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Category Archives: News
Call to Prayer 2 June 2024
General Election 2024
On behalf of the churches that we serve, we encourage Christians in Scotland to engage actively, constructively, and charitably in the democratic process of the General Election called for 4th July 2024.
We recall, from the history of Scotland, the moment when King James VI was reminded that there are “two kingdoms”: a temporal kingdom in which he was King and a spiritual kingdom in which Christ is King. We as Christians in Scotland belong to “two kingdoms” and as such are called to participate in the shared life of the society in which we live, to seek the common good and promote a social order in which all can live together in peace.
As those who seek to follow Christ, we are called to see the image and likeness of God in each person, especially when we disagree deeply on matters which affect our common life. In an age where there is the temptation to amplify sensationalism, stimulate knee-jerk reactions, and create echo chambers, it may be that our most important contribution to public life is to model “good disagreement” in which respect and love are evident.
In closing, whilst recognising that the timing of the election and the new requirements on Voter ID may pose particular challenges, we urge all to exercise the privilege of casting a vote and, beyond the election, to pray that God will give wisdom, courage and vision to those who will assume the responsibility of government on behalf of the whole country.
We pray:
Gracious and merciful God,
Giver of life and creator of all that is:
We ask that you will hear us
As we pray for the life of our country at this time.
In all that we do, may we work for the good of our country
And of the Kingdom of your Son.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We are those who are made in your image
And we bear your image in common with all humanity.
You call us to reflect your image
And in the world in which we live:
May we treat each person with respect
And with the dignity that they are due.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
In your goodness and in your providence,
You seek to provide order and good governance in our world.
In our response, you call upon us to play our part
And to participate in our common life.
May we exercise our vote wisely
And do so having sought to listen to all who seek to govern on our behalf.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Gracious and merciful God,
We return to you with a renewed sense of our calling at this time:
The calling to pray for the life of our country
And to play our part in its common life.
Grant to us wisdom and insight that we might better play our part
And, in all that we do, to be shaped by the Kingdom that is to come.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Signed:
- Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
- Most Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
- Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
- Col. Sylvia Hinton, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
- Adwoa Burnley, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
- Rev. Andy Downie, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
- Rev. Callum Macleod, Moderator, Free Church of Scotland
- Rev. Lindsey Sanderson, Moderator, United Reformed Church (Scotland)
- Rev. Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland
- Rev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland)
- Rev. Ruairidh MacRae, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland
- Pastor Chris Gbenle, Provincial Pastor, Province of Scotland, Redeemed Christian Church of God
- Bishop Raphael of Ilion, Ecumenical Patriarchate, Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
- Rt Rev Kenneth Nowakowski, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London
- Rev Trevor Howard, Churches in Communities International
Job Vacancy District Safeguarding Officer – closing date 12 noon 3 June 2024
Scotland District and Shetland District of the Methodist Church are committed to delivering the highest quality safeguarding across the various Scottish contexts and communities the Church serves.
The Districts are ambitious to maintain good practice standards, provide timely information and advice to local churches and operate a robust casework service. Equally, the Districts wish to sustain and further develop a comprehensive safeguarding training programme that both delivers Connexional training effectively and with impact, whilst responding to requests for more specialist learning and development.
The Districts now wish to appoint to the following key post: District Safeguarding Officer
We are seeking to appoint an experienced Safeguarding Officer on a permanent contract. The post holder will have a relevant professional qualification and be able to demonstrate a proven track record of direct safeguarding practice with vulnerable adults or children or both. The successful applicant will be expected to provide effective leadership across the Districts to promote a culture of safeguarding, whilst supporting survivors of abuse. Working with partners from the Church’s Learning Network, the post holder will be expected to contribute to the planning and delivery of the Districts’ safeguarding training programme, including supporting the team of volunteer safeguarding trainers.
The post holder will be expected to be in sympathy with the aims of the Methodist Church.
Location: Home-based, own transport is essential
Hours: 10 hours per week to be worked flexibly to include some evenings and occasional weekends.
Salary: A rate of £24.63 per hour for an average 10 hours per week. Annual pay £12,807.60, (FT equivalent of £51,230.40 p.a.)
Holidays: 28 days plus bank holidays
Applicants need to be aware that a report will be presented to the Methodist Conference in June which may result in DSOs becoming Connexional (The Methodist Church in Britain) rather than District employees.
Closing date for applications: midday, Monday 3rd June
Interviews: 19th, 20th or 21st June and will be held at City of Edinburgh Methodist Church.
For application pack please contact the Scotland District Administrator by email: districtadmin@methodistchurchinscotland.net
If you have any questions regarding the role, you may contact Donald Urquhart, acting DSO, on
07702 793553.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Tracey Collins, Wellbeing Officer in the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Methodist District, has written a blog to shed light on how we can tackle the stigma surrounding mental health.
Woodlands Methodist Church is reducing its heating costs
Woodlands Methodist Church is recognised locally for its commitment to Net Zero and, during COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference that took place in Glasgow in 2021, the church was the Methodist hub, organising a rich programme of events and exhibitions and welcoming people from all around the globe.
One of the reasons is their partnership with HeatHack who was looking for churches in 2020 to try a new programme that helps groups understand where their buildings waste energy. Revd Laurent Vernet, minister in the Strathclyde circuit, jumped on the opportunity, “They help volunteer engineers work with venues and have been a great help.”
Working towards Net Zero – Action for Hope
Grant Funding – Action for Hope – Here are the criteria
Share your story – If you have stories to share about what your church is doing in this area, Hamish Leese, Action for Hope Implementation Officer, would love to hear from you.
JPIT comments on the ‘sick note culture’
The Joint Public Issues Team, representing the Methodist Church, URC and Baptists has issued a response to the recent speech about ‘sick note culture’.
Creating accessible resources
See https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/the-inclusive-methodist-church/accessibility/how-to-create-accessible-resources/Creating accessible resources for guidelines for producing accessible resources.
Data protection
New and Updated Data Protection Resources – Data Retention and CCTV Policies
TMCP and the Connexional Team are pleased to announce that the Retention Schedule was updated in January 2024. (This important document is a table listing all the different types of records commonly held by Local Churches, Circuits and Districts. It confirms how long to keep each type of record and what to do at the end of the retention period.)
Click here to read more.
Data Protection Annual Checklist
TMCP would like to remind managing trustees that it is the time of the year when they should be thinking about submitting their Data Protection Annual Checklist to their Districts.
As with previous years the deadline for submission of the Annual Checklist remains 31st May 2024.
Click here to read more.
VAT Relief for Charity Energy Upgrades
Buildings used solely for charitable purposes can now save on VAT for installing eligible energy-saving materials like insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps. This tax break came into effect on 1st February.
Click here to read more about qualifying buildings, materials and works.