Arrochar Parish Church
General Assembly Report
These are a wonderful set of reports of the 2004 General Assembly given each day by Douglas Aitken on the Church of Scotland Web-site:
Welcome to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, meeting in Edinburgh. This is the annual gathering of ministers and elders from around the country to hear reports of the work of the Church's various departments and to set the targets and agenda for the coming year.
At its opening Session on Saturday, history was made when the Assembly elected Dr Alison Elliott to be its Moderator. Dr Elliott is the first woman ever to moderate the General Assembly and only the second non-minister to do so - she is an elder in an Edinburgh Church - the last non-minister being the tutor of James VI, George Buchanan who was Moderator in 1567. Dr Alison Elliott is a Child Psychologist by profession and currently associate director of Edinburgh University's Centre for Theology and Public Issues.
When the Queen cannot attend the Assembly herself - which she has only done twice in the past 40 years - she appoints to represent her a Lord High Commissioner with all the status of royalty. This year the Right Hon Lord Steel of Aikwood, former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, holds the office. He brought to the Assembly a letter from the Queen in which she spoke of the need for change and a recognition of the Church's service and contribution to the community. Lord Steel began his own speech by saying that as an elder himself he was delighted to see an elder in the chair again after so long and suggested that the media might make more of it. He also defended the right of the Church to "interfere in political matters". And he went on to declare that the greatest problem in the world today is not Islamic Fundamentalism - it is fundamentalism of whatever kind, Islamic, Hindu, Zionist or Christian. He also referred to a culture of disparagement in which our parliament, our Church and our royal family are often denigrated. He made the point that there would be a great transformation if commentators would distinguish between careful criticism and sweeping denigration and take greater care not to devalue these institutions in the eyes of their readers.
In her reply, the Moderator thanked Lord Steel for reminding the Assembly that its work and influence has a wider context and that what it says and does matters to many at home and abroad.
The Assembly broke for the Lord High Commissioner's Garden Party, for once in warm sunshine and met again in the evening for a number of reports. The General Trustees told the Assembly that the Church has too many buildings. This is mainly due to the fact that, over the history of the Church of Scotland, there have been a number of divisions and schisms which have resulted in several churches being built in a community. Over the past hundred years, many of these separate churches have re-united, meaning that there are often too many Churches of the same denomination in the one locality. This must change because there is insufficient money to maintain all the buildings congregations would like to keep and certainly not enough to fund the legal requirement to make buildings accessible to disabled people. But there is a commitment to help the poorest congregations. An important proposal was passed instructing the Committee to write asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer to waive Value Added Tax on Church property - levied at 17.5% - for all congregations but certainly for the poorest congregations.
The Committee on Artistic Questions raised the issue of the modernisation of many churches, making them adaptable to multi-media and praise bands, removing pulpits and extending chancels, suggesting that these things domesticated the church making it exclusive and the Committee asked the Assembly to encourage congregations to think how historic elements might still contribute to the worship and welcome. This seemingly innocuous deliverance raised a short but lively debate. Several ministers challenged the suggestion that modernisation made the church exclusive and less welcoming, rather the opposite. In the end, the Committee's wish was accepted with the addition of the call to be aware of the continuing need for change.
So the Assembly moved to the final report of the day - the Report of the Panel on Doctrine, which outlined a number of ways by which membership could be understood and calculated. This was in response to a question at a previous Assembly as to how the Church should interpret and measure its membership statistics. The Report explored the views of various thinkers on the subject who underlined the need for the Church to be inclusive, counting in its number those whose life and work are guided by Christian teaching and principle, or those who display a sense of the spiritual - those, for example, who lay flowers at a scene of death. The conclusion of the Panel, however is that membership cannot be separated from baptism and the Church must count its membership as those who affirm their baptism. The quality of the report was commended by the Assembly but Commissioners did not appear to be enthused by it.
Sunday at the Assembly consists of Assembly worship in St Giles Cathedral when the Moderator preaches and an evening session when her predecessor reports on his year of office. Dr Elliott, in her address, outlined the context in which the Church must work - the world with all its light and shade - and declared "&ldots; it's our task to look into the future. Will we be drawn by vision and promise? Will we allow ourselves to dream a little, ...............? Will we trust the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit? Or will we see only the long shadow of yesterday's thorn thickets?"
