INTRODUCTION

The pace of change in our society and indeed our world seems to be gaining momentum. Every aspect of life is changing, nothing is exempt and many will readily identify with the Queen when she expressed a feeling that things were changing too quickly. Many of the changes around us we may not like and some raise difficult ethical and moral issues with which we struggle and which we may not even understand. Nevertheless these changes in our society and way of life are there and as Christians we have to face up to the challenges with which they present us. On a whole range of issues including the changing face of Higher Education, wider opportunities for learning and changing attitudes to, and expectations of, the Ministry, the Committee on Ministry and Home Affairs is having to face up to the challenges with which our modern society presents us. Sometimes we have found that the way things have been organised in the church are no longer helpful. In some instances we feel changes are for the better and at times it is with reluctance we change to enable us to deal with the realities of modern life.
Your Committee, with its particular remit, seeks to encourage, prepare for and support the Ministry of the Church and facilitate growth within Congregations. The Committee can have a vision and set up mechanisms but there must also be vision, commitment and hard work from Ministers, Kirk Sessions and Congregations. Your Committee would want to challenge the Church to take up the opportunities offered by Church Re-extension to help congregations who see potential for growth but lack resources to realise that potential. We would challenge Ministers to take up the opportunities for personal development provided by In Service Training and Sabbatical Leave. No matter what scheme or plans we may came up with, and we are constantly reviewing those in existence and considering new areas of support, the challenge must be taken up on the ground as we seek to face the difficulties and opportunities of the 21st Century.

STUDENTS

Following the presentation of two Certificates of Theological Studies at the 1997 General Assembly there were only two students recognised by the Committee preparing for the Ministry of our denomination. Since then four more have been recognised and in the view of the Committee this is likely to meet our requirements in the next few years. Only one of these, Mr. Graham Brown, is due to complete his course of study this year. It will be noted that at present we have students at all four Faculties of Divinity and one student engaged on a course at Westminster College, Oxford which is facilitated by the Scottish Churches Open College. The list of students and the dates they are due to complete their courses are as follow:
1998 Mr. Graham G Brown (Kilmaurs: Maxwell and Kilmarnock)
1999 Mr. Ian A Boa (Lochwinnoch: Calder)
Mr. Ralph A Dunn (Edinburgh: West)
2000 Mrs. Margery Collin (Edinburgh: West)
Mr. Derry Meredith (Tayport)
Mr. Craig M Wilson (Aberdeen: Northfield)

One of the main areas of concern with regard to students is finance. This has been a matter of growing concern in recent years and with the introduction of tuition fees and the abolition of the maintenance grant the future looks to be very difficult for many students. As stated in last year's report, the Committee regards the prospect of men and women entering their profession in debt, irrespective of whether or not they will ever be in a position to repay the debt, as unsatisfactory. Your Committee has concerns in this area and regrets the introduction of tuition fees which could have an adverse effect on student numbers.

Clearly the Church will in future have to contribute much more towards the costs of Theological Education for our students. The Committee is grateful to those who support the students in a variety of ways, in particular the Friends of the Students Association for their prayerful and financial support and the Women’s Home and Overseas Committee whose generous gifts towards books are greatly appreciated. Particular thanks are due to Dr. D. S. Munro who has acted as Medical Adviser for some time and who indicated his wish to retire from this position. The Committee is very appreciative of Dr. Munro's assistance in this matter. The Committee has appointed Dr. D. Blackwood as medical advisor.

ATTACHMENTS

The Committee is, as always, very grateful to those Ministers and Kirk Sessions who are willing to work with students during their attachments. From April 1997-March 1998 Mr. C Wilson has been attached to Aberdeen:Torry and Mr. I Boa has been attached to Glasgow: Croftfoot. From April 1998 Mr. Boa will be attached to Milngavie and Mr. Meredith to Perth. Mr. Craig Wilson still has one attachment to do but this has been deferred as Mr. Wilson hopes to undertake a course of study at Westminster Theological Seminary in the United States. The Committee has given its full support to Mr. Wilson and wishes him well in this venture.

STUDENT CONFERENCES

The Autumn Course was again held in the Church Office in September. We are, as always, grateful to those who contributed to this important time together. Topics covered this year included Evangelism and Youth, the Minister and the Presbytery, the Devotional Life of the Minister and Bereavement. We are grateful to the Revs A D Scrimgeour, A M Ford, R S Millar, G J A Barclay, M J Marsden, I N Robertson, J D Neil and Mr. N Kyle for their contributions. We are also grateful to the Co-op Funeral Service who organised a tour of their various departments including a visit to the Crematorium. The timing of the Autumn Course has become something of a problem with the Universities starting their academic year at different times. The Committee is looking at various options to take account of this.

The Spring Conference returned to Crieff this year and the sessions were led by Rev. Andrew McMillan. His theme was “The Minister’s Life in the Study – an Office, Library and Oratory”. We are grateful to Mr. McMillan for leading what proved to be a very beneficial time for both students and officials.

