Presbytery of Lochaber

Assembly Reports

Kinlochleven Parish Church

General Assembly 2010—From Morag Muirhead

 

As a first time Commissioner, I found attending the General Assembly immensely exciting. Lots of people whom I met kept saying that they hoped we weren’t too bored. Bored? Exhausted maybe, but bored never; well almost never – the financial reports were difficult to listen to, but that’s because I don’t really understand them.

 

It was good to catch up with old friends, and before I go any further, I met Archie Spiers and he said to send you all his best wishes and to say that he has happy memories of his time with Lochaber Presbytery.

 

It was really interesting to watch the proceedings and although many people nowadays dismiss all the pomp and ceremony that accompanies events such as this, I found it very affirming. It serves to remind us of our roots and serves to remind us that the governance of the church is a serious business and there is a huge responsibility attached.

 

Yes it is a serious business, but this year’s Moderator, Rev. John Christie, managed to conduct the business of the Assembly with, to quote his own words, “Anticipation, excitement, enthusiasm and change”.

 

This year marked the 450^th Anniversary of the Scottish Reformation. The Communion which began proceedings on Friday, was conducted using the words said at the Communion at the first ever General Assembly in December 1560. There was a special service held on the Sunday afternoon to commemorate the Scottish Reformation and it was just that – very special.

 

Each day began with worship, and the psalms were usually sung a capella, led by a precentor, although we had on occasion some more modern hymns with the organ accompaniment. Irrespective of the format, the singing was always splendid and empowering.

 

There was a tremendous amount of business to get through each day, as can be seen from the size of the Blue Book. There is also the Book of Order of Proceedings, which besides explaining the conduct of debate also has several supplementary reports.

 

The seven of us representing Lochaber all saw each other from time to time, and some on a daily basis, but unfortunately there was never an opportunity for us all to get together at the same time.

 

Most of the business was got through in a reasonably steady time, but some of the larger reports such as Ministries Council and Mission and Discipleship, took a lot longer. There was lots of discussion, with some speakers quite passionate, but the debates were conducted with humour and grace by John Christie, and the Commissioners mostly reciprocated in kind.

 

While this whole Assembly was, I felt one of hope, and a will to change, I couldn’t help but feel that from time to time there was an undercurrent of uncertainty and a certain uneasiness, and that this good-humoured Assembly was being clung to almost like a life-raft against the storms which inevitably will come over the next twelve months and beyond.

 

However, someone asked me if I enjoyed the Assembly – and then added – if enjoy is the right word. And yes - I did enjoy it - very much. I found it quite compulsive and attended every session that I could, except when I was supposed to be elsewhere.

 

It is an eye-opener, to see the cyclical pattern of the workings of the church. The next time a remit comes down from the Assembly Councils for discussion and/or implementation, and I am tempted to say, “Oh no, what now?” I will remind myself that these remits actually come from the people of God themselves. We who are the church, tell our Kirk Sessions, who in turn tell our Presbyteries, who in turn report to the General Assembly. It is the Commissioners to the general Assembly; many ordinary elders like myself, who in fact dictate what comes back to us as remits.

 

The convener for the report of the Panel on Review and Reform said this: “If we always do what we always did, we will always get what we always got.”

 

We are being urged to think more imaginatively, even radically, and some remits coming down from Assembly this year will be to that end; finding more imaginative ways to be church; finding more imaginative ways to be Kirk Sessions and finding more imaginative ways of being Presbyteries.

 

Why? Because we, the people in the pews, and our ministers, have been crying out for our Kirk Sessions and our Presbyteries to do more for our churches, our ministers and our communities.

Yes I enjoyed the General Assembly. I enjoyed being part of something which has been in place for 450 years. I enjoyed watching how the machinery of a huge concern like the Church of Scotland is set in motion. I enjoyed the fact that a wee buddy from the South Side of Glasgow has the right to stand before the General Assembly and question why something set in motion a year ago has still not been completed. And best of all, this same wee buddy was given an answer!

 

And I would encourage everyone who says he/she is a member of the Church of Scotland to go to the General Assembly at least once, even if it is only to sit in the public gallery and listen to the reports and debates. I am sure it would be worthwhile. Watching on the internet is not quite the same. You don’t get the atmosphere.

 

I found the whole experience enlightening and also quite spiritually affirming, especially the worship. I could go on, talking about the excellent Reports given by the Guild, the Social Care Council, World Mission etc., etc. but I won’t.

