Members and friends recently said a fond farewell to Rev Deirdre Lyon as she prepared to leave Cumnock after 8½ very happy years. The Sunday School presented gifts following her final day with them. We had a social evening in the hall with a meal and entertainment provided by church members, Mrs Hannah Alexander presented Deirdre and Gordon with token gifts and a cheque on behalf of the congregation. At the close of her final service, two of our young people, Emma Stalker and Beth Alexander, presented her with an arrangement of flowers.
THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNITED FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
Although sad to see her go, we wish her every blessing in her new ministry in Bellshill.
Tributes
A big thank you from Malcolm and Gudrum McArthur
Gudrum and I want to thank all of you for your continued prayers and encouragements over the past year... And for the wonderful Christmas greetings that we have received from many of you in the past months. We want you to know that all your efforts have been greatly appreciated and a BIG BLESSING to us. Many of you know that we came to Botswana in March of 2013 in order to 'sort out and pick up' after some 42 years of serving here. It has been a mammoth task and although we have been able to downsize and deal with much paper and accumulated 'things' sadly the project is not yet completed. However, we are both exhausted and feel we do need a rest and are planning to return to the UK for a spell. Then – hopefully – we can return to Botswana for one final stint when we have recovered a little more strength and sanity! We have witnessed many miraculous happenings. There have also been some sad and hard times... the Lord is GOOD! A BIG THANK YOU to all of you who have been praying, encouraging and supporting us in so many ways.
You are ALL SPECIAL!
John M. Philp ✝ Elder Moncrieff UF Church, Alloa
Robert S. Strachan ✝ Session Clerk Carnoustie: Erskine
The passing of John Philp in his 81st year sees the end a career in Moncrieff that was marked by devoted service to the Lord. Born in Alva, he came to Moncrieff on his marriage in 1963 and was soon active on the Board of Management in particular. John was ordained as an Elder in 1970 and always took his duties very seriously, keenly seeking to maintain the important work of Session.
Robert Scott Strachan (better known as Bob) was born in Dundee in 1933.
He took on his major work within the congregation when he became Congregational Treasurer, a post he filled with distinction for some 26 years. Always meticulous in his stewardship of Moncrieff’s financial affairs, his expertise was admired and appreciated by all those who served alongside him. When the Session or Board were faced with problems to solve, John Philp could be relied on to ‘think outside the box’ and his counsel was always worthy of serious consideration.
Bob was a pillar of the Church in Carnoustie: Erskine. He became a member in May 1963 and was ordained to eldership in March 1964. For the last 27 years he was Session Clerk, a post he carried out with great efficiency. Bob was in the vestibule every Sunday ready to give a smile and a warm welcome to all.
John spent all his working life with the DCL and its successors, and having gained his BSc and later his PhD while with the Company, his expertise as a research chemist in the field of wood maturation led to many conference trips abroad, as well as to lecturing in Heriot-Watt University. He once appeared as a guest in the BBC programme ‘Tomorrow’s World’ in connection with the work upon which he was engaged. In his leisure time he enjoyed work in the greenhouse as well on the open road in a sports car. His national service in the RAF gave him a lifelong interest in aeroplanes and he was a regular attender at the Leuchars air displays. Although in indifferent health for a some months, John continued to fulfil, with his usual meticulous care, his role as Congregational Treasurer up until a very few weeks before his death. John was rarely absent from his place in Worship and we miss his gentle presence among us, but are eternally grateful for having known him. Our thoughts and prayers at this time are with all the members of his family.
He spent a number of years in the Royal Navy, and while stationed at Condor in Arbroath Bob met the love of his life, Nancy West. They were married in Knox’s Church, Arbroath on 29th March 1958 and in 1963 the family moved to Carnoustie.
What God wants you to know this Easter
APR/MAY 2014
Cumnock Say... Farewell
Letter Responses to the WCC Debate Page 17/18
Page 2–3
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: The Well Project General Assembly 2014 US Adventures
He faithfully attended the weekly Prayer and Bible Study Group and always had something to contribute to the discussion. He was also involved in the wider work of the Church, as a member of Presbytery for 48 years where for 17 years he served as Treasurer. He was Moderator of the Presbytery of Dundee from 1989–1991 and in that capacity was invited to dedicate the new extension to our building in December 1990. Almost three years ago Bob was predeceased by his wife Nancy to whom he had given a number of years of devoted care and attention after she developed Alzheimer’s Disease. Bob was diagnosed with cancer in August 2013 and although unable to attend church for several months, he maintained his interest in Church affairs and wanting to know all that was taking place. Bob loved his Lord, was always ready to serve Him and was ready to meet his Lord. He is survived by his daughter Mary, son Paul and his family. They, along with the members in Carnoustie, will miss him but may it comfort us to know that for Bob all pain and sickness is over and he is now with his Lord and Master and has received the accolade ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’
Editorial Policy All Editorial Correspondence should be addressed to: The Editor – United Free Church of Scotland, 11 Newton Place, Glasgow G3 7PR Telephone: 0141-332-3435 Email: Stedfast@ufcos.org.uk
N.B. The views expressed in the features, news reports, letters and book reviews are not necessarily those of the editor. Editorial comment and signed articles do not necessarily contain the official views of the Church, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly.
Advertising and orders for Stedfast should be sent to: Rev John Fulton BSc., BD, The Secretary, United Free Church of Scotland, 11 Newton Place, Glasgow G3 7PR Telephone: 0141-332-3435 Published by the United Free Church of Scotland. Scottish Charity SC008167
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Contents 2–3
What God wants you to know this Easter
3
Dunblane Event 2014
4–6
The Well Project
7/8
The Lunans in Chad
8
General Assembly 2014
9/10
The Scottish Referendum
11/12
US Adventures
12
Being Equipped for Service through OMF
13
Prayer Union: Delight in the Lord
14
Christian Aid Week
15
Northfield Choir’s “Great Day”
15
Nida Buchan
16
S1–4 Camp
17/18
Responses to Rev Ian Boa’s comments re: Nathan Owen’s Report
19
Cumnock Say... Farewell
19
A Big Thank You
19
Tributes
What God wants you to know this Easter By Rev Willie Black
7/8
4–6
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Editorial 2014 will be an eventful year for Scotland with the coming together for Homecoming 2014, the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup. There will also be growing interest in the outcome of the Independence Referendum which will have a national and international impact. Discussions about unity and freedom are very much part of our Church heritage as we have sought over the years to remain faithful, in every aspect of our lives, to God's Word and the Lordship of Christ. This desire underpins the articles in this edition seeking to deepen our understanding – that more assuredly our 'yes would be yes' and our 'no would be no'. There will also be an opportunity on Saturday 30th August at the 'Dunblane Event 2014' to further reflect on ‘Your Kingdom Come!' and what it means to be God’s people in Scotland. The Stedfast Committee, while grateful for the WCC Report letters, have decided for the time being to close this discussion as it is felt that letters appearing around the time of the Assembly could confuse matters. However as well as 'talking the talk' much of the magazine is about 'walking the walk' – which draws us closer, after all, to the heart of Easter.
