"Since the middle of the twentieth century the majority of Christians live in the third world…… Estimated figures suggest that 65% or more of Christians in the world are people of colour and this percentage is on the rise."

"The distinct mark of African Christianity is that it is shifting the ecumenical agenda away from dialogue, the method of First World Christianity, to the more ecumenical element of suffering."

"Twentieth century Ecumenism failed to take seriously the gravity of the human predicament."

REV DR GEORGE MALEK

Director, Ecumenical Pastoral Institute, Cape Town, South Africa

Jesus Listened to the blind beggar at Jericho (Lk 18.35 – 43).

INTRODUCTION

This year has been a momentous year in the life of the work of the Overseas Committee. Not many weeks after the rising of last Assembly, news came through from Molepolole informing the Committee of the ill health first of Mrs Merriweather and very soon afterwards of Dr Merriweather himself. In the early days of the Dr's illness there was reason to hope and pray the Dr would make a full recovery, but as time passed and the illness gradually increased in severity it became clear this was not to be and Dr Merriweather passed to be with his Lord on October 10th 1999.

Much has already been said in recognition of Dr Merriweather's life and service for the United Free Church since 1944, with the Church holding its own Memorial Service in Leith: Ebenezer. Now the Committee would like to put on record their own indebtedness for the years of Dr Merriweather's service to the Church and Committee on Overseas and Inter Church Affairs and to assure Mrs Merriweather and the immediate family of the prayers of the Church. The Committee would also wish to record their thankfulness to the Moderator, the Rev A D Scrimgeour, for representing the UFCS at the Funeral and Thanksgiving Service held in Botswana.

The Committee therefore met with a profound sense of loss and proceeded to deal with very practical and insistent questions including "Where do we go from here?"; questions which articulated the feeling of the Committee that an era of Missionary Work in Botswana had ended with a recognition that to continue mission there would require the Committee to refocus its thoughts.

These questions however, were not being asked in a vacuum since the Committee had previously met to consider the way forward and to look into the entire matter of missionary and overseas work. Consultations had taken place between the Committee and Stuart Moulds, (Director of WEC) and discussion papers had been received from both Mr Moulds and Dr McIntosh. The new situation which arose following Dr Merriweather's death served only to focus the Committee's thoughts more intensely than before.

The Committee was also conscious of the implications arising from recent General Assembly decisions i.e.

a) The Assembly's acceptance of the 1997 Mission Statement

b) The Assembly's acceptance of the 1999 Deliverance which states in part

"The General Assembly request the Committee..... to take steps to substantially reduce the capital within the Overseas Funds ...."

The Overseas report which follows is therefore one which arises out of all these considerations and for understandable reasons occupies more space than matters of Inter-Church Affairs. This position cannot be avoided although it is perhaps Divinely indicative that the Inter-Church dimension of the Committee's work this year has been relatively light.

CONVENER'S VISIT TO BOTSWANA

The Convener represented the UFCS at the UCCSA's Bicentenary celebrations in South Africa last September and conveyed fraternal greetings from the UFCS. These celebrations marked 200 years of missionary work on the Southern African Continent begun by the London Missionary Society in 1799. The Convener was grateful to the Committee for this opportunity to represent the UFCS.

DELEGATES' VISIT T0 BOTSWANA AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

In the light of what has been said above in relation to the Committee's Mission and Overseas work, and following on from the Convener's visit and report, the Committee concluded further familiarisation with the 'on the ground' situation in Southern Africa and Botswana was essential before any informed decisions or future commitments could be made by the UFCS. To this end the Committee approved a fact gathering delegation to Botswana and the UCCSA comprising of the following members of the Committee: Rev S J W Matthews, Rev J D Neil and Rev A M Ford.

The first part of the report which follows together with the ensuing analysis, observations and recommendations, comprises the considered conclusions reached by the Committee in seeking to place before the Assembly a future structure for Mission outreach work to be undertaken by the UFCS in Botswana and Southern Africa.

