Yesterday thePROJECT became a reality, a meeting In The Flesh.  It was a great day with some brilliant speakers, inspiring worship and superb music.

ThePROJECT has grown from conversations between those who travel south from Scotland to Greenbelt Festival each year.  I’ve been to Greenbelt fairly often over the years, although not for a while, but it has always struck me how many people I know when I get there.  The same thought struck others and they got together and decided that Scotland could have it’s own event, inspired by Greenbelt, but not copying it.

Yesterday was a step in that direction.  A city based event in a church, a pub and a theatre.

So… thePROJECT3… the next step… Why not come along for the ride?

The other day I blogged about the lack of participation in the political process.  Last night those fears were confirmed as the Labour vote in the European elections collapsed to just 15%.  The map of British politics was changed last night with the Euro-sceptic UKIP coming second behind the Tories and the BNP winning two seats, the far right party’s first ever in a national election.

The BNP’s share of the vote didn’t go up, but the lack of support for Labour allowed them to win two seats in the north of England.

So it seems silence IS consent.  The problem is you don’t always know what you are consenting to.

As an aside, we were talking about the circumstances in which Scotland might vote for independence.  A Tory government and England winning the world cup were the perfect storm but I wonder how Wales voting Tory and England electing racists will play in the Scottish political arena?

This morning the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland heard the report of the Church and Society Committee.

First up was the ‘Growing Up in Scotland‘ report.  I was on the group which wrote the report so I was glad to see some good deliverences (motions) coming from the report.  I’ll pick out the highlights for me…

Child Friendly Churches

3. Instruct the Church and Society Council to work with other Councils to introduce a Child Friendly Church initiative based on the United Reform Church’s model.

This was amended to welcome the work the Mission and Discipleship council has already done on preparing a Child Friendly Church initiative, based on the United Reformed Church model.

Hearing Children

4. Urge Scottish and UK Governments to evidence as a matter of course how young people’s voices are heard in the development of legislation and policy.
5. Instruct the Church and Society Council, together with Presbyteries and other Councils of the Church, to bring to the General Assembly of 2010 a report on the ways in which each is enabling the voices of young people to be heard in their decision-making processes.

Great to see an emphasis on listening to children in decision making.  I wonder how congregations and the Assembly will make that happen?

8. Instruct the Church and Society Council to work with representatives of the National Youth Assembly to develop awareness of models of support in congregations on the issues involved in mental illness among young people.

This issue is one that has become ever more important to me.  My wife is a soon to qualify mental health nurse and her training has confirmed my belief that the church can and should play a role in supporting people with mental ill-health.  Like the other deliverence, the question will be how?

10. Urge Scottish and UK Governments to strengthen their commitment to end child poverty by 2020 and ensure that policies and adequate resources are in place to achieve that aim.
11. Urge the Scottish Government to ensure that resources, including partnerships with Churches and others, are in place to deliver the ambitions of the Early Years Framework.
12. Demand that HM Government uphold, respect and protect the rights of children who are asylum seekers or who are trafficked into our country.

For me these show that the church is where it should be, campaigning on behalf of the poor and those who’s rights are overlooked.

Engaging with Technology, Science and the Environment
Climate Change
16. Instruct Presbyteries, in association with the Church and Society Council, to produce a plan for each congregation in their bounds, setting out how they will measure energy consumption in their church
buildings, ascertain their carbon footprint and achieve a year-on-year reduction of 5% of their carbon
footprint using the Eco-Congregation Scotland carbon footprint module; and instruct the Church and Society Council, in consultation with the General Trustees, to report to the General Assembly of 2010 on the implementation of this instruction.
17. Welcome the proposed incorporation of Eco-Congregation Scotland as a Charitable Company and continue to support the work of eco-congregations.
18. Affirm the current commitment of the Church and Society Council to the ‘Responding to Climate Change Project’ and instruct the Church and Society Council, in partnership with other Councils, to complete the review of this project with a view to its development.

The climate change debate threw up some interesting discussion around how ambitious the church should be about targets, with 5% perhaps not being nearly enough of a reduction.

