FAITH IN ACTION

Rev Dr Scott JS Shackleton Head: Faith Action Staff – Ministries & Mission Support

Recently, when Deputy Chaplain of the Fleet, I preached at the Service of Remembrance at Winchester Cathedral. It was a great honour. How to preach to a largely young audience – a‘Padre’s Dit’ (an old Navy term for a good tale!) with a song:

“Here’s to the ones that we’ve got, cheers to the wish you were here but you’re not,

‘cause the drinks bring back all the memories of everything we’ve been through.

Toast to the ones here today, toast to the ones that we lost on the way,

‘cause the drinks bring back all the memories and the memories bring back memories,

bring back you.”

(from Memories by Maroon 5) Cheers.

Dave Kendall Chief Officer: Office of the Assembly Trustees

A recent service at my local church included the hymns “Fill your hearts with joy and gladness” and “Lord of all hopefulness”. The minister was sharing the outcome of Presbytery Mission Planning which has significant implications locally. Filling our hearts, and the hearts of the communities around us, with the hope and joy of God’s love is our goal and the difficult actions we are currently progressing are focused on enabling us to sustain this.

I have the privilege of being involved at every level of the Church and whilst I see much positivity I am troubled to see first-hand the tiredness, anxiety and worries that we have in congregations, presbyteries and nationally. Our Church is all about the people of God wherever they may be which is why the other word foremost in my mind is kindness – we need to support and look after each other on the long overdue journey that we are taking together. There is no “us and them” on this journey – only “us” as we look forward, putting our faith in God, with hope and optimism about the future possibilities for our Church.

Introducing Hannah Sanderson as Innovation and Events Manager

We are pleased to announce that the Church of Scotland has employed its first Innovation and Events Manager. Hannah Sanderson will be developing Cultures of Innovation across the nation and there are also plans to create exciting national events that help introduce Christ to secular society and raise the profile of the Church of Scotland.

Our history is one of creative reflection and daring reformation and many individuals and congregations faithfully perpetuate those traditions but how can we encourage everyone else to join in? Hannah says “let’s help people see the divine creative breath in themselves and remember that religious reformation is ever ongoing, as is personal learning and spiritual development.”

In terms of outreach, some people are influenced by a local connection, building a relationship in small steps, while others are attracted to a bold, or emotional or even a provocative approach.

Raising the profile of the Church of Scotland is the foundation to our growth. Some people need to be reminded that we are here. We need to build positive associations and one way we can do that is to provide inspiring, even surprising, events.”

Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for more information in the near future.

David Bradwell Public Life and Social Justice Manager

Our Church has always been involved in political issues; the early Reformers shaped the political debate around education in Scotland, to enable everyone to have the chance to read so they could encounter the Word of God for themselves in scripture. More recently; in support for disarmament, in favour of devolution, and in speaking up for greater action on climate change and helping refugees (as reflections of our calling to care for creation and welcome the stranger). We’ve recently been part of a successful campaign to urge the Scottish Government to increase the Scottish Child Payment, and as I write, are expecting to be involved in conversations on the proposed assisted suicide legislation.

They say, however, that you should never discuss religion or politics. In the work that I and my close colleagues do, we spend our time doing nothing else! We know then it is possible to have respectful and meaningful conversations about important issues that touch on life, faith and society. Bringing our Christian belief and finding ways to make that relevant and impactful on the political decision-makers and influenceshapers is essential to support the work of the Church, and especially when thinking about the Five Marks of Mission.

Most years in November the Moderator spends time in London, with various ecumenical, civic society and political appointments. This usually also involves time with the Prime Minister, with the Secretary of State for Scotland, and with Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum. With a new PM in Downing Street, the meeting this year will be particularly important and an opportunity to, as the Quakers put it, ‘speak truth to power’. The societal challenges facing the United Kingdom in the light of the cost-of-living crisis and the impact this is having on people and communities across the country – and the work that local congregations and CrossReach are doing to help – needs to be shared with politicians, in order that the experience and understanding of the Church on practical as well as theological questions can contribute to the common good.

We are – potentially – less than 12 months away from an independence referendum. While I expect the Church nationally to retain its position of impartiality, it does not mean we should avoid making Christian contributions about our hopes and dreams for Scotland’s future. This is a task not just for staff in the national office, but for the whole Church to talk about how to make our country fairer, more equal and more just.

Andrew Kimmitt Integrity Task Group

From 25 November to 9 December, organisations across the world will be marking 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence.

Gender-based violence (violence that targets someone because of their gender or perceived gender) permeates every facet of society. The Church is not exempted. To take just one example, of domestic abuse, a 2018 academic study titled ‘In Churches Too’ found no reason to conclude that prevalence was any different in church communities from that of society as a whole. This means that the Church needs to get things right when it comes to issues of gender-based violence: we cannot bury our heads in the sand by denying its relevance to our communities.

One set of discoveries of the ‘In Churches Too’ research is particularly haunting. The study asked over a hundred people who had experienced domestic violence about their experience of turning to the Church for support. While 59.8% of people would signpost a friend experiencing domestic abuse to the Church for support, only 23.8% of respondents said seeking help from a church community helped to change the situation positively. For another 28.6% it didn’t change the situation but helped the individual to feel more supported. 33.3% said turning to a church community made no difference either to the situation or how they felt. 14.3% said turning to a church made things worse.

“The Church of Scotland has a history of being outspoken and acting on issues of gender justice, both globally and in our own society.”

This is just one form of violence, and it is just one facet that shows how seriously the Church needs to take issues of gender-based violence. At the very least we have to establish a ‘first do no harm’ approach which prevents making things worse.

The Church of Scotland has a history of being outspoken and acting on issues of gender justice, both globally and in our own society. The current forum for that work is called Integrity and in the last few years it has developed, piloted, and now rolled out training to equip every church with increased understanding of issues of violence against women. The training runs online as a single-session, and after running it throughout 2022, 95% of participants reported an improvement to their knowledge in issues of VAW and their confidence in responding to issues directly connected to it.

The next open training event will be during the 16 days of Activism on 30 November, with events running in March, June and September next year. You can sign up at www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/safer-churches-first-steps-in-understandingviolence-against-women-tickets-403517189777