Used in the [[Church of Scotland]], the term covers parishioners who wish to be permanently connected with a particular congregation, and in the case of whom there would be no reason for refusing to admit them to communicant membership if they should apply for such. Adherents, who must be over twenty- one and not in membership of any other church or congregation, may on formal application be added to the electoral register and thus be permitted to participate and to vote in congregational meetings. In the Highlands and the Western Isles many adherents, including those of smaller Presbyterian bodies, maintain this status because of a feeling of unworthiness to come to the Communion table.