Celebrating 10 Years 02 CONTENTS
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March 2015 • £1.50 Magazine of the Scottish Episcopal Church Celebrating 10 years 02 CONTENTS Catch up with news from the Scottish Episcopal Church in between printed editions of inspires, by subscribing to inspires online at www.scotland.anglican.org/who-we-are/publications/inspires/ A JOURNEY THROUGH EASTER, AND &11 &07 10 PALESTINE & ISRAEL 06 EASTER’S COMING LOVE AND &15 14 MARRIAGE...? Page 3 Pages 10 & 11 Pages 20 & 21 Editorial Bid Thou our sad divisions cease – Credit Unions – People helping a journey through Palestine People Page 4 10 years strong! Page 12 Pages 22 & 23 Views & Voices Politics of the real world Page 5 Views & Voices Page 13 Pages 24 & 25 Forming people for ministry – Reviews Pages 6 & 7 The Scottish Episcopal Institute Easter, and Easter’s coming Page 26 Pages 14 & 15 Letters Page 8 Love and Marriage…? Listening to children and young Page 27 people in Church Pages 16 & 17 The Final Word Spotlight on a Diocese – Brechin Page 9 Page 28 Focus on Faith – interfaith Pages 18 & 19 Notices dimension to being Episcopalians Living by the Rule EDITORIAL 2005-15 TEN YEARS 03 Welcome to the re-launched inspires magazine! Issue 63 The first edition of inspires was published Editorial Team in March 2005… 10 years ago! The Rev Chris Mayo Lorna Finley Over the past 10 years much has happened, both The Rev Kate Reynolds within and out-with the Church, and this first of our 10th Karen Willey anniversary editions attempts to reflect some of the things that contribute to the life of the Scottish Episcopal Church Contact details – its past and its present; and its hopes for the future! inspires 21 Grosvenor Crescent, In this edition, we hear some views and voices of a few Edinburgh, EH12 5EE. people’s experiences of the Church over the past 10 0131 225 6357 years (we will continue to feature more views and voices [email protected] throughout the year so if you want to contribute to this page please get in touch!). We hear what some of Publisher our young people have to say about the Church. Our General Synod of the international focus is reflected in the experiences of a Scottish Episcopal Church journey through Palestine as part of a Christian Aid visit. Scottish Charity No SC015962 We hear about a new initiative that addresses the growing demand for spiritual accompaniment and “searching out Subscriptions the old paths”. We look to the future formation of people Anne Brickell for ministry in the new Scottish Episcopal Institute and 0131 225 6357 meet the people leading this. The issues relating to same [email protected] sex relationships and equal marriage have somewhat dominated much of the Church’s time and energy over Advertising the past few years, and continue to do so. Each edition of Victoria Stock the magazine this year will carry an article related to this 0131 225 6357 topic – this edition highlights one view on the Theology of [email protected] Marriage. A new feature of the magazine includes ‘Spotlight on a An audio version of inspires is available Diocese’ – we will feature highlights of the life of each free of charge for those registered blind of our seven dioceses. The first one we hear from in this and partially sighted from the Dumfries edition is the Diocese of Brechin. Recording Service. For information please contact Andrew Murray at the Dumfries We have included a Letters to the Editor page to Recording Service, 24 Catherine Street, Dumfries, DG1 1HZ. Tel 01387 253927 encourage discussion and debate and offer a platform for readers to share their thoughts, opinions and musings. The views expressed throughout this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor, nor are they necessarily the official I hope you enjoy reading the 10th anniversary inspires views of the Scottish Episcopal Church. magazine and, along with the others on the Editorial Team, Acceptance of advertisements does not look forward to receiving your feedback and letters. imply endorsement of the goods or services. The Rev Chris Mayo Permission must be sought for any form Convener, Information and Communication Board and of reprinting. Editor, inspires Magazine 04 10 YEARS STRONG! Congratulations to inspires on ten years of valuable contribution to the life of the Scottish Episcopal Church! The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church IT’S also ten years since new Scottish Episcopal I moved to Scotland! Institute provides Then, I knew relatively formation-led training little about the life of the for the next generation Scottish Episcopal Church. of clergy and Lay Readers. The years since have been We are more at ease with a time of extraordinarily our diversity, recognising challenging and fulfilling the gifts which our evangelical ministry – and very busy. community