Monday at the Assembly will give a clue to the answer. Join us then.
On Sunday evening at the Church of Scotland General Assembly the Very Rev Professor Iain Torrance reported on his year of office just ended. He spoke of the duties required of a Moderator and, while accepting many national and special events have to be attended, he criticised the system for being disorganised and too ad hoc and not professional enough. Indeed, he wondered if the Moderatorial office should not be a part-time job. The session concluded with the presentation to the Moderator of delegates from other Churches at home and abroad.
Monday morning at the Assembly begins with the sacrament of Communion celebrated in the Assembly Hall this year by the Moderator's own Parish Minister, Dr Richard Fraser - the purpose being to bring all the commissioners together in fellowship around the Lord's Table before they may be divided in the same place by debate.
The first report of the morning is from by the Assembly Council which proposed a major restructuring of the Church's Boards and Committees. The proposals establish a Council of Assembly with executive powers under which all the work of the Church would be drawn together in six Councils covering the variety of the Church's mission and service. The Convener made the point that major restructuring had happened before and that while the Church's financial situation was a factor this time it was not the main factor and the proposals, which were in response to an instruction from last year's Assembly, were to facilitate the support of the mission and service of the whole Church which is the sole purpose of the central administration. The Council has also sought to discuss a number of other issues - the possible amalgamation of two of the Church's publishing houses, Pensions and a unified parish staffing budget and the Convener indicated that the restructuring proposals would enable progress in these matters.
The proposals generated a lively debate with counter-motion following counter-motion, and amendment after amendment - largely from Church Boards who were demanding more detail in the recommendations. However, one commissioner commented that some Boards seemed to be in favour of structural change so long as it did not affect their own work. That may be somewhat unfair but many contributors suggested that the Assembly Council had not done all the work it should have done before bringing their proposals. The Board of National Mission declared that, in its view, the proposals were not radical enough to progress the mission of the Church. That view was repeated by a University professor who had recently experienced change in the University which was radical and dramatic. He suggested that the changes that are necessary would include dissolving Boards virtually instantly. "New wine" he said "should not be poured into old wineskins." On another point, the Assembly Council assured the Assembly that there would not be serious cost implications in their proposals, but it was quite clear that those whose Boards would be affected did not believe them.
In summing up of the debate, the Convener said that it was significant that the main opposition had come from representatives of Boards who would be most affected by the changes and he suggested that there were obviously other agendas at work and for some at least it was a case of "Not now, not yet, not us, not this, not ever!"
In the end, the Assembly voted down all the counter-motions and accepted the proposals as presented by the Assembly Council. At that point the Assembly broke for lunch leaving a considerable amount of business to be done in the afternoon. We shall be here to record it. Join us later.
The General Assembly, meeting in afternoon session on Monday, began by rejecting a motion aimed at moving the Church towards the possible appointment of a Chief Executive. In fact, the Assembly supported all the remaining deliverances of the Assembly Council including the one instructing all Boards and Committees to co-operate fully with the new Council of Assembly agreed earlier today, and the final deliverance thanking and discharging the Assembly Council. Its work done, it gives way to a Council of Assembly.
The Pension Trustees reported that the Pension Fund is some £42 million in debt due largely to the fall in investment income and that the employers contribution to the fund was rising from 20% to 26.1% and the employees from 2.5% to 5%. The Chairman of the Trustees agreed to look into the possibility of employees who would not be able to complete a full 40 years service "buying" extra years of pension.
The crucial debate of the afternoon was the Report and Supplementary Report of the Board of Stewardship and Finance. The good news was that the giving of the Church over the past year has risen by 3.3%. The need for a more sacrificial approach to stewardship was emphasised. The question of tithing - the giving of a tenth of one's income - was again dealt with and the Convener made the point that while tithing is one biblical concept it is not THE biblical concept and so the Board believes that sacrificial giving is what is sought from members and to that end the Board proposes to hold twelve area meetings throughout Scotland to spread the word. A commissioner raised the issue of having a target to which to aspire and moved a motion urging all members and adherents to reach towards a giving of 10% of income after tax. This was defeated.
The proposed Co-ordinated Budget for 2005 indicates an overall cut of £400,000 from the allocations to Boards and Committees from the Mission and Renewal Fund of the Church. The Board of World Mission came to the Assembly to ask for a reduction in the cut they were to receive, claiming that they would have to reduce their work overseas. It was suggested that this would give the impression that the Church of Scotland is more interested in itself than in its mission partners across the world. The request of the Board of World Mission was rejected by the Assembly.
