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COMMITEE ON OVERSEAS AND INTER CHURCH AFFAIRS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2002 “By choosing to believe that the world has possibilities, possibilities arise where otherwise they would not have done. That is true of God and it is true of us.” Michael Taylor (Former Director of Christian Aid for twelve years and now Professor of Social Theology, University of Birmingham) “We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. It is safe and sure, and goes through the curtain of the heavenly temple into the Inner sanctuary.” Heb 6:19 PREAMBLE In the quotation referred to above, Michael Taylor, drawing from his own experience of working with Christian Aid in some of the world's most disheartening situations, sees how action by the poor for the poor can sometimes transform hopeless situations into hopeful ones. Quoting an example from the Horn of Africa, we are introduced to the Pastor of Mekanu Jesu Evangelical Church who looks out from his church upon a barren, unpromising landscape. Once, seventy or eighty years ago, the surrounding hills were covered, with trees, vegetation and animal life; today there is nothing, even the soil is washed away and, as far as anyone can see, there are no grounds for hope. Yet the Pastor, who might have been expected to concentrate on preaching a Gospel of the forgiveness of sins rather than create a new heaven on earth, is working steadily away in the tree nursery he has created. There, fifty to a hundred saplings are growing. It is his intention to replant hundreds of these saplings on the barren hillsides and make them fertile once again. Is this story not similar to the one in Genesis, the author then goes on to ask, where God looks out upon a barren and empty void and does something about it; or where Jesus, late in time, looks out onto an even greater barrenness in men’s lives and does something about that as well? The author concludes by suggesting that Hope may be a choice we personally make (create) and not a conclusion we draw. (From 'Poverty & Christianity' by M Taylor) INTRODUCTION The Committee, in submitting
this report to the General Assembly, would seek to emphasise the theme
of CHOOSING TO HOPE. If the example illustrated above is in anyway
analogous to the position of the United Free Church in Scotland today,
then the message is clear: Hope is something we make for ourselves, acting
upon the opportunities the Church creates for herself. The Committee,
in its work throughout the year, has therefore sought to create continuing
opportunities both in Africa and at home to which the Church can respond.
Continuing to emphasise the wider remit of the Committee’s work, we welcomed the Moderator's visit to the UCCSA General Assembly in Southern Africa last September. The Assembly was set in Namibia and on his return the Moderator presented to the Committee an overview of his impressions and thoughts. Commissioners will be aware of something of the content of this visit from the articles published in Stedfast. For the purposes of this report the Committee would bring to the attention of the General Assembly two main items of interest. a A major decision by the UCCSA
Assembly was to establish a separate independent Synod of South Africa.
This was previously lacking and now means each of the five countries in
Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa)
have their own Synod.
Two further observations
are also relevant: -
AN APPEAL FROM SOUTHERN AFRICA In relation to the last paragraph (above), during the Course of the year the Committee received a request from the Synod of Botswana to the UFCS to seek help in filling Missionary opportunities that had arisen in North East, and North West Botswana. Pastors were required on a two-year renewable term contract, committed to serve churches un Tutune, Masunga, Hukuntsi and Tsabong. The Committee is in the process of obtaining further information on these placements and when details are available the Committee will welcome approaches from any interested persons. THEOLOGICAL TRAINING A sum of £10,000 (78,000 Pula) per year was made available to the Synod of Botswana to support a three year Theological Training Programme for students studying for the Ministry. This will cover the years 2001, 2002, 2003. A letter of appreciation has been received from the Synod Secretary, Rev Mosweu Simane. MEMORIAL TO DR A M MERRIWEATHER The Committee is conscious that with the passing of time, the perception of each new generation changes and the impetus to remember the past is easily forgotten. With this in mind, the Committee is anxious to move forward on this matter and has discussed a number of possibilities with regard to how best the Church might appropriately remember the life, work and witness of the late Rev Dr Alfred M Merriweather. Although the task at first appears straightforward, this has not proved to be the case. Numerous difficulties have arisen in trying to determine the mechanics of practically administering a Memorial and also the type of Memorial the Committee would see as appropriate for Scotland and Botswana. Obviously the Committee is seeking to take into account the wishes of Mrs Merriweather. The Committee has concluded what would best fit the criteria would be a dual Memorial having both an African and a Scottish dimension and would therefore propose such a Memorial be set up. Arrangements will therefore be
