The General Assembly 2010
What have been the highlights?
The Church affirmed again its commitment to the Third Article Declaratory, that is to be a national church with a duty to maintain a ministry in all parts of Scotland, with particular care for the remote rural areas and for the poor. We continue to provide the ministry of Christ to all, in partnership with our sister churches, and in humility as Christ asks much of us in this modern age.
The Children from the Children’s Assembly taught us a new song, which I hope we can learn.
The St Andrew’s Family Project was praised in the report of the Church and Society Council as part of the work of the Parish Development Fund, our own little corner of Christ’s work gaining recognition for what we do for all in our city and I hope all who support the project as members of Session, or as volunteers, or by supporting their fundraising, or in the Congregational Board providing heating and lighting, can take encouragement and pride in our part in this work, however small.
The Guild Reported on their work in the year and were specifically thanked by the Convener of Ministries Council for their support for the initiative ‘A Place for Hope’ which is working to diminish, resolve and avoid conflict in the church.
What have been the challenges?
The Council of Ministries reported that the church’s deficit is £5.7 million this year. Some of this is planned to come from reserves to meet a deficit in the pension fund but much of it comes from the bill to pay ministers, administrators, and staff salaries. If we, the ministers, were each to take a pay cut of £200 per month this deficit could be cleared, or alternatively if each church member could pay one additional pound a week, that is £52 per head per year, we could continue as we are. In order to clear this deficit with current givings we have to close churches, or find new ways of working with fewer ministers.
One of these new ways is an exciting idea to have a Local Ordained Ministry, locally trained and deployed and able to work in teams alongside the ministers of word and sacrament. What will be our response to this call and challenge? I am aware that I will be asked to take on additional pastoral work during my ministry, can you help me do this? Could you answer a call to Local Ordained Ministry? Or could you give £52 extra a year? Or could you respond in prayer and ask God to bless our church as we face these challenges?
What have been the blessings?
I have felt God is with us as a Church as we face the future. The debate can be fun, witty, serious, and sometimes inspired and inspiring.
The Worship has been blessed by the singing of unaccompanied psalms and the celebration of the Reformation.
And personally, I have met many old friends and met news ones, reminded again and again that Christ has no hands in this world but our hands, and so many willing, talented and brave people are working tirelessly for God in His Kingdom.