The Church of Scotland is going through many changes which will affect Glasgow Presbytery and also the congregation of St Andrew’s. I have received an email from the Strategy Advisory Group of the Glasgow Presbytery and have been requested to include it in the STAY magazine. This email seeks to explain some of the reasons behind the changes. Our Session Clerk, Mr David Hamilton, has received a letter from Rev Gordon Jamieson, the Head of Stewardship at 121 George Street, again requesting that his letter be included in our magazine. This letter explains how our contribution is used to support the work of the Church of Scotland.
I must point out that some in the Church question the use of the term “funding crisis” and would suggest that “funding mis-management” would be more appropriate. Also we must question where the £6million deficit came from. Again some in the Church would explain that the stipends of the Ministers in the Church of Scotland were assured until National Mission with its £5million deficit was merged with Ministry.
Please read the email and the letter which do not explain fully the situation we are in, and raise more questions than they answer.
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The Church is facing a funding crisis. The staffing bill (salaries of all ministers and parish workers) is £6million a year higher than our income. Reserves won’t last long – so we need to do something. The General Assembly of 2010 decided to reduce the number of parish posts from the current 1,234 to 1,000 by 2014. For us in Glasgow Presbytery, we’ve been told to reduce our 163 posts to 134 by 2014 (that’s approximately18%) – and to adjust our Presbytery Plan accordingly.
Now, we could be brutal and ask “which congregations shall we close or unite?” But we want prayerfully to ask how we use what God has given us to reach our Presbytery area in His Name. There’s an opportunity here for some new thinking and working together. We want to plan for mission and not for further decline. If God began with 12 men, what can the Holy Spirit do with 134 ministries, committed office bearers and volunteers and thousands of praying members?
When the last Presbytery Plan was drawn up, the sole criterion for allocating ministries was parish population. We want to do it differently. We are going to look at every congregation and score five things:
Taken together these give us a fairer picture of each congregation.
The first four of these are largely about gathering statistics. The last will involve specially trained teams visiting each congregation, listening to their stories, and assessing their strengths. When we’ve completed this, each congregation will have a score, based on the five criteria, which will relate to their share of the available ministry resources. We’ll then need to sit down with the congregations in each area and work out how best to use their share of the resources.
This will take some time. We want to do it properly, and keep congregations involved. But, until we have a plan, the Presbytery cannot fairly fill any new vacancies – or allow new building works. This “freeze” falls very hard on vacant congregations – so there’s a need to balance thoroughness with speed. The target is to complete the exercise by June 2012 – but hopefully filling some vacancies a little earlier than that.
This process isn’t going to be pain free. So please pray for our Presbytery. Here are some useful prayer points:
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Thank you for supporting the worship, mission and service of the Church through the money you give in your offering. It is important to know what happens to this money. This letter tells you about your congregation’s Ministries and Mission contribution – the money your Congregational Treasurer sends to the Church Offices in Edinburgh. How does it enable worship, mission and service of the Church?
The information below shows how your congregation’s contribution is used to support Parish Ministries, Mission and Renewal, and general support and services provided for congregations and the councils of the General Assembly. Please note that the cost of your Minister is not what he is paid. This cost is the total for stipend and employer’s national insurance and pension contributions, and is based on a Minister with ten years’ service.
| St Andrew’s contribution | £38,863 |
| Parish Ministries (86%) | £33,422 |
| The cost of ministry in your parish is: | £39,600 |
| The support you receive from other congregations towards the cost of your minister is: | £ 6,178 |
| Mission and Renewal (6%) | £ 2,332 |
This supports the Church’s work in resourcing congregations for Christian education and outreach, in caring for the vulnerable of society, in partnerships with Churches in some of the poorest parts of the world, and in providing a Christian perspective on the issues of today.
| Support and Services for Councils and Congregations (8%) | £3,109 |
This supports financial and legal, safeguarding and other services and meets the cost of the General Assembly and the Moderator.
