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Another Thought for the Day on BBC Scotland this morning

I seem to be in a season of Confirmations – this was the Confirmation of Cliff and Brian at St Peter’s, Kirkcaldy, today with Revd Christine Frazer.

People can be a bit sniffy about Confirmation – ‘a rite in search of a theology’ is just the most obvious of the barbs. I share some of that. And I would be happy to see the last of the ‘rite of passage’ aspects of Confirmation – that would be dealt with most obviously by more teaching and more practice of the admission of children to Holy Communion before Confirmation.

But Confirmation Services as I experience them aren’t particularly in search of anything. It’s often adults who want to make a specific faith commitment. Sometimes it’s people whose faith journey has been prodded into movement by something which has happened in their lives. And sometimes it’s people who have joined a congregation or moved from elsewhere to join the Piskies – and want to ‘do something’ to mark that move. Such people feel their Confirmation deeply – and so do I.

And one more thing. You will know that I am keen to see our church move steadily beyond membership models of church to .. well ‘discipleship’ is a bit under attack at present as a concept. But Confirmation provides an opportunity of teaching about faith, about faith commitment, about the movement of the Spirit . in the life of the congregation. Not to be missed.

General Synod is coming – this is what I said in the Press Release which was issued today.

“A range of significant issues will be addressed and debated, including the mission of the Scottish Episcopal Church, both here in Scotland and further afield; how the Church can deploy its financial resources to greatest effect in assisting our dioceses in their work across Scotland and how proposals for Mission and Ministry Support Grants – sometimes called block grants – will bring radical change in particular to the financial relationship between Province and Dioceses – enabling our Church to work together as “one Church” through its ‘Whole Church Mission and Ministry Policy’.
“Other key matters to be discussed are the wider engagement of the Church with society and its issues, including climate change and the Living Wage. General Synod will also consider the adoption of new liturgy and of a “Safe Church Charter” which is being considered by the Anglican Church worldwide which addresses how churches can be safe places for all people, particularly the vulnerable.
“What is likely to attract most attention at this year’s General Synod is the beginning of a process through which the Church shall consider whether it wishes to consider change to its Canons on Marriage.
“As members of General Synod begin to read their papers in preparation for our meeting next month, they will recognise that this is a particularly important Synod.
“During the last two years, our Church has committed itself to the Cascade Process of conversation across difference in the area of same sex relationships. In Province, Dioceses and congregations, people have been courageous and open in expressing and listening to the diversity of views which are held within the Scottish Episcopal Church. We have sat together as one Church and shared thoughtfully and prayerfully.
“We now move to consider whether or not we should undertake a process of canonical change regarding Marriage. First we shall discuss a comprehensive paper on the Doctrine of Marriage from our Doctrine Committee. Then we shall consider whether or not we wish to consider future change and look at a range of possible ways forward.
“It is my hope that here too we shall think and act as one Church. That doesn’t mean that we must, or that we shall, all agree. We are considering an issue which in our times is profoundly challenging for all churches. Our ability to do that depends on our commitment to sustaining our visible unity in Christ.”
Anyone who is not a member of General Synod is welcome to sit in the public gallery of St Paul’s and
St George’s Church during the meeting of General Synod

i was glad to go and take part in a Confirmation Service in the historic St Salvator’s Chapel.  Rosie and Sam were part of a preparation group with the University Chaplain, Revd Donald McEwan.

These are the moments when I feel acutely the face that I am not part of the story.  I turn up, smile and do my best.  But I know nothing of the journey which had led Rosie and Sam to this point.  But it’s still a great privilege to join in.

A credit to their parents as always! 

 

i said I would come back and say how it was with our new congregation – meeting in Inverkeithing High School. Well it was great – and very interesting. It isn’t usual to find signs for worship in the Episcopal Church out on the main road

All Souls. Fife, is the new name for the former ABI Group which was made up of the congregations in Aberdour, Burntisland and Inverkeithing. The new congregation at St Peters is part of a church graft which is a partnership between our diocese and St Paul’s & St George’s in Edinburgh. The aim is to develop a new congregation which will address the needs of the large residential area which includes Dalgety Bay. It is led by Revd Dean Norby.

The thing which impressed me? Well two things really. One is a determination to build community – welcoming, diverse and including both members of the existing congregations and people who come to join. The other is a determination to seek growth. That growth is already happening

        

I’ve been at the Chapel in Cromlix today – now owned by Andy Murray and a popular place for weddings.  Rev Nick Green of St Mary’s Dunblane and I went to discuss the use of the Chapel

You can see from the photo that local expertise doesn’t extend to sorting out frontals – but the embroidery is beautiful.

The Chapel was built in 1874 by Captain Arthur Hay Drummond and opened by my predecessor Bishop Charles Wordsworth who was also the first Warden of Glenalmond College.  His crozier is in the Chapel at Glenalmond and I use it when I go there.

Tomorrow is a notable first for me – when I visit what is in effect a new congregation in the diocese.

Last summer, our diocese joined in a partnership with St Paul’s and St George’s in Edinburgh to establish a church graft – now called All Souls Fife.  It is based in congregations at Inverkeithing, Burntisland and Aberdour.   Tomorrow morning we shall be in Inverkeithing High School.

It’s a sign of real promise that these three congregations have been about to embrace this change.  The Archbishop of Canterbury added his affirmation when he visited last October.

I expect that the music may be noisier than I am used to – the membership more diverse – the age profile younger.  

I’ll let you know how I get on!

Well – what does one say?  I offered this for the Scottish Episcopal Church website:

 

The outcome of the General Election of 2015 has delivered a result notable both for its clarity and its complexity.  The people have spoken through the ballot box.  They have expressed hopes, aspirations, needs, passions – and some fears.

Those of us who live in Scotland must recognise that we are living through times of profound change.  Our prayer for Scotland, its people and its leaders, must be that we shall find at the end of our journey new and creative ways of relating to the peoples and nations with whom we share these island.

Democracy in operation has a cruel face.  Political careers of those who have served their country faithfully have been brought to a premature end.  We honour their commitment and their service.

It is the duty of Christians to honour and to pray for those who exercise authority in the state.  Those who now take office as MP’s or in government are assured of our good wishes and our prayers in the days to come.

This is an annual highlight – this year 23 young people prepared by Father Giles Dove.  And they are welcomed into Communicant membership of the Church of Scotland by local Church of Scotland minister, Rev Philip Patterson – whose Northern Ireland accent is in better order than mine.

These days, Confirmation comes in small numbers – people at all stages of life who want to make an explicit commitment of faith.  Others want to do something which affirms their move from another Christian community into the Episcopal Church.

So this is different – more ‘rite of passage’ – more like my Confirmation in far-off 1964

I enjoy being with the young people – just as important they bring with them a diverse community of parents, uncles and aunts, grandparents and godparents.  It’s a great challenge and one which I relish.

I went over to the BBC in Dundee this morning to take part in a discussion for the Sunday programme on BBC Scotland.  Basically we were talking about whether there are underlying or core values which should shape the way in which we vote.   Given that we couldn’t mention candidates or parties or policies …. this was a little problematic.

The pretext www a paper from the think-tank Ekklesia.   Click on the link to read it.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/21487

You may find their ten core principles interesting.  In the background, you will hear Bishop David Shepherd’s ‘Bias to the Poor’