Ecumenical & World Church
The Ecumenical and World Church committee of the National Synod of Scotland gathered for the first time at Carberry to discuss our relations with Churches in Hungary & Cuba as well as our ecumenical relations in Scotland.
The map shows Local Ecumenical Partnerships in Scotland. View Larger Map
A proposal concerning the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Methodist Church was presented to our Synod in September 2009. Our three Churches have formed a partnership which will enable us to work closely together in various ways like our commitment to Church & Society and our Education programme. The Partnership marks part of our contribution in 2010 to the wider church celebration of the centenary of the 1910 World Mission Conference. The 1910 event is seen as the origin of much of the modern ecumenical movement. To find out more abut Edinburgh 2010 and how to get involved click here.
Here is the text of the Partnership.
STATEMENT OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
THE SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH
NATIONAL SYNOD OF SCOTLAND
THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SCOTLAND
We, the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Synod of the Scotland District of the Methodist Church and the National Synod of Scotland of the United Reformed Church, in recognition of our developing relationships, instigate this statement of partnership. We solemnly declare that we will work for ever closer co-operation in serving Christ. We are glad of the partnerships that have already been established between us and commit ourselves to strengthening these relationships and building new ones. By regular meetings between our various officers, and encouragement to our congregations, we shall work to identify, explore and develop opportunities to share in mission and ministry by continuing to forge stronger ties between us. Specifically we shall explore together ways of:
Being Church and serving God together;
Increasing the confidence of our members to speak of God and faith in ways that make sense to others;
Cooperating in teaching and learning about Jesus Christ, and our mission together;
Cooperating on Church and Society issues, supporting community development and taking action together for justice, especially among the most deprived and poor in Scotland;
Sharing in the provision and deployment of both lay and ordained ministries of all the people of God;
Sharing our resources across Scotland to fulfil our shared Christian mission to spread the Gospel
We shall seek to widen our Ecumenical engagement within this Partnership and with other denominations, wherever possible, so that our working together may be as wide as possible and our diversity not hindered by ongoing dis-union and rivalry. Progress in this partnership will be formally reviewed on a 5 yearly basis from the date of signature.
In signing this statement we affirm our commitment to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and trust in God’s power for the implementation of this partnership.
Entries (RSS)
The Edinburgh 2010 World Mission conference is just 10 weeks away. To find out more, to sign up for an e-newsletter and to get involved please visit us at http://www.edinburgh2010.org
Witnessing to Christ today
Bungie
A short note to introduce myself as the new convener of the Ecumenical and World Church Relations Committee. The map on this page gives only part of the picture – the Local Ecumenical Partnerships. But we know that there are looser forms of ecumenism going on all over Scotland. So tell us what it looks like from your perspective –
Which churches do you relate to? What ecumenical collaboration is happening where you are?
Do you have a link with a church overseas? How does that work?
And what of other faiths?
We hope to be able to share experiences and ideas for developing this area of church life, which has been central to the United Reformed Church since its inception.
Looking forward to being inundated!
AS someone who is involved with a development project with SEC and Methodist church, I think that this formal agreement can only be to the benefit of all three partner denominations and gives a stronger presence and voice within Scotland. We are each light on resources but together we can continue to do all the things we currently do, but together, sharing the load.
[...] Ecumenical & World Church [...]
A trip to Cuba for the young people is underway. Eight young people ,Stuart Cutler and myself will be going on the 27th. Auust unitl 3rd. September. I hope that they will gain many experiences that can be shared with their churches and Synod. The Cuban churches that we visit have very large youth groups and Sunday Schools.
Hi John. “EMU” is going well
I’ll give an update at Synod.
I’ve now added the text of the proposed partnership on this page
How are things going with the Methodists and the Epicopalians?
There are two websites that provide material to help us prepare to celebrate the centenary of the 1910 World Mission Conference in 2010:
for the study process -
http://www.towards2010.org.uk
for the mission conference -
http://www.edinburgh2010.org