From The Editor

Lynne McNeil Editor

EDITORIAL

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THE clarion call from this year’s General Assembly was for radical action to stem the decline of the Church of Scotland. A ten-year plan was overwhelmingly rejected, with a call for a new three-year plan to tackle the long-term issues facing the Church.

But the big question remains: is the Church both at central and grass roots level prepared to tackle the evident and long-standing issues: too many buildings (some in the wrong place and unit for purpose in 21st century worship), not enough ministers-in-training to sustain the historic territorial ministry, declining numbers in the pews and a reduction in income?

On paper the facts are spelled out in black and white, but in reality when congregations realise the enormity of change, it is safe to say there is strong resistance and any attempts to reform or reshape fall foul of fear and uncertainty.

The Rev Dr Doug Gay’s Chalmers Lectures of 2017 and his book Reforming the Kirk were cited as a starting point for discussion by those behfind the move for action. It took a year for his thoughts to ilter through to the General Assembly and receive due consideration.

The nature of Presbyterianism means that any new plan could be dismissed by an Assembly if its members are unhappy with its implications.

However, with every year that passes the need for urgent action to reform and reshape our Church grows.

Perhaps the time has come not only to look inwards to structural and inancial reform but also to look outwards and learn lessons from those Christian churches that are thriving and experiencing growth and renewal.

Do they require a minister and a regular place to worship or is it a movement, tied together by common belief?

The question of whether the Church should adopt marketing tools to share its message should also be considered.

Many will baulk and say that the timeless message of the Church is clear and should not be subjected to anything as crass as business marketing.

However, clever and sensitive marketing has boosted events run by other churches and raised so called ‘brand awareness’.

Think of the number of people who would become aware of the Church through billboard and bus marketing alone.

Today’s audience is not a huge consumer of daily printed newspapers as online digital publications, social media and websites become the favoured way of consuming news.

A clever marketing campaign by the Church (identiied as a strong brand by marketeers) could gain unprecedented exposure both on and oline – as well as reaching out to a new audience, who have never before been exposed to the simple timeless message of our faith.

“The nature of Presbyterianism means that any new plan could be dismissed by an Assembly if its members are unhappy with its implications.”

This article appears in the August 2018 Issue of Life and Work

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