What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Scottish Episcopal Church News for January 2015

    Scottish Episcopal Church News

    The following post contains news from around and within the Scottish Episcopal Church for January 2015.

    George Square Tragedy in Glasgow

    The Rt Rev Gregor Duncan, the Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway was in George Square just after the recent tragedy involving a bin lorry. The accident took place just yards from the Glasgow and Galloway Diocesan Office.

    Speaking after the tragedy, Bishop Gregor said:

    We give thanks for the response of our emergency services.

    The disaster occurred very near to the Diocesan office and I saw with my own eyes the awful aftermath. I shall not forget what I saw.

    Bishop Gregor also engaged in a public dialogue about how Christians can respond to such events on 28 December 2014, the Feast of the Holy Innocents in St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow. This can be seen here:

    Dialogue between Kelvin Holdsworth and Gregor Duncan in Glasgow on 28 December 2014 from Kelvin Holdsworth on Vimeo.

     

    Video Message from the Primus

    The Primus, the Most Rev David Chillingworth released a Christmas Message in video format this year.

    The message, which some have noted doesn’t mention God or Jesus, can be seen here:

    Changes to Marriage Law

    The College of Bishops has issued guidelines relating to recent changes in marriage law. These have not been universally welcomed, with 50 clergy and lay readers writing a letter to the bishops in response with the Herald newspaper reporting: “Church leaders are facing an unprecedented insurrection amongst their own ministry over their gay marriage ban, with signals some clergy will not carry out any weddings until the matter is resolved.”

    More information:

    The Guidelines

    The letter from 50 clergy and lay readers.

    There is extensive coverage of other reaction on Changing Attitude Scotland’s website.

    The Guidelines do not yet appear on the Scottish Episcopal Church website.

    People

    The Buzz

     Sabbatical Funding – The Alastair Haggart Bursary Fund

    In memory of Bishop Alastair Haggart a bursary fund was established by his family.
    The fund exists to help the financing of sabbaticals or other similar leave of absence for clergy and full-time ministers of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
    A committee will convene in January 2015 to make th e next award. Awards totalling up to £4,156 will be made. Individual circumstances, financial resources, and the nature of the sabbatical and its usefulness to the wider church, are taken into consideration when making the award.
    Closing date: 6 January 2015

    Vacancies

    • Grangemouth and Bo’ness – advertised on the Edinburgh Diocesan website on 26 November 2014. No closing date listed. See profile for more details.
    • Secretary and Administrator, General Synod Office – still advertised on the SEC website but closing date is passed.

    Roof Repair Fund

    A new fund is available to help with urgent repairs to Listed Places of Worship. More details on their website: http://www.lpowroof.org.uk/ Note that the closing date is coming up in early January.

    ACTS Trustee Needed

    The Faith and Order Board of the Scottish Episcopal Church is seeking for someone to be the SEC’s nominated Trustee of ACTS – Action for Christians Together in Scotland. “A strong interest in ecumenism is essential, previous experience as a charity trustee would be helpful.” More details from churchrelations@scotland.anglican.org.uk

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18 responses to “To the synod office”

  1. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    > Would it be out of the question, Robin, for Ms Goldie to become the new Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway?

    As far as I know, it would be OK, since she’s baptised and over 30! And Glasgow & Galloway has had a Bishop Goldie before, so there’s precedent!

    Reply
  2. kelvin Avatar
    kelvin

    Robin – we are in the process of removing the 30 year lower age limit for bishops this year. If Ms Goldie turns out to be younger than we think, she is still in with a shout.

    David – thanks for your post. It is similar to what’s been said to me in synod. To be honest, as someone whose formative years were mainly in a part of the country where the dominant industry was coal, the idea that the farming/rural economy has been particularly ill treated by either European or national government thinking has always seemed very puzzling.

    There are many things which bring town and country together. Clergy complain of the same degrees of isolation in town and country, for example. People also often complain about the ability of young people in the country to find affordable housing locally. However, to someone who has lived succesively in Perth, Bridge of Allan and the West End of Glasgow, that complaint again seems to unite rather than divide us.

    As for field sports, I feel less strongly about the sports themselves than I did when I was younger. However, I feel more strongly than ever that all of us, whatever sector of society we live in can only muddle along by a common respect for the law and it has sometimes been difficult for someone like me to perceive such a respect in those advocating certain field sports.

    I don’t think field sports are a human rights issue. And I don’t think that civil disobedience (ie lawbreaking) is an appropriate or proportionate response to the banning of hunting with hounds.

    Reply
  3. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    > Robin – we are in the process of removing the 30 year lower age limit for bishops this year.

    Is this to remedy the understandable confusion potentially caused among electors by your being eminently ‘episcopabile’ while you still look as if you’re well under 30?

    Reply
  4. kelvin Avatar
    kelvin

    I’m ridiculously flattered on all counts. But no – I’m 42.

    Lower age limits are being removed from ordination canons because of the risk of it being seen as age discrimination.

    (Well, actually, because it was clear age discrimination).

    Reply
  5. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    > But no – I’m 42.

    So you *are* the answer to the riddle of the Universe!

    I’d have imagined there would have been an exemption for such things. An 18yo Bishop would be a bit ridiculous, to say nothing of the risk of being stuck with her/him if she/he proved a bad choice. However, I don’t expect it will make any practical difference. Even under the existing Canon, did we ever have a Bishop as young as 30? The youngest I can think of was my own mentor, Bishop George Sessford, who was 42 when he was consecrated . . .

    Reply
  6. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    I meant to write,

    “being stuck with her/him for half a century if….”

    Reply
  7. David Bayne Avatar
    David Bayne

    “Annabelle, our Bishop” has a certain something, don’t you think?

    The age restrictions on Ordination that we are in process of removing did have a point. They were introduced across most post-Reformation denominations (I’m not sure about the RCC) to prevent beardless youths being presented to (with!) prosperous and influential livings by well-connected parents. My favourite Scottish example is Alexander Stewart, the illegitimate son of James IV who was made Archbishop of St. Andrews in 1504 at the age of 14 – or, possibly, 11. The archdiocese didn’t have to cope with a half-century episcopate, though: he died fighting beside his father at Flodden.

    Being of a slightly earlier vintage than The Provost, it’s the moving of the upper limit that has me exercised. Combined with the hole in the pension fund, it hints at a return to “ad vitam aut culpam” By the time people are worried about me having done 50 years in CD, I’ll be 97………..

    Reply
  8. Andrew Avatar
    Andrew

    I think that it is nearer to the mark to describe ‘The Scottish Field’ (or was when we lived in Bromley and it was the most exciting post of the month) as ‘Unionist’
    The Editor in the 1950’s lived about 2 miles away in South London so The Scottish Field kept us in touch with Jimmy Shand, John Buchan, The Edinburgh Tattoo and The Fortingall Yew Tree. And those sherry party photographs to commemorate Law Firm anniversaries. We couldn’t recognise anyone but they looked nicer than the people who came to our own parties. So we grew in ignorance monthly as we happily anticipated another 3 weeks in Pitlochry.
    However in 2009, Old SF’s appearing in Room 1 must herald the employment of a dentist in Forbes House, or a gentle reminder of ‘The Homecoming’. I believe they provide the ‘Peoples Friend’ at 121 George Street, but I could be wrong.

    Reply

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