Congregational Meeting

On Saturday 9th November from 1-4pm, St Catharine’s are having a congregational meeting, facilitated by Rev Dean Fostekew (not the Dean, but a person called Dean!).  This is to follow up the home visits that Willie, Amy Jo and Susan have been doing over the past month or so where we have been discussing three options for the future of the church.

 

1. Continue in partnership with St Mary’s, but only pay a quarter stipend which is nearer to what we can afford.  We would still require to fill all the places on the vestry (charity trustees).
2. Ask for help from the Diocese or elsewhere to create a post for a Pioneer Priest based at St Catharine’s.  We would need around £100000 in grants to employ someone full time for 3 years to develop new expressions of church in Bo’ness alongside caring for the congregation that currently exists.  For us to have any chance of getting this grant, the church have to be wholeheartedly behind this idea.
3. Celebrate and close at some point in the next year, handing the church and any remaining funds back to the diocese to do with as they see fit.  This could seed further ministry elsewhere in the diocese.  The congregation in Bo’ness would then be cared for from elsewhere and they could choose which church they would attend in the future.  The Scottish Episcopal Church would still care for you!

 

We’re open to there being options 4,5 & 6!  Please make attendance here a priority.