Review called as Church of Scotland ministers' choose to live in own homes

The General Assembly will tomorrow be asked to order a review of the current policy amid concerns about rising costs and the preference of some ministers to live in their own homes.

Last year the Evening News revealed how Edinburgh minister the Rev John Munro faced the threat of losing his job for refusing to live in his manse.

Mr Munro, of Fairmilehead Parish Church, had moved into his own house nearby and used the manse as an office every day, while an American assistant minister lived there as a guest.

The congregation was happy with the arrangement, but the church authorities ordered him to move back into the manse.

The case went to a two-hour "trial" by the Commission of Assembly, which voted 64 to five to uphold the ruling.

The Kirk's current regulations say a minister has "the right to live in the manse and a corresponding duty to occupy it".

Ministers can only be offered the opportunity of living in his/her own house "in exceptional circumstances".

The church has argued in the past that the manse system means ministers can move from one parish to another without having to worry about the cost or availability of housing.

Ministers are not taxed on their manses – because they are seen as part and parcel of their job – so any change in that status could cost the church a fortune.

But the Kirk's ministries council now proposes a review should be carried out with a report back to the Assembly in 2012.

The Rev Dr George Whyte, clerk to the Kirk's Edinburgh presbytery, said the review reflected changing circumstances.

"There are people coming into the ministry in their mid-30s, who already have houses.

"The costs of maintenance have gone up, churches' ability to maintain manses to a good standard has changed – and the measure of what is considered a good standard has also changed."

Mr Munro – who is still living in his own house – today welcomed the move to reconsider the Kirk's policy on manses.

He said: "It's overdue. There does need to be a rethink on manses and I'm glad this is being brought forward by the ministries council. They have listened to what has been said."

Mr Munro's own case is due to go to adjudication by an internal church group where he must present a "compelling" reason for opting not to stay in the manse.

But the policy review is expected to mean an indefinite delay in any action against Mr Munro.