Decisions are made by those who show up

The final day of the General Assembly is always the least well attended.  It tends to be the pensions, trustees and stewardship type committees.  Short reports and few decisions. But not today. The Ministries Council report was remaindered yesterday and so mid-morning the discussion about Ordained Local Ministry began again.  Eventually Assembly voted 200-190 in Read More …

Graham Cray at the General Assembly

Bishop Graham Cray’s excellent address on Fresh Expressions to the evening session of the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly is now available to watch on the Church of Scotland website.  Well worth a look, listen, copious notes and lots of thought.

Desmond Tutu Addresses General Assembly

You can now watch Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s inspirational address to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from this morning.

Human Wrongs

As I sat at my desk yesterday afternoon another spectacle unfolded before my very eyes.  The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland webstream was on my desk top and the Council of Mission And Discipleship were presenting their excellent report on Singleness, asking that it be disseminated for study. What followed was simply remarkable.  Read More …

The Most Important Part… Missed By Most

On Monday night, after the drama, confusion and intrigue of the Overture discussion that never happened something important happened… something which is at the heart of the future of the church. It was late in the evening when Bishop Graham Cray spoke to a disappointingly small group of people as part of the Emerging Church Read More …

Making Sense Of The General Assembly

I thought I’d have a go at exploring what the General Assembly has been up to because lots of people seem to be completely confused by what has been going on.  I know how you feel!  Let’s start with the part that has had all the headlines: Did the Church of Scotland Approve Gay Ministers? Read More …

General Assembly Issues Gag Order?

That might seem like an overly dramatic headline, but this afternoon the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly agreed to ban all those subject to it’s courts, that’s Ministers and Elders, from talking about discussions relating to the ordination of gay ministers. In a confusing and lengthy session the Assembly decided (I think): 1. Appoint a Read More …