FAITH IN ACTION

The sixth in a series of features which will offer updates from the Faith Action Programme.

Rev Dr Scott JS Shackleton

Head: Faith Action Staff -Ministries & Mission Support

Welcome everyone. In this month’s review you will find reports on the incredibly important work of the Church through working groups of the Assembly Trustees and Faith Impact and Faith Nurture Forums; upholding and advocating for justice in the areas of creation, culture of best practice, supporting people of all backgrounds, and between faith groups.

This work is vital to the Church’s faith and the Five Marks of Mission. The practical outputs in these areas are central to the themes of scripture and are key elements of evangelising and discipling.

I hope you enjoy the articles and are encouraged by them.

Rev Alan F Miller

Vice Convener: Faith Impact Forum

The war in Ukraine and the ensuing humanitarian catastrophe have been a sharp reminder that we live in an interconnected world where events elsewhere directly affect us.

The amazing generosity shown to those fleeing the conflict – mostly women, children and the elderly – by so many people in so many countries, has been deeply moving. Our own congregations have been generous with their time, energy and money, offering support as a practical expression of our faith and in response to the commandment to love our neighbour – the third mark of mission: ‘responding to human need with loving service’.

Our international partners in the region have also responded – at the borders of Ukraine and across Europe, enabling the Church of Scotland to work with them to help the most vulnerable, some of whom may yet come to find refuge among us.

We must continue to be an outward-looking Church, engaging with the world and sustaining relationships that enrich and empower us to be effective witnesses to the Good News of the Kingdom, while challenging the injustice and violence of the world as we strive for peace and reconciliation.

Mirella Yandoli

Interfaith Programme Officer Jewish-Christian Glossary – Conversations with friends

The Church of Scotland has been in formal dialogue with the Jewish Community since 2017. By 2020 it was recognised that it was increasingly difficult for this dialogue, held behind closed doors, to impact positively on relations more widely. The relationship between the Church and the Jewish community had suffered in the light of the Inheritance of Abraham? report to the General Assembly of 2013. It was recognised that a more foundational understanding was needed of how our two communities approach subjects common to both, which we then go on to interpret quite differently, often without thinking of the impact the words we use might be having on the other, because of the different store we each set by those words.

Words lie at the heart of all our interfaith relations. Beyond acts of kindness and solidarity they are a key tool at our disposal for building lasting friendships. The counter to that is that they are also often the source of misunderstanding and hurt in ways not always intended and in ways that can be subtle and hard to pin down. That is particularly true when it comes to Jewish-Christian relations because Christianity has inherited so many words from Jewish tradition and the two also share scripture. The result is a common vocabulary but not always a shared meaning, which can, all too easily, lead to misunderstanding.

“Words lie at the heart of all our interfaith relations. Beyond acts of kindness and solidarity they are a key tool at our disposal for building lasting friendships”

The creation of a glossary of just a few of our words-incommon is an attempt to begin to address this issue, opening up conversations around words commonly used by Jews and Christians but not always viewed in the same way. Words used casually, phrases that have informed identity over thousands of years, words steeped with collective historical memory and words that we use to inform our understanding of peace and justice in the Holy Land are seen very differently.

For further information visit: www.churchofscotland.org.uk

In the glossary, phrases are included from the Christian perspective for example, which seem perfectly straightforward to us, but which often mystify Jews. The same is true from the Jewish perspective. The glossary is about helping both faith groups to understand where we are each coming from, with a glimpse into the meanings and assumptions behind the words we use, in the hope that this might help us to build renewed and stronger relationships.

This is only a starting point. The hope is that it may encourage more and deeper conversations within Church communities and between Jews and Christians so that we journey towards a better understanding of each other.

Needless to say there are many more words it would be good to explore together, which will deepen mutual understanding.

The door is open for conversations: could you initiate some where you are? As one telephone company used to say, “It’s good to talk”. It’s even better to talk when those conversations are held in an atmosphere of curiosity and compassion rather than confrontation, and where friendship is our common goal.

Jennie Chinembiri

Africa and Caribbean Secretary

The Church of Scotland Equality Diversity and Inclusion Group (EDI) was established in 2021 under the Assembly Trustees, to consider issues at the heart of the Gospel.

The vision of the Group is ‘all are welcome’ and in turn feel valued in the life of the Church. We believe that all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, sexuality or ability, are equally valued and loved by God and the Church is a vehicle to express the love of God to all. Therefore, it is our hope that every congregation across the land will be a place where all can find a place of welcome and belonging.

The remit of the EDI Group is to work with the Assembly Trustees in establishing a vision relevant to the whole Church.

The Group has a responsibility to propose areas of new work and training to help improve understanding and awareness of issues and barriers, as well as finding and promoting examples of good practice.

The Group has set three priorities for the next five years:

• Conduct and Culture

• Racial Justice

• Disability Inclusion

Each of these priorities has a number of outcomes attached to them, which aim to support local congregations with any EDI challenges that they may face.

The Conduct and Culture Group is keen to set up a network of grassroots EDI champions, who will advocate on behalf of their communities. This network will be supported by the EDI Group with training and peer-to-peer support sessions. If this is something that you are interested in please contact the EDI Group using the email at the end of this article.

The Racial Justice Group has embarked on a piece of research looking specifically at the experience of ethnic minorities within the Church of Scotland and views on racial justice more generally. Alongside this they are working on the Legacy of Slavery deliverance received by the General Assembly of 2021.

If you would like to find out more or contribute to this research please contact the EDI Group.

The recently-formed Disability Inclusion Group is focussing on enabling church communities to operate in such a way that they are places of belonging for all, particularly those with disabilities. Through proactive consultation and collaboration, the Group aims to develop or signpost resources that will enable congregations to respond to the Gospel imperative of belonging for all, in all aspects of church life.

For more information contact: edi@churchofscotland.org.uk

Clare Flenley

Research Officer: Policy and Public Affairs Team Net Zero Update

The General Assembly adopted a target of reducing the Church’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2030, and we’re working on ways for everyone to get involved. Look out for these in 2022:

• Energy Footprint Tool – an online tool which measures churches’ energy use and carbon footprint – launching soon

• Project Eve – apilot to explore installing electric charge points in church grounds

• Pathway to Net Zero – an online resource with practical advice for reducing emissions at church and at home

• Switching to carbon-free electricity – 75% of congregations have done this: sign up to the tariff if you haven’t already done so

For more information contact: cflenley@churchofscotland.org.uk

For our Gaelic readers

Rev Dr Rory MacLeod

Minister of Strath & Sleat

Fhad ’s a tha an aimsir a’ fàs tòrr nas fheàrr, tha sgòth a’ crochadh os cionn na h-Ucràin agus iomadh àite eile nach eil anns na cinn-naidheachd nas mò ach far a bheil beatha fhathast cruaidh agus far a bheil fulangas uabhasach. On a’ bhliadhn’ ùr tha sinn anns an t-Srath is Slèite air a bhith a’ dol tro Thaisbeanadh Eòin. Abair leabhar riatanach airson nan làithean seo! Ged nach bu chòir dhuinn ar cùl a thionndadh air falbh bho na suidheachaidhean èiginneach, nach eil e fois-inntinneach a bhith mothachail gu bheil smachd aig Dia, gun obraich a h-uile càil gu math agus gum bi aig gach rud a nì sinn air sgàth Chrìosd cudrom maireannach?