The Assembly turned then to the Report of the Taskforce for Change. The main controversial issue under this report is that of what they call "Flexible Tenure." This deals with the relationship between minister and a congregation. Presently, a congregation "calls" a minister to a charge and until he or she wishes to move, the minister has the right to remain in that post. The idea of flexible tenure would change that so that a minister would be inducted not directly to a parish but to a Presbytery which would introduce the minister to a congregation or a group of congregations or, indeed, to a non-parish job within the Presbytery. The Taskforce also asked the General Trustees to take up with the Scottish Parliament the matter of "listed" buildings - churches in particular which have been listed as buildings of special architectural or historic quality and importance - so that the Church might be permitted to dispose of them where they are surplus to requirements.
The proposal regarding flexible tenure generated many questions but little debate and was passed by the Assembly to Presbyteries for consideration and comment.
The final report of the afternoon was that of the planning group for a National Conference to be held in 2005 as a major commitment of the Church. This will take place on 28th May, 2005 in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre under the theme of Church without walls 2005 - Follow Me!
Something to look forward to, perhaps. As is the Report of the Church and Nation Committee tomorrow. Join us then.
The General Assembly began on Tuesday morning by inviting the First Minister of the Scottish Executive Mr Jack McConnell, MSP to address it. He congratulated the Moderator on her election and referred to his father's excitement at being sent as an elder to the General Assembly. He reminded the Assembly that, before there was devolved government in Scotland, it was seen to be the voice of Scotland. He, then, thanked the Church for its support in the early years of the Scottish Parliament and urged the Assembly not to stop speaking out and challenging simply because there is now a Parliament. He raised the issues of sectarianism, immigration and asylum and the important place of young people in the community and made the point that the Scotland he believed in was one in which all people were welcome and he urged the Church to share his vision and to work with the Parliament to bring it about.
The Education Committee reported that it had commissioned research into the mainstreaming of pupils with special educational needs - building a school without walls - and had also studied the question of Religious Observance in school and the place and contribution of Chaplains. The Assembly was at pains to be inclusive but not at the expense of failing to proclaim the Christian faith.
The Church and Nation Committee brought the first half of its report, dealing with local issues, to the Assembly. First among these is the call to HM Government to close the family unit at Dungavel Detention Centre for Asylum Seekers. Dungavel is a former prison used to hold asylum seekers and their children while their applications to remain in the country are processed. The Assembly has always believed it wrong to keep such children in prison. Another continuing issue is the refusal of the Ministry of Defence to reopen the case of the two pilots of a Chinook helicopter which crashed on the Mull of Kintyre 10 years ago killing some 25 senior military and security officers and the Minister's criticisms of the Church for raising the issue. All parties involved including the Minister of Defence and the Prime Minister at the time but excluding the present Minister and Department are agreed that the judgement of gross negligence is both unsafe and unjust. And the Convener strongly castigated the Ministry of Defence for criticising the Assembly for its support of the pilots' families, both of whom were in the Assembly.
A major issue dealt with by the Committee and supported strongly by the Assembly is the problem of poverty. The Assembly is looking for practical ways in which the voices of the poor can not just be heard but inform decision-making and policy in church and government. The Assembly heard of the needs of the homeless. The stock of Council housing is falling, but those moving out of homelessness are unlikely to be able to buy housing, so the Assembly is calling on the Scottish Executive to ensure the provision of more affordable rented housing.
The Assembly also asked the Government to simplify the national pension system and make it less dependent on means testing.
Next, the issue of media reporting was raised, triggered by, but not limited to, the recent reporting on abuse in Iraq by British troops, with photographs flashed around the world. The Assembly called on editors and managers to be honest, sensitive and true in their reporting of issues.
The Committee brought a report on anti-social behaviour in which they called for adequate funding and human resources to meet the problems. An elder who is a police officer warned the Assembly not to identify anti-social behaviour with young people alone.
The final deliverances in the morning session called on ministers and congregations to consider how they might learn how to respond to the gospel call to stand alongside the vulnerable and to let the silenced speak.
The Assembly will return after lunch to deal with the remainder of the Church and Nation Report. Our report will appear later in the day.
