Most people probably believe they know what racism is about, recalling atrocities such as the Holocaust in WWII, the Civil Rights movement in the US, or Apartheid in South Africa. Are things really so bad, particularly here in Scotland? And does racism exist within the Scottish Episcopal Church and others? In a recent seminar on the 4^th of September, Revd Dr Anderson Jeremiah, formerly in the Diocese of Edinburgh and currently lecturer in Politics, Philosophy, and Religion at the University of Lancaster, outlined for participants just what racism is about – how do we define what it is really about, and how long has racism been a phenomenon amongst humankind? Many may assume it has been around forever, but the assumption of human or intellectual superiority based on certain biological characteristics such as skin colour, is a more recent phenomenon – often used as justification for atrocities committed during colonialism. But essentially, what does Christianity have to say about racism, what can we do about it, how can we understand racism in our context, and how can we help?

Some excellent resources were put together by Michael Patterson prior to the seminar, for this and any further queries, please contact the diocesan office.

The Revd Bonnie Evans-Hills

 

The Revd Joan Lyon finishes her term as Transitional Priest for St John’s, Alloa, on 1st October. In her year there Joan has provided pastoral leadership to the congregation, and also helped them with insight and imagination as they asked questions about the future of St John’s, and the opportunities and challenges of mission and ministry in Alloa. A thanksgiving service will take place at St John’s on Sunday 4th October at 11.00am (numbers are limited by Phase 3 requirements). At this service Bishop Ian will appoint Revd Chris Lowdon (Rector of St James, Dollar) as Interim Pastor for St John’s.

 

Some new appointments have taken place in the Diocese, with effect from 1st October:

Stanley – The Revd Canon Dr Carrie Applegath has been appointed as Priest-in-Charge of St Columba, Stanley. This is a development of the transitional ministry which Carrie has begun in the community at Stanley.

All Souls Group – The Revd Carol Latimer has been appointed as Assistant Priest in the All Souls Group, with pastoral charge of St Serf, Burntisland.  This follows Carol’s curacy in the All Souls Group.

Retired Clergy – The Revd Canon Richard Grosse has been appointed as Bishop’s Chaplain for Retired Clergy in the Diocese. Richard will provide pastoral contact for retired clergy, lay readers, and clergy spouses, and will offer pastoral support when requested.

A Reflection Group for clergy has been meeting every Wednesday morning at 10.30am, and these will continue once a month, and will still be reflective in nature, often on an agreed theme. Lay Readers also have regular online gatherings, organised by Lis Burke.

In addition, a Drop-in for clergy has started every Wednesday morning at 8.30am, lasting for 30 minutes. The Drop-in offers a space for clergy to meet and chat informally, for sharing and support.  Some people have said what these sessions mean to them:

‘It’s like meeting colleagues on the stairs or at the kettle where you can just chat, have a joke, or share something that’s bothering you – it’s simply our space and time.’  Elaine

It has been a sacrosanct, sacred and practical commitment to collegiality with clergy. I believe we have a support and consultation space among friends now.  Kathy Barrable 

I’m admittedly a late arrival, but this is a chance to touch base in an informal setting, drink coffee, and see that we’re all still out there!  A non-pressurised environment in which to share many things, or to just ‘be’.    Jo

If any clergy would like to take part any Wednesday, they would be very welcome.  The zoom invitation is sent out each week and all are welcome to join whenever they can.

Very regrettably, the Bishop has had to make the decision to cancel the conference at Dunkeld in January 2021. The uncertainty about whether face-to-face meetings will be possible is a factor, but the main reason is that the Dunkeld House Hotel has decided to refurbish some of its conference rooms, which would therefore not be available to us.

Planning will begin soon for an online conference on Tuesday 19 January, following the pattern of SEI which now holds its ‘residential’ training weekends online. With long breaks between sessions, and keeping sessions short, it is possible to avoid the ‘zoom exhaustion’ many of us now feel.

A fully residential conference will take place either later in 2021 or in January 2022.

“Our Digital Church,” Part 1 Friday 9 October, Part 2 Friday 6 November, both 10.00am to 12.00. This is a two-part course with Petko Marinev, Digital Missioner of the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway, who will give a step by step guide to improving our skills with website, social media and other digital media for keeping our congregations in touch.

To book and receive a Zoom invitations for this course, email the Diocesan Office – office@standrews.anglican.org.

Please pray for those who are preparing for ordained ministry as we approach the dates of the Ordinations in the Diocese:

Revd Annie Hughes, preparing for Ordination to the Priesthood at St John, Perth on Friday 2 October at 7.30pm.

Dr Josh Cockayne, preparing for Ordination to the Diaconate at St Andrew’s, St Andrews on Sunday 4 October at 4.30pm.

Phase 3 requirements will apply at both of the services, and so attendance will be limited. However, both St John’s and St Andrew’s intend to live-stream the services online. Further details of this will be sent out before the Ordinations. Please pray for our ordinands as they prepare.

For further information please click the links below:

Scottish Interfaith Week 2020

Scottish InterFaith Week Poster 2020 Poster A4

Ask Me Anything Poster

Scottish Churches Disability Group September newsletter.  To view please click the link below:

SCDG-newsletter-September-2020

Much is continuing to happen at MSH not least work on Domestic Abuse and preparations for the 16 Days of Activism later this year.   Isabelle Pottinger, one of our Trustees who looks after Social Policy for our diocese is now part of the Community of Interest looking at Domestic Abuse and has recently been part of a Webinar and has sent the following information to me to pass on to you all.

The lockdown has highlighted Domestic Abuse even more with the increase in cases and there is a Bill going through the UK parliament at present.

MU made a formal submission to the House of Commons Scrutiny Committee of the Domestic Abuse Bill in July, and this Bill will be progressing to the House of Lords towards the end of September. There are opportunities to influence debate within the House of Lords, and also the associated Guidance through the Home Office.

The webinar group agreed overwhelmingly to support a letter-writing campaign where MU members were requested to write to their MP.  In addition, the DP was requested to write to their Bishop.  The purpose of this letter-writing campaign was to “highlight the progress of the DA bill and call for support for change in 2 key areas:

The 2 key “asks” which MU is making is to remove the “no recourse to public funding” restriction for victims where their immigration status is unclear, which means that they are faced with the choice of returning to the perpetrator or becoming destitute; and to include faith as an important element, both in understanding causes of Domestic Abuse and the value of faith-based organisations in signposting survivors to appropriate support.

MSH  have been working with Bishop Rachel Treweek and her team, to see how we can work most effectively together. Bishop Rachel is leading the Church influencing through the Lords Spiritual, working together with the other Female Lords Spiritual, and they are going to be encouraging Diocesan Bishops to become active, not only in influencing the Bill, but also in addressing the challenge of Domestic Abuse on an ongoing basis, both within and outside the Church family.

She is keen to encourage the Dioceses to participate with MU in the 16 Days of Activism this year, and is keen for MU to make Diocesan teams aware of what is being planned, as well as looking at ongoing options for collaboration, and highlighting the areas of the Domestic Abuse bill which we seek to influence.

There is an additional opportunity for members or branches to write to their MPs to ask for specific issues to be addressed in the Home Office Guidance.   Template letters are provided in the attachments above.

The Trustees are meeting soon to discuss what we in this diocese can do to mark the 16 days of activism so more information will be sent out in due course to let you know what is being planned and how you can take part.

In the meantime if you or anyone else you know would like to write to your MP (London not Scottish) using the Domestic Abuse letter above as a template for you to personalise then at lest we are trying to make a difference in this important matter.

With my prayers and best wishes

Sarah

bandipolicygroupbriefaug20

ScannedMUDomesticAbuseLetter

Joint Evidence on the Domestic Abuse Bill

OHCHR Submission on Gender-based Violence during COVID_June 2020_FINAL V…