1. Background

The Committee is convinced if the UFCS is serious in her intent to continue missionary work on the African Continent then background knowledge and first hand information of the existing 'on the ground' situation must be available to the Committee. Over the many years of UFCS involvement in Southern Africa, the involvement of the Church in Mission could be said to have had a relatively narrow focus, - One Country / One Place - Botswana / Molepolole.

Present day UFCS intentions for mission must address the fact that

a) Botswana itself is one of 5 nation states within the UCCSA umbrella

b) We no longer have 'Our Missionary' in situ as it were.

c) Missionary enterprise in Africa today is principally accomplished through partnerships. (Interdependence being the key to successful Mission Comity).

d) Mission initiatives from outwith Africa must acknowledge and recognise the reality of the African Churches themselves evidencing a growing self confidence with a self assertive mission thrust. Our appreciation of appropriate mission work can be very different from the African perception.

All these factors lead to the necessity for the UFCS to re-appreciate Africa, re-assess Mission and widen the UFCS focus.

2. Context

The experience of encountering the cultural realities of Botswana and South Africa on the ground was profound, although for both countries a different reality was experienced.

In Botswana we noted the relationship between Church, Church Leadership, the Government and other authorities and realised what influence and access the Church had to the levers of power in the land. Its influence is, we believe, profound at every level of society.

We noted especially the willingness of the Government and other authorities to enter into dialogue with the Church through agencies such as the BCCC (Botswana Christian Council of Churches) and to consult with the church and community on its ethical and moral policy. This is evidenced by the Government's vision for Botswana by 2016.

We noted also the desire of the Church in Africa and its leadership to be self-reliant and self-sustaining, despite the very real problems of resourcing and the spiritual and practical difficulties experienced in training candidates theologically for the Ministry. We noted also the very practical initiatives and projects begun by the BCCC.

On the other hand distance imposes considerable strains on communication and substantial difficulties arise due to shortage of ministerial supply. Lack of resources and some uncertainty over the direction future theological education should take are other live issues the Church is facing. The Synod of Botswana has also recently taken the decision to recommend tithing to its Churches and a response to this initiative is awaited.

HIV infection and full-blown AIDS bring additional challenges to Churches already stretched to the limit of their resources, with initiatives only just beginning in the area of pastoral care.

Time in South Africa did not allow for more than the briefest of impressions. Suffice it to say a sense of desperate need and poverty predominated our perceptions of how everyday life was lived by a substantial number of the coloured and Black population. This was only eased by the experience of seeing the resources of the Church in action through a variety of different initiatives and being somewhat overwhelmed in the process by the scale of the problems. Three of these projects are illustrated in the final section of the African report.

3. A Summary of Needs

Arising out of the background and context, a number of items began to dominate the Committee's thinking:

a) There was an urgent need to engage and place ministers, to build manses and plant Churches.

b) There was an urgent need for clarity in the Churches' thinking on theological training and where to place students for the Ministry.

c) There was an urgent need for the Church to engage with the whole issue of AIDS and HIV as it affected Church and Community pastorally and to pioneer new initiatives in this field. It should be noted the Synod had already taken the initiative by engaging the support of AIDS Educators. It should also be noted separate work has been done in this field by Stuart Mingham in conjunction with Scripture Union. Educational packs are available but, at present, duplication costs are prohibitive. (Project F outlined in section 5).

d) There was an urgent need to provide resources which the Synod does not have. They are at present engaged in progressing two major projects to build Office Accommodation, mainly to generate income. Partial Loan Promissory Notes had been secured towards the costs of building, but additional loans were still being sought. With both projects about to go to tender the Synod's resources are totally committed.

e) Various other initiatives are being taken both in Botswana and in South Africa. These initiatives vary in their stages of development and progress but all are worthy of UFCS consideration.

4. How we might engage in mission

In attempting to bring recommendations before the Assembly, the Committee would wish to engage the General Assembly's mind in sharing the vision it has for the future work of the UFCS in the Southern African Continent. The Committee would therefore make the following suggestions.