PROBATIONERS

In 1997 two students satisfactorily completed the courses required by the Committee. Rev. M. J. A. Purdie was Ordained and Inducted to Glasgow Candlish Wynd on 28th August 1997. It has been a matter of grave concern to the Committee that the Rev. G. B. Armstrong has not received a Call to a charge. This reflects a concern raised by the Committee on previous occasions regarding the lack of openings for Ministers in recent times. Mr. Armstrong has been in a Private Arrangement with our Shieldhall and Drumoyne Congregation. The Committee also asked Mr. Armstrong to assist our Darnley Congregation with visiting the many new homes recently built in the area. The Committee has received excellent reports of the work Mr. Armstrong has been doing in both Congregations. The Committee has felt a real sense of pastoral concern for Mr. Armstrong and his family during what has been a very difficult time for them and it is our hope that the situation may be resolved speedily.

SETTLEMENT OF STUDENTS

The Committee has spent a considerable amount of time, in consultation with the Principal Clerks, reviewing the procedures for final year students. One matter of particular concern is the interviewing of Ministers or Students by Vacancy Comittees (or sub-Committees). The issue seemed to be whether to accept the principle of interviews and introduce guidelines or to seek to put an end to this, until now unofficial, practice. The Committee was by no means of one mind on the matter, but a majority felt we ought to accept and regularise the practice. In producing the Guidelines we have sought to do that and would commend them to the Assembly. Within the Guidelines there are two areas which the Committee would wish to be noted. Firstly, no interview should take place without the Interim Moderator being present; and secondly, on no account should a spouse be interviewed. None of this is intended to be seen as the Committee being high handed but is to ensure that all students and vacant congregations should be treated fairly and to ensure a degree of consistency in the way these matters are dealt with.

PASTORS

At the end of 1997 there was one Ordained Pastor and two Unordained Pastors in the employment of the church. Rev. David Beatty has settled well in Shetland and seems to be held in high regard in the communities he serves. Mr. Brian Rogers reports on encouragements in both congregations and on good relationships between the congregations. Canonbie and Chapelknowe face a difficult financial situation but Mr. R Campbell is actively exploring ways of addressing the problems as well as undertaking a large number of pastoral visits. The Committee is greatly impressed by the amount of work done by all three pastors and encouraged by their reports.

CHURCH RE-EXTENSION

The Committee is currently considering two proposals for Church Re-extension in consultation with the Presbyteries involved.

SALARIES AND STIPENDS

At the time of last year’s General Assembly there was considerable concern and disquiet about changes in the method of the payments of expenses being demanded by the Inland Revenue. Since then, discussions have taken place with the Inland Revenue and Contributions Agency and agreements reached as to how best to proceed. As from April 1998 Ministers receive tax exemption on actual expenses wholly and exclusively incurred in the course of their duties. Expense claims must be submitted to the Church Office by the end of January each year and, if required by the Inland Revenue, substantiated by producing the appropriate receipts. Full details are found in the Finance Report but the Committee on Ministry and Home Affairs recognises the amount of time and effort given by the General Treasurer and others to negotiate these arrangements and to put them in place. The Denomination must be grateful to them for all their efforts to deal with what had the potential to be a very serious problem.
 
 

IN SERVICE TRAINING

The In-Service Training Conference again took place at Crieff from 23 – 25 September. The theme was “Pastoral Issues” and was beneficial to all who attended. We are grateful to those who gave of their time to take part. Rev. Helen Cook led very helpful sessions on Dementia and Mrs. E Smith spoke on Bereavement Counselling. The keynote address was given by Rev. Dr. Frank Gibson. A panel of speakers involved in aspects of Health Care and a session led by the Training Development Officer completed the programme.

PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS

Recently a number of questions have been raised with regard to the status and role of those serving in Private Arrangements and the position of congregations who wish to increase the payment to the Minister or Pastor. The Committee was quite clear that, as things stand, a Private Arrangement has no standing in the church and is simply an agreement made between a congregation and an individual to cover pulpit supply and essential pastoral work. A Private Arrangement does not change the status of the person involved; a retired Minister in a Private Arrangement remains a Minister of the Church, likewise a Probationer, Student, Elder or lay person. It is clear however that whilst there is uniformity of payment there is no longer any uniformity in the amount of work being carried out. The Committee has therefore undertaken a review of Private Arrangements and would hope to have proposals to bring to next year’s General Assembly.

CONCLUSION

The Committees workload is demanding and constant and without the support of the office staff could not be carried out effectively. The thanks of the Committee go to them and to all who have assisted with our work over the year

COLIN C BROWN, Convener

GRAEME G McKAY, Vice-Convener

JAMES RICE, Vice-Convener

JOHN O FULTON, Secretary