This raised the question again about the suitability of buildings for me.  Is the reduction of carbon footprints the catalyst needed to get rid of unsuitable buildings once and for all?  Can the church really claim to be good stewards while pouring money into drafty and expensive to heat buildings?  And the church’s central offices in Edinburgh won’t escape the carbon audit…

The growing online community of people interested in all things (or perhaps just some things) emerging/emergent Church over at Emerging Scotland are busy beavering away being creative, innovative and generally moving their communities of faith forward.  The network is growing and people are sharing their stories and resources online, but that’s not the same as meeting up and talking it through…

So, if you want to grab a coffee and a chat with some emerging/missional types then get yourself virtually to Emerging Scotland and join up and in the real world come to Starbucks in Borders, Buchanan Street, Glasgow on Thursday 28th May at 7pm.  It would be great to see you there.

If you’re not in or around Glasgow then why not plan your own Meet Up where you are.  Just join one of the meet up groups at Emerging Scotland.

So, I’ve blogged a bit about what might or might not be happening in terms of emerging church in Scotland.  Some journeyers met and chatted and one of the things that came up was some kind of website to help us talk and share and encourage each other and to gather people together.

So…. Come and join us at Emerging Scotland!!!

Looks like quite a nice place!

Where has the time gone!?!?!  I’ve known about NYA2008 for ages and been working on it for months and I’m still not done!  How come?

I got the programme information today and it looks amazing!  Some really good stuff happening about mental health and the human library sounds fascinating.

My sessions?  Well, Authenticity, Information, Privacy and Participation are our headings for an adventure in Social Media.  Sound interesting?  I hope so.

I’ll be blogging as we go along and posting on the wiki.  If you’re not coming you can follow the back-channel chat (or just backchat) on twitter.  Follow us over the weekend, or say hi!, using NYA2008 in your tweet.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about last night’s thoughts and I think my obsession with this event is about making a difference and seeing the value it has.  If not then it really is an obsession and I need help!

Now, no more of this procrastination.  Back to work!!!

DK at Media Snackers has been on a bit of a campaign to get Youth Workers in the statutory sector to blog.  It would seem that there are very few who do (he’s found one!), which perhaps is a consequence of Local Authorities attitudes to their staff having any kind of online profile (it’s BAD).

The same is true of the church.  Rumour has it that the powers that be added Facebook to the list of blocked websites in the Church of Scotland’s offices the day before Gordon Brown (yes the Prime Minister) gave social networking a big thumbs up at the General Assembly.  Facebook was unblocked shortly after.

This seems broadly representative of local churches and even denomination’s approach to the Internet.  ‘I don’t understand it so it must be bad.’  I’ve had youth workers tell me they are not allowed to have BEBO or Facebook sites, they can’t have forums on their websites and all kinds of stuff about not being online.  The reason most given is ‘Child Protection’.  What a load of nonsense.

The online world is just as safe (or unsafe) as real life.  What we should be doing is having sensible conversations about APPROPRATE online interaction with young people.  There are lost of ways to have open and transparent contact online with young people.

It’s probably a good idea for you not to IM your youth group.  But there’s no reason you can’t have a Twitter account telling them what’s coming up this week, or reminding them what to bring.

Having a group blog also let’s young people be creative in collecting content, writing and presenting what they have been up to.  A blog would give your group a higher profile in the community.  It would allow parents and supporters to see the value of your group.  You might even get new members or more funding.

So, here’s a plea.  Just because you don’t ‘get it’ don’t think it’s bad.  There are loads of tools and opportunities around to make your youth work better.  Don’t miss out because you don’t know where to start.

If you blog about your youth work, let me know.

If you would like to know more about getting online then in the next session I’ll be doing some training to get you started.  Keep an eye out on the blog and the dates pages or get in touch from the contact page.

In the meantime check YoMo’s guide to youth work blogging HERE.

It’s not often that Social Workers get immortalised in song but Glasvegas have in their new single ‘Geraldine’.

