About ACTS details

ACTS is also in membership of the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches.  
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).
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
There are nine member churches of ACTS. They are listed below: Church of Scotland Congregational Federation Methodist Church in Scotland Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Roman Catholic Church Salvation Army Scottish Episcopal Church United Free Church of Scotland United Reformed Church Each of our member churches is also a member…
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.…

Local Ecumenical Resources

  • Help to get started

    Help to get started

    Are you looking for help to start working with other churches near-by?

    Here is a starting point "Progressing in Partnership", a step by step guide for congregations wishing to pursue local partnerships with their ecumenical neighbours.     

    To download the guide click here:

    To download representative flowchart click here:

  • Guidelines for new Churches Together Groups

    Guidelines for new Churches Together Groups

    If you are looking for information about setting up a new Churches Together Group,

    Please click here to download the guidelines.

  • Shared Buildings Agreement

    Shared Buildings Agreement

    In situations where two or more congregations share the same building for worship and/or other activities, it is good practice to set out in writing, the relationships between the parties involved. The document below sets out some of the issues which may need to be addressed in such a situation and is followed by an actual example of a shared building agreement.

    To download the Resource Document "Shared Buildings" click here.

     

  • How is a Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP) formed?

    Details are given below outlining the various steps which are taken in the formation of a Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP).

    To view the document, please click here.

  • Definitions of a Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP)

    A Local Ecumenical Partnership is defined as existing where there is a formal written agreement affecting the ministry, congregational life, buildings and/or mission projects of more than one denomination: and a recognition of that agreement by the ACTS Ecumenical Development Group, and authorisation by the appropriate denominational authorities.

    To find out more about LEP's, download the definitions here.

  • Orientation for Incoming clergy

    Orientation for Incoming clergy

    This document provides an orientation process that seeks to enable clergy to gain this understanding. The process involves the support of a colleague from another denomination in the LEP, together with a person appointed by the local congregation, and reading essential documents.

    To download a copy please click here.

  • An Ecumenical Service of Baptism and Confirmation

    The Joint Liturgical Group of Great Britain have produced ther following resources: 

    A service of confirmation and baptism for use in Local Ecumenical Partnerships. Click here to download.

  • Liturgical resource: when a Local Ecumenical Partnership ceases

    The Joint Liturgical Group of Great Britain have produced ther following resource: 

    "An act of parting" - which can be used when a Local Ecumenical Partnership ceases to exist. Click here to download.

  • 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

     

 
 

Contact ACTS

Action of Churches Together in Scotland

Jubilee House

Forthside Way

Stirling

Scotland


FK8 1QZ

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