• Predictions for 2019

    1. The UK will begin leaving the EU on 29 March 2019. It will take 10 years to leave, 10 years for it to be evident to the whole country how stupid it was and 10 years to get back in, with none of our current special measures.  (Hope this prediction doesn’t come to pass but fear it will).
    2. The only thing to make EU-positive lefty-liberals to have pause for thought will be the EU Elections in May which will result in big gains for the so-called populist right.
    3. No progress towards same-sex marriage in the Church of England, despite much clearer calls for it to happen.
    4. Significant concerns in many UK dioceses about the cost of bishops, and particularly their spouses, attending the Lambeth Conference in 2020. (Over £5000 each).
    5. Elizabeth Warren / Beto O’Rourke begin to emerge as the Democratic dream ticket.
    6. Stricter legislation in connection with drone operators.
    7. Steps towards legalisation of cannabis  under serious consideration within SNP.
    8. No referendum on Independence.
    9. Cyber attacks merging with terrorist attacks
    10. One of Scotland’s daily newspapers ceases print publication.

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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