A In order to address the crying Missionary needs seen in Botswana and Southern Africa the Committee would agree to set aside (or "ring fence") £100,000 of its overseas assets for overseas mission projects. Such funds would be available on a one for basis (giving £1 sterling for every £l of currency raised locally). This would be allocated as a one off gift towards individual projects which would be seen to further the cause of Christ's Kingdom.

It is further anticipated that when projects come to be selected, something of the essence and spirit lying behind Dr Merriweather's own work for Christ might be considered and reflected in them, so making an ongoing testimonial possible.

Preference would therefore be given towards projects which extended the Ministry, Mission and Preaching of God's word. Projects to be acceptable, would require to have the approval and authority of the relevant Synod or other court body and be accompanied by an extract from the appropriate records or minute of proceedings.

Agreement and acceptance of the project by the Committee on Overseas and Inter-Church Affairs would also be required.

B) It would also be envisaged that such projects agreed by the Committee would not remain solely a financial consideration for the Committee alone, but would become a vibrant concern and part of the Missionary Outreach of the entire UFCS. A praying ministry might be developed amongst our peoples and congregations with an interchange and exchange of views, information and ideas. Ultimately it would be the Committee's desire to raise the profile of all missionary projects much as has happened previously with the Missionary Profile initiative.

C) The question of theological training is a vexed one in Botswana and in Southern Africa as a whole. It is also a matter of continuing interest to the UFCS now that we have completed the training of 3 full-time students from Botswana, under the training initiative scheme begun by the UFCS.

In Botswana the difficulties are due to a lack of available theological places within the University for students who wish to train as candidates for the ministry. However the situation has now been somewhat ameliorated by a new approach adopted by the University to guarantee 15% of places to the Church for their use. The Synod of Botswana currently has more students awaiting training than there are places available.

In South Africa the situation is slightly different in that a wide variety of approaches are adopted by a wide variety of Churches to train students theologically for the ministry. Both within and outwith UCCSA there is no one unified approach and therefore various Colleges and Seminaries are used throughout in the various countries of Southern Africa. There is also some apparent dissatisfaction with the current policy.

Following multiple discussions on this subject and during a concluding session with the General Secretary of UCCSA, The Rev Dr Des van der Water submitted to the UFCS a proposal which in essence invites the UFCS to be Co-sponsors and partners with UCCSA in a consultation process aiming at mapping out the way forward for theological education and ministerial formation within the constituencies of UCCSA. (see Appendix 1)

Your Committee dares to see in this proposal the beginning of a visionary approach to theological education which appears to have the potential to fully engage the mind of the UFCS in being actively involved in Overseas Ministerial and Missionary training. This approach appears to have the added potential of enabling students to share in joint cultural and theological exchange programmes between each of the respective nation states.

Your Committee has agreed to accept this invitation and further agreed that details of the invitation be submitted to the Training for the Ministry Committee with the suggestion that a representative from that Committee be invited to join with the Overseas Committee in being part of this consultation process. A date mid to late summer 2000 has been proposed for the Consultation to be held in Botswana Conference Centre.

D) Throughout the time members of the Committee were in Africa numerous projects and initiatives came to the attention of the delegates. The Committee has reviewed these at some length and has come to the conclusion full details should be made available throughout the Denomination. (Projects A - F follows in section 5.)

It would be the Committee's desire for churches within the Denomination to be led to adopt their own mission strategy and / or support of one or more of these projects, and to seek God's guidance and leading in so doing that through prayerful endeavours together, the Church of Jesus Christ in Scotland might be built up in love and fellowship with the Churches of Africa. To this end the Committee has set an example by allocating several of its funds to further the work and witness of certain of these projects.

During the delegates' visit to Southern Africa, Mozambique suffered most severely from the effects of flooding. UCCSA in Johannesburg, in response to this disaster, immediately began a flood relief fund. Your Committee, aware of the great humanitarian need and in seeking to express the concern of the UFCS has agreed to send a donation to this disaster fund of £5000.

