MISSION IN CONTEMPORARY SCOTLAND

Written by: Liam Jerrold Fraser

Published by: Saint Andrew 

Press Price: £24.99

For regular readers, this work should require no introduction as a piece on the book by the author featured in our September 2021 issue.

Written by the minister of Linlithgow: St Michael’s, it seeks to understand the place and position of the Church of Scotland in the third decade of the 21st century (and a world living with a pandemic). It is clear from the start that this is not a definitive or ‘how to’ guide, but is a two-way dialogue which encourages readers to think, explore and understand their particular local context amid the challenges of today – and equally understand how the world of today is rooted in the events of the past.

The book offers a good summary of the history which has led to the world of today, drawing on both social and Christian sources to sketch out a picture of longstanding decline.

The author also seeks to show how the Church’s connection with society has changed – and continues to change as he considers the way ahead.

But the book is not a one size fits all guide nor a solution to long-standing missional problems, but rather marks the start of a conversation considering practice through service, evangelism and public witness. Unusually, a website has been set up to continue that conversation missioninscotland.wordpress. com and it is likely that this book will become the first in a series charting the rebirth and reformation of Christian mission in the Scotland of today.