June 2016

Moderator of the General Assembly, the Right Rev Dr Russell Barr with Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland unanimously backed a landmark agreement to enter into an historic ecumenical partnership with the Church of England.

The Columba Declaration represents a "significant step" between the two denominations and will open up new future possibilities of closer working together.

The Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby made history when he took part in a debate on the issue at the General Assembly in Edinburgh.

He told commissioners that he strongly supported the Columba Declaration which has been discussed for the last 15 years.  Click here to read more.

The Inter Church Relations Committee of the Scottish Episcopal Church and Ecumenical Relations Committee of the Church of Scotland held their second annual meeting on 12 May in advance of the General Assembly and the General Synod.  It was a lively and positive discussion during which the group explored ways in which the relationship between the two churches could be developed within the Scottish context.

There was a strong level of agreement and a desire to explore our common calling.  A working group will be set up and hold its first meeting in the early autumn to take forward this new initiative. The conversation will have an emphasis on what is happening in local settings across the country as well as addressing the theology that underpins our shared mission.

A third meeting is planned for next year.

In 2016, the World Council of Churches celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Ecumenical Institute, inaugurated in 1948 at the Chateau de Bossey, Switzerland. 

Since then, thousands of women and men from all over the world have gone to Bossey for academic studies, conferences and seminars.  All testify to a life-changing experience in this "ecumenical laboratory" where people live, learn and pray together in an inter-cultural and inter-confessional community of faith.

At Bossey, the future leaders of the ecumenical movement are formed to be agents of dialogue and reconciliation in the search for Christian unity and harmony with all God's people. 

A new website, Focus on Refugees, dedicated to covering the refugee crisis in Europe, has been launched by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.  It aims to be a one-stop source of information covering news, policy, practical action and resources for those in the faith community interested in refugee and asylum issues.

In Scotland Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees seeks to co-ordinate and promote action by faith communities in Scotland to support asylum seekers and refugees. 

From left to right:  Sheilagh Kesting, Elizabeta Kitanovic, Richard Frazer, Alison McDonald, Martin Johnstone, Fr Heikki Huttenan, Doris Peschke, Peter Pavlovic

During the last week in April, Alison McDonald (the Ecumenical Relations Committee Convener) and Sheilagh Kesting (Committee Secretary) accompanied the in-coming Convener and Secretary of the Church & Society Council (Richard Frazer and Martin Johnstone) on a visit to Brussels. Alison McDonald is also a member of the Governing Board of the Conference of European Churches. The purpose of the visit had been to enable an in-depth conversation of issues related to the work of the Church & Society Council which involves a significant European dimension.

During the visit to CEC's offices the group were given an overview of its work and points of contact were identified which would strengthen the Church of Scotland's participation as a member church in the life of CEC.

Doris Peschke of the Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe gave an update on the refugee catastrophe and how CCME works with churches in addressing the humanitarian and political responses. 

The group also met with Heather Roy, the General Secretary of Eurodiaconia, which deals with a wide variety of societal issues.  Ways were opened up in which the Church of Scotland's participation in Eurodiaconia can be strengthened.

The visit had been about seeing part of the bigger picture in which the Church of Scotland works which demonstrated the importance of understanding the Christian Church as a movement across borders - the theme of the Ecumenical Relations Committee's Report to the General Assembly this year.  Read the full report here. 

The 36th Evangelischer Kirchentag is to be held in Berlin and Wittenberg from 24-28 May 2017.  Reflecting on international ecumenism, inter faith and inter-cultural dialogue, it will also look ahead to the next 500 years of Protestantism.  Well-known speakers will engage with topics and encourage lots of audience participation with workshops, lectures and panels.  In addition, there will be concerts, theatrical performances and other cultural offerings.  There will be over 2,500 single events during the Kirchentag.

The theme is "You see me" (Gen 16:13).  It combines the knowledge that God looks at us with the challenge to remain clear-sighted in our dealings with others. 

It is hoped to hold a great service of celebration in Wittenberg on 28 May 2017 following the Kirchentag.  To find out more, or to participate, please click on the link above.

Although the Ecumenical Relations Committee does not provide funding to allow people to attend, it would be able to put those attending from Scotland in contact with each other. If you are attending and would like to contact/meet up with others from Scotland, please let us know by emailing ecumenical@churchofscotland.org.uk.  

The Irish Council of Churches has announced the appointment of Dr Nicola Brady as its new General Secretary.

Dr Brady has a wealth of ecumenical experience and a commitment to social justice. She has served as Research Coordinator for the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs. As part of this role she coordinated inter–church engagement in a wide range of social policy areas, including poverty, migration, mental health, and peace and reconciliation. She was also a member of the Management Committee of the Irish Churches’ Peace Project, 2013–2015.

To find out more about the appointmeht, please visit the web site of the Irish Council of Churches.