It seems appropriate at this stage to ask the question, would the UFCS benefit from a reciprocal visit or someone coming to work with us for a period? The Committee took up this question because they acknowledged the visit by UFCS Delegates to Southern Africa had been something of a mile stone, a metaphorical bridge had been crossed into another culture and another approach to Christian mission. Also a new initiative into building longer term partnerships and relationships had begun.

Such insight is valuable, there would be much the UFCS might gain from an African perspective on the UFCS. The Committee simply ask the question, perhaps the General Assembly might like to reflect upon an appropriate answer.

5 Mission Projects (A - F)

The following are projects which came to the attention of the Committee's delegates while in Botswana and South Africa.

PROJECT (A)

T0 SUPPORT PASTORAL MINISTRY AND AIDS OUTREACH WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY

EBENEZER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

TOEKONSRUS

RANDFONTEIN

The minister of this congregation has recently tendered her resignation from the pastoral charge of this Congregation despite the valuable pastoral work she is doing within the community and within the area of AIDS Educational work.

The church is located within a community where 66% of the population suffer either HIV or full-blown AIDS and the Rev Florence Botha's ministry brings hope and the comfort of God's love in Christ Jesus to a people who are suffering deeply.

She ministers spiritually to a people where AIDS infection is the norm for 66% of the community and 70% of the congregation of 500 are unemployed; 4 out of every 5 funerals per week are AIDS related and young children are the predominant victims of this disease. Drastic educational methods are used to educate children; 1000 primary school pupils in the local school had been faced with the reality of seeing what it meant to contract this disease. The younger the age of infection we were told, the sooner they die, and Florence Botha added '60 % of High School Children are already infected'.

Rev Florence Botha has now reached a decision after 10 years of ministry in the community to resign mainly through lack of available funding and because of stress brought on by the pressures of not knowing where to turn for help. An initiative was begun in 1995 to seek to provide funding by installing and operating a laundry service to the Community. This it was believed would bring in much needed finance and go a long way towards making the ministry viable. It would also provide employment for 4 unemployed people.

Premises have been partially completed for this project but require to have water and electricity amenities installed for which funding is not available. It is understood £1000 sterling would be adequate to ensure this project gets up and running.

There are obviously many new aspects of need within this situation which require the Lord's leading, but the Committee sees a need and would commend this project to the prayers and support of the Denomination.

PROJECT (B)

TO SUPPORT PASTORAL MINISTRY AND A MINISTRY TO THE DISABLED

WITHIN THE WESTBURY COMMUNITY

WESTBURY EBENEZER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

WESTBURY

This Church is situated in an area of Johannesburg that is suffering severe deprivation and poverty. These factors are not helped by the violence which is often found in communities with a drugs problem.

Under the Interim Ministry of Rev Arends, former President of UCCSA, the Deacons of the Church plough a lonely furrow and seek to faithfully bring God's word, hope and Christian love to the community and congregation.

Violent deaths are not uncommon and bring their own dangers to Deacons who work in the community and who actively seek to preach Christ's love and peace during the subsequent funeral and internment service.

Again the statistics are severe with 9 out of every 10 deaths and subsequent funerals being the result of gunshot wounds. It is the custom, we were told, for funerals to be suddenly interrupted by joy riders burning cars and shooting guns to symbolise their 'at oneness' with the deceased.

The church is situated on an area of land comprising various properties in various states of repair, one of which is used as a workshop to provide employment for disabled people. The Council for World Mission is sponsoring this workshop and we were able to witness to the hope even a little employment can bring to a discouraged people without work.

Adjacent property is vacant due to uncertainty over who will eventually own the land in the future but the Church has been given the opportunity to purchase the site if they can raise the sum of 89000 R (approx. £8,900).

The Committee again seek to make this ministry known to the Denomination and pray the concerns expressed here might engage the mind and prayers of individual congregations.

