Ian Boa
Churches Cross Continents to Combat Trafficking - REPORT
We had a really exciting three days when, on 15th and 16th October people from many distant lands came together for a meeting organised by the Scottish Churches Anti-Human Trafficking Group. We shared knowledge about human trafficking and began to explore how we can work together to address this evil. The following day, Saturday 17th October, we held a conference for members of churches and civil society from across Scotland.
We heard about important work being carried out in Christ's name in many countries - Malawi, Nepal, Bangladesh, Japan, Jamaica, the Czech Republic and of the Salvation Army's network across Europe. Closer to home, we learned how churches in Derby, Wales and Scotland are tackling trafficking and modern slavery.
The key message was that, no matter where in the world it is happening, it is people who live in poverty and are discriminated against who are vulnerable to traffickers. As Christian we have a duty to speak out against this crime against humanity. Jesus challenges us to love our neighbour and, like the Good Samaritan, help the stranger who is in need of compassion and care.
The events went really well. There was a really good buzz with lots of discussion and good informal feedback from people as they left. We distributed luggage labels, symbolic of people journeying, and asked delegates to write their 'take home' actions on one and leave actions for us on the other so we now have lots of suggestions for future action. We formed excellent relationships with people from home and abroad and look forward to working together in the future.
AHT Group - Letter writing campaign
The Scottish Churches Anti-Human Trafficking Group is campaigning for the purchase of sex to be criminalised. Having sent a letter to the FM Nicola Sturgeon, signed by many of the church leaders of Scotland, they encourage individuals and local church groups to write to their MSPs about this issue. A set of guidelines has been prepared, along with a sample letter, and some text for inclusion in a newsletter or magazine.
To download these resources please click on the link above or see the download area below.
Holy Week Resource for 2015
This years Holy Week Resource is now available to download.
Please click here to obtain a copy
Previous years resources can be found in our "Publications" section under "Worship Resources"
COMPANIONS ON THE WAY
Jesus, accompanied by his disciples, journeys towards Easter, and we too journey with him. We also bring companions for the journey. Six representatives of the Churches, from the ACTS Members' Meeting, share with us some of their own companions on their particular journey through life and in their Christian formation: saint or martyr, figures historical or contemporary, people known personally or encountered in story, tradition or contemporary events. May they bring to mind significant companions on our own journeys – our own gospel tidings.
A Handbook for Faiths in Further Education
Spiritual Care in Further Education - A Handbook for Faiths in Further Education
Until recently, chaplaincies were largely a feature of the UK universities. In response to growing interest in the provision of spiritual care in the Further Education sector, and developments leading to a holistic approach to student care, this handbook is offered in order to provide a basis for discussion, and to provide practical guidance to colleges considering setting up a spiritual care or chaplaincy service, reviewing an existing provision or making plans for further development.
To read "A Handbook for Faiths in Further Education" please click here
Response to the Report on Women Offenders
A message from Elaine MacRae, convener of the Joint Faiths Board on Community Justice (26.01.15):
On the publication of the Report on Women Offenders by the Angiolini Commission, the Joint Faiths Board on Community Justice called on the Government to be brave enough to implement the recommendations of the Report. This week the Justice Secretary, Michael Matheson, has been brave and shown courage as the Scottish Government has turned its back on plans for a new prison at Inverclyde. This is a momentous decision which could lead to a new way of thinking about how we do prison, and a radical change to our attitude to prisoners. The Board will continue to support the vision of the Commission on Women Offenders and work towards making Scotland a better, safer place - especially for women.
If you would like to read the response to the Report on Women Offenders, please click here:
Model Constitution for a Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership
The Model Constitution for a Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership was drawn up by the Constitution Group.
To download a copy, please click here
Ecumenical Glossary
To help you through the minefield of ecumenical acronyms, here is a list of all the ones we could think of:
ACTS - Action of Churches Together in Scotland
CAIRS - Churches' Agency for Inter-faith Relations in Scotland
CIRN - Churches' Inter Religious Network (CTBI)
CRJN - Churches' Racial Justice Network (CTBI)
CEC - Conference of European Churches
CTBI - Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
CTE - Churches Together in England
Cytun - Churches Together in Wales. Cytun is the Welsh word for 'Together'
EDG - Ecumenical Developemnt Group (ACTS)
GMN - Global Mission Network (CTBI)
ICC - Irish Council of Churches
IICM - Irish Inter-Church Meeting
LEP - Local Ecumenical Partnership
LWF - Lutheran World Fellowship
NEWS - Network of Ecumenical Women in Scotland
SCEG - Scottish Churches' Education Group
SCEN - Scottish Churches' European Network
SCHA - Scottish Churches Housing Action
SCNSBLEP - Scottish Churches National Sponsoring Body for Local Ecumenical Partnerships
SCPO - Scottish Churches' Parliamentary Office
SCRE - Scottish Christian Resources Exhibition
SCRJG - Scottish Churches' Racial Justice Group
SCSIN - Scottish Churches' Social Inclusion Network
SIFC - Scottish Interfaith Council
WCRC - World Communion of Reformed Churches
WCC - World Council of Churches
If you know of any others, please contact the webmaster and we will add it to the list.