The afternoon session of the Report of the Church and Nation Committee began with a discussion on the War on Terror calling for a full public enquiry into the decision of the United Kingdom Government to join with the United States in launching an attack on Iraq. One commissioner called for the Assembly to stand in solidarity with the mainstream Churches of America which are providing an alternative view to that held by the administration of President George W. Bush. The Assembly agreed.
A prominent elder who himself had been a prisoner of war asked the Assembly to view with abhorrence any incident of ill-treatment of prisoners by coalition forces and call for the implementation of the Geneva Convention in respect of all prisoners of war. The Assembly recognised that the vast majority of troops in Iraq are doing an excellent and professional job of work
Moving to a wide-ranging debate on Israel-Palestine, the Assembly especially condemned the building of the so-called security wall on Palestinian land and the bulldozing of 1,000 Palestinian houses by Israel as a serious infringement of the rights of all Palestinians. It also called for the removal of checkpoints and barricades which infringe on the lives of Palestinian people.
The Assembly next moved to consider prayerfully the plight of the people in Burma, struggling for democracy, calling for Christians to campaign for justice there. It was suggested that Church members should not holiday in Burma while the junta remains in power. The Assembly also asked the Government not to encourage industrialists to invest in Burma.
The Assembly confirmed its belief in the importance of the United Nations but , on the motion of a commissioner, called for the power of veto to be removed and the permanent membership to be expanded beyond the five great powers.
The next section of the deliverance recognised the validity of shared values contained in the proposed Constitution for Europe and the Assembly then went on to deal with matters of Trade Justice calling for congregations and individuals to be involved with the Trade Justice movement and in particular to vote for Trade Justice Action in September. It welcomed the increased use and promotion of fairly produced and traded goods among congregations and congratulated the Chancellor of the Exchequer in promoting the Millennium Development Goals.
The report of Church and Nation and the decisions of the Assembly will now be sent to the appropriate ministers of the Scottish Executive and the United Kingdom Government and to members of Parliament representing Scottish constituencies in Edinburgh, London, and Brussels.
At the close of the debate, the Moderator, herself a former Convener of the Church and Nation Committee, paid warm tribute to the Rev. Alan McDonald at the conclusion of his own four year term as convener. She said that he had spoken with authority and courage and often said things that others only thought. He had also expanded the areas of concern considered by the Committee and suggested that his legacy would last long. The Assembly gave the Convener, the Rev Alan McDonald, a long and generous ovation.
The next short report was that of the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer - the churches (plural) representative to the Scottish Parliament. The Rev Dr Graham Blount said that he had taken up his post just over five years ago and seen the birth of the new parliament shortly afterwards. In a sense he saw the churches as the Godparents of a five-year-old child! An interesting sense of the relationship between Church and Government.
Much of what has been said today has been about serious issues that might be described as the darkness of the world. The Convener of Church and Nation ended his speech this morning with the words from St John's Gospel " The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." It is still true.
Join us again tomorrow.
Wednesday morning at the General Assembly began with the report of the Committee on Ecumenical Relations which deals with a variety of issues. First , at a world level is the work of the World Council Churches and the World Alliance of Reformed Church where the Church of Scotland is highly regarded. The Convener said that on a visit to their headquarters in Geneva, he was taken for a city tour by a lady guide who assured him that Calvin would be pleased that the Church of Scotland has elected a woman as Moderator. Then she added, for some reason, that it would be wonderful if the Moderator wore red nail varnish! The Convener, therefore, handed over a bottle of red nail varnish to the Moderator amid a roar of laughter and applause.
During the past two years, the main emphasis has been on establishing much closer relations with the United Free Church and the Free Church of Scotland. These discussions have been warm and friendly and will continue with regular meetings.
The particularly important matter, however, is the report "A Church of All and for All" from the Ecumenical Disabilities Advocates Network. The addresses the problem that the Bible teaches that Jesus heals and gives a richer life so that people with disabilities are seen as weak and needing care as objects of charity - which means that we do not meet each other as equals. This implies that the disabled are less than human. But the Convener then asked "Is disability in fact a gift from God?" It was clear from the debate that followed that those with disabilities are an essential part of the community, challenging that community both to facilitate access for the disabled and to include them in the leadership of the Church.
The report of the Board of National Mission covers a wide range of work - chaplaincies in hospitals, universities and prisons, the establishment of new congregations in development areas where new housing is springing up with dramatic speed, the special support for congregations in deprived areas and ministry to the deaf. Also the area most feared by congregations, the decision as to whether a vacant congregation may call a new minister or have to unite with a neighbour. These are all in-house issues and today they are being debated by an Assembly somewhat exhausted by the major structural changes dealt with on Monday and the wide-ranging report of the Church and Nation Committee yesterday. Moreover, behind every report there is the spectre of further financial restraints. Last year, the Board of Nation Mission overspent its budget by £1.2 million, this year it will be £1.6 million and the year after up to £2 million. It will be for the Council of Assembly, created on Monday, to decide on the priorities for the Church because everything that is reported is sincerely believed to be important and essential even though the Church cannot currently afford it.
One of the matters brought by the Board is a proposal for a National Plan for the provision of ministry in Scotland, by allocating numbers of ministers to Presbyteries according to the particular population and the number of ministers available. The proposal will now be discussed by the Presbyteries and a decision made at next year's Assembly.
The Board of Communication Report came immediately before lunch. It seemed that a large number of commissioners believed that lunch was the better choice. In fact, the report is largely a listing of the various activities of the Board. However there was an indication in the report that the Board are exploring selling advertising on the Church website. Commissioners were clear that the website belongs to the whole church and all Boards and Committees and therefore full consultation should take place and the final decision made by the Assembly. The Convener indicated that this would be the normal process.
The remainder of the Assembly then broke for lunch. Join us again later today.
The General Assembly began its afternoon session on Wednesday hearing the report on the HIV/AIDS project established following the General Assembly of 2002. In those two years, six million people have died and another 10 million have become infected. Today 40 million people world-wide are infected and 14 million children have lost a parent. The matter is of pandemic proportions. The Church of Scotland's project has gathered more than £275,000 and has distributed it for work in nine countries - including Scotland. One important comment was made by the General Secretary of the Church of Scotland Guild who earlier this year saw examples of projects in South Africa. She said that one of the important ways Church people could contribute, apart from giving to the project, is to help remove the stigma of the illness. This was a direct follow-up to the comment quoted by the Project Convener, of a worker in South Africa who said "AIDS is a virus not a sin; the sin is silence."
The Assembly then turned to the report of the Board of World mission. Its theme this year is Good News to share. The Good News is the Gospel and the ways of sharing it include word of mouth, acts of kindness and a Christian presence, welcome and hospitality. The not so good news is that budgetary restrictions are forcing a full review of the work of the Board. The Convener, in reply to a question, made a commitment that the Church of Scotland would not abandon its partnership with other churches, but these partnerships may be different in the future. Indeed, the Board is already looking for new ways to support these partner churches. He confirmed that the review would include staffing both at home and abroad.
Later, the Presbytery of Europe, which brings together the twelve congregations of the Kirk which stretch from Amsterdam to Malta, called for the Assembly to instruct proceedings to be started by which the European congregations might be freed from their existence under the Board of World Mission and become a "home" Presbytery with all the others in Scotland. There was some debate on the matter and the Assembly agreed to order conversations to start with a view to reviewing the current relationship.
When priorities are set, observed one commissioner, there may be a danger that other work is unduly neglected. Earlier a question was raised as to why the Board's report did not refer to churches in South Africa, in particular the Uniting Church. The Convener responded that the report could not mention every area each year. Later in the debate, a former Moderator referred back to the question asking that future Assemblies ensure that the Board was keeping its promise to maintain its partnership with the churches in ALL its fields but especially with the Uniting Church in South Africa.
In the Convener's speech, he had referred to the work of the Church in the Holy Land - the Churches and hostel in Jerusalem, the Church and the new Centre in Tiberias opening in two weeks time and the multi-ethnic Tabeetha School in Jaffa - and had said that these places gave the Kirk a unique presence at a critical time for the Middle East. A commissioner born in Jerusalem, but who had left as a refugee, said that she thought they were a potential for peace. The Convener, who had been in Tiberias two weeks ago, encouraged Church members, despite the current political situation to visit the Centre there, showing solidarity with the Christian minority among the Palestinian people.
Thursday morning at the General Assembly traditionally begins with the report of the Committee on Chaplains to Her Majesty's Forces. The Convener said that in time of war great importance is placed on the contribution of chaplains.
