LETTERS

Church Buildings

Having observed how the Church of Scotland has become an ‘estate agent’, I do wonder why? How is filling a role for which there are local specialists (both commercial and domestic) good practice? How is this inspiring ‘the people of Scotland and beyond with the Good News of Jesus Christ through enthusiastic worshipping, witnessing, nurturing and serving communities’?

Would it not be wise, better stewardship, to locate and employ local estate agents to dispose of buildings, than to use precious time and energy of the declining church roll? This is a particular concern when individuals the Church of Scotland has spent considerable amount of time and money training to be ministers, are being asked to show potential purchasers around buildings.

It is commendable that the Church of Scotland is rebelling against being a Historic Buildings appreciation society, but it seems to be at the expense of becoming a Historic Buildings disposal society.

Alex Sandison, Dundee

Ministers and Laity

Some of us were very puzzled about John Nugent’s comments in the February issue of Life and Work. What is meant by: “Theodicy simply does not work in the real world?” We couldn’t find “theodicy” in the dictionary. And, “the healing power of the shared confession of shared humanity?”

On a slightly different key, we hear a lot about the part the laity can play to make up for the shortage of ministers Are we remembering that ministers have gone through a lot of training, exams as well as life experiences? (I shall never forget the divinity student who gave up the course -why, I asked him? He sadly answered: “I couldn’t pass the exams.”)

May we suggest that we need ministers to keep us on the right path?

Dorothy Mackay, Aberdeen

Church Plans Comments

I have read the Presbytery Plan of Glasgow and the relevant Act and policy documents and appreciate the considerable effort and prayer which has gone into their developments and have been in correspondence over the objectives. There is a clear plan and timescale, which is commendable. However from my perspective and others, it is primarily about material rather than spiritual matters.

What is lacking (for the wider Church) are any specific and useful objectives which might deal with the decline of Christianity in Scotland.

Additionally, I do believe that God will endorse and assist with initiatives He judges worthy, if we undertake to fulfil his mission. As an example, I would suggest that the following objectives need to be considered:

Parishes should have a target of recruiting at least seven new members each year (average). To support this the General Assembly should commission rapid social science research which would include the following:-

• survey the recruitment strategies of churches and religions which are maintaining or growing membership and produce an action plan.

• review the Church of Scotland use of, and population uptake of social media and develop a social media strategy for the church aimed at 10-20+ year olds.

• survey the social and spiritual needs and attitudes and beliefs of the Scottish population – and use the findings to develop proposals within the remit of the church.

• commission a Mission plan to inform and attract non-believers to join.

Specific immediate objectives, for example:

• Every new housing development should receive attractive information about Christianity, the church and in particular details of all the services such as Sunday school, crèches, clubs, and all the fantastic interest groups we have.

• Every household in Scotland to get update of the same advice two yearly (online).

• Every church member should be provided with a small badge (optional) eg, a small cross, or symbol and be encouraged to wear it.

• Every church member, if able, should be personally involved in outreach such as participating in charities, volunteering, soup kitchens, food banks, manning a stand in the centre of the town, etc.

I do not think any of my suggestions will be new, but we should build on the beneficial impact of churches uniting and being stimulated accordingly, in order to change our image and spread the gospel.

I consider that if further initiatives are not developed, the church is facing a relatively catastrophic decline.

Professor Ewan B Macdonald OBE, Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire

Recent articles in Life and Work have urged us to think big as we consider the future of the Church of Scotland. On that theme, I offer the following:

• Make the Presbyteries smaller. They will then be better able to look after individual churches.

• Close no more churches: Instead, when the Church of Scotland can no longer underwrite the life of a church, give it to the people. This has happened near here where a church became a community church. Its members did not want to see it closed. It has continued independently for seven years now, with some success. It has plenty of money, with neither minister nor manse to support.

• In view of the shortage of ministers, re-think the old-fashioned tradition of ordination. Though practised for centuries, it is not known in the New Testament, where all followers of Jesus are “ordained”, not just a few. Let the local church appoint its own people to lead in baptism and communion.

• Train more people to take services. Make the training course less academic, with more “on the job” training, so that in every church there is a worship committee of enthusiastic members.

Alexander B Cairns (Rev, retired), Sandhead, Wigtownshire

Church Sadness

As an elder of the Church of Scotland for over 40 years and a frequent visitor to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories over the past ten, I am saddened and dismayed at the Church’s lack of any real public expression of outrage at the continuing suffering of the civilian population of Gaza.

What relevance has the new Mark of Mission which purports ‘to transform unjust structures of society and challenge violence’ when two million Gazans, mainly women and children, are indiscriminately bombed and denied food, water, medicines and shelter and yet the Church fails to express publicly its utter condemnation?

This is in stark contrast to the unequivocal stance of such organisations such as the Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council in their recent open letter of rebuke to President Biden.

I believe the lack of such moral clarity will forever be a stain on the Church of which I have until now been proud to be a member.

Douglas Simpson, Fortrose, Ross-shire

Reconnection Joy

After a period of 25 years in ministry with Welsh Presbyterians and my last read of Life and Work, I am delighted to say I have reconnected with the magazine all the way in South Wales and feel once again part of my Scottish roots and the church in which I was ordained to the ministry.

Hopefully I can catch up with church life in Scotland through the magazine and look forward to future coming editions.

Duncan A Ballantyne, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales