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Growth in Communion, Partnership in Mission

Following the approval today by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland of the joint report with the Church of England ‘Growth in Communion, Partnership in Mission’, the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev David Chillingworth, said:

“We are grateful to the General Assembly for extending an invitation to the Scottish Episcopal Church to appoint a member to the contact group being created to take forward this agreement between the Church of Scotland and Church of England. That will give us the opportunity to be actively involved in future developments. Our representative at the Assembly this year, the Rt Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, was able to express our common desire to move forward in furtherance of the Gospel of Christ and expressed our thanks for the gracious apology given by the Archbishop of Canterbury during his address to the Assembly.”

The address given by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland can be read here.

A summary of discussions at General Assembly on the ‘Growth in Communion, Partnership in Mission’ report can be read here.

Photo provided by the Church of Scotland.

New initiative following Second Annual Meeting of Scottish Episcopal Church and Church of Scotland Ecumenical Committees

The Inter-Church Relations Committee of the Scottish Episcopal Church and Ecumenical Relations Committee of the Church of Scotland held their second annual meeting on 12 May 2016 in advance of the General Assembly and the General Synod. It was a lively and positive discussion during which the group explored ways in which the relationship between the two churches could be developed within the Scottish context.

There was a strong level of agreement and a desire to explore our common calling. A working group will be set up and hold its first meeting in the early autumn to take forward this new initiative. The conversation will have an emphasis on what is happening in local settings across the country as well as addressing the theology that underpins our shared mission.

A third meeting of the two committees is planned for next year.

The Rev Canon John McLuckie, Convener of the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Inter-Church Relations Committee, commented:

“Our Inter-Church Relations Committee was delighted to join with the Church of Scotland’s Ecumenical Relations Committee for the second of our joint annual meetings. Such meetings have been arranged with the enthusiastic support of our Faith and Order Board. This year we were able to develop proposals for a joint working group to undertake more focussed work for the future of our shared mission in a rapidly changing Scotland. The Faith and Order Board will be invited at its next meeting to make appointments to the proposed working group.”

General Synod 2016

This year’s annual meeting of the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church will take place in St Paul’s & St George’s Church, York Place, Edinburgh on 9-11 June.  There is a public gallery where people can watch and hear the debates as they unfold, and this year for the first time the full proceedings of General Synod will be video live-streamed. Updates and further details will be available on the Scottish Episcopal Church website www.scotland.anglican.org. The General Synod Agenda and papers are also now available on the website.

Think, Pray, Vote: European Union Referendum resources for churches

The Church in Society Committee of the Scottish Episcopal Church commends the resources Think, Pray, Vote produced by the Joint Public Issues Team (Baptist Church, Church of Scotland, Methodist Church, United Reformed Church) with the support of the Scottish Churches’ Parliamentary Office (SCPO). Think, Pray, Vote has been prepared to enable Christians to reflect thoughtfully and prayerfully on the issues involved and can be used for conversations with groups or for personal reflection.

It explores issues that surround the referendum, such as sovereignty, the single market, freedom of movement and the environment. It provides information, opportunity for theological reflection and different perspectives from Christians on how they may vote and is available from the Joint Public Issues Team website: www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/eu-referendum  or to download from the SCPO website at http://bit.ly/1W1D9mi

Notices

The Rev Ruth Innes is to be licensed as Rector of St Fillan’s Edinburgh on Thursday 2 June 2016.

The Rev Canon Andrew Sheridan is to be licensed as Rector of Christ Church, Lanark on Tuesday 14 June 2016.

The Rev Sarah Murray is to be licensed as Vice Provost of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Inverness on Sunday 19 June 2016.

The Rev Elaine Garman, Assistant Curate at Holy Trinity, Dunoon and St Paul’s, Rothesay, is to be ordained Priest by the Right Rev Kevin Pearson, Bishop of Argyll and The Isles on Saturday 4 June 2016 at St Paul’s, Rothesay.

The Rev Rosemary Bungard, Assistant Curate at St Columba’s, Portree; St Michael and All Angels, Isle of Raasay and St Mary’s, Sleat is to be ordained Priest by the Right Rev Kevin Pearson, Bishop of Argyll and The Isles on Saturday 25 June 2016 at St Columba, Portree, Isle of Skye.

Appointment of Children and Families Development Officer at St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow

St Mary’s Cathedral is delighted to announce the appointment of Lorraine Darlowe as Children and Families Development Officer.

Lorraine joins St Mary’s with years of experience in this field in a number of different churches. She is the Convener of the Development Team for Children and Young People in the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway. During the course of her one year appointment, Lorraine will be focusing on developing and supporting leaders of those working amongst children and families. She will also help people to share their creativity in celebrating the festivals with younger members of the congregation, developing the work that has begun around the crib service on Christmas Eve.

The Provost of St Mary’s, the Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth says “St Mary’s is a growing place at the moment and I’m thrilled that Lorraine is able to join us to help develop our work in this area. I’m particularly grateful to all those who responded positively earlier this year to the stewardship campaign which has made this appointment possible.”

Lorraine will work 10 hours a week and her appointment is for one year from 1 June 2016 and she will be commissioned to this new post during the 10.30 am service on Sunday 29 May.

Gaelic Services of Worship

The following Gaelic Services will take place in June:

Thursday 9 June 5.30pm St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh
Sunday 12 June 5.30pm St Andrew’s Cathedral, Inverness
Saturday 25 June 2.00pm St Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen

Further information from Julie Gamble auchy.christie@btinternet.com, Communication Secretary, The Gaelic Society or contact the Very Rev Emsley Nimmo alexander306@brinternet.com

Scottish Inter Faith Group on Domestic Abuse

This Scottish Inter Faith Group on Domestic Abuse (SIFG) is looking for a Scottish Episcopal Church representative to attend their meetings. The Mothers’ Union is represented by Hilary Moran, who says “We focus on raising awareness within our faith communities of domestic abuse, challenging preconceptions and standing together as people of God with those who are abused”.

Further information can be found on the SIFG website www.ifgoda.org.uk or by emailing hilary.moran@btinternet.com.

The meetings are held in Paisley on a Thursday morning, about 5 times a year.

Bringing Christ’s care and service to Scotland’s workplaces

An appeal is being made to support the mission to Scotland’s workplaces by holding a Special Collection in churches in aid of Work Place Chaplaincy Scotland (WPCS).

The cross-denominational activity of churches engaging within this country’s working life, WPCS is supported, on a yearly basis, in different ways, by most of the main Scottish Christian churches. But to sustain the WPCS ministry and meet the growing demand for trained volunteers, help is needed from churches.

Work Place Chaplaincy Scotland chaplains are happy to visit and talk to organisations and churches about their role in Scotland’s workplaces.  To find out more about their work, please visit www.wpcscotland.co.uk or email info@wpcscotland.co.uk

Mission to Seafarers Scotland Volunteer News magazine

The Mission to Seafarers Scotland has produced a new online magazine, Volunteer News. To view the magazine, follow this link: https://issuu.com/missiontoseafarersscotland/docs/seafarers_magazine_final

Vacancies

Rector for St Paul and St John the Evangelist Monklands, Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway

Director, Place for Hope