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Alastair Wright Stedfast Secretary
9/10
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We invited Rev Willie Black to give us an Easter reflection. Willie is a retired Church of Scotland Minister who is busier than ever! He is currently Locum Minister and Interim Moderator at Cathcart Trinity Church in Glasgow where he is also involved with Cathcart UF. During Holy Week he will be the guest preacher at joint services in Milngavie. One of my favourite Easter stories is that of the two disciples who were walking home from Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus after the death of Jesus. Through this story we get a glimpse into the heart of God and what He wants us to know this Easter. So what does God want us to know?
“I’LL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU”
“I’M JUST WAITING TO BE INVITED”
The two disciples are downcast and disappointed. They are bewildered by what has just happened in Jerusalem. They had such high hopes for Jesus – as far as they were concerned “he was a prophet powerful in word” and now he was dead.
The two men had such a great time listening to Jesus. Later they testify as to how their hearts burned within them as they listened to him. But when they got to their house we are told that Jesus made to go on. He waited to be invited in. We see the same thing when in the midst of the storm on the Sea of Galilee Jesus approaches the boat the disciples are in and makes to pass by. Jesus waits to be invited. You can be quite sure that Jesus is never going to force himself into our lives. But he will come as close as possible and then just wait to be invited. We see the same thought in Rev 3:20 “Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me”. Again and again we need to invite Jesus to come into our lives – into our situations and to seek his help and presence. Don’t keep Jesus waiting outside whichever problems you may be facing at the moment in your life – invite him in and just see what he can do. It can make all the difference if you know that Jesus is right there with you.
They still had no real understanding of the significance of Jesus’ death on the cross. They did not yet understand that the death of Jesus had won forgiveness for all their sin and was the means of bringing them into the presence of a holy God and would assure them of eternal life. None of that had dawned on their consciousness. More than that there was the strange story that morning that his body seemed to have disappeared. And so it was that while they chatted to each other Jesus came alongside them. They did not recognize him – well, they didn’t believe he would rise from the dead and so it couldn’t be expected that they would. Unbelief always blinds. And anyway, the Bible tells us that “they were prevented from seeing who he was”. God had a purpose for them. He didn’t want them to see who Jesus was just yet. Jesus is clearly disappointed by their unbelief. He always will be when he finds that in our hearts. He reminds them of what had been promised in the Bible of him and in fact he takes them on an amazing walk through the Old Testament showing them all the passages which talked of Jesus. How great it would have been to have been there! But don’t miss the big point here – whenever you are downcast, disappointed or bewildered, Jesus will be there for you. Even if you don’t sense his presence you must believe that he is there because he promised never to leave us or forsake us. We just need to open the eyes of faith to see him.
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What God wants you to know this Easter (CONT.) “I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW ME, AND I YOU”
The Well is a friendly, effective drop-in advice & support service for the multi-cultural communities of SE Glasgow. Govanhill is the most diverse area in Scotland with over 50 languages spoken here!
2 You can know Jesus in the Scriptures. We have already seen that their hearts burned within them while Jesus took them on a walk through the Bible. No doubt on the way back to Jerusalem they went over and over in their minds what Jesus had said. And doubtless they got to know Jesus even better as they shared their memories of what he had said. If you want to know Jesus more get down to reading your Bible every day and share with your friends what you discover. Sharing with each other is so important and so finally... 3 You can get to know Jesus in the testimony of others. When they got back to Jerusalem no doubt bursting to tell the others what they had just experienced they had to wait their turn while the other disciples told their stories. As they shared together so they discovered that their faith in the risen Jesus was confirmed. He had indeed come back to life. He wanted them to know this. But more then that he wanted to know them and them to know him. Jesus just wants to have a relationship with us. And so it is – this Easter the living Jesus wants to know you afresh and you to know him.
So what does God want you to know this Easter? Putting it simply… JESUS
Dunblane Event 2014 What has become known as ‘The Dunblane Event’ will take place on Saturday 30th August in Dunblane High School. At the moment the working title for the event is ‘Your Kingdom Come!’ These events are an excellent opportunity for us to meet together to worship, learn, be challenged and encouraged and enjoy time together as we reflect on what it means to be God’s people in Scotland. Further information will be included in the next issue with leaflets and booking forms available in June. 3
By Rhoda Gilfillan
We invited Rhoda Gilfillan, who is the Coordinator at The Well to tell us about the valuable work being done in the Govanhill area of Glasgow.
It is at this point we come to understand why until now God had kept them from realizing who Jesus was. For it was through what happened next that there was to be a lesson of significance for the church in every age. We need to discover how we can come to know Jesus for ourselves. As the story unfolds three answers are given to us. 1 You can know Jesus in the breaking of bread. It was as they sat down for a simple meal together that Jesus took the bread and broke it and so it was in the breaking of the bread that they realized who Jesus was. Their eyes were opened. Every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and see the bread broken, by faith we need to see Jesus and know him again. The broken bread reminds us of the badly beaten body of Jesus nailed to a cross as he takes our sin upon himself and bears our punishment in our place. It is at the foot of the cross that more than anywhere else we find that God loves us. Whenever you have the chance to keep the Lord’s Supper you will get to know Jesus more.
The Well Project
IS ALIVE AND WELL!
The Well is a place where no one is a stranger twice – it’s a place where friendships are made and relationships are built. Coming into The Well is like coming into someone’s home. We recognise that when someone doesn’t speak, or perhaps doesn’t read & write English, ordinary tasks can appear insurmountable. Imagine receiving important mail, and not being able to read it – what do you do? For many of our service users even junk mail has caused sleepless nights. Others can read English, but find speaking on the phone to be very daunting. That’s where The Well comes in! Volunteers will phone the appropriate agency on behalf of the service user – and once permission is obtained, will sort out the problem. It may be they are behind with their council tax, and need to sort out a payment plan, or they have started working and want to claim Tax Credits. Perhaps a utility company has promised a service, but this has not yet been provided, or maybe they need to appeal a decision on their benefits. Often our volunteers will say that they hate doing admin for themselves, but are happy to do it for someone else! We are helping an increasing number of people do job searches on line, as is now a part of their contract to be able to claim Job Seekers Allowance. For people who don’t have any English this is a massive challenge! Several have no computer skills at all, and combined with their lack of English this means they are regularly ‘sanctioned’ their income, as apparently they are not doing enough for work. (‘Sanctioned’ is the way in which payments can be stopped for a period because a person has, perhaps inadvertently, fallen foul of one of the regulations of the benefits system.)
