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ACTS releases results of Ecumenical Audit

August 15, 2006

Download summary report (pdf, 140kb) | Download full report (pdf, 550kb)

The results of an ecumenical audit of three Scottish towns and cities has been released by ACTS.

In the midst of changing patterns and structures of church and the challenges this presents locally and nationally, ACTS commissioned researcher Mairi Munro to carry out an ecumenical audit.

Her brief was to discover and reflect upon the nature of ecumenical engagement in three distinct areas of Scotland and to identify current insights, opportunities and needs on the ecumenical journey.

Focusing on Paisley, Inverness and St Andrews, and working through the local Churches Together Groups, people in local churches were asked to engage in workshops, interviews and a postal questionnaire to describe and reflect upon their ecumenical experience.

This generated information on the nature of ecumenical activity, the challenges at local level, resources and support required from a national level.

Ms Munro says in the conclusion to her report: "Clearly the impetus to respond to this audit comes from the denominations in Scotland as well as the ecumenical bodies in which they are represented. As such, there are numerous needs and possibilities that can be discerned from this report, not all of which can be addressed by any one group."

Addendum, November 10, 2006

It has recently come to light that the name of St. James Roman Catholic Church, St Andrews, was omitted from the list of participating churches. Letters of regret and apology have been sent to ACTSA and to members of the Roman Catholic community who were distressed by this omission. In no way does the omission alter the findings of the audit.