PROJECT (C)

TO SUPPORT CHURCH FOOD DISTRIBUTION SERVICE AND TO MAINTAIN A SOUP KITCHEN FOR THE NEEDY

TRINITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

JOHANNESBURG

Details of the above project are attached and are self-explanatory but one might add a little of the history.

The vision began over 50 years ago at the beginning of the apartheid era when the plight of people without access to adequate food became apparent. The church began a distribution service, distributing food by volunteers in 4 vans.

Although there have been changes over the years since the service began, the Service continues to this day and now 6 vehicles operate, providing 280 meals a day to peoples homes, while a further 30 to 40 meals are provided from within the premises of the centre. The centre also provides a soup kitchen and a laundry service.

The Centre is run by Christian workers and volunteers and supported by gifts and donations.

Meals to homes cost 7 Rand to deliver although the purchase price to the person is just 1 Rand. The running costs of the centre are in the region of 500,000 Rand (£50,000)

The Committee would bring this project before members of the Denomination, knowing the need here is great and that interest taken by other Christians can give a much needed boost to often hard pressed volunteers.

Note: At the present exchange rate 1 Rand is approximately 10p

MEALS ON WHEELS / LAUNDRY SERVICE

sub-division of

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH FOOD DISTRUBUTION SERVICE

The well-being of the old age pensioner / disabled pensioner in Johannesburg is our concern and by delivering to their room, flat or house ready-cooked three course meals we not only combat malnutrition, but also break the monotony of a lonely life, as our volunteers and / or staff call on him / her regularly.

Our recipients are persons who for various reasons cannot feed themselves properly (too frail to go to the shops and nowadays not able to because of crime, too afraid), or cannot prepare their own meals particularly if bedridden or in a wheelchair. Others may not have cooking facilities and lack of money is in most cases the chief cause of malnutrition.

We get referrals from welfare organisations, hospitals and clinics, whilst concerned relatives, friends of the people themselves contact us.

We operate in the inner city, Hillbrow, Berea, Yeoville and suburbs stretching from Yeoville to Malvern, Kensington to Vrededorp.

It is our aim to enable the elderly and disabled to remain as long as possible in their own familiar surroundings and as good nutrition is vital for their independence, our meals at R1 play an important role in their existence. (Where circumstances are truly desperate we still provide food never denying anyone if they cannot possibly pay).

We also offer a laundry service by which we provide clean bed linen and / or towels at 15c per item, to be loaned and exchanged fortnightly. To be able to sleep in a clean bed is obviously health promoting.

These services depend on the help of volunteers acting as servers and drivers and we are grateful to the many ladies and retired gentlemen who gladly give up of their time to serve and bring love and friendship to lonely people.

Another of our projects is the soup kitchen Monday to Friday for the homeless and destitute which is a most necessary service at this time of unemployment and retrenchments. This is at our Centre in Yeoville.

There is also a lunch club for senior citizens on Wednesdays and Fridays at our church hall where lonely pensioners get together, have company, read magazines and enjoy a three course meal for R3.

Financially we depend on bequests and donations from public-spirited members of the community, companies, clubs, organisations, etc.

PROJECT (D)

TO PROVIDE PASTORAL DAY CARE AND SUPPORT ORPHANED CHILDREN AND TO HELP FAMILIES SEEKING TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE DISEASE

BANA BA

KELETSO

DAY CARE CENTRE

MOLEPOLOLE

This day care centre, with the symbol BOCAIP (meaning God cares; we care), is situated within the main village of Molepolole and was begun to provide the Molepolole community with a place where children could be brought who were orphaned by AIDS . The centre would also provide the opportunity for families and relatives to begin to share together and talk about the full impact of AIDS, a disease which is difficult to admit to or talk about in the setting of a rural community. A further Separate facility exists to provide specialised counselling services.

The day care centre itself occupies premises which are brightly decorated and furnished so as to provide a pleasant environment where the children can gather. A full day care programme of educational and development needs, games and teaching self worth and confidence has been developed by a committed group of volunteers.