The Well receives referrals from Job Centre Plus, Social Work, Health Visitors, Teachers, other third sector organisations and individuals. The Well works in partnership with other agencies, including: Positive Action in Housing and Govanhill Law Centre, both of whom have weekly surgeries in The Well. We work closely with Strathclyde Police, and are a referral centre for Glasgow SE Foodbank. We also offer training to other agencies on cross-cultural issues. The Well’s roots go back to 1963, when The Church of Scotland recognised “this Mission in Reverse,” and brought a minister from Pakistan to work among the newly established communities in SE Glasgow. Emmanuel Johnston said up a bookshop on Allison St, where people could buy Christian literature. When it became obvious that the bookshop was no longer fulfilling its purpose, it was sold and the Church of Scotland commissioned the community worker to carry out a needs’ survey. The response was clear and obvious, when people were asked what they wanted and how the Christian church could serve them, again and again they replied that they needed somewhere to get information and advice. And so ‘The Well, Asian Information and Advice Centre’ began in March 1994. The name “The Well” was chosen, as in John 4 Jesus had an encounter with a woman at a well. He was a Jew and she a Samaritan. Cultures and other boundaries were crossed and the woman went away with living water.
People will come to discuss very personal circumstances, sometimes they do not know where to turn to, and they find a listening ear in The Well. We have helped and supported women who have had to leave abusive relationships – what a thrill it has been to see their confidence grow as they eventually become independent. We have supported men who have suffered at the hands of extended families. We offer first level support in a range of issues from Benefits to Personal Problems, from Utilities to form filling. We run a women’s only craft group and in association with Govanhill Free Church we also run separate men and women’s English classes and “Bubbles” – a female and child toddler group.
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The Well Project (CONT.) Between 1994 and 2011 The Well, helped thousands of people. Why? Why would people choose to come to a Christian based project, instead of going for help in their own community? Quite simply because The Well is not a part of their community! They like the fact that the volunteers and staff were not from their community, and so there was never any danger of a conflict of interests.
All the staff and volunteers of The Well are followers of Jesus and active members of their local churches. Our vision comes from the fact that “We believe God’s great plan is to bless all peoples of the earth through Jesus the Messiah. He calls His people into partnership with Himself in His purpose. In response, The Well seeks to be a blessing to our neighbours from all over the world.”
In May 2011 The Well became an independent charity.
Because of our faith in Jesus Christ we want to treat others as we would like to be treated. We aim to show Christ’s show Christ’s love by providing a place of welcome, hospitality and friendship – where people know their issues can be dealt with in confidence.
The Well decided to change its name to reflect the changes in the community that it serves, and so on the 10th May 2011 The Well, Multi-Cultural Advice Centre was officially born. This has been an exciting venture, but it does mean we are now totally responsible to raise our own finance, which as you can imagine, is an ongoing challenge.
Personal Perspectives
If you’re interested receiving regular prayer updates, or volunteering, or being a part of the work of The Well then please get in touch.
Due to the increase in demand we now need to find new premises, and we have given notice of our current place to leave in May 2014. At the time of writing we have no idea where we are going, and would appreciate your prayers for that!
e: info@ thewell.org.uk • t: 0141 424 4523
www.thewell.org.uk Thanks!
from Volunteers at The Well Project
Mary Atkinson Candlish Wynd
If you proposed to visit the Well for the purpose of examining the records you would be taken aback to discover no Mc; no Mac and no Smith. That cannot be true! There must be an error in the records. Ask one of the volunteers and he or she will point to specific drawers in the filing cabinets, there you will find the equivalent of the most popular names in Slovak, Pakistani and Indian. One of our greatest difficulties is communication. If you visited the Well and had time to sit and observe what was happening, you would find some of the situations very amusing as volunteer and client try to communicate. Unfortunately when you are the volunteer and you are almost turning cartwheels so intent are you to understand the client and to be understood you fail to see the humour in the situation. Whilst most of our clients come from the G42 area of Glasgow, there are clients who travel from Baillieston, Drumchapel, Dennistoun and Pollok, in other words clients come from all areas of the city. Others come from Paisley; from Lanarkshire; there is even one client whose postcode is PH. Several weeks ago an atlas was required: where exactly is Azerbaijan? That was a first. From Azerbaijan in the northern hemisphere to Zimbabwe in the southern, and all countries in between – particularly Asia and Eastern Europe – clients somehow or other make their way to Albert Road in the south side of Glasgow.
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If you live in the Glasgow area, would you consider volunteering? We desperately need more volunteers, both for our regular advice work, but even more urgently for our Bubbles mother and toddler group, which meets on a Wednesday afternoon.
There are a few occasions when volunteer and client fail to understand one another but those occasions are rare. By the second week in February some of our clients were making their 15th and 16th visits to the Well in 2014. We must be doing something right.
Mary Macintyre Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) For a few years now I have had the privilege of helping at the ‘Well” Ladies English Classes held at the Govanhill Free Church one morning a week. Around thirty ladies, of different ages but mainly young gather, some with their babies and/or toddlers, to learn English. These ladies come from many nations – Asia, Africa, China, different Eastern Europe countries and others. There are those who have just arrived in Scotland and those who have been here for years but may not have had the opportunity to learn the language. Some may speak more than one language and a few have had no education in their mother country. A mix of cultures, needs, abilities and motivation give the teachers a challenging job! Some learn quickly and want homework etc. and some are perhaps coming for more social support reasons. It is good to witness the coming together of different cultures where the ladies learn to communicate with each other. Slow to begin with but as they get to know each other they begin to talk more readily. Our overall aim is to equip these ladies with enough English language to function in everyday life in their community. (The more able ladies aspire to much more!) Whether this be to introduce themselves, fill out a form, do their shopping, make appointments, visit the doctor, dentist and explain their complaint or their child’s complaint, manage transport - bus, train, plane (timetables etc.), understand directions and give them etc, etc. At times we include some Scottish culture! We mainly start each session all together with a simple activity such as introducing ourselves – who we are and
where we come from or what food we like or what we have done in the last week etc. – sometimes in the form of an enjoyable game! This is to get to know each other and allow each lady to participate. They then divide up into three classes according to their level of English. The lesson includes new vocabulary and some grammar using appropriate teaching methods. We allow time for listening, reading and writing if possible. Recapping and reinforcing vocabulary becomes important as classes are only once a week and it is so easy to forget from one week to the next! Also, mothers with young children are often distracted by their child. There is someone with the children but each mother has responsibility for their own child and that can hinder their concentration. We have a break for tea /coffee which gives the ladies a chance to chat with each other. At the end of each term we have a social event when the ladies bring their own type of food. This is popular with the ladies and with us!! Some ladies come consistently over a number of years and make good progress, some get a place in a College with classes each day while others move on or stop coming for some reason! On the whole, they appreciate the help they are given and appear to enjoy coming to the classes and the neighbourly support it gives them. As a Christian group we try to show Christian love as we build relationships with the learners and in our attitudes and friendship show Christ’s love. We may take opportunity, as appropriate, to share our faith. At Christmas and Easter we take opportunity to tell the ‘Good News’ story in one way or another while giving the lesson for the day. Overall I find the work interesting and rewarding as I get to know these ladies and something about their culture and background.
