Author: Wesley

Representatives from various churches and faith-linked groups in Scotland met recently to discuss the challenge of migrants arriving in Scotland and the overall theme of migration. They hope to set up a website providing relevant information and publicise initiatives from the various churches. They intend to address misunderstandings about migrants and challenge racism.

The group agreed to support a complaint to the Daily Mail regarding a cartoon which is based on Nazi propaganda and portraying migrants as rats. You are invited to sign the online petition.

Action of Churches Together in Scotland has agreed to support the project through funding and other resources. Other faiths will be invited to join the project.

The Methodist Church in engaged in a conversation about whether it should revisit its definition of marriage.    This conversation is happening  in the light of changes in both the law and social attitudes to  divorce, co-habitation and same-sex marriage.

Currently, the Methodist Church, in line with scripture and traditional teaching, believes that ‘marriage is a gift of God and that it is God’s intention that a  marriage should be a life-long union in body, mind and spirit of one man and one woman’ .

The Church is asking ‘ Should the Methodist understanding of Christian marriage be revisited?’  We expect there to be a range of views.   We are feeding back the full range of these view to the connexional working group.  There are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ responses.

More information on the conversation in Scotland.

Booking is still open for the We are Family events on 21st October in Glasgow.

If you are unable to attend the event, read the booklet that will be discussed there, and consider the ways in which changes in family ministry could be relevant to your church.

The summer issue of ‘In Touch‘ – the newsletter of the Methodist Church in Scotland – is now available. Hard copies will be delivered to all Methodist churches in the District.

Read about the Methodist tent at the Solas Festival, reports from Conference, and much more!

The Joint Public Issues team, representing the Methodist Church, the Church of Scotland, the United Reform Church and Baptists Together has issued a statement on the situation in Calais, stressing that the churches believe it is important that public debate is grounded in values of compassion.

This recent initiative, including the Methodist Church, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Scotland, is now open for business, and invites savings in the Founder Members’ Bond.

At present, membership is open to the following within the Methodist Church

• lay and ordained ministers, in training, in active service and in retirement
• employees of the Methodist Church, at any level from local to connexional
• trustees of the Methodist Church – this includes all Church Council members
• members of the household of one of the above

For more details and future plans see the website.

Scottish Churches Housing Action will be 20 years old on 17 January 2015.

We will mark the event with a service of celebration, challenge and commitment at
St Andrew’s RC Cathedral, Clyde St, Glasgow at 2.30 pm.

Worship will be led by our Associate Convener, Rt Rev Bruce Cameron, and the sermon will be given by Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan.

ALL WELCOME

Scottish Churches Housing Action supports churches to make practical responses to the challenge of homelessness in Scotland. Read its reponse to the Smith Commission.