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.
ACTS Members' Meeting
The Member Churches meet at the Members' Meeting.
The purpose of this meeting is
- To be a meeting place for the Members so that they may engage with the charitable purposes of ACTS, namely to further the mission and realise the unity of the Church Universal.
- 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.
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 trustees if desired. The Convener and Vice Convenership of the Trustee body rotates around the appointing and electing members.
Networks
The heart of ACTS work is carried out by the four Networks on Church Life, Church and Society, Faith Studies and Mission.
The Networks draw their membership from the member churches and from the Associated Ecumenical Groups and Bodies in Association. The Networks are given staff support by two Network Officers.
The remits of the Networks are grouped around four principles for the journey as Churches Together:
- Worshipping together – Church Life
- Serving the Community Together – Church and Society
- Studying together - Faith Studies
- Proclaiming Together - Mission
Associated Ecumenical Groups
The Associated Ecumenical Groups (AEGs) are bodies of the Scottish Churches’ which each have a specialist subject area and remit. There are currently 14 in total and each has an Annual Working Agreement with ACTS as to the level of staff and financial support given by ACTS. Each AEG is linked to a particular Network or the General Secretariat.
British and 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).
In addition to the member churches of CTBI there are Networks, Agencies and Bodies in Association. Many of the Bodies in Association have distinctly Scottish elements to their organisations, or indeed are located primarily in Scotland and so are also involved in the life of ACTS in addition to CTBI. The Bodies in Association also have the opportunity of being represented on the appropriate Network.
Beyond Britain and Ireland
ACTS is also in membership of the Conference of European Churches and the World Council of Churches .
