The Church of Scotland Unincorporated Councils and Committees Annual Report and Accounts 2017 The Church of Scotland Unincorporated Councils and Committees Trustees’ Report 2017 – 01 Right Rev Derek Browning and Very Rev Albert Bogle supporting ‘Sleep in the Park’ Rev Susan Brown, Moderator Designate Poppy display in Aberlady contents Trustees’ Report 02 | Foreword 04 | Overview 10 | The Year in Brief 14 | Objectives and Activities 16 | Achievements and Performance 30 | Accountability 36 | Financial Review 43 | Auditors’ Report 45 | Financial Statements 87 | Reference and Administrative Details The new Church of Scotland Tartan The Scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 02 – The Church of Scotland Unincorporated Councils and Committees Trustees’ Report 2017 Foreword Letter from Dr Sally Bonnar: Convener have found a resonance with The Scottish Government has members, presbyteries and Councils designated 2018 as the Year of Young and is being presented for further People and the Church of Scotland discussion and adoption at the is joining this campaign. Churches General Assembly in May 2018. I am across the country were invited to very grateful to all who have given celebrate the place of young people their time and talents to contribute in our Church on 28th January to the draft plan and hope that you 2018 and events are taking place will find it helpful as we continue throughout the year to celebrate to seek God’s path for us into the our young people. future. Dr Sally Bonnar There have been many exciting Underlying all this work had been encouragements this year, some of This year, once again, we have prayer, as called for by the General which have been recorded on the been out On the Road consulting Assembly last year. Over 850 Church’s website and Facebook with church members on the resource packs were sent out to page and I would encourage you to draft Strategic Plan which was the Ministers and others in advance of get involved with these. We are not outcome of our 16 roadshows under the National Day of Prayer on 25th without our challenges, of course, that title in 2016. November 2017. This was followed but we are confident in God’s grace up with a very successful Advent as we move forward with him. It has been encouraging to hear series of videos, reflections and from those who attended of all prayers which engaged over 8,500 that God is doing through the people. Feedback for the Together Dr Sally Bonnar Church and especially to hear We Pray campaign has been very Convener, Council of Assembly about the imaginative ways that positive with several people asking congregations are tackling the if the day of prayer could become an challenges of demographics, annual event. Prayer is the bedrock finances and shortages of resources of all our work and worship and we both human and material. The have been so encouraged by the proposed plan’s key priorities of enthusiasm with which this initiative Worship, Active Discipleship and has been greeted that we plan to Connecting with Communities repeat it in 2018. “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me with all your heart and I will be found by you”. Jeremiah 29:11-13 The Church of Scotland Unincorporated Councils and Committees Trustees’ Report 2015 – 03 TOGETHER WE PRAY Title 04 – The Church of Scotland Unincorporated Councils and Committees Trustees’ Report 2017 Overview As a Church committed to serving every part of Scotland, the Church of Scotland has been an integral and influential component of the social fabric of Scottish public life for more than 450 years. Tracing its roots back beyond the Reformation of 1560 report that we have in excess of 350,000 members, with to the early days of Christianity in Scotland, the Church many more people involved in our local congregations and developed its formal structure, based around what we now their work. Thousands more feel an attachment to the recognise as the parish system which has become a central Church, perhaps for family reasons, because they attend part of the wider social and civic framework of Scotland. services or even recreational events in Church premises, Our vision is to be a church which seeks to inspire the or because they appreciate the care which the Church people of Scotland through enthusiastic worshipping, can provide for them, especially at critical points in their witnessing, nurturing and serving communities. At the lives. Within the Church, there are around 750 Ministers of same time, we have always been critically engaged with Word and Sacrament serving in parishes and chaplaincies. both Government and society at large and, of course, with Recruitment to the ministry is steady, though we are keen congregations and communities at a wider, global level. to increase this in the light of age profiles. It goes without saying that our Ministers could not carry out their wide The Church continues to contribute to the ministry and and varied responsibilities without assistance, and the mission of Jesus Christ in every part of Scotland and leadership of worship in particular is supported by over further afield. Our aim is to work in partnership with 400 Readers, Deacons and Ordained Local Ministers others through a strong commitment to both ecumenical (OLMs). Around 28,000 Elders also deliver local leadership and, where appropriate, inter-faith relationships. We on a voluntary basis and further support is provided by work in changing and often challenging circumstances, around 2,300 paid professional and administrative staff, particularly at the present time, where the implications the vast majority working in CrossReach, our social care and significance of change are not always clear. arm, with 200 or so in the Church’s national offices and However, we continue to believe that despite this another 100 attached to parishes. In all cases the level challenging external environment, our life together as a of commitment and devotion provided by these many society can be renewed and improved through the love and colleagues is much admired and appreciated. grace of Jesus Christ. It remains our clear priority to share that Good News with as wide an audience as possible. In addition to these many individuals, both paid staff and volunteers, much of what the Church manages to It would certainly be much more difficult to achieve our achieve would be impossible without the supportive work objectives if we did not have a considerable amount of of many thousands of other volunteers who contribute support throughout our wide-ranging areas of operation. in so many different ways, both locally and overseas. The We remain rich in resources and people. Despite reports Church of Scotland has the largest number of volunteers of dwindling congregations, we are delighted to be able to for a charity in Scotland. Their contribution in the shape “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me”. (Matthew 25:35-36) The Church of Scotland Unincorporated Councils and Committees Trustees’ Report 2017 – 05 06 – The Church of Scotland Unincorporated Councils and Committees Trustees’ Report 2017 The Church of Scotland Unincorporated Councils and Committees Trustees’ Report 2017 – 07 of time, talent and patient service can range from occasional involvement to many hours on a weekly basis. The breadth and depth of the activities to which our volunteers contribute is remarkable with examples including catering in lunch clubs and community cafés, welcoming refugees, working with children and young people, supporting local community and care centres, or engaging in fund-raising activities. It is with considerable pleasure and gratitude that we can report once again that we have continued to benefit throughout the year from the support and hard work of some 560 people who serve on the various bodies which comprise the Unincorporated Councils and Committees of the Church of Scotland. This provides the Church with access to a wide variety of expertise and experience from many walks of life including education, the law, property, business and social services. Such varied input is given completely voluntarily as part of each individual’s Christian commitment. It involves a generous, even sacrificial giving of time and talent and for that the Church is deeply grateful. It has been suggested that there would be merit in trying to place a monetary figure on its value: however we view it as absolutely fundamental to the fulfilment of the Church’s purpose of sharing the Gospel and enriching human life. Quantification of this in financial terms would not add to our estimation of the overwhelming value of this contribution to our congregations, our communities and to society at large. None of this is to deny the challenges which lie ahead in the coming year. At a global level, the trends which have shaped our world in recent years are destined to continue with poverty and internal strife remaining an integral part of the lives of far too many of our fellow human beings. War, violence and the devastation which they reap will not be eradicated in the short term and the Church of Scotland continues with ecumenical partners to do all it can to support people through the consequential turmoil and suffering.