 

I want to just finish with what for me will be the lasting picture of the General Assembly of 2010. It happened on the Monday, during the morning worship when the Children from the Children’s Assembly were present. After the children had given a reading and had done some talking by way of interviews about what the Children’s Assembly on Iona had been like and how they had enjoyed it. John Christie came down out of the Moderator’s chair to talk to the children. He not only came down to stand in front of them, but he sat down! There was a chair there, but John Christie sat right down; cross-legged – on the floor – in front of and below the children. That picture of this very tall man – and he is very tall – getting down, not just to the children’s level, but setting himself below them, will stay with me. That picture of humility touched not only my heart, but that of many in the Assembly, and there were quite a few damp eyes.

Yes, I enjoyed the General Assembly – exhausting, but exhilarating.

General Assembly 2010— From Eilidh MacColl —Youth Delegate

 

 

I had exams for two days prior to the General Assembly so was unable to attend until the Saturday. I was very anxious about the experience as I had very little idea about what to expect and felt thoroughly unprepared for the assembly as I had had little time to prepare due to my university commitments. My mum came through with me to Edinburgh on the first day which went some way to assuaging my nerves. I was rather entranced by entering the New College Building court yard and seeing the rather large and imposing statue of John Knox and it dawned on me that the assembly had been congregating there in the same manner since 1560. For me it was a moment that emphasised the history and sense of occasion and how that 450 years may have elapsed but what brought the delegates there had not.

 

I met one of the youth representatives, Heather, just before going into the Hall for the first time, who made me feel immediately welcome and put me at ease and took me under her wing. It put to rest a lot of the fears I had about of being late in coming to the assembly. On my first lunch time the youth representatives had lunch together outside because it was such a sunny day and I got to meet most of them and them were very cohesive as a group but very inclusive and went out of their way to make me feel welcome which I greatly appreciated

 

 I felt a bit lost with the first day’s proceeding as I couldn’t follow much of the debate and discussion but as I began to understand the format and really engage with the debate. By the second day of proceedings on Monday I felt I understood more and began to really considering what I was hearing and even form my own opinions on what was being discussed.

 

In typical fashion I was late for the Sunday service in the St Giles Cathedral as I had some train trouble in Glasgow. The vastness of the Cathedral and the number of people created a very different ambience from the previous Sunday services I had attended at home. There was an interesting contrast with the silence of the Cathedral during the sermon and all the voices of the delegates singing and then the choir and the organ music through which there was a definite feeling of occasion and purpose. It was a very thought provoking service.  After the service Rev D. Kellas showed me around the Cathedral which was very enlightening and interesting.

 

On Sunday afternoon I attended the special assembly session to commemorate the 450^th anniversary of the Reformation. Professor Jane Dawson gave a very illuminating and fascinating historical perspective on the Reformation which placed the Reformation in the context of its own time but also highlighted what the Reformation means to us in the 21^st century; and what the central message and legacy of the Reformation and how this has not just shaped theological doctrine but also secular history. “John Knox” reciting his 16^th century sermon to a 21^st century audience was memorable and emphasised and complimented the theme of Professor Dawson’s addresses and the service as a whole.  

 

 I had often heard it said during the Assembly sessions that the theme of the Assembly as set forth by the Moderator was that delegates were to be bold and innovative in the decisions that that they took at the Assembly. There was also an emphasis on the idea of hope. There were three moments that particularly resonate with me as epitomising this. The first was when during the deliverance of the Church and Society Council Report. When it came to discussing the point on the issue of mental health and Church support, one of the Youth delegates stood and gave her support to the continued work of the Church in this field and described in such mature and dignified way her own struggle. I was amazed at her bravery in addressing the Assembly and the hope and faith she had kept throughout her struggle and for her future.

 

The second point which I felt displayed both boldness and hope was The HIV/AIDs Project Group deliverance. The Assembly was told how in Malawi the tide was turning again the stigma of the disease and that the disease was no longer a death sentence due to the greater availability of drugs.

 

One of the most symbolic moments of the Assembly from my perspective was Professor Mona Siddiqui addressing the Assembly. She was the first Muslim ever to do so. This address followed the report delivered by the Chaplains to the armed services and it highlighted how much progress has been made towards a greater understanding and cooperation and how the Chaplains have helped keep hope alive in very difficult and unimaginable circumstances.

 

Overall, attending the General Assembly was a very meaningful experience. The latter anecdotes are the moments that I felt showed both progression and hope for the future of the Church, which made me evaluate my own faith. I have taken much from the experience both from a theological and secular perspective.