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The Lunans in Chad General Assembly 2014 The General Assembly is an opportunity for ministers and elders from all our congregations to meet together to review what has been happening over the past year and to consider our future direction as a Church. All sessions of the Assembly are normally open to the public. In 2014 we will meet in the Salutation Hotel, 34 South Street, Perth from Wednesday 4th – Friday 6th June. Prior to the General Assembly, the Annual Meeting of the Women’s Home and Overseas Committee will be held in the hotel on Wednesday 4th June at 11am and 2.15pm. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future...” Jer.29:14 In 1992 a missionary from the Africa Inland Mission (AIM) visited a Sunday School in Stornoway, and told the children about her work for God in a far away country. That day, a love for God, and for the African nation and its peoples was kindled in the heart of one little girl. Twenty one years on, in August 2013, Angela, her husband Alasdair, and little son Peter, set off for Chad in Africa to serve as missionaries with AIM. Our Sunday School in Sauchie had been learning about missionaries from David Livingstone’s time, and the children were delighted to meet “real live” missionaries of the present day when Alasdair, Angela and Peter visited them before they went away.
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Wellspring Academy in N’Djamena, Chad is a school founded by AIM for the children of missionaries and charity workers of many nationalities, American, Korean, Australian, Brazilian, Canadian, Swiss-German, and British. Alasdair teaches the normal subjects, as well as PE and sport. Angela leads school assemblies, and teaches home economics, and is involved in the discipleship of the older pupils. The school is in a walled compound, as is their accommodation, and is under guard 24/7. The guards are local men who are Christians, and dedicated to the furtherance of God’s kingdom. Peter likes to sit with them and learn French. Chad is a French speaking
country, and they both have had to brush up on their school French! “We arrived in Chad in the dark and were immediately greeted by the local bugs – cockroaches the size of a small child’s foot. Thankfully, we haven’t seen them that size since, although their smaller cousins visit briefly from time to time”. They are learning to cope without many things we take for granted. Water has to be boiled for everything, whereas we just turn on the hot tap. Washing is all done in a big tub. No washing machine there! Although they have a shower it’s cold water. Brrr! The flushing toilet is greatly appreciated! They have electricity from 5pm till 7am, so keeping food fresh is a problem. I’ve been told there’s not much meat on the chickens anyway! During the rainy season in September / October, they were saddened to see people’s homes, many just made of sand and mud blocks, washed away, and hearing of some small children falling and drowning in streets awash with open sewers and flood water. Chad is a very poor country, and many women are forced into an unsavoury lifestyle. AIM supports these vulnerable women, and Angela enjoys facilitating playtime with their children. At Christmas time they had a Christmas party in a house, just like we do here for our children, and each child was delighted to receive the gift of a Bible. Alasdair, Angela, and Peter enjoy worshipping at Eglise Douze (Church 12), and on alternate Sundays at the
International Christian Fellowship in N’Djamena. Eglise Douze has approximately 1300 attending each week. Earlier in the year (2013), around 300 people were baptised in Chari River. The following is another quote from a recent newsletter from Alasdair and Angela. “Dancing with the Ducks. Geographically, N’Djamena is not a huge city but getting out and about can be a challenge! Just going beyond the gates of our compound is literally entering an unknown world of dust, holey roads, sewers, noise and heat. Bikes, motorbikes, pedestrians, dogs, ducks, lorries and cars come at you from all directions! When you get behind the wheel of a car you must be prepared to anticipate everyone’s else’s move and be quick to get into motion – even when your vehicle doesn’t guarantee you rev power when you need it most! In the early days of us being here it didn’t help that every street looked the same and the car we rent from AIM didn’t have all the correct paperwork or functioning controls (the gearstick often popped out and the suspension is long-gone). So, as you weave in and out to avoid collisions, potholes, pedestrians and whatever else happens to cross your path – often a family of ducks – you really do feel like you are dancing as you travel along the road. Once finding the confidence (and correct bits of paper) to drive we really enjoy getting out and about. However the journey – rather than the destination – is usually the adventure!”
Alasdair and Angela live in Dunblane and are members of Dunblane Free Church, where they have tremendous support, spiritually and practically. Angela is the daughter of Chrissie MacLeod, one of the members of Sauchie and Fishcross UF Church, and our congregation support them in many different ways, from sending vanish soap and mashed potato to toy cars for Peter! Last July we held a very successful coffee morning and were blessed with visitors from all over the county. We were so encouraged with the response that we held another one for them in February of this year, which was equally successful. Just a few weeks into their service in Chad, Alasdair and Angela were made very aware of God’s protection of them. They thought of going to the corner shop along the road, but decided at the last minute to have their lunch first. Just as they finished lunch, they heard several explosions and saw their guard jump and run. On going to investigate they saw the corner shop up in smoke, and an electrical cable sparking cans of petrol which were for sale. The guard saved two children from a dwelling behind the shop. The Lord indeed had them in His care. Angela is unable to run or crouch down as the result of a serious car accident a number of years ago, The congregation of Sauchie and Fishcross UF Church continue to seek God’s blessing and protection on Alasdair, Angela, and Peter, and for all His missionaries all over His world. They would also seek the prayers of the denomination at large.
The General Assembly will open at 7pm when the new Moderator, Rev Gary Barclay will be appointed, followed by a Communion Service when Rev Graham Brown, retiring Moderator, will preach. During the closing service on Friday 6th at 7pm, Mr. Barclay will give his address and we also hope to have the presentation of the money raise through the Easter Scheme and to hear something about the work of Mission Aviation Fellowship. On Thursday and Friday the various Assembly committees will make presentations and we will welcome visitors from other Churches and from various Christian agencies. On the Thursday evening (6pm) the Christian Education & Evangelism Committee is arranging a programme to help us reflect on how we go about engaging with the people in our local communities. The following programme is provisional and may change nearer the time:
THURSDAY 5th 09.45am Reception of Delegates from other Churches
Report by Committee on Women’s Home and Overseas
Presentation by Youth Committee
Presentation by Ministry Committee
Presentation by Overseas Committee
The Annual meeting of the Friends of the Students Association will meet at the close of the afternoon session.
FRIDAY 6th 09.45am Representative of Scottish Bible Society
Presentation by Church & Society Committee
Presentation by Administration & Finance Committee
Presentation by Christian Education & Evangelism Committee
Presentation by Ecumenical Relations Committee
Breaks on both days will be: Lunch 12.30pm–1.45pm / Tea 4.30pm–7.00pm
Please remember the General Assembly in your prayers.
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Should Scotland be an independent country? On 18 September, voters will take to the polls to decide on whether Scotland should be an independent country. Here, we asked two Christian MSPs with different opinions on the independence debate to air their views... This article first appeared in IDEA, the Magazine of the Evangelical Alliance, and is reprinted with permission.
