Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I have decided to revert to writing a weekly ‘letter’ on this blog. Partly because it means I am less restricted than I am when I write for others – and partly because some have asked why I have reduced my writing so much. But I now feel constrained…. We will look at a variety of subjects – from throughout the world – but I will always go with what is on my heart – and right now – after a week of watching the Assemblies in Scotland – I am deeply burdened….so forgive me if this is where we begin. Those of you from other countries can learn from Scotland’s mistakes, sins and glories….
I am a bit of an Assembly geek – and therefore was one of the very few who watched most of the Church of Scotland and Free Church General Assemblies last week. Through the wonders of YouTube, I could watch and, in the car listen, as I did a lot of travelling during the week. For those of you who don’t have the pleasure of being Pressies (see how I have adapted to the Aussie lingo!), let me explain that the General Assembly of Presbyterians churches is the annual gathering of ministers and elders seeking to review the work of the church and plan for the future. I will leave the Free Church to next week, but this week lets reflect on what happened at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
A few questions based on my observations.
- Where is the theological clarity? The Church of Scotland continued to hold to its traditional Christian position that euthanasia is wrong. Although with caveats. The vote was close – 149 to 145 and the motion itself noted the ‘differing theological positions’ within the church. I wonder what theological position would justify the church supporting the State killing its citizens? Would the church be as happy admitting that ‘there are different theological positions’ on slavery? Indeed, there are. And some of them are wrong. Sadly, the winning motion referred to ‘assisted dying’. Words matter. The church is not opposed to assisted dying – we are all for good palliative care. We are opposed to assisted suicide or euthanasia.
- Where are the new churches? The Church of Scotland in 2017 expressed a desire that each church should plant a church by 2020. It didn’t happen. The wish for 100 new ‘worshipping communities’ (much harder to define than churches and so much easier to say you have achieved it) at this Assembly is just as likely to go unrealised. It was interesting to hear one delegate speak of his visits to several Free Church congregations and commending the Free Church for its church planting work. He noted that he had been to one former Church of Scotland building which had been sold to the Free Church and was surprised to see it full with young families and a growing congregation. He noted that the Free Church had a programme for 30 new churches by 2030 – an increase of a third and wondered what would happen if the Church of Scotland did the same thing. If only wishes were reality.
- Where is the prophetic voice? The discussion on the Public life and Social Justice Programme Group was especially depressing – demonstrating just how irrelevant the Church of Scotland has become precisely because it has moved away from the Gospel and just become an echo chamber for the middle-class chattering classes. We heard about peace and climate action and Gaza – all the usual suspects. We heard nothing about abortion, marriage, transgenderism or the decline of education in Scotland. The fantasy persists that the Church of Scotland is somehow able to ‘influence public policy making’. Given that the Church of Scotland just reflects back to the civic elites the policies they are already doing this is both unlikely and useless.
The most revealing speech on this was from Marjory Clark an elder from Perth St Matthew’s, who said:
“Increasingly we hear of climate change deniers, those casting doubts about vaccine safety, the blaming of Muslims and asylum seekers following the Southport attacks, and our Prime Minister’s astonishing comments last week about ‘an island full of strangers’ to name but a few examples where truth is challenged and dangerous opinions are presents as fact, only encouraging further division and fear.”
The Assembly then went on to agree a motion which encouraged the Church to uphold truth in the public square and to challenge misinformation. To Ms Clark anyone who disagrees with her political views is guilty of ‘misinformation’. What saddened me about this was not the views of Ms Clark. They are after all the views that one would expect of the middle-class tea parlours of Perth. What saddened me is that not one person stood up to challenge her own misinformation.
It was somewhat ironic to hear of delegates complaining of the dangers of ‘populism’ by which they meant views which they did not like which were popular. The Scottish National Party is a populist movement, but you would never hear the Assembly say anything about the dangers of their kind of populism.
It was also ironic to hear of delegates talking of themselves as though they were the downtrodden powerless – ‘we can speak truth to power’…. blissfully unaware that they were the representatives of power, surrounded by all the trappings of power.
