From The Editor

AS longer and warmer days begin, the Church of Scotland gathers in Edinburgh this month (May) for the annual General Assembly.

Hundreds of commissioners – both ministers and elders – are drawn from presbyteries and congregations across Scotland (and the Church’s overseas presbyteries and presbytery of England). The future structures of our Church is the big ticket item up for discussion this year. A radical action plan will be presented to the Assembly, following last year’s overwhelming rejection of a long-term plan for the Church. A special commission, chaired by the Rev Professor David Fergusson is expected to offer proposals for an overhaul of structures and a new direction of travel for our Church.

At the time of writing, the content of both reports is unknown. The future is a journey (full of both promise and challenge) which the Church has yet to take. Perhaps the key for those charged with the task of reading these important reports and making the decisions, is to simply go back to the beginning of the Christian church. The church established by Jesus was itinerant and was not rooted in buildings, but had, at its heart, a powerful message of love and justice.

As a church, structures should not matter. As a charity (which brings many benefits) the Church is bound by governance and rules to ensure money is spent appropriately. The far-reaching decisions anticipated will set the tone for the future of our Church for at least a generation.

But those who attend and vote this year should not feel overwhelmed by the scale of the task. The key could lie in keeping the focus on the decisions and tasks at hand and not being sidetracked or led down a rabbit hole which distracts or uses up valuable discussion and decision-making time at the Assembly.

The Church is at a crossroads in its history: reform and change is urgently needed.

The Church is at a crossroads in its history: reform and change is urgently needed. The decisions to be made this year will also require commissioners to set aside local (and perhaps personal) interests and consider the bigger picture. The model of the Church as it stands is no longer sustainable (one minister to one church). The Church has too many buildings – some now in the wrong places – not always effectively serving the communities. Local churches do not just serve grassroots communities but are part of a bigger national (and international) movement.

Perhaps the greatest gift commissioners to this year’s Assembly can bring is an open mind. For it was through the opening of hearts and minds that the seeds of the early Church were sown, laying the first foundations of the Church we have inherited today.

Lynne McNeil Editor