General Assembly 2023

Rev Dr Scott JS Shackleton Head: Faith Action

The General Assembly 2023 marks the beginning of a five-year Faith Action Programme. Staff are now settled into four programme groups, keen to continue our work of bringing the vision of the Assembly Trustees to life. Our collective desire is to go and make disciples. The Faith Action Programme has a key role to play in this: in finding, creating and nurturing new worshipping communities and ministries; stewarding our international presence; speaking to and with society around issues of justice at home and abroad; and becoming more efficient with our financial, environmental and material resources.

This has been a time of change within the Faith Action team, across our presbyteries and our congregations, but I believe we are well positioned to be able to think innovatively, be creative and respond reflectively to the modern society we are here to serve. I am very proud of the Faith Action team and I know we look forward to supporting all you do locally, deeply aware that you are the expression of Christ in your community.

Shirley Grieve Programme Lead: Mission Support

We are excited by the range of work that we are developing to equip people to live out the mission of God.

Our wide remit encompasses children, families, young people and young adults; international work; linking local to global; priority for the poorest communities; worship development; presbytery mission planning; ministries support and development; mission in Gaelic-speaking communities; pioneering and new worshipping communities; digital ministries; and workplace chaplaincy.

It’s a big, dynamic portfolio but the common factor is that all of this is linked to working in support of local congregations and presbyteries. As you would expect too, much is driven by what we learn from our work with communities.

Take Priority Areas, for example; coming alongside our network of 200 congregations who want to put tackling poverty high on their missional list, we plan projects and programmes in response.

Similarly, we are supporting the development of 100 new worshipping communities as they try out energising missional models in their local context that we can all learn from.

Best of all we are joining all of this up with others in the Church, ecumenical partners and other agencies who want to come on this journey with us.

FOR OUR GAELIC READERS

Rev Dr Rory Macleod Minister of Strath and Sleat

Nach eil sinn cleachdte ri bhith beachdacheadh air a’ mhìos Chèitein mar toiseach an t-samhraidh? Air an adhbhar seo, nach dèan sinn fiughair ri ràith ùr anns a bheil cùisean ag atharrachadh? Chan eil dad san t-saoghal seo a’ cumail san aon staid, mar sin ’s ann do-sheachanta a tha caochladh. ’S e ceist a th’ ann: an gabh sinn ris no an seachain sinn e? Air an dàrna làimh, gheall Ìosa gu bheil e “ag ùrachadh a h-uile sìon” (Taisbeanadh 21. 5); air an làimh eile, cuiridh an litir gu na h-Eabhraich an cèill gu bheil Ìosa “ceudna an-dè, agus an-diugh agus gu sìorraidh.” (13.8)

Kay Cathcart Programme Lead: People and Training

The new area of People and Training brings together all aspects of training along with recruitment to the recognised ministries (Readers, Ordained Local Ministers, Deacons and National Ministers of Word and Sacrament). It looks to encourage growth, inspire mission and facilitate development across our Church by establishing an integrated training programme, which will enable us to

• Create opportunities for people to grow as disciples, and if they wish, on into a wide variety of opportunities across the Church

• Establish a programme for developing local church leadership that includes a range of resources and learning experiences

• Train those in the recognised ministries to bring God’s word and equip people to live out the mission of God in every community in Scotland and beyond

• Attract and recruit to the recognised ministries those who are gifted and called, creating new pathways for training We long to help equip us all to love God and love people, to know what we’re here for. To seek transformation in ourselves, in our communities and in the world, working together and with others, expressing huge diversity, making the difference we’re called to, using the gifts God gives. Let’s do it – let’s be it!

David Bradwell Programme Lead: Public Life and Social Justice

Public Life and Social Justice is about the Church of Scotland being at the heart of the community and contributing to national life. Our work brings together the Church’s commitment to justice, peace and the integrity of creation.

This includes supporting the Church’s national voice on public issues as well as working with congregations and presbyteries to help support new approaches to questions of the environment, justice and reconciliation.

It is about identifying and walking with people who struggle against poverty and marginalisation, and in speaking honestly and humbly in the public square about the Church’s faithfulness to a suffering world yearning for God’s truth, peace and justice.

Major topics emerging for this year’s General Assembly are around racism and the Church’s legacy of slavery; interfaith relations and a new Jewish-Christian Glossary; and a response to Scotland’s approach to drugs and substance use.

We have specific responsibility for taking forward projects in relation to tackling violence against women, supporting refugees, helping the Church’s transition to Net Zero, and aiding Parliamentary relationships. We are considering new and emerging issues around science, ethics and theology and are closely connected with the work of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group.

Kenny Roger Programme Lead: Resource and Presence

It is an exciting time for our programme group, with Rebecca McGonigle starting as Business Manager and The St Andrews Hotel, Jerusalem and The Scots Hotel, Tiberias going from strength to strength. Our Tabeetha School in Jaffa continues to be an educational and spiritual home for pupils of more than 40 different nationalities. Founded in 1863, this truly unique school welcomes all children regardless of race, nationality, gender or religion and creates a positive, challenging and supportive learning environment that values individual differences and learning styles.

In Scotland, the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile is preparing for another packed Festival season, with guests from all over the world visiting John Knox House experiencing history afresh and learning how our reformation never stops. The Resource and Presence team are reimagining our Scottish property portfolio to ensure that our buildings large and small contribute all they can to the vision of the Faith Action Programme.

Life and Work’s refresh has been positively received and it continues to be a key means of communication across the Kirk. Keep an eye on their website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for clear and prompt commentary on the General Assembly.