A kirk minister faces losing his job and home after winning re-election as an SNP councillor.
Measures are being taken to remove the Rev Bev Gauld from his charge after he was re-elected as an SNP councillor for a fourth term earlier this month.
For the past 12 years Mr Gauld, 60, has been both minister of Carnwath Church and an elected SNP member of South Lanarkshire Council. He has also been chaplain to the state hospital at Carstairs for more than two decades. However, before the last elections on May 3 the Presbytery of Lanark told him the two roles were incompatible and that he would not be able to hold both posts.
He has represented the old Carstairs and Carnwath ward on the council since 1995. In the most recent poll he stood in the new Clydesdale East multi-member ward, where he was returned along with two Conservative councillors.
As a result, the presbytery is now initiating procedures to remove him from his ministry. A final decision is due in September. However, members of Mr Gauld's congregation are campaigning for him to be allowed to remain in his post.
Each Church of Scotland congregation is led by a kirk session, made up of the minister and elders. The kirk sessions in turn are answerable to regional presbyteries. Carnwath Church comes under the presbytery of Lanark.
Hundreds of people from Carnwath and surrounding villages have signed a petition demanding the presbytery reconsider its decision.
The right of individual kirk sessions to choose their own ministers is a core tenet of presbyterian church government. Violation of this central principle has led to schisms in the past, including the Disruption of 1843.
The Carnwath kirk session is backing its minister. Anne Cochrane, the session clerk of Carnwath, said: "Congregations are responsible for choosing their ministers, and presbyteries do not usually get involved. What is happening at the moment has nothing to do with the congregation, it was the presbytery's decision.
"Never, at any time, has the Carnwath kirk session asked for Mr Gauld's removal."
Eric Dick, who lives in Carnwath, added: "The town would lose a great minister if the church pushed ahead with this plan."
Mr Gauld and his family have lived in the manse in Carnwath since 1978, but will have to vacate it as it forms part of the stipend he receives as minister. His stipend also includes £28,500 a year, which he will no longer receive.
Mr Gauld has lodged an appeal with church officials in Edinburgh, but now faces a wait to discover if he will be removed from his post.
The deputy clerk of the presbytery of Lanark would not comment and referred inquiries to Edinburgh.
A spokesman for the Church of Scotland said: "The presbytery is required to judge whether it is possible for the minister to combine his political life with his parish duties."
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