- Where are the men? …. Watching the Assembly, it struck me both how old it is – and how it is increasingly being dominated by women. The number of American women – largely from the PCUSA – who spoke was fascinating. If the C of S is looking to the PCUSA as a model – they need to grasp that it is a model of decline – probably the only Presbyterian church in the world which is declining faster than the C of S! The fact is that the Church of Scotland will soon not be able to have gender balance on its boards, committees and Kirk Sessions – the men are leaving in droves. One delegate pointed out that it would be impossible to have gender balance on Kirk Sessions because there are not enough men.
- Where were the evangelicals? – They seemed to be fewer than ever. Sadly, the majority of those who are left seem to have been entirely assimilated into the Kirk. 15 years ago, I was
- Why is the Kirk in such decline? Only 68,000 are now regularly attending services. Apparently, the report on this couldn’t be given because the committee was divided on it. The convenor suggested that it was all tied in with sociological factors, industrialisation, the breakdown of community etc – In other words – external factors. The Kirk was just the canary in the coal mine. It would never cross anyone’s mind – or at least they would not admit, that the decline could as likely be due to internal factors – not least the turning away from the Word that they are supposed to be preaching.
- Where is the Reality? Nobody does spin and fantasy like the Kirk (actually that may not be true – other churches are also pretty adept at this!). This was seen for example in the report which proposed shutting down the Kirk’s magazine – Life and Work – after 146 years. I was astounded to discover that the circulation was only around 6,000 (I am one of the few subscribers!). Yet this closure – so devastating for staff and readers alike – was spun as something positive. This is not the end – it is about looking forward and seeing new forms of communication. The same thing with the Business Committee’s report – the Assembly will change to a weekend assembly because they cannot get enough elders to attend.
- Tommy MacNeil from Stornoway was as always refreshing and upbeat – a good Gospel man. But even he couldn’t hide the underlying despair. No matter how many times you state that we should stop managing decline and start reimagining our witness, it still won’t stop the tide flowing out.
As someone who saw this happening more than 35 years ago – and who longed for the C of S to turn around – I am truly in despair at just how far down the road the Kirk has gone. I thought that in my lifetime it could easily become irrelevant – it has. But I never thought that it would become virtually extinct – and yet that is now a real possibility within the next decade.
The Church of Scotland is dying – and will die. https://theweeflea.com/2022/05/26/unless-the-church-of-scotland-returns-to-the-gospel-it-will-die/
Incidentally another indicative factor is that such has been the decline in St Giles that it has been united with another church, Canongate. The decline will, and should, continue. I have seen an internal report which even suggested the possibility of selling or at least leasing out St Giles. ( I was asked if I would be tempted to return to Scotland (aka John Knox) if I could preach at St Giles – that would have been such an unlikely miracle how could I refuse!)
Is there a solution? Yes – I think there is. That solution is not in the redistribution of declining resources (rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic); nor is it in some kind of vague hope of a ‘quiet revival’ (which is so quiet everyone is hearing about it!). Neither is it in the repetition of endless spiritual cliches and memes such as ‘the most important thing for the church is to speak about Jesus more than the church”. The name of Jesus is not a magic mantra to be used to get rid of our own personal demons or advance our own causes. I think of the Jewish exorcists in Ephesus (Acts 19) who were commanding demons to come out in the name of Jesus and were told by the evil spirit – ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”! It’s no use evoking the name of Christ if you are going to ignore what Christ says, and throw away his Word. The Church needs to return to the real Christ – the Christ of the Bible. Not the fantasy Christ of the progressives at prayer.
The Church needs to hear the word of Christ – “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: there are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Rev.2:14-16)
“20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” (Rev. 2:20-23)
14 ‘To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me”. (Rev 3:14-20)
Hear the Word of the Lord…. or Ichabod.
Join me in praying for the Church of Scotland, and the Church in Scotland (not the same thing!),
Yours in Christ
David
PS. Come back next week for the Free Church….
PPS. For the avoidance of doubt I feel heart sorry for the evangelicals who remain in the C of S – especially the ordinary members. And there are still a few faithful ministers who are keeping their head down and getting on with the local work….but for how long can that continue? Evangelical congregations are being forcibly amalgamated with liberal ones…..I cannot understand how any evangelical could be a member of the Edinburgh and West Lothian Presbytery and be complicit in the blasphemous farce of a service their presbytery did.
And here is the St Giles induction service.
The Slow Death of the Church of Scotland – Accelerates
Letter from Australia 125 – Debating Suffering with Stephen Law on Unbelievable…some feedback!