’Edgy’ climate language plea

The language of climate change should use a more edgy vocabulary to better engage urgently the wider public.

Bland language can all too easily be subverted by deniers. During the March heatwave one male voice was recorded saying: ‘If this is climate change, bring it on!’

I was in my early 20s when the scene was set by European Conservation Year (1970) and the 1972 Stockholm UN Conference on the Human Environment.

I represented Scotland at an International Youth Conference in Canada in 1971. There were also some UK delegates, confusing my Bulgarian roommate. I sat on my first UK Government Working Party (all members under 25).

Eff ective and timely global response to climate change imperatives is a very great challenge today.

I feel there is some cause for hope.

Even at the height of the Cold War, the Atmospheric Test Ban Treaty was signed and respected.

The discovery of the ozone hole led to eff ective international action.

The Church of Scotland could surely do more by managing its estate of buildings with greater urgency, matching spaces to congregation size, to cut back heating bills and carbon footprints. Heating empty pews should have no place in the stewardship of God’s Creation.

J Michael Buchanan, London

Column thanks

The April issue has some good articles.

I always appreciate Albert Bogle’s, last month, encouraging us to relate more to other denominations, promote small groups to” grow in friendship” (and hopefully help each other to apply scriptural truth to our everyday living and verbalise our faith), listen to the Holy Spirit and, this month, to look to Jesus to give us the right vision for the future.

Thank you.

Bob Trelogan, Glasgow

Music and the Divine

I found it extremely interesting and moving to read Thomas Chalmers’ tribute [On a final note] in the April edition of Life and Work to the organist, Maureen Divers.

He praised not only her musicianship, which was clearly considerable, but also her personality.

She was described as having a ‘loving demeanour and quiet smile.’

Oh that we could all be so described! That, and her links with the Roman Catholic Church, contributed to her being a remarkable lady, who will forever be a ‘Living Stone ‘ in the Kilsyth Burns & Old Parish Church.

The description of Maureen’s work as an organist in the mission of the Church of Scotland reminded me, in many respects, of the contribution my late father, Archibald Thomson, made as a church organist.

He served many congregations over a period of some 50 years in Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone.

The job description for many organists in the Church of Scotland has changed somewhat over the years.

I can remember when my father was committed to choir practice on a Thursday and usually two services on a Sunday and sometimes three.

I also remember my father remarking on the occasions, in his younger days, when he wished he had been able to spend more time with his friends rather than going through the demanding process of learning to play the full instrumental capability of the organ.

Pablo Casals once remarked: ‘Music is the divine way to tell beautiful poetic things to the heart’.

The contribution made by organists to the lives of those in many Church of Scotland congregations is considerable and should always be readily acknowledged.

Indeed they off er, through their musicianship, ‘ beautiful poetic things to the heart’

Ian W Thomson, Lenzie

Shetland Hope

I have much sympathy with Alastair Christie-Johnston, whose letter, ‘Let go and let God’ (Life and Work, June Letters) was a true lament for the Church of Scotland we once knew.

It is the same Kirk that I grew up in, and have loved all my life, just as it has loved and nurtured me.

Our current struggles are a grief to me as they are to him.

I disagree that our troubles are all of our own making: I have worked with too many faithful Christians whose devotion is beyond question to blame them for not doing enough.

But it is true that cultural changes have left the Church bewildered as to how to respond.

However, where Mr Christie-Johnston feels that the Church’s cause is hopeless, I am filled with hope.

Here in Shetland, we have looked at our current condition with honest eyes, and we have accepted that we must change.

Yes, there is grief, as we lay to rest the old ways, and prepare ourselves to say goodbye to so many beloved buildings. But there are also the stirrings of excitement, as we become aware that God is calling us to something new.

Far from putting a roof on an old kirk, we are building a new church from the foundations up, rethinking entirely how we do mission and ministry in this place. And we are doing this as Christians together, in the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Mr Christie-Johnston is warmly invited to join us.

Change is always a process.

After the pain of Good Friday the disciples lived through a long slow Saturday before new life burst forth on Easter morning.

Our church members in Shetland are currently living their own Holy Saturday. Some may long to return to the old ways; others are impatient for the new ways to get going.

It is a time of uncertainty, and some may even despair.

But the God of the resurrection has not abandoned us. God is at work, and the morning is coming.

‘And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new!”‘ (Rev. 21:5)

Dr Fran Henderson (Rev), Transition Minister, Shetland

Prayer to change

The church’s reluctance at times to accept radical change, was once highlighted in a railway simile ‘The train of civilisation has left the station for an unknown destination, and the church has bought a platform ticket.’

That was certainly not true of those attending this year’s General Assembly.

Aware that in so many walks of life, ‘the majority believe in progress, but don’t like changes’, I was delighted when the commissioners, having listened to Professor Fergusson’s challenging, well researched and well presented report about the need for major structural reform and financial pruning in the Kirk, voted overwhelmingly to accept the report’s radical recommendations.

These included the need to markedly cut costs by reducing the number of Presbyteries, the cost of the Church Offices in Edinburgh and Council meetings there, and the huge cost of the annual General Assembly.

Believing as I do, that the church must build on the past, but not live in it, I was tempted to shout ‘Hallelujah Amen’, on hearing the result of each vote.

My hope and prayer is that our Presbyteries, Kirk Sessions and congregations will respond equally positively to these changes.

Dr James Simpson (The Very Rev), Bankfoot, Perth

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