NO:
YES:
‘WE’RE BETTER TOGETHER’ Murdo Fraser has been Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife since 2001, prior to which he worked as a solicitor in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. He is Convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy Energy and Tourism Committee and speaks for the Scottish Conservatives on Economics and Energy issues. Murdo is a patron of the Conservative Christian Fellowship. Next September voters in Scotland will be faced with the most significant political decision they will probably ever be asked to make. There are good Christian people in all political parties and on both sides of this argument. I do not believe that there is any single specific Christian view on independence, but I hope Christians will be fully engaged in this vital debate about the future of their country. The partnership of the four nations comprising the United Kingdom not only has a great history but is something well worth preserving into the future. We have done many great things together, be that the abolition of the slave trade, the creation of the NHS, or the defeat of the Nazis in the Second World War. Now is not the time for us to go our separate ways.
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Scotland benefits from being part of the UK in at least three specific ways. First, our influence on the world, be that in the EU, the Commonwealth, the UN or NATO, is far greater as part of the larger unit that is the UK.
We can all think of great Scots who have contributed to the world through our place in the UK. Second within the UK we share risk and reward with our neighbours in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We enjoy a higher degree of social protection than would be the case if we were a small country with just five million people. That goes for pensions and benefits as much as for security and safety. Third, we are economically stronger as part of a bigger unit. Scottish businesses export to the rest of the UK four times as much as they do to the whole of the rest of the world combined. That vital single market that Scottish businesses require needs to be preserved and is at risk if we go down the route of voting to become a separate country. The recent banking crisis showed the value of the safety and security of the broader UK economy, at a time when smaller countries were being buffeted by world economic conditions.
Theologian Professor Donald MacLeod, wrote recently: “The burden of proof lies on the apostles of negativity who consistently disparage the last 300 years of Scottish history as if the Union had prevented all progress and sapped us of all selfrespect. Listening to them, you would never believe that during these years we have successfully negotiated the industrial revolution, produced such world-class writers as Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott, nurtured leading scientists like Alexander Fleming, John Logie Baird and James Clerk Maxwell and reared outstanding athletes such as Kenny Dalglish and Sir Chris Hoy.” I agree with Professor MacLeod. We bring out the best of Scotland by working together with our partners in the rest of the UK. Now is not the time to abandon the shared endeavour that is the UK. That is why I, and many of my fellow Christians, will be voting “No” on 18 September.
‘WE NEED TO STAND ON OUR OWN TWO FEET’ John Mason is the MSP for Shettleston. A trained accountant, he was first elected as the first SNP MP for Glasgow East in July 2008. At Westminster, he was the SNP’s spokesperson on work and pensions. So how is God voting in September 2014? Is He supporting or opposing Scottish independence? Well I do not think God is taking sides on this! And just as there are committed Christians in all the main political parties, so there are committed Christians on both sides of the referendum question. My own thinking about Scotland changed in the early 80s while I was working as an accountant with Interserve in Nepal. It is also a small country with large neighbours (India and China) but the Nepalis are keen to maintain their independence. While there and during my previous time with Operation Mobilisation I worked with New Zealanders, Danes, and Canadians, none of whom wanted to be confused with or annexed by their larger neighbours. Living outside one’s country can give a different perspective and I returned home convinced Scotland could and should stand on her own two feet. When I left home in my early 20s it was not for economic reasons. I would probably have been able to live more cheaply with my parents. But I was
keen to set up my own home and run my own life. In fact my relationship with my parents improved after I moved out - we seemed to get on better after that! In the same way it has been said England would lose a surly lodger and gain a good neighbour if Scotland was independent. In previous years Canada, Australia, Ireland and others have left the British Empire and we continue to have good relationships with all of these. How might Scotland be different if we left the UK? You may have noticed that there is currently only one Conservative MP in Scotland and most voters seem to want a left of centre agenda choosing either Labour or SNP. The money Scotland currently pays to subsidise the rest of the UK could be better used. We could tackle the rich-poor gap (as small Nordic countries have done) rather than spending on nuclear weapons, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or aircraft carriers. My own constituency of Shettleston in the East End of Glasgow has low life expectancy and high levels of poverty. If this is the result of 300 years
of Union, then that Union has failed and I want something better. But does the Bible have nothing to say on all this? I would maintain there is no one Christian line to take on Scottish independence. However, there is a principle from the time of the Tower of Babel that God split the peoples up as too much centralisation was a potentially a dangerous thing. So it could be argued that we should be wary of larger national units and supportive of smaller ones. Anyway I and many Christians in Scotland are looking forward to voting ‘Yes’ on 18 September 2014. Others will be voting No. Ultimately our unity in Christ is what matters more than which nation we live in.
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US Adventures
By Famie Crawford
e main entranc The Castle – m ms, dining roo roo g tin ee (m ground floor) and kitchen on
s) o window or (last tw bottom flo d has the e an th e of id d lls e en the hi ent is at th built into Our apar tm tly named as it is ap of Hillside, in the basement. c. furnace, et
(eas The Castle
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one who did all the work! It was a very difficult assignment in a very difficult country and not long after we left nine of our colleagues were kidnapped. Three were killed, two were found some time later and returned home but four are still missing.
Famie was born and brought up in Glasgow but didn’t join the UF until she moved to Aberdeen and became part of the Torry congregation.
We returned to Scotland after this assignment and returned to the things we had been involved in. Sandy worked as a self-employed builder and was able to take services in various churches throughout the country. Famie joined the Overseas Committee and took on the role of joint ‘Mission Secretary’ along with Moira Currie. She also got involved in Hannah’s school on the Parent Council and started teaching a weekly Bible Club in her school. Last summer she led the WEC Trek team to Indonesia and worked alongside Stewart & Jean Moulds doing three weeks of Bible day camps.
Have you served with WEC before?
What will you be doing in the United States?
Sandy was born and brought up in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. He stayed there until he was 21 and then went to study at Cornerstone Missionary Training College in The Netherlands. After three years study and four months on staff he went to WEC’s UK Headquarters (Bulstrode) for Candidates’ Orientation Course, where he met Famie.
