The Courier and other newspapers have recently run main articles on the continuing decline of the Church of Scotland. For example this one about the possible closure of Brechin cathedral – where the attendances are dreadful. Today’s Courier has another report in the same vein. With some suggested solutions from Life and Work. The media are reporting the situation correctly – the Church of Scotland … Continue reading Re-branding the Church of Scotland
As we head towards St Andrews Day – its perhaps appropriate to reflect on the state of the Church in Scotland – and given the amount of publicity they have received this week, especially The Church of Scotland. It is drifting into ‘irrelevance and obscurity’. No – this is not another analysis from an ‘outsider’ such as yours truly. This is an article/press release … Continue reading The Suicide of the Church of Scotland – A Call to Prayer for St Andrews Day
As we move into pre-Assembly season I want to begin a new weekly series looking at the state of the Church of Jesus Christ in Scotland, and assessing where we are, how things have changed in the past year and look at some of the opportunities and threats to us. There is no particular order to this but I hope that these musings/observations will … Continue reading Life and Work – The State of the Church of Scotland Today
This is one blog I was praying I would not have to write. So much so that I have held of writing for days in the hope that common sense and Christian decency would prevail. But time has run out. I have to admit it…in my naivety I have been played and suckered. And it’s not a nice feeling.
On Wednesday September 30th I found myself walking down South Clerk St towards Salisbury Mayfield Church of Scotland. I was in a literal cold sweat to the extent that I wondered if I was going to collapse. Why was I in such a state? Because I felt I was walking into the lions den. I was there to debate Rev. Scott McKenna, minister of the Church, on the bible, the atonement and the future of the church in Scotland. You can see the advert linked here:
At one level I was excited. Because the church was packed with over 250 people on a midweek evening to discuss theology; because I liked Scott when I had met him previously and believed that he genuinely wanted to have an open discussion about Continue reading “The Scottgate Tapes – A Revealing Insight into the Current State of the Church of Scotland”
The response to my article on the Church of Scotland’s own figures and reports has been interesting – if a little predictable. I am thankful for people like Alan Williams who remarked that it was a fair and measured comment. We continue to pray for people like Alan who are seeking to turn the tide. But there were two other responses which intrigued me. The … Continue reading A Gentle Decline and an Acts 20 Situation!
The Church of Scotland Moderator has come out with an article in Life and Work which was reported in the Daily Mail as you don’t need to believe in God before you can be a member in the Church. No – that’s not a Monty Python joke – thats a serious notion of ‘christian’ evangelism….my response is below – thoughts appreciated. http://www.christiantoday.com/article/belonging.before.believing.a.recipe.for.a.dying.church/39171.htm Continue reading Belonging before Believing – do you need to believe in God before becoming a Church Member?