One major issue brought to the Assembly was the convergence agreement between the Army and the Roman Catholic Church. Since chaplaincy began Protestant Chaplains have acted for all Protestant denominations but the Roman Catholic Church has had its own chaplains. This will now cease and chaplains both protestant and catholic will care for all denominations. Certain special arrangements will be made for communion and the Mass, but, in fact, in Iraq Communion has been received by all from all. The reality in the field has been confirmed at least in part by the convergence in principle.
The Convener also indicated that there was a lack of candidates for chaplaincy work. He produced a statistic which must have astonished the Assembly, that there are only 41 ministers in the Kirk who are under 35 years of age - the top age for entry into chaplaincy in any of the three services. He went on to say that there is a misunderstanding about lengths of service as a chaplain. Many think that they have to sign on for a lengthy period of service. This is not so and he said ministers should look on Chaplaincy as similar to a term in a parish. He claimed that those who serve as a chaplain for a period will bring something special in terms of experience to any future parish ministry.
The Second Sea Lord was invited to address the Assembly. He praised the spiritual, pastoral and moral contribution of chaplains and underlined the importance of their listening and bereavement counselling ministries. "Chaplains," he said, "support us all."
The Moderator thanked the many chaplains who were present for the great work they were doing, often in difficult circumstances.
The rest of this day is very much a series of what might be called domestic matters and not particularly of great interest to those outwith the Church of Scotland. However, the first of the domestic reports came from the Trustees of the Church of Scotland Housing and Loan Fund for Retired Ministers and Widows and Widowers of Ministers - not the most exciting title. Yet this is one of the most successful units in the Church. It provides either generous loans at 4% interest towards the purchase of a house or it purchases a house which it rents to a minister at 40% of a commercial rent and to a widow or widower at 20%. The Trustees proposed that this facility should be extended to separated or divorced spouses of ministers. The Assembly agreed. Currently the Church owns 211 houses and cares for 350 Ministers and Widows.
The Convener of the Board of ministry reported that as a result of a series of Enquirers' Conferences over the past three years attended by 800 people, 180 have gone on for assessment. This has resulted in an increase in candidates for the ministry with an expected 40 new candidates this year. However, he went on to warn the Assembly that in the foreseeable future, the Church would need to consider seriously whether it can afford such an increase with each new ministry costing the Church between £43 and £45 thousand. There was some debate over this matter and several commissioners questioned the absolute priority of the ministry of word and sacrament over all other forms of ministry. It is a debate which will continue.
Just as the debate at the close of the morning session will continue over whether ministers should live in the house provided by the church - the Manse - or be permitted to live in their own house. Regulations of the Inland Revenue make the issue even more complex for a minister who lives in property other than the available manse.
Join us again later today.
Thursday afternoon at the General Assembly continued with the Board of Ministry and a debate on stipends. The Board introduced a new stipend structure at the beginning of this year which has meant an increase for most ministers. One commissioner questioned paying an increase given the Church's current financial problems and suggested that ministers might sacrifice the raise for the good of the whole church. However several elders spoke in defence of the ministerial remuneration. So did several ministers! The Assembly went on to look at problems experienced by congregations currently without a minister - of which there are around 200. Under the stipend scheme, all congregations with or without a minister must contribute to the stipend fund. If the congregation has a locum, the Board pays for one day's work plus Sundays out of the stipend fund. However, if the congregation wants or needs more days from a locum they have to pay for him or her in addition to the stipend fund. Several elders spoke, probably on behalf of their congregational treasurers, asking that some financial support be provided.
One of the casualties of the financial restraints on the Church is that the Board can no longer fund Study Leave for ministers. Study leave can still be granted but the ministers must fund it themselves. The only other change is that study leave is now available to all ministers from the start of their ministry. Hitherto a minister had to serve five years before being eligible.
The balance between ministry and family can be a difficult one to find. One minister said that he found it hard to be a good husband and a good minister at the same time. The Assembly accepted his deliverance expressing gratitude for the support of ministers' families in their ministry. He said that while he was at the Assembly or fulfilling all the varied commitments of his ministry, his wife was answering his telephone and doing other things for the parish. Therefore, such support behind the scenes ought properly to be recognised. It was another commissioner who suggested that the recognition should include families because children too are affected by the minister's work.