When your sparkle evades your soul
I’ll be at your side to console
When your standing on the window ledge
I’ll talk you back from the edge
I will turn your tide
Be your shepard and your guide
When your lost in the deep and darkest place around
May my words walk you home safe and sound

When you say that I’m no good and you feel like walking
I need to make sure you know thats just the Prescription talking
When your feet decide to walk you on the wayward side
Up upon the stairs and down the downward slide
I will, I will turn your tide
Do all that I can to heal you inside
I’ll be the angel on your shoulder
My name is Geraldine, I’m your social worker

I see you need me
I know you do

It’s a great song and you can see it here:

You might have noticed the little ad on the right for ‘bloggers unite for human rights’.  Today is the day when bloggers all over the world will share their thoughts and highlight situations where human rights are violated.

I had hoped to write something well researched but just haven’t had the time.  And I guess that’s what I wanted to say.  There is never time or we are all too busy.  It reminded me of these words attributed to Niemöller:

In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;

And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;

And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;

And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up.

Our civil liberties are the most precious things we have, and yet we take them for granted.

I’m responsible for developing work with children and young people so I though I’d use my post today to remind us all (in accordance with Article 42: All adults and children should know about this convention) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child:

Article 1  Everyone under 18 has these rights

Article 2  You have the right to protection against discrimination

Article 3 Adults should do what’s best for you

Article 4 You have the right to have your rights made a reality by government

Article 5 You have the right to be given guidance by your parents and family

Article 6 You have the right to life

Article 7 You have the right to have a name and a nationality

Article 8 You have the right to have an identity

Article 9 You have the right to live with your parents unless it is bad for you

Article 10 If you and your parents are living in different countries, you have the right to get back together and live in the same place

Article 11 You should not be kidnapped

Article 12 You have the right to an opinion and for it to be listened to and taken seriously

Article 13 You have the right to find out things and say what you think, through making art, speaking and writing unless it breaks the rights of others

Article 14 You have the right to think what you like and be whatever religion you want to be with your parents guidance

Article 15 You have the right to be with friends and join or set up clubs, unless this breaks the rights of others

Article 16 You have the right to a private life, ie you can keep a diary that other people are not allowed to see

Article 17  You have the right to collect information from the media

Article 18 You have the right to be brought up by your parents if possible

Article 19 You have the right to be protected from being hurt or badly treated

Article 20 You have the right to special protection and help if you can’t live with your parents

Article 21 You have the right to have the best care for you if you are adopted or living in foster care

Article 22 You have the right to special protection and help if you are a refugee

Article 23 If you are disabled, either mentally or physically, you have the right to special care and education

Article 24 You have the right to the best health possible and to medical care and information

Article 25 You have the right to have your living arrangements checked regularly if you are living away from home

Article 26 You have the right to help from the government if you are poor or in need

Article 27 You have the right to have a good enough standard of living

Article 28 You have the right to education

Article 29 You have the right to education which develops your personality, respect for other’s rights and the environment

Article 30 If you come from a minority group you have the right to enjoy your own culture, practice your own religion and use your own language

Article 31 You have the right to play and relax by doing things like sport, music and drama

Article 32 You have the right to protection from work which is bad for your health or education

Article 33  You have the right to be protected from dangerous drugs

Article 34 You have the right to be protected from sexual abuse

Article 35 No one is allowed to kidnap you or sell you

Article 36 You have the right to protection from any other kind of exploitation

Article 37 You have the right not to be punished in a cruel or hurtful way

Article 38 You have the right to protection in times of war. If under 15 you should never have to be in the army or a battle

Article 39 You have the right to help if you have been hurt, neglected or badly treated

Article 40 You have the right to help in defending yourself if you are accused of breaking the law

Article 41 You have the right to any rights in laws in your country or internationally that give you better rights than these

Article 42 All adults and children should know about this convention

We in Scotland often look around the world and shake our heads at what goes on in other countries but I read a statistic which shocked me last night.   Nearly 20% of children attending the  Sick Children’s Hospital in Glasgow show signs of malnutrition.  It’s time we all made some time to look around and take seriously the rights of children in the world.