After we were married we moved to Tasmania, Australia for a year. Famie studied at Worldview College, also a MTC, and Sandy worked on the staff. Then we moved to Gerrards Cross (England) to take on the role of Deputy Managers of the WEC Centre at Bulstrode. During our time there we organised and led practical teams to help both at Bulstrode and overseas. From there we went to serve in Outer Mongolia! We worked with a nonprofit organisation specialising in aid, development and relief in the capital city. However we left suddenly as Famie became very ill and had to return home for medical treatment. The following year Hannah was born and so we stayed put and helped out in Scotland, joined several committees and took part in short overseas projects. When Hannah was two we were asked to go to a country in the Middle East to cover for a couple’s furlough so we took on the job of Business Managers for a hospital which was four hours north of the capital we worked in. Sandy had the title and got to meet officials in their offices with the paperwork we needed processed but Famie was the
We have been asked to help out at the WEC USA Sending Base in Fort Washington on the outskirts of Philadelphia. The place is a lot like Bulstrode; communal living and dining arrangement as well as offices of the various departments that make up the Sending Base. Sandy is part of the maintenance team and will be responsible for some of the bigger projects like pointing the castle, fixing water damage and reroofing the building. He will also offer advice on how to preserve the buildings for future generations. Famie is part of the Finance Office team. Her main duty will be to process all the incoming monies to the various US missionaries, projects and fields. (As well as looking after the other two!) Of course we did not leave Hannah at home (though she did want to stay). She had to get her own visa and is here as an international student! She is attending Open Door Christian Academy, a local private Christian school. She is in Grade 5, which is the last grade in Middle School, and gets quite a lot of homework – which she does not enjoy as it cuts down on her socialising time!
Being Equipped for
Service through OMF
Workshops (far left) wh ere Sandy sh houses the ares an of fic Candidates ’ Departmen e, the of fice Trek Departm t, Sending bloc k (nex t) ent and Fin Base leader that ance Of fice, and the Med s, Receptio the water to ia building n, Mail Room wer (centre which send , ), ac comm s out all US odation (nex public ations t) .
Recently Sandy and Famie Crawford and their daughter Hannah, members of Darnley UF went to the United States to be involved in the work of WEC International until December 2014. We asked them to tell us a little about themselves and work they will be involved with in America.
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t view) – mos
By Martin Paterson Her class are the main actors in the spring show so she will be very busy rehearsing over the next couple of months for that. Since we arrived the weather has caused quite a few challenges; snow days with no school, an ice storm which brought down tree branches and power lines which led to a loss of a third of our power, knocked out the furnace that heated the accommodation block we live in and the generator which is used to pump our water from the 600ft deep well to the whole complex. There have been other challenges too, the day before we left we received an email to inform us that Hannah would not be able to ride the school bus to school as she is not an American citizen! Sandy took our paperwork to the Commonwealth Offices to lodge our appeal and to prove our residency – he even offered to pay to get her on the bus but the officials would not concede or change their minds. This has proved not only inconvenient but means we will have to get a car in order to get her to and from school each day. Getting a car also means that Sandy will have to start late each day and stop in the middle of the afternoon to go and pick her up. So far folks here have been very good at taking her but we need to see a permanent solution soon. We have been working on getting visas since last summer (the process being long and arduous with many papers to fill in for both the visa and the school) but we left quite quickly and before we really had a chance to inform folks of our intention to go. The leadership here, even though they had invited us, were not sure we would get our visas as so many others have been refused in the past and the restrictions are becoming more for various reasons mostly to do with security. But we are thankful to have made it and really appreciate the prayers of the folks within the denomination. Please keep in touch with us either by email or by post, the addresses are: famiecrawford@gmail.com or PO Box 1707, Fort Washington, PA 19034-8707, USA.
Martin Paterson, a member of Uddingston: Park, will complete his studies for the Ministry in June. However, before he takes up a charge, he and his wife Jennifer plan to spend 6 months serving with OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) in South East Asia and we asked him to tell us about their plans. Martin Paterson, a member of Uddingston: Park, will complete his studies for the Ministry in June. However, before he takes up a charge, he and his wife Jennifer plan to spend 6 months serving with OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) in South East Asia and we asked him to tell us about their plans. We both believe that this is an excellent opportunity not just to serve, or to help but to be taught more of the vastness of God’s mission to the nations. This will be undertaken with OMF who have been busy behind the scenes tailoring a placement for us to Malaysia and Thailand. Due to visas it makes better sense to work in two countries. Not only that, it gives us a broader experience of a variety of differing cultures. Firstly in Malaysia we will be working with the Sabah Theological Seminary helping to teach English while getting alongside the various students and I will also have the opportunity to be involved in teaching some of the theological education. Following this we are then moving on to spend time in both central and northern Thailand. At present the exact details of what we will be doing there are still to be clarified. The reason for doing this? To further equip us for the life of service and ministry which God has set us apart for in Scotland. We both believe that there is much to learn from God’s people across His world which could greatly help the Church in our own nation. Please pray for this exciting opportunity to know more of Christ and to make more of Him known. If you would like to support Martin and Jennifer’s overseas placement through prayer and resources then please contact Church Office for further information.
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War tears lives apart. Love can help piece them back together.
Prayer Union: Delight in the Lord
‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer… in whom I take refuge.’ 2 Samuel 22:2–3
have been through so much in their short lives, having lost parents or relatives, and CIJP helps to keep an eye on the psychological wellbeing of Edile and his friends. Similarly, the community of Zanan Bchuk in northern Iraq had to flee their homes due to conflict under Saddam Hussein’s regime and they are now being supported by Christian Aid partner Rehabilitation, Education and Community Health (REACH) to restore their village and work together to ensure that everyone has enough food to eat and clean water to drink. The energy and optimism of the village is embodied by 15 year old Rojan Wahid as she is very involved in looking after the vegetable gardens and the chickens. The village was supported to construct a reservoir to harvest rainwater and not only does this supply the village with fresh water, but it also enables them to breed fish to eat and sell. Last year, a magnificent 20,000 churches across the country helped raise over £12m for Christian Aid Week. This Christian Aid Week (11–17 May 2014) we want to go even further. We want every church in Britain and Ireland to get involved – whether by giving, acting or praying.
By Wemyss Billows and Isabel Baird
Photo Credit: Christian Aid/Matt Gonzalez-Noda Caption: Edile, a 9 year old boy living in the humanitarian zone in Colombia where he now feels safe
In 2009 a letter was sent round all Prayer Union secretaries seeking prayer support for our printer, Hugh Clarkson. Through no fault of his own Hugh’s firm had to go into liquidation. The firm is now known as ARC PRINTING LTD and his son, Andrew, has joined him in the business. Hugh telephoned Wemyss (Billows) to let the committee know that he was in business again within three weeks and he said “I wonder why?” Wemyss replied, “The power of prayer has helped. The whole denomination has been praying for you and your business.” We are so very pleased to report that Hugh is now back in the premises where his father first set up business in the 1930s. Hugh is delighted to be back in the original premises where he first started with his father. We observed that over the last five years the cost of printing our Booklet had not risen. We wrote to Hugh expressing our thanks but assuring him that the price must have risen by now. He has given us permission to print his reply and to prepare an article for STEDFAST. His letter reads as follows:
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“Many thanks for your kind letter. I can honestly say that I have no intention of putting the price of the Prayer Union Booklet up in the foreseeable future. The reason for this is very
simple. When Hugh K. Clarkson and Sons was put into liquidation by the Bank of Scotland, and I started up ARC Printing, a select few customers decided to stick with me as a business and were very loyal in doing so. It was always my intention to pay these organisations and individuals back by holding my prices as low as possible for as long as possible.