At present approximately 200 children are enrolled with an average of 30 children a day attending the Centre. It is the intention of the Centre to provide Centre Mothers who take on the role of the child's natural mother and there are at present 8 Centre Mothers.

While the present location is ideal, the premises are only rented and the Centre will have to vacate the premises in the near future. It is difficult to find suitable property at a suitable site in Molepolole and efforts so far to find replacement premises have not materialised. Despite much welcome help and donations of food goods and equipment the Centre is run on a voluntary basis and finance is a problem especially capital finance for the purchase of the appropriate premises

Your Committee bring this project to the attention of members within the Denomination knowing how important the name of Molepolole has been within our Churches over many many years and believing the traditions of Medical missionary outreach so central to the life and witness of Dr Merriweather himself is partly continued by this ongoing care.

Members might also be interested to know that Ellah, daughter of Dr and Mrs Merriweather is herself fully committed and involved in this outreach work and the Committee therefore commit this project to the prayers of the Denomination.

PROJECT (E)

TO GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT TO A CENTRE FOR THE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

MRS KGOSIEMANG - PRINCIPAL

SEKOLO ANNE STINE HANDICAPPED SCHOOL

MOLEPOLOLE

This centre is one which provides day care and educational facilities for children in Molepolole, handicapped either physically or mentally and was founded through the donations given by a Norwegian lady who lost her own daughter in a most tragic accident in Africa (hence the name).

The centre is run by volunteers and Dr Merriweather was previously a member of the Board of Governors. The Centre does the best it can with scarce resources, working in an area of need which does not appear to have a lot of support from central government.

The Principal, Mrs Kgostemang is a lady dedicated to providing the best she can for the children in her care and she expressed to us a deep interest in learning from the experience we have in our own country.

The Committee again saw the desperate need and the lack of resources which are available in tackling what are really major social issues and major needs in Molepolole and would commit this project to the prayers of the Denomination.

PROJECT (F)

TO HELP PROVIDE SPIRITUAL ANS EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL TO PROMOTE THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF AIDS

DR M McARTHUR

C/O FLYING MISSION

PO BOX 1465

GABORONE

BOTSWANA

An excellent pack of educational teaching material has been produced by Stuart Mingham working in conjunction with Scripture Union. Both hold the copyrights to the material.

Those who have used these visual aids acknowledge their excellence and worth and say how readily and easily it appeals to children and young people, conveying to them in simple language and pictures the message of God's love and concern.

The problem of duplication and production of these aids does not lie in permission to use the Copyright but in the cost of finalising the finished work by covering the duplicated pictures with a protective covering. The cost of doing this in Botswana is prohibitive.

The Committee therefore bring this problem before the denomination to seek a prayerful solution to the difficulty. it may be easier and cheaper to have the pack duplicated in Scotland and sent out to Botswana, alternatively costs may be considered to be a relatively minor matter when compared to the value and worth of being able to distribute the pack as soon as possible.

Whatever solution is adopted initial estimates assess the cost per pack to be around £32.

6. Thanks

This concludes this part of the African Report. It remains for the Committee to express their thanks to the Synod of Botswana and UCCSA Executive for the arrangements made for the delegates throughout their visit.

FLYING MISSION

In previous reports, updates have appeared on the work of Flying Mission. This year the Committee welcomes Dr and Mrs McArthur to the Assembly and during the presentation of the Overseas report the Convener will ask the Moderator to invite Dr McArthur to address the Assembly.

The Committee wishes to commend Malcolm, Gudrun and their family to the prayers of the Church, noting the recent anxiety suffered by the family through their son's serious car accident, but rejoicing at his continued and steady improvement in health.

The Committee also wishes to remind the Assembly of the necessity for prayer in the life of Flying Mission as a number of unfilled vacancies have arisen or will arise in the near future.