The Assembly also heard a report from the National Youth Assembly held last September. Several commissioners put questions to the members of the Youth Assembly who were present. One questioned two deliverances, one deploring all forms of domestic abuse and the other agreeing that children can be smacked. The delegates said that the vote had been close but they did not see a careful smack as domestic abuse. They had also discussed the possibility of training young people as counsellors in drugs, alcohol, and sexual abuse for young people. They believe a young person will listen better to one near their own age than to an adult. Another commissioner asked what the young people thought of the Assembly this week. The response was that the Kirk has adjusted its structures more or less as they had discussed but, and this is what surprised the Assembly, they said that they did not want the Church to change - they liked the Kirk just as it is. Several commissioners commended the young people and one asked that the results of their deliberations be sent down to Kirk Sessions. The next Youth Assembly is in September.
The final report of the day was from the Board of Parish Education. The purpose of the Board is to resource the parishes with educational materials on all aspects of membership and leadership. However the financial restraints, which have been so much at the heart of many decisions through this year and in particular during this week, have meant that the Board has not been able to renew the contracts of three regional workers whose work was greatly appreciated.
In almost the final act of the day, the Assembly has invited the coming Youth Assembly to debate and comment on the concept of the "Inclusive Church". We will have to wait until next year to hear that but we will be back tomorrow for the final day of the Assembly.
The first business on Friday at the General Assembly of the Church was to welcome as a guest Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. He was invited to address the Assembly and made three points, each with a visual aid. The first was a small compass made in Iona silver, a symbol of our common roots; the second a towel, representing the command of Jesus to wash each others feet - to serve each other; and the third symbol was a rosary to remind us of prayer. These, he implied, are things that can be done as churches together and though there is no unity at communion, these three things themselves are a form of shared communion.
The Parish Development Fund helps to fund special projects and has already granted £650,000 to 27 local projects which are also raising some £2.5 million themselves to further their work.
The report of the Church of Scotland Guild came next. The Convener reminded the Assembly of the Guild theme of Dare to Care and said that the Guild had moved out of its narrow comfort zones to embrace the poor, the enslaved, the socially excluded, the victims of abuse and those with HIV/AIDS by gathering information, giving practical care and by fund-raising. The Guild has become a member of the Steering Group of the new Scottish Women's Convention and a former General Secretary of the Guild has been elected as Chair of the Convention. The Convener's final words were especially significant. She said "As an unmarried, retired and aging female, potentially I have low value in today's society and the church." She warned the Church - in its desire to involve and harness the enthusiasm of young people - not to neglect the great resources of experience and professional skills that still exist in the Guild and long time Church members.
At last year's Assembly, a huge question hung over the future of the homes for the elderly run by the Board of Social Responsibility. The problem was the level of payment the Board was receiving from the local Councils where their homes were sited. In addition there was the capital cost of bringing homes up to the level required by regulations. This year the Board reported that they had been able to negotiate with the Councils so that only two homes and a small Dementia Centre have had to close.
Two among the many issues in the report are worthy of note. The first is the work being done by the Board in providing support services and carers so that vulnerable people can continue to live in their own or shared homes rather than being institutionalised. The other is the research commissioned on Deliverance Ministry - the belief in the reality of satanic power in the world and the reaction to it by the Church. This includes acts of exorcism. In the debate it was suggested that such acts would be extremely rare and each incident must be treated individually.
The Committee to Revise the Church Hymnary reported that the new book is almost ready and they hoped it would be published around St Andrew's Day - 30 November. The Panel on Worship reported that the 2005 edition of Pray Now its daily prayer booklet was well into production. One commissioner proposed an addendum urging the Panel to keep strictly within the limits of terminology provided by the Old and New Testaments in the parts of the devotional material which refer to or address God. This generated a considerable debate because the proposer indicated that he disapproved of any references to God using the female gender. The Convener, in winding up the debate, simply quoted several lines from various parts of the Old Testament in which God is described in female terms. The motion was defeated.
Following the report of the Iona Community Board , the Joint Boards Group on the protection of children and young people said that there are still many Child Protection Co-ordinators within churches around the country who are not properly registered, which means that they will be unable to use the Criminal Record Check when recruiting new children's workers. It is a matter that will have to be resolved before next year - when we hope to be back to provide a regular word picture of the Assembly business. From the 2004 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh, good bye.