“I really do appreciate your concerns for me as an individual and as a company and please rest assured that you will have my loyalty for as long as the United Free Church of Scotland wishes.”
In July 1997 the Business and Administration Committee invited Mrs Wemyss Billows to take over responsibility for the Prayer Union. Wemyss was convener, of course, and invited Drew Rankin, Ralph Boettcher and Isabel Baird to form a committee. The first Booklet was ‘printed and published’ by Church Office in 1998. Cameron Purdie joined us in 1999 till 2002 when he had to leave us. In 2001 Ralph Boettcher, for health reasons, had to resign from the committee. Mrs Jane Owens was welcomed to the committee in 2001 and Mr Ian Shering in 2009. Over all these years we have worked well together. Booklet 2000 was the first booklet printed by Hugh K. Clarkson & Sons. Hugh has been the rock upon which we have depended ever since. Through all the ups and downs Hugh has managed to get the Booklet printed in time (often at very short notice) and delivered to Church Office for distribution. He has been exceedingly helpful over all these years and we are very grateful for his input and the beautiful Booklet which is the end result.
For a growing number of people across the world, the horror of war is a part of daily life. Right now, fuelled by the devastating violence in both Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the numbers of people driven from their homes by war is on the rise. It stands at 42 million people – an appalling statistic and a stain on the conscience of humanity. We can’t turn our backs. We must act now. The good news is that your church can make a real difference. This year Christian Aid Week is focusing on stories from our partners in three Countries, Iraq, South Sudan and Colombia, who are helping communities to recover and rebuild after conflict. In Colombia our partner, the Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace (CIJP) have played a crucial role in setting up humanitarian zones which offer protection to people living in areas of conflict, particularly families who have been forcibly displaced from their lands. Nine year old Edile lives with his grandmother in the Las Camelias humanitarian zone. His father was killed when he was little and he still lives with the fear that this could happen again. Many children living in the humanitarian zones
Together we can send people living in fear this message: you are not alone. We’re with you, helping you to rebuild your lives, and working for peace. Imagine what such an expression of love would mean to people searching for the strength to cope with the devastation of war, and how it could help to drive out their fear. Demonstrate God’s love for those living in poverty and show how much good the church is doing in the world this Christian Aid Week. Thank you for everything the United Free Church does to support our work year round.
Be an instrument of God’s peace. Give, act and pray this Christian Aid Week.
Photo Credit: Christian Aid/Sarah Malian Caption: Rojan, a 15 year old girl who has benefited from REACH’s work in the community
caweek.org UK registered charity no. 1105851 • Company no. 5171525 • Scot charity no. SC039150 • NI charity no. XR94639 • Company no. NI059154 • ROI charity no. CHY 6998 • Company no. 426928 The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. © Christian Aid December 2013 • 14-804-J1976 • Photo: Christian Aid/Andrew Testa/Panos
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Northfield Choir’s “Great Day”
By Grace McCartney
Photograph by Craig Burgess. Used with permission.
It was Tuesday, 17 December 2013. Northfield’s Choir Mistress, Nida Buchan, and her Choir members looked on in amazement and bewildered delight at the constant flow of arrivals for their annual Christmas Concert and Social. All 84 seats in the Church filled up so 30–40 more seats had to be brought in from the hall to accommodate everybody. There were well over 100 people present! Where was everybody coming from? Many of our regulars had submitted their apologies, so we hadn’t expected our usual capacity audience. We were squeezing people in! The Session Clerk, Mark Hammond, with a delighted smile upon his face, welcomed everyone to our “Great Day” and opened the event with prayer. After the communal singing of ‘Hark, the herald angels sing’, 30 singers (7 young people, 6 men, 17 ladies), wearing their new Choir uniforms, jubilantly sang about the “Great Day when Christ the Lord was born”.
Once again George Bruce was our narrator, who seemed to effortlessly link all 15 items of praise together. The harmonisation, varied styles and blend of voices and musical accompaniment created a joyous and thoughtprovoking whole. The soloists were Maureen Bruce, Grace McCartney, Linda Forbes, Moira Hammond, Katie Hammond; the duettists were Katie Hammond and Claire Buchan; and the musicians were Nida Buchan, Ross Hammond and Katie Hammond. The Offering raised £318.41 for The Cogwheel Trust, which works in India and Uganda and is spearheaded by our Pastor and his wife, Kevin and Lorna Hammond. Prayer and the communal singing of ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ brought our joyful celebration to a climactic and resounding close. “It was a great, great day!”
S1–4 Camp
The S1–4 Camp met at the Bible Centre, Inchinnan last weekend (21st–23rd Feb) and we had a great time. The 12 young people from Darnley, Sauchie and Fishcross, St Ninians and Torry UF who came were excellent and such a joy to have over the weekend as we looked together at some of the life of Paul, including some of the things that happened during his missionary journeys. We travelled with him to Damascus and saw his dramatic conversion, we went to Philippi with him and Silas when they were thrown into jail and we carried on to Athens where he taught the people about the ‘Unknown God’. Each time we moved on we saw a different destination on the giant suitcase of Paul, and began to put a picture together of where he went and what he did.
challenges including running in a giant hamster wheel and hanging on to monkey bars for as long as we could, we even had thermal image photos taken of our groups to see how cool we were! Saturday evening was our Countries of the World party where we had people from France, America and even Jamaica! We played games from these countries like toilet paper mummies from Egypt and musical Greek statues, and enjoyed food from some of the countries too. There were giant word search table cloths that we had to find lots of countries on. The young people did well and found over fifty, the team however were still up long after the young people were asleep and managed to find over a hundred, there were some tired looking team members on Sunday morning!
On Friday night we were taken on a journey to various places Paul visited, with different tasks for us to complete, reminding us of God’s plan for Paul and his plan for us. On Saturday we were taught about Paul’s conversion and how God changed him and how he would go on to use him to share the good news of the Gospel. Following on from that session after a time of games we learned about Paul and Silas in Philippi and their time in jail and how even in such circumstances they were still able to praise God because he was with them.
On Sunday we looked together at Paul in Athens where we competed in our own Olympic Games and then learned about when he told the people about Jesus and used their Statue to the Unknown God. We thought about how God could use us to share with people in the situations we have been placed in at school, home etc. We then looked at some of the letters Paul had written to churches and then wrote our own thinking of what we would include in a letter telling people about Jesus. Throughout the camp some of the team members shared with the young people about when God opened their eyes to who Jesus really was and how He continues to do that as they live for Jesus.