MEMORIAL T0 DR MERRIWEATHER

Following consultations with Mrs Merriweather and with the Synod of Botswana it was clear that two separate approaches to remembering the Dr's life and work had been considered. The Synod had previously agreed to a memorial service being held on the Anniversary of the Dr's death while Mrs Merriweather, in attending to the Dr's personal affairs was conscious of the great desire in the Dr's heart to plant and build new churches.

To this end a church at Sojwe was being planned prior to his death, and its subsequent completion was felt by Mrs Merriweather to be one final fitting tribute to his life's work of serving Christ. This did not mean no further new churches could be planted but the Sojwe church would be a fitting final testimonial to the name of Dr Merriweather.

The possibility of the UFCS being responsible for a further lasting memorial to Doctor Merriweather is being discussed.

OVERSEAS' STUDENTS

This is the final year of Mr Edward Rantshilo's studies in Scotland and the Committee congratulates him on gaining a B.A. Theology Degree from the International Christian College. The Committee also congratulates Mrs Rantshilo on her achievement in gaining a Masters Degree in Corporate Administration and would wish them both God's journeying mercies and richest blessing in their work for Christ on returning home.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO MISSIONARIES

The practice of sending a monetary gift at Christmas to all members of the United Free Church serving with other Missionary Societies has been continued. The gift sent at Christmas 1999 was £250.

The Committee is also aware of support being given by the Prayer Union of the UFCS and would record their appreciation.

WOMEN'S HOME AND OVERSEAS COMMITTEE

The Committee once again expresses its gratitude to the Women of the Church for their prayer and financial support of overseas work.

The Committee wishes to congratulate the Ladies for their Overseas Vision in this Millennium year and note with pleasure the presence at the Assembly of the Rev Mackeson Mutale and his wife from Molepolole.

SCOTTISH CHURCHES CHINA GROUP

The Committee continues to maintain an interest in the work of this Ecumenical group through papers received and information supplied by Rev P A Johnston.

During the course of the year the Committee was asked to give financial help towards supporting the post of a full time Chinese liaison officer. The Committee was happy to accede to this request and agreed to help sustain the post for the proposed 3 year period (2000 - 2002). This commits the Committee to an annual expenditure of £500.

SCOTTlSH CHURCHES WORLD EXCHANGE SCWE (A Charitable Trust)

Your Committee continues to be represented on this body and despite there being no positive uptake by members from within our Denomination, the Committee continues to recommend its potential and possibilities to the Church at large.

Information on the work of SCWE has been shared with each Presbytery and the Committee would encourage members of Presbytery together with all Ministers and Pastors to consider how SCWE could best aid their own particular Missionary interest.

EBENEZER LEGACY

During the course of the year the Committee arrived at a final decision over the disbursing of this legacy. Conditions attached to the legacy specified the intention of the giver was to support a project(s) in and or around Molepolole.

The Committee has therefore agreed to divide the legacy as follows:

a) To complete the Building of the Church Manse in Molepolole.

b) To provide funding for BANA BA KELETSO Day-care Centre, Molepolole. This is an AIDS Initiative begun in Molepolole to provide places for orphaned children whose lives have been traumatised by the effect of HIV or AIDS.

(Project D is outlined in section 5.)

DESERT DOCTOR REMEMBERS

Commissioners to the General Assembly will remember the Autobiography by Dr Merriweather was unavailable during last year's Assembly and this was a disappointment to the Committee.

The Committee was therefore greatly relieved when it finally appeared in print and were equally relieved to know the Dr had himself been able to receive a copy and read his finished work prior to the dramatic decline of his health.

This is a book which provides a lasting and endearing insight into the life and times of Dr Merriweather and the Committee would wish to commend the book to the wider Christian Community. A quantity of 400 books was purchased from Pula Press, Botswana, and the Committee understands all but a handful of these have now been sold.

DAVID LIVINGSTONE MEMORIAL CENTRE

The Rev A M Lawless continues to represent the church on the DLMC Board and the Committee is grateful to Mr Lawless for his conscientious reporting and enthusiastic commitment to the Centre. An additional sum of £500 was made available by the Committee towards the ongoing work of the centre.

