• Statement on the Christchurch Terror Attacks Against Muslims

    Glasgow in Scotland and Christchurch in New Zealand are linked by the fact that each contains a cathedral built to an identical design.

    Christ Church Cathedral and St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow were built to identical plans.

    Christian hearts and Muslim hearts are made to the same design as one another. Today we weep for all those who are victims of terror and intimidation.

    Sadly, we are joined together in being broken-hearted at the news of the callous attacks against Muslim communities in Christ Church.

    Christians follow teachings which encourage them to welcome strangers. There is no anti-immigrant rhetoric that can be called Christian.

    Any attack on people at worship diminishes us all.
    Any attack on people at worship is an attack on civilization.
    Any attack on people because they are of the Muslim faith is utterly wrong.

    My love and prayers go to the Muslim communities directly affected by this tragedy and to our own Muslim friends in Glasgow.

    There is only one God and the God whom we all worship has compassion on all who mourn.

2 responses to “Synod – Overseas Committee”

  1. John Riches Avatar
    John Riches

    It’s not a straight choice between paying for theological education in Africa and in Scotland. The Overseas committee’s funds very largely come from legacies specfically given for overseas work so couldn’t be spent on training Scottish clergy. If we wanted seriously to spend more on that (an excellent idea in my book), then we would have to raise quota or find some other source of income.

    And, I think, theological education in Africa is particularly important in light of the remarkable growth of the African churches. If there is not good theological education for the leaders of the churches in Africa we will have poorly trained African church leaders which is bad for the church in Africa and can only make attempts at communion wide understanding more difficult.

  2. kelvin Avatar

    Thanks John – I had forgotten about the legacies. You are right, there are two separate funding issues here.

    I agree that we need good theological education for the whole Communion.

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