brings to our life. Scotland is now home for We seem to have the energy Alison and for me and we are and the confidence to sustain our very happy here. worshipping and pastoral presence The early period of my time right across Scotland when others in Scotland was spent trying to are finding themselves in retreat. understand the context. The Scottish exploring. I gradually began to see Beyond Scotland, we’ve continued Episcopal Church is both like and that this Church was entering into to develop an active network of unlike the Church of Ireland of a time of opportunity. In my own Diocesan Companionship links and Southern Ireland – the church of my diocese we carried out a review in other partnerships. In my travels family roots and of my clergy forbears. which our congregations said they around the Anglican Communion, Both are small churches shaped in wished to move from ‘decline to I’ve found that there are many places some measure by shared culture growth’. That in turn led to the testing which have some of our history and identity. The Church of Ireland of a diocesan initiative in outreach and intertwined with theirs. They feel carries the legacy of establishment growth – called Casting the Net. a comfortable belonging with us and has tended to define itself over On a wider canvas, it was clear that in a way which belies our relatively against Roman Catholicism. The we were becoming a more substantial small size. That same connectedness Scottish Episcopal Church has nothing national Church in the mainstream of enables us to play a significant role in of establishment in its makeup. It Scottish life. Gradually we have begun the Anglican Communion. is shaped by the complexities of to live into that role. We work hard at Ahead lies the question which Scottish history – the Jacobite links, establishing our place in the ‘public faces most churches today in the the penal experience. It has tended square’ through contributions in the developed world – our response to to define itself over against Scottish media. We engage with the Scottish issues of human sexuality. Archbishop Presbyterianism. Ireland is soaked in Government and in public discourse. Justin Welby has suggested that we religion – Scotland, carrying the legacy There have been other significant should strive for ‘visible unity in Christ of the Scottish Enlightenment, tends changes. We speak more easily with functional diversity’. This too will to be secular. of mission. We’ve taken difficult challenge us. By God’s grace, we shall I spent time testing, asking and decisions about our training - the move forward together. • VIEWS & VOICES 2005-15 TEN YEARS 05 NICOLA STURGEON DAMIAN BATES SCOTLAND’S FIRST MINISTER EDITOR IN CHIEF ABERDEEN JOURNALS LTD We are committed to openly There’s never been a better time to engaging and empowering our engage with your communities than communities. via the media, particularly at a local On the 10th anniversary of the Scottish Episcopal Church’s and regional level. inspires publication, I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the substantial and enduring influence of You have so much going on… what are you waiting for? the Christian faith in transforming and inspiring Scotland’s history, people and culture. You are men and women of influence and have the opportunity to use the platforms of the media to speak The Scottish Government values Scotland’s Christian your message and that of the gospels, in an engaging, communities and the important role they play in relevant and compelling way. You have so much going developing community cohesion. The Scottish Episcopal on, so much happening and so much to shout about. Church plays a vital part in this work through Interfaith So what are you waiting for? Scotland and the annual Just Festival as it promotes the development of inter faith relations and dialogue. Get in touch with the newsdesk and/or editor and ask what they are interested in; offer to meet them to discuss As a Government, we are committed to openly what you have to say and build a line of communication. engaging and empowering our communities, promoting participation through democracy and dialogue. We value We may all have technology at our fingertips but the commitment and leadership of Scotland’s churches communication in this manner is the same as it’s always in this engagement as we work to make Scotland a fairer, been: know who your audience is, what you are trying more inclusive society. We look forward to continuing to to say and engage, personally, with those who can be work with the Scottish Episcopal Church and Scotland’s the conduit to getting your message across. It isn’t Christian communities through 2015 and beyond. • rocket science! • 06 easter, and easter’s coming The Rev Canon Ian Paton Easter was the only ‘feast’ apart rejecting him.