How we work: Beyond Britain & Ireland
ACTS is also in membership of the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches.
How we work: British & Irish Links
ACTS is one of the four national ecumenical instruments which, along with Churches Together in England (CTE), Cytun (Churches Together in Wales) and the Irish Council of Churches, comprise Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI).
How we work: ACTS Policies
In consultation with the Members, the ACTS Trustees have formulated a number of policies for the organisation. These are reviewed on a regular basis. Copies of the policies are available to download below. For any further enquiries concerning the policies please contact the General Secretary.
Please find below the ACTS Policies as agreed by the ACTS Trustees:
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What is Action of Churches Together in Scotland?
Formed in 1990 as Scotland's national ecumenical instrument, Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS) brings together nine denominations in Scotland who share a desire for:
- Greater oneness between churches, as Jesus prayed, "that they all may be one" (John 17.21).
- A growth of understanding and common life between churches.
- Unified action in proclaiming and responding to the gospel in the whole of life.In its work ACTS seeks to enable the Scottish churches in their common life. It encourages and resources encounters between them in which each participant learns from the other, where difference is explored and respected and where division is healed.
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Who we are: Member Churches
There are nine member churches of ACTS. They are listed below:
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
United Free Church of Scotland
Each of our member churches is also a member of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. Five of our member churches are present in the three nations of Scotland, England and Wales and therefore bring to ACTS not only the perspective of being churches in Scotland but also in the wider United Kingdom.
ACTS welcomes opportunities to work with churches which are not in membership of the organisation.
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Who we are: ACTS Officebearers
The principal officebearer of ACTS is the Convener of the Trustee Body and Members' Meeting. This post is held for two years, in turn, by a member of: the Church of Scotland, the Roman Catholic Church, Scottish Episcopal Church and a representative elected by the other member churches. The current Convener is Miss Carole Hope, from the Church of Scotland, who took up post in June 2019.
In addition to the Convener there is a Vice Convener, who also serves for a two year period. Currently the Vice Convener is Mr Paul Goldfinch from theScottish Episcopal Church.
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How we work: Being Churches Together
Core to all our activity in ACTS is the principle of being Churches Together.
This is summarised in the Lund Principle adopted by the churches at the third world conference on Faith and Order (August 1952), which states that:
'the churches should act together in all matters....except those in which deep difference of conviction compel them to act separately'.
Local, national and international ecumenical bodies therefore are not intended to become 'superchurches' but places where churches from the wide diversity of Christian experience, meet, engage, reflect and share in common action. This model of 'being churches together', is found throughout all ACTS structures.
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How we work: ACTS Members' Meeting
The ACTS Member Churches meet three times a year at the Members' Meeting. One of these meetings incorporates the Annual General Meeting of the Company.
Convener: Miss Carole Hope
Vice-Convener: Mr Paul Goldfinch
Each Member Church has one Voting Representative at the Meeting. The number of delegates from each Member Church is allocated according to the membership of each Member Church.
The Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic Church each have four representatives at the Members' Meeting, the Scottish Episcopal Church has three and the other Members have two representatives each.
The Trustees of ACTS also attend the Members' Meeting and the Convener of the Trustee body is also Convener of the Members' Meeting.
The Convenership is held for two years and rotates between the Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic, Scottish Episcopal Church and other member churches.The purpose of this meeting is
- To be a meeting place for the Members so that they may engage with the furtherance of God's mission and to work towards realising the unity of the Church Universal, which form the charitable purposes of ACTS.
- To provide an opportunity for the Members to worship together.
- To provide a mechanism for inter-church counsel, education and action.
- To provide an opportunity for Full Members to promote, participate in, implement and engage with actions, projects, programmes and initiatives in the fulfilment of ACTS charitable purposes.
- To engage with the Trustees in discussion leading to the setting of ACTS strategy and policy.
- To receive reports on the implementation of ACTS strategy and policy.
- To receive regular reports from the Trustees concerning finance, personnel, governance and day to day management of the company.
- To engage with wider ecumenical fora in Britain and Ireland, Europe and the World.
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How we work: ACTS Trustee Body
There are currently seven trustees, one each from the Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic Church and Scottish Episcopal Church (the appointing members) and three others representing the other six Member Churches of ACTS (the electing members).
There is also a Treasurer and the trustee body may co-opt a further three people to be Trustee body if desired. The Convener and Vice Convenership of the Trustee body are selected by the appointing and electing members on a rotational basis.
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How we work: ACTS Policies
In consultation with the Members, the ACTS Trustees have formulated a number of policies for the organisation. These are reviewed on a regular basis. Copies of the policies are available to download below. For any further enquiries concerning the policies please contact the General Secretary.
Please find below the ACTS Policies as agreed by the ACTS Trustees:
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How we work: British & Irish Links
ACTS is one of the four national ecumenical instruments which, along with Churches Together in England (CTE), Cytun (Churches Together in Wales) and the Irish Council of Churches, comprise Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI).
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How we work: Beyond Britain & Ireland
ACTS is also in membership of the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches.