Dear all

Please see an email below from the Scottish Government regarding feedback requested from faith and belief communities on PVG scheme membership.

The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 introduced ‘regulated roles’ to define whether PVG scheme membership is required. The Act is scheduled to come into force next year.

Disclosure Scotland (DS) are keen to get feedback from faith and belief organisations on draft guidance to support the PVG scheme.

DS have developed draft guidance to help you understand if certain positions are regulated roles. They would like the opportunity to discuss this draft guidance, to ensure it is clear and covers all the key points.

DS plan to produce guidance around regulated roles in formats that meet their customers’ needs. They would also welcome your views on the best ways to provide guidance that would meet your needs e.g.: videos / digital.

The session will last around one hour. You will be asked to review the draft guidance and provide feedback.  You will also be asked to bring examples of roles from your sector or organisation that you think could be regulated roles.  During the session, you’ll work within groups to apply the guidance to these roles. Your feedback will help to inform where DS can improve this guidance further and will help you to understand the guidance in practical terms.

Disclosure Scotland intend to hold this session some time between April and June this year. If you are interested in participating in this session, please contact Gareth Wilks, Head of Customer Engagement at Disclosure Scotland, via gareth.wilks@disclosurescotland.gov.scot

Please also indicate any dates where you would be unavailable during April, May and June, whether you would prefer to participate in person or via Microsoft Teams.

If you have any questions about this, please contact Gareth via the email above.

Many thanks for your support with this important work,

Sara Thorpe

Please find the link for  May 2023 Chapter and Verse below.

CHAPTER AND VERSE May 2023 (2)

We are always looking for content to share with the Diocese, should you have anything that you wish to add to the next issue, please do email media@standrews.anglican.org

Dear Everyone

Just a quick email to let you know that the two Perth Episcopal Churches  (St Ninian’s Cathedral and St John the Baptist’s) have decided to fundraise for this year’s chosen Christian Aid campaign on Malawi. Wendy from the Cathedral, and myself from St John’s  would really appreciate your support.

Malawi and Scotland have very strong links, so women and families there are particularly special. This year, they had to deal with a deadly cholera crisis, and then Cyclone Freddie.  Nearly half the country has been damaged: flooding and landslides have swept away homes and roads, making access to safe water and sanitation difficult. Now harvests are failing as the climate crisis bites deep into their way of life.

Stories like these are humbling, even in light of our own cost of living crisis.

If you can, Christian Aid would be heartened to receive your donation.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Christian Aid, so it’s the most efficient way to give – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

You can donate to our JustGiving page by clicking here:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/wendy-pat-and-elaine-perth-episcopal-churches-1683117153746

Hopefully,

Elaine & Wendy & the team

‘Thy Kingdom Come’ is a global ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost (18th to 28th May) for more people to encounter God and come to know Jesus. What started as an invitation from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer.

Bishop Ian encourages all of us to pray during the 11 days in our own way for others to come to faith.

Find resources here and in the documents below.

Thy Kingdom Come  23 Ideas for Churches: TKC 23 Ideas

Thy Kingdom Come  Praying for Young Disciples: TKC PFYD

Thy Kingdom Come  Novena: TKC Novena 2023

Due to Covid, unfortunately the Climate Gathering event has been postponed.

Please stay tuned for the rescheduled date.

To find out what has been happening around the Diocese please click the link below:

CHAPTER AND VERSE – APRIL 2023

CHRISM MASS – Maundy Thursday, 6th April, 11.00am in the Cathedral.

At this service the Oil of Chrism (for Baptism) and the Oil of Healing (for the Sacrament of Healing) are consecrated by the Bishop, the Bishop and Clergy re-affirm the promises of their Ordination, and Lay Readers re-affirm the commitment made at their Licensing. This is a very important re-dedication of ministry in the heart of Holy Week.

• All members of the Clergy (in alb and white stole) and all Lay Readers (in cassock, surplice and scarf) are invited to participate, together with all those involved in ministry, and all members of the Diocese are invited to join
• Clergy should bring emptied and cleaned Oil Stocks, to be filled for ministry in the coming year.
• Please let the Diocesan Office know if you will be coming, how many will come from your congregation, and if you have special dietary

The Institution of the Revd Duncan Strathie as Rector of the linked charge of St Kessog’s, Auchterarder with St James’, Muthill will take place at St Kessog’s church on Thursday 30th March at 7.30pm. Clergy are invited to robe (alb and purple stole). Please let the Diocesan Office know if you will be coming.

11.30am-12.30pm, Wed 15 February 2023

The launch of the consultation for the forthcoming Net Zero Action Plan (2023-2030) is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of our church’s environmental sustainability plans. This live stream event, hosted by Bishop Ian Paton and consultant Robert Woodford, will provide you with an overview of the proposed plan, including the values and principles that underpin it, its core objectives, and how you and your church can take action to address the climate emergency.

Book your place now

During the live online session you’ll:

• Gain a broad overview of the proposed Net Zero Action Plan (2023-2030)
• Explore the ten core objectives, with a specific focus on energy efficiency and 100% clean energy
• Find out how you can get involved in providing formal input in order to help shape the actions that the church will take
• Learn about the values and principles that underpin the plan
• Understand how the church intends to define ‘Net Zero’
• Learn about actions that you and your church can carry out now in order to join with others in addressing the climate emergency

It is recommended that you watch Robert’s webinar from December 2022 prior to this event, to make the most of your time and to get up to speed on the differences between Net Zero and Carbon Neutral.

This is your chance to help influence the future of the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Net Zero plans. Please join us and book your place now.

BOOK NOW BY CLICKING HERE