made:-
MISSIONARY RESOURCES Following the appointment of Miss Helen Sunter as Mission Secretary, the Committee is grateful for the work she has done and would recommend the reissue and use of the updated volume of Missionary Resources (formerly Missionary Profiles). These now contain additional information and will provide a valuable Missionary resource for the prayer life of the Church. One concern of the Committee has been its desire to raise Missionary consciousness within the Denomination. To this end, the Committee would seek, the approval of the Assembly to set apart one Sunday of the year to be named as a Missionary Sunday. The Committee would propose this be the third Sunday in February, beginning in February 2003. An Order of Service for this Sunday will be provided by the Committee and will have a distinct Missionary focus. AFRICA AIDS AND ORPHANS The Aids Pandemic in Africa is well documented, and will continue to be an ongoing concern for all Christians in Scotland and of the Committee for the foreseeable future. Although the support the Committee can give is often limited, they continue to give financial and prayer support to AIDS projects and outreach work wherever possible. The following AIDS related initiatives are brought to the attention of Commissioners to the Assembly for their prayerful consideration. A. The Bana Ba Keletso Orphan Care and Counselling Centre at Molepolole. This centre has as its coordinator Mrs Ellah L Mohamadi (Miss E Merriweather) and provides day care for orphaned children between the ages of 2 and 18 years. B. The Pastoral Ministry of Rev F Botha at Toekonsrus (Johannesburg). This is a specialist ministry seeking to bring comfort to a community of AIDS victims and their families through home based Care Groups. C. The UCCSA Bongani Orphan Care Programme (Zimbabwe). This is an initiative of the Committee on Evangelism and Youth through its Easter Scheme appeal. The Committee welcomes this outreach work in support of a full time Coordinator for Orphan Care Work in Zimbabwe and has agreed to underwrite the project should this be necessary. D. The Mabogo Dinkku Advice Centre (Botswana) - The Committee brings this project to the attention of Commissioners because of the great need in Botswana today for centres where advice, information and support can be given to the population, especially to women. The Committee notes this project is currently being supported by the overseas work of the United Reformed Church. E. The ministry to provide home based care for AIDS sufferers who are terminally ill being developed in the region of Kumakwane, 20 Km from Gaborone. This outreach work begun under the direction of Flying Mission brings a measure of healing, comfort and the love of God to those who are afflicted so severely. 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. Fourteen Missionaries received Christmas gifts of £275 each for the year ending 2001. WOMEN’S HOME AND OVERSEAS COMMITTEE AND PRAYER UNION The Committee is aware of various financial gifts made by the Women of the Church and the members of the Prayer Union to Overseas Work during the course of the past year and value both their financial and their prayer support. SCOTTISH CHURCHES WORLD EXCHANGE (SCWE) Scottish Churches World Exchange continues to build on its Missionary and Overseas work, firstly through its volunteer programme (sending 55 volunteers overseas during the course of last year) and secondly through Missionary and educational initiatives based within St Colm's House. Providing accommodation for a number of long-term residents, the House has also developed a two week English Language Programme. Plans to develop a further Training for Mission & Service Course are being discussed. Facilitating the teaching of the English Language to overseas personnel, engaged in Church and Community work is viewed by the Trust as essential for efficient communication. The potential for St Colm’s to become involved in this discipline is increasing and already approaches have been received from agencies seeking just such short-term language Camps (from Cuba, Angola and India). The Committee would ask Committees and Commissioners of the Church to reflect upon the work of SCWE and consider ways in which the UFCS night more meaningfully become involved in the opportunities to serve overseas provided by SCWE. DAVID LIVINGSTONE MEMORIAL CENTRE (DLMC) 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. The Committee is not aware
of any new developments to date regarding funding arrangements. The
potential sale of land is still under negotiation and, if successful, will
provide the majority of the funding required. The Committee continues
to recommend the Centre to individuals and Church groups seeking a venue
when planning Church outings and future events.
