The Very Rev Albert Bogle emphasises the need to explain why restructuring is necessary within the Church of Scotland and for a focus on the future.

THE renewal and reconstruction of the Church of Scotland and reshaping of our presbyteries is now underway.

However, there is one fundamental question that we need to be continually asking ourselves as we bring together different groupings of congregations and presbyteries. It is the question: why are we doing what we are doing? Are we using the right medium to explain the message? If we focus on buildings that becomes the message. We get like what we look at.

You see, no-one will buy into an idea or a project or a vision or, dare I say it, a new presbytery, unless they can understand its purpose and the reason for its existence. People will give of their time and energy and will make their best contribution only if they understand why they are being asked to embrace a particular change or restructuring. The why must be at the centre of our communication. Most people are delighted to explain what it is they are doing but few are able to tell you why they are doing it.

I think this is a potential problem with so much of our reorganisation and communication. The message going out to the public, and members of the church, is too often being perceived as a retreat from communities and society in order to save an institution. We talk about ‘what’ we are doing but we do not spend enough time communicating ‘why’ we are doing it.

Most people are not inspired by a restructuring that on the face of it looks like a cost saving exercise. The message that gives out, is that we are in the business of trying to balance the books rather than taking risks for the Kingdom of God.

At face value every closure has the potential to send a signal that we have lost the confidence of our communities. Our irrelevance means we are having to make drastic decisions that involve closing buildings, simply because no one is interested in church anymore. We may not like to hear this, but to many people, the restructuring appears to be an economic one rather than a spiritual desire to grow.

Personally, I believe that those driving the restucture are doing so in order that we might get back to understanding the core purpose of the church, which is to follow Jesus. To do so we need to regain our belief that each generation must produce the next generation of believers.

We are not an institution, we are a movement. We are people called to be missionaries, not to be curators of museums. Faith is never contained in a building but in a body of believers. It is the movement that gathers momentum. Money is never a problem for a movement because the movement generates its passion from its power source. Our power comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit.

We need to be able to inspire people to see the significance of our existence. We need to communicate a more powerful and inspirational message about the Church of Scotland. A message that answers the ‘why’ question. Congregations who understand this will find that they will begin to thrive. We exist in order to talk about healing, forgiveness and wellbeing. We exist to bring others to know Jesus. To know what it means to be reconciled to God.

"The why must be at the centre of our communication. Most people are delighted to explain what it is they are doing but few are able to tell you why they are doing it.

Let’s begin to talk about our mission. We are people called to love God and love our neighbours. When buildings are being closed let’s explain it is because they are in the wrong place and no longer fit for mission and service in the 21st century.

Let’s not talk about a cap on ministry and ministers. To do so is to limit the Spirit. Let’s start talking about the new opportunities that restructuring will bring about to allow a new kind of minister and mission worker to emerge.

The restructuring message should be part of our new design to be a vibrant national church seeking to work in partnership with other denominations and organisations to bring the message of faith, hope and healing to all the people of Scotland and beyond.