Please not that Ministries and Mission contributions only provide part of the total funding required for the work of the Church listed above. A fuller picture is given in the leaflet 2011 Ministries and Mission, which is available free to all congregations.
I hope this helps you to understand Ministries and Mission Contributions and shows you are enabling the sharing of the Gospel through the money your congregation sends through the Church Offices to all parts of Scotland and beyond.
Yours sincerely
Gordon Jamieson
Head of Stewardship
Some people suppose that when we pray, we are twisiting God’s arm, as if we are somehow getting onto the throne of the universe, so that we can say to God, “My will be done.” They think that because they are praying earnestly, whatever they ask for will happen, and that the only obstacle to it happening would be if they were not praying earnestly enough. That, however, is a superstitious and mistaken idea. When Jesus says to His disciples, “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (john 15:7), He qualifies His invitation by adding controls: they must be abiding in Him and His words in them, and the request must be “in His name,” that is, one that He endorses, and “according to His will,” that is, fitting in with His cosmic plan for the good of His people and others (John 14:13; 15:16; I John 5:14).
When we pray, it in not for us to suppose that we twist God’s arm or are in any way managing the situation. We aren’t. we should learn to think of our praying as less a means of getting from God what we want than as the means whereby God gives us the good things that He purposes to give but that we are not always in a fit condition to receive. God intends all along to give these good things, but He waits to be asked so that we will properly value the gift when it comes, and our hearts will be turned in gratitude and renewed trust to the One who gave.
During this month we have the opportunity to vote for a new Scottish government. Perhaps we should pause and consider how as believers we should consider our relationship with government. Civil government is a means ordained by God for ruling and maintaining order in communities. It is one of a number of such means, including ministers in the church and parents in the home. Each such means has its own sphere of authority under Christ, who now rules and sustains creation, and the limits of each sphere are set by reference to the others. In our fallen world these authorities are institutions of God’s “common grace” (kindly providence), standing as a bulwark against anarchy and the dissolution of ordered society.
With reference to Romans 13:1-7 and I Peter 2:13-17, the Westminster Confession explains the sphere of civil government as follows:
God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, has ordained civil magistrates, to be, under Him, over the people, for His own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, has armed them with the power of the sword, for the defence and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers. . . . . Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven. W.C. 23:1, 3.
Because civil government exists for the welfare of the whole society, God gives it the “power of the sword,” the lawful use of force to administer just laws (Rom 13:4). Christians must acknowledge this as part of God’s order (Rom 13:1,2). A government may collect taxes for the services it renders (Mtt 22:15-21; Rom 13:6,7). But if it forbids what God requires or requires what God forbids, Christians cannot submit, and some form of civil disobedience becomes inescapable (Acts 4:18-31; 5:17-29).
The church’s sphere of authority relates to the civil government at the level of morality. The church has the responsibility to comment on the morality of governments and their policies on the basis of God’s Word, but should not appropriate to itself the power to set such policies. Whereas these assessments may foster political action among Christians, they should act in their capacity as citizens rather than as representatives of the church. In this way the gospel works through moral persuasion and the working of God’s grace among citizens.
Christians should urge governments to fulfil their proper role. They are to pray for, obey, and yet watch over civil governments ( I Tim 2:1-4; I Pet 2:13, 14), reminding them that God ordained them to rule, protect, and keep order.
The Minister was our speaker on 17th March and his subject was “The Authorised Version of the Bible” because this year churches are celebrating 400 years since the publication of that Bible. King James VI instigated the writing and printing and therefore it is also referred to as the “King James Bible”. This translation was most significant as it meant that people could read the Bible for themselves or have it read to them in a language they understood.
Nowadays there are several different translations of the Bible which we can read. But for the =King James version to be still in use after 400 years shows what a tremendous worth it is.