Following her appointment as full time China Field Officer, Rev P Johnston continues to keep the Committee informed on the work of the Scottish Churches China Group and Amity in China. Mr George Banks, who represents the United Free Church of Scotland on the Scottish Churches China Group, will be visiting China later in the year. Two areas of this work are highlighted for the purposes of this report. Amity have identified an urgent need amongst teachers to upgrade the teaching and English language skills of middle school teachers in China and a new programme has been arranged to accommodate this need. Assistance with the training of nurses continues to be a priority and a recent request for nurse training has been received from No 2 Clinic in Shenyang. The Scottish Churches China Group has been able to give help and become involved in the setting up of a Hospice. China has very few medical resources in this field of care and the experience of Western Societies in caring for those with terminal illness is greatly valued by the Chinese. FLYING MISSION Commissioners should note that Dr McArthur has now retired as Director of Flying Mission and John Luebbe, the new Director, has been appointed. He was born in South Africa serving first with AEF for ten years then later for a further ten years in Switzerland as Director of the Swiss Mission Fellowship. Mr Luebbe has now taken over responsibility for the Flying Mission. The Committee will continue to maintain an interest in the work of Flying Mission and will keep the Assembly informed of future developments as it is sure the UFCS would wish to retain and build on these existing Missionary connections. The Committee further remembers Dr McArthur and his family at this time and commend them to the prayers of the whole Church as they seek God's leading for their lives in future days. INTER CHURCH AFFAIRS Inter Church Affairs continues to occupy a fair proportion of the Committee's time as its remit covers the interests of churches within Britain as a whole and also inter-church relationships out with these Islands. Due to the nature of this work
and its financial implications, the Committee is unable to support every
initiative and has to be selective in what it commits itself to.
This part of the report therefore deals with the main Item on this years
Committee's agenda.
The first Scottish Ecumenical Assembly opened at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh on Friday, September 21st 2001. Eight representatives from the UFCS represented the Church on each of the themed topics. The concluding deliverances followed work within the reflection and plenary groups. The concluding deliverances have each been passed to the relevant Committees of the Church for their deliberation and attention. Overall, the Assembly was viewed as a success although reflection will be required over a longer period of time to ascertain its effectiveness, or otherwise, in the life of the Scottish Church and Nation. SCOTTISH CHURCHES HOUSE (SCH) A consultants’ report on possible options to develop SCH and site has been commissioned and received by ACTS. Following a meeting of ACTS Central Council it was recommended that the Scottish Churches House Committee act on its recommendations and compile a 10 year Business plan for the House and for the site in general. It was reported a new Assistant Warden for the House, Mr John Lackie, had also been appointed. LOCAL ECUMENICAL PARTNERSHIPS - PROPOSAL FOR A NATIONAL SPONSORING BODY The Committee received proposals asking the UFCS to give its opinion on the setting up of a National Sponsoring Body in Scotland to foster the establishment of Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs). A working group within ACTS had concluded that although Local Ecumenical Partnerships in Scotland were relatively few in number, they represented a dynamic response by the Churches to what it meant to be CHURCH. Membership of the National Sponsoring Body would be open to all churches in Scotland who wish to work together locally and could comprise both member and non member Churches of ACTS. The participating Churches would appoint to the National Sponsoring Body Church Leaders i.e. those who carry a national responsibility for their Churches. The Committee has considered these proposals and would recommend the UFCS become a Participating Member of the National Sponsoring Body. CHURCHES TOGETHER IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND (CTBI) The UFCS continues to be represented, whenever possible, at the Church Representatives’ Meeting and agenda subjects are wide and varied. One key statement from a recent discussion is worth noting when it was emphasised “That at the heart of all of CTBI’s work should be Mission”. The Committee was encouraged to hear the campaign to cancel or reduce Debt amongst the poorest nations had been staggeringly successful with $700 Billion of debt being removed. Christian Aid was now refocusing its work on a new goal of Fair Trading through a campaign called Trade For Life. Because the work covered by CTBI has in general not been reported on at length in previous Assembly reports, the following is included to give Commissioners an indication of the scope of CTBI’s recent work 1. Issues relating to Church
Life at National Level.
