitution, the Delegation of Assembly being authorised to issue the appropriate Deed of Constitution to the said congregation.

7. Minister: When both charges are vacant, the united charge shall proceed to the appointment of a minister in terms of the Vacancy Procedure Act (Act 8, 2003).

8. Manse: The manse of the congregation of Dunfermline St. Andrew’s Erskine shall be the manse of the united charge. The manse of the congregation of Dunfermline Townhill and Kingseat shall be sold, let, or otherwise disposed of, subject to the titles on which it is held, and subject to the approval of the Presbytery and, if necessary, of the General Trustees or the General Assembly. The free proceeds of any such sale or let shall: (a) if falling within the scope of Act VII 1995, be credited to the benefit of the congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund; or (b) if not falling within the scope of the said Act, be held and applied for fabric purposes in connection with the properties of the congregation.

9. Ministerial Support: The stipend of the charge shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the National Stipend Scheme.

10.Power to Readjust: While the articles and terms shall form the Basis of Union for the two congregations now uniting, the united charge shall be free, like other congregations, to adjust arrangements under the authority of Presbytery as need may arise.

Basis of Union as at 3 September 2023. The contents of the Basis of Union, including the name of the united charge, were accepted by the uniting congregations’ Kirk Sessions (at meetings on 22nd August and 3rd September, 2023). On the latter date (at the meeting of Dunfermline Townhill and Kingseat’s Kirk Session), it was agreed also to write to the Fife Presbytery Clerk seeking procedural clarification