The following week Amanda told us about “CHICKS” which stands for ‘Country Holidays for Inner City Kids’. It was interesting to learn what is done at the two holiday homes in England to give needy youngsters from all parts of the UK a wonderful 6 day break. Many of the children are carers (for parents or siblings), some have truly horrible home circumstances and it was inspiring to learn how much these holidays mean to them. This year the organisation will give 1,200 young people a much needed holiday. The staff and volunteer helpers try to keep in touch with them after they return home. This is a very worthwhile charity and it is hoped that in time there will be a CHICKS retreat in Scotland.
Our A.G.M. took place on 31st March when some new Office Bearers were elected. During this Session we have had a team of four ladies sharing the duties of President and for next Session that practice will continue with Joan Walmsley, Catherine Shearer, Mary Bothwell and Jackie Bothwell as team leaders. Joan will take the role of assisting the others when required. Jean King volunteered to share taking the meetings with the other three team members leaving Joan to cover the role of Treasurer. Jessie Wheeler will be our new Secretary.
After the Business part of the meeting we held a “Bring and Buy” sale which resulted in £110.10 being added to our Guild funds.
The Guild are holding a Coffee Morning on Saturday, 30th April when hot food, filled rolls and home baking will be available.
We look forward to our outing to Carlisle on Saturday 28th May. The bus will leave the Church ay 9am.
Sheila Tuton
Guild Secretary
May is the last month of the 2010-2011 session and sees the Company round off another year with our usual end-of-session events.
Our Closing Church Parade will be held on Sunday, 8th May when all sections of the Company will be involved. Our Annual Inspection & Display will be held on Friday 13th May at 7.15pm in Caledonia Primary School. A warm welcome is extended to all members of the congregation.
At our Display we will be fortunate once again to acknowledge the achievements of some of our Senior Boys in the Company Section. Sergeants Andrew MacGregor and Martin Smillie will receive The Queen’s Badge, which is the highest award in The Boys’ Brigade. Lance Corporal Drew Howie will receive The President’s Badge, which is the second highest award in The Boys’ Brigade. Our congratulations go to all three Boys and their awards are a testament to their commitment to the Company over a considerable number of years.
Out two ‘Queen’s Men’ will receive their Queen’s Badge Certificates at a ceremony to be held in Glasgow City Chambers on 26th May.
Finally, at the beginning of April two Boys were promoted within the Company: Jamie Clayton from Private to Lance Corporal and Andrew MacGregor from Corporal to Sergeant. We offer our congratulations to Jamie and Andrew and wish them every success in their duties as NCOs within the Company.
Jim Kerr
Please come along and support the Girls and Officers of the company as we recognize the Girls’ achievements over the past session.
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The Prospects Group held their coffee and bric-a-brac evening on Thursday 7th April 2011. We raised £252.10p on the3 evening and someone gave a donation of £40 making a total of £292.10p towards Prospects’ funds. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped to make this a very successful evening.
From 3rd – 5th June some of the team members and the group will go on the annual visit to Gartmore, where they will meet up with other Prospects groups. Our group always have a really wonderful time in participating in the activities during this weekend.
Our summer outing is on Saturday 18th June 2011. This year we are visiting Ayr where we will be able to either visit the beach or shops depending on the weather which has been brilliant our last few trips, and then meet up later for high tea before making our way back home. I can safely say that all who attend the trip thoroughly enjoy themselves.
Our last meeting before the summer break will be on Friday 27th May 2011. The Prospects café will be open on the 28th May. All will be welcome.
S Barclay, Team Member
Prospects.
The final amount raised at our recent Coffee Morning was £1,237. A certificate and letter of thanks are pinned to the Notice Board in the Hall of Fellowship.
May I once again thank all who came along and supported this very worthwhile cause and also thanks to all who helped either on the day itself or by donating goods etc.
Thank you
Joan Walmsley
 | Matthew McMaught Son of James and Diane McNaught |
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John Cunningham Aged 87 50 Camp Road |
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All articles for the June 2011 issue of the Church magazine should be handed to the Editor no later than the morning of Friday 20th May 2011.