The CTBI Assembly took place in Swanwick in 2002 under the theme – ‘In Search of Holy Ground’. The Convener and Vice Convener represented the UFCS. Commissioners are encouraged to reflect upon all aspects of the work of CTBI. It is an Ecumenical Instrument of the Churches for the Churches, and congregations within the UFCS are invited to consider how best they might use or disseminate this information to members and Kirk Sessions. SCOTTISH CHURCHES INITIATIVE FOR UNION (SCIFU) Commissioners will be aware we continue to receive information on this Initiative from Rev A M Lawless who holds Observer Status. The number of denominations involved in these discussions remains the same as listed in last year’s Assembly report, i.e. 4. The Committee has nothing further to report at this stage, although the Initiative had hoped responses to its Second Interim Report might have been completed to allow final proposals to be submitted to the various Church Bodies, Assemblies and Synods. WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES (WCC) The Decade to Overcome Violence continues to generate genuine spiritual concern, especially following the September 11th atrocity in the USA and further numerous examples of Individual and Institutionalised violence being perpetrated throughout the world. The WCC had identified four thematic foci to help inform member Churches engaged in overcoming violence: i) Critical reflection on cultural traditions which tend to legitimise violence; ii) The use and misuse of power as a source of violence iii) a renewed understanding of the concept of justice; iv) An Inter-Faith approach to overcoming violence. The WCC has also been active in initiatives taken in Africa, Palestine, Israel, Indonesia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Zimbabwe to reduce and overcome violence, reduce tensions and bring healing. Inter-religious Challenges – “The lmportance of Inter-faith Dialogue and the role of Religions in our present world is emerging as one of the permanent challenges for the witness and action of the Churches.” (Executive of the WCC). WORLD ALLIANCE OF REFORMED CHURCHES (WARC) Between 1993 and 2001 the WARC has been engaged in a series of conversations between itself and the Oriental Orthodox Family of Churches. The aim of those conversations had been “To create an atmosphere of openness and sincerity in order to facilitate our witness to the Lord Jesus Christ.” The conversations have now been completed and the Committee is in the process of reading the report. A further report on an International dialogue (1996 - 2001) between the WARC and some Classical Pentecostal Churches and Church Leaders is also being studied by the Committee. ACTS As reported to last year’s Assembly, a major review of ACTS has now been completed and the recommendations of the ACTS review group are printed below. It should be stressed, however, that the review does not affect the Purpose, Basis/ Commitment and Principles of ACTS by which ACTS came into being and therefore there are no implications of a constitutional nature involved in these deliberations. The report seeks to propose an improved method of achieving the AIMS set out in the original constitution of ACTS. The review considered three pertinent areas - Staffing, The Future of Scottish Churches House and the Ethos and structures of ACTS. It is proposed that the existing Committees and Commissions of ACTS be restructured with a revised Central Forum replacing the existing Central Committee. It is also proposed that appropriate staffing arrangements, commensurate with serving this revised structure, should be put in place. It is further proposed that for the foreseeable future Scottish Churches House should remain the locus for work undertaken by the Scottish Churches Together (ACTS). It is accepted major upgrading of the House will be required to modernise the present facilities to meet all relevant Local Authority and National Government requirements.
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 prayer over this past year. In the name of the Committee STEPHEN
J W MATTHEWS Convener
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© United Free Church of Scotland 2002