On Saturday afternoon we had a trip to the Glasgow Science Centre, where we had good fun completing
“We can enjoy Christmas because we know the Joy of Christ.” A month later, on Sunday, 19 January 2014, Nida Buchan, our Choir Founder and Mistress, was suddenly called home from active service at Northfield. She started the Choir circa 45 years ago as a Children’s Choir, but as the young people grew up, they did not want to leave, so adult members were allowed to join. The original ‘children’ married and brought their own youngsters along! For Nida, the Choir was always a form of social and evangelical outreach to children and families. She carefully selected the items to be sung, so that the Good News of the Gospel would be regularly heard in homes attached to the Church – Nida called it “practising”; every family associated with the Choir came under the canopy of prayer.
Nida Buchan
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At Nida’s funeral on Wednesday, 29 January, a further £708 was raised for The Cogwheel Trust. Her daughter, Diane Ledingham, will take it out to Uganda in April to buy plants and other flowering shrubs to be placed in various locations around the grounds of the home for the children to enjoy. “Well done, good and faithful servant!… Come and share your Master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:21 (NIV)
All too soon it was the end of the weekend. We had a great time together and we must thank Julie Hubbert and Gordon Mackenzie for cooking for us so well, and Jennifer, Ruth, Rachel, Andrew and Ross for teaching. Below are some comments from the young people who were there:
“We played loads of games, learned a new song, wrote a letter as if we were Paul, read the bible and prayed. I had loads of fun and the food was great.” Thanks. Hannah A “We played loads of games, we learned a song and we had loads of good food and the leaders were all really nice and easy to talk to. The rooms we slept in were nice and the beds were comfy. I had loads of fun and would suggest this camp to anyone and everyone.” Rachel T
“Camp was awesome, the place was awesome, so was the food and everyone there. I would recommend going next year.” Scott Y “It is always such an encouragement to see the young people responding to the teaching, we really have much to thank God for and we give him the praise and the glory for this weekend. Please continue to pray for the young people, we thank God for them and for His working in their lives.” Laura M
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Responses to Rev Ian Boa’s comments re: Nathan Owen’s Report
Letter from
David Cartledge – Balintore
I was interested in the Rev Ian Boa’s defence of the WCC. Unfortunately, far from “clarifying” Nathan’s claims it seems to confirm much of the critique he made. The expanded quotations from the documents endorse Nathan’s observation on the subtlety of language. After all is said and done, more has been said than done! The authority of Scripture is basic to this whole discussion. There is no doubt whatsoever that our understanding of Scripture should be an ever-developing understanding. If my understanding of Scripture at the age of 74 years has not developed since I first became a Christian aged 15 there is something drastically wrong. However, that does not mean we are at liberty to develop our understanding in ways that suit our own natural preferences. That would be a foolhardy way to proceed. One thing the Bible is clear about is that human beings in their fallen condition have a natural propensity to understand and interpret things in a way that best suits their own purposes.
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That is a danger which all of us face, i.e. of reading into the Bible our own views and opinions when what we should be doing is reading out of the Bible what God has to say to us. We may put this another way. While our understanding of Scripture is a developing understanding the
message and the truth of Scripture is a “given” and never changes. As Paul wrote to Timothy: “All Scripture is inspired by God”, literally “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim 3.16), i.e. breathed out by God. True, as Ian points out, there may well be “differing views of Scripture” which “get into the way of renewal” (whatever the word “renewal” means in this context). That is precisely why it is essential to take on board Scripture’s own view of itself – as the written word of God to which we must all submit. Yes, the Old Testament finds its fulfilment in the New Testament and there are elements of the Old Testament which are adjusted in the New Testament, under the new covenant, e.g. circumcision for Jews is replaced by baptism for all who trust in Christ. But we are certainly bound by all the statements of the New Testament – not least those made by Jesus himself who is truth personified and the source of all truth (John 14.6). When appearing before Pilate this is what Jesus declared: “…for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” – and that had relevance for the pagan Roman ruler, Pilate (John 18.37). All this raises some serious questions. On the basis of biblical teaching Christians acknowledge Jesus to be
Letter from the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, the one who was with his Father from all eternity. That is a given on which there can be no compromise (cf. John 1.1; 3.16). Moreover, he is the only way to God. Only Jesus could declare: “No-one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14.6). He is the unique saviour of all those who come to him. The fact is that people of all creeds and cultures, of all faiths and of no faiths, have personally trusted in him. He came for all. Of course we should respect the religious views of others. But we must never compromise our own commitment to Jesus Christ as the only way to God. At the 2012 General Assembly the Panel of Doctrine presented a report which dealt with inter-faith matters, a report that was accepted and which represents the view of the United Free Church. While the report encouraged dialogue with those of other faiths it also made clear that we should not “muddy the clarity and the distinctiveness of the Christian gospel and the church”. It also stated that for Christians to engage in worship with people of other faiths would “deny Jesus Christ as the only one through whom worship to God may acceptably be made.”
David Smith – Darnley
I am certain I am not alone amongst the readers of Stedfast in remembering the prominent themes of reconciliation and churches working together which flowed from the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches Assembly held in Porto Alegre Brazil during August 2006. Contrast this with the account the account given in the December 2013 / January 2014 issue of Stedfast regarding the recent Assembly held in Busan South Korea when the emphasis was very much on the apparent differences in theology (which in some instances considerable) between the various churches represented and in one instance another religion altogether. What could have possibly happened to an organisation over a period of 7 years (a comparatively short period of time) which on the surface could call into question the United Free Church of Scotland’s continued membership of the World Council of Churches? While I accept that this could be partially explained by the material difference in experience of the 2 people who represented the denomination (in 2006 it was the Rev Colin Brown) I would suggest that the difference in standpoint comes from the need to have a greater understanding of the benefits of working together even when
doctrinally we can be very far apart. Yes no one is denying that on many issues we will never agree but does that mean that we cannot work alongside each other not only with regard to issues of justice and peace but far importantly to fulfil the great commission given by our Lord in the final verses of St Matthew’s gospel. “Go then to ALL peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age. “ As an aside no mention of similar theologies there!!!! Or to put it another way is it more important to work only with those churches with whom we agree on points of doctrine or seeking to work with those who have different views and practices. I would suggest that it is definitely easier but that is not the question. The answer as highlighted by Rev Ian Boa in his article in the February March Stedfast is I would suggest that we all need the grace shown by our Lord to accept that despite our differences we can work together for his work here in this world.
Which neatly brings us back to to the great commission and consider it from the view of the recipient i.e. the many people in our world who either do not know or have to date rejected the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do we honestly think that they really care what the correct theology is? (Anyway is this constant bickering and argument not what has turned many people, particularly in the Western society away from the Faith). NO what they need to know is that there is an alternative to their current self- centered and materialistic lifestyle and this is through the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ. In conclusion while I respect the concerns expressed in the article could I suggest that to focus on these would be a diversion which quite frankly the Christian Church and the world we live in does not need. Let us embrace our work with all believers no matter any theological or other differences in order to focus on our core purpose giving people the opportunity to know the love of our lord in their lives.
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