The Committee also understands that following the recent tripartite arrangement between The National Trust for Scotland, South Lanarkshire Council and Lanarkshire Development Agency discussions have been taking place with interested parties over the possibility of releasing land for building purposes. The Committee understands the outcome of these discussions is positive and the sale, if it goes ahead, will allow substantial capital to be injected into the Capital Budget.

TOWARDS A MORE EFFECTIVE CARING FOR OUR MISSIONARIES

The Committee continues to maintain an interest in the work of all Missionaries within the Missionary Profiles. This year another update is included in the report. (See Appendix 2)

The Committee is also anxious to ensure that profiles remain as relevant as they can be and so is moving towards appointing someone who can give a few hours intermittently to this important task. At the time of writing no appointment has been made, but the Committee would welcome approaches by anyone interested. Computer skills would be an advantage.

ACTION OF CHURCHES TOGETHER IN SCOTLAND

Beginning this section on Inter-Church Affairs the Committee would report as follows:

ACTS

At the time of writing this report the Faith and Order Commission has not yet met and therefore progress remains the same as was reported at last year's General Assembly, with drafts of the book "Marriage, Discipline and Pastoral Care" still requiring to be firmed up and finalised.

The Central Council has met and discussed and debated various internal staffing matters and other matters relating to the wider Christian Community. Bishop Mario Conti of the Roman Catholic Church was appointed to represent ACTS at the CTBI level as ACTS Scottish President.

The Committee wishes to highlight a further two ongoing initiatives

1. The European Ecumenical Pilgrimage 2000: The plan for Scotland

The European Pilgrimage is a series of pilgrimages being planned to begin from different starting places in Europe, at different dates during the year 2000. The starting points North, South, East and West are designed to form the shape of a cross over Europe.

The Scottish Pilgrimage will begin on the 8th Sept leaving from St Andrews and will conclude on the 14th Sept at Edinburgh. The other three Pilgrimages also have their own starting points and dates.

During the year 2001, all who travelled on the previous individual Pilgrimages are invited to participate in a joint gathering in Prague in the Czech republic. This will take place between the 6th -8th July 2001 and is at the invitation of the European Ecumenical Council of Churches.

2. The Ecumenical Assembly 2001

Planning for this event is continuing.

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW OF ACTS

ACTS continues to operate on a solid financial basis with the balance sheet showing ACTS had an operating surplus for 1999 of £4,273 (1998 £10,367) and Scottish Churches House £4,322 (1998 - £2,967). This position reflects positively the good stewardship enjoyed by the Council. The income for ACTS has obviously fallen, but the income and surplus for Scottish Churches House indicates how it is serving the Community as a day and residential Christian Centre.

SCOTTISH CHURCH INITIATIVE FOR UNION (SCIFU)

Following last year's report to the General Assembly, a further Second Interim Report has been published regarding the ongoing work of SCIFU. The second report attempts to clarify some of the Issues raised by the initial report and deals with questions about:

Mission

Identity

Structure & Bureaucracy

Anxiety about the exercising of Authority

Differences of opinion on the Concept of Church Unity

Relations with Churches not in SCIFU

Both Reports in brief are appended as Appendices 3 and 4.

The Committee was pleased to supply information to the Committee on Evangelism and Youth on the issues currently dominating the agenda of the Committee and note that the SCIFU initiative was placed on the agenda of the Youth Assembly for discussion and debate. The Rev A M Ford represented the Committee at this Assembly and presented an overview of SCIFU. We are grateful to the Rev A M Lawless who continues to represent the Church as an observer at the meetings of SCIFU.

AN ACKNOWLEDGENENT

The Convener would wish to convey to the Vice Conveners and to all members of the Committee his grateful thanks for the help and support given. Finally to the General Secretary, Office Staff and General Treasurer, sincere thanks for their unfailing help, guidance, support and prayers over this past year.

In the name of the Committee,