First woman moderator installed; Move to make pension scheme sustainable;Commission reports on same-sex relations; Irish Moderator to address Assembly
New Church of Scotland Moderator installed
Reverend Lorna Hood has spoken of the “honour and privilege” of becoming the new Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. She was installed at the start of the General Assembly in Edinburgh on Saturday last.
Addressing the Assembly, she paid tribute to her predecessor the Reverend Albert Bogle for maintaining the profile of the Church in society and the media.
“You have not been reticent on speaking out on social and political issues,” she said. “The Church offers you and [wife] Martha heartfelt thanks for a good job well done.”
Mrs Hood also took a moment to reassure Bogle over the loss of a historic cross and the Moderatorial gold ring at Edinburgh Airport last month. Despite a substantial reward being offered, neither object has been returned.
The ring has traditionally been passed on to each successive Moderator but during the installation today, Bogle quipped “gold and silver I do not have”, referring to Acts 3.
Addressing Bogle personally, Mrs Hood said: “I know how deeply you have been troubled by the disappearance of the ring and the cross – you have tortured yourself. Not one person in this General Assembly has not felt for you over that, but we also want to say now, don’t let it mar what has been a wonderful year. They can be replaced – and they will – but your memories and the work you did on behalf of the Church, they are quite unique, thank you.”
Mrs Hood went on to say how “overwhelmed” she had been by the promises of prayer she had received from people from around the world since being nominated as Moderator.
“Such an assurance is so uplifting as well as making me feel very, very humble,” she said.
“At the General Assembly let us pray for one another, let us pray for one another in all that will happen, in all that will transpire this year, and let us ask for God’s blessing to be with us.”
Mrs Hood, originally from Kilmarnock, is a Queen’s Chaplain and has served on various committees in the Church of Scotland.
In 2001 she was appointed a General Trustee and is presently Vice Convener of the Assembly Arrangements Committee and Vice Convener of the Business Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Church of Scotland moves to make pensions scheme sustainable
Today’s tough economic reality has prompted urgent action from the Church of Scotland to make its pensions scheme sustainable.
Pensions trustees explained to the Kirk’s General Assembly today that volatile financial markets and longer life expectancy mean the current system is no longer viable.
Commissioners heard that the Kirk is sitting on a pensions deficit of £29.1m that needs to be paid for.
Pensions trustees have been working with the Church of Scotland’s four employing agencies to ensure that the deficit repayments are manageable.
The Church is now in the process of consulting some 3,500 ministers and employees on proposals to change from a salary based pension scheme to a defined contribution scheme.
“We will take full account of what staff say,” said Pauline Weibye, Secretary to the Council of Assembly.
Addressing the Church of Scotland General Assembly, Convener of the Council of Assembly the Reverend Grant Barclay warned that the work of the Church would be “adversely affected” if the pensions scheme was not changed.
“The Council of Assembly together with the employing agencies has taken seriously the warnings about future pensions funding highlighted by the pensions trustees at last year’s Assembly … Current arrangements are unaffordable,” he said.
In comments after the Assembly session, Mr Barclay added that any proposed changes to the schemes would not affect benefits already accrued by active members of the scheme or the pensions of those who have already retired.
The changes are due to come into effect by no later than 1 January 2014.
Mr Barclay added: “The Church remains committed to providing a secure pension structure for the future and to consult with staff on the proposals.”
Kirk General Assembly on same-sex relations
Today Monday, Mrs Hood will be called upon to preside over one of the most controversial debates in the church’s history.
Ministers will hear the findings of a report by a theological commission, appointed in 2011, to look at the issue of same-sex relationships and the ministry.
The Church of Scotland has said the report describes the breadth of theological opinion that exists but does not represent the considered view of the Kirk.
The report does not offer any recommendations.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22575406
Irish Moderator to address Assembly
News Letter – Presbyterian Moderator the Rev Dr Roy Patton is attending the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (The Kirk) in Edinburgh .
Dr Patton, as well as attending the debates and representing the Presbyterian Church in Ireland at related functions, has been asked to address the Assembly on behalf of other church leaders from the UK who are serving as delegates to the Assembly.
The Moderator will be accompanied by his senior chaplain the Rev Michael Barry, minister of Sandys Street Presbyterian Church, Newry, and the clerk of session of Dr Patton’s Ballygilbert congregation outside Bangor Alastair Vance.
History will be made at this Assembly as the Church of Scotland installs its first female moderator, who is also a minister; the first woman to hold the office was an elder.
The Rev Lorna Hood has been minster of Renfrew: North for 30 years and she sees her appointment as an honour for all women who have been parish ministers.
“Women have been in the ministry for a long time and have done a good job,” she says.
“It is nice that the decision comes not just for me, but for the work that all women do in the parishes. At the end of the day I have never thought of myself as being very different as a woman parish minister. I am just a parish minister.”
One of the major debates at this year’s Scottish Assembly will be on the report of the theological commission. Two years ago it was asked to examine the theological issues around same-sex relationships, civil partnerships and marriage as well as whether the Church of Scotland should ordain ministers and deacons who are in same-sex relationships.
There will also be a controversial report into whether ministers in the Church of Scotland should have freedom of conscience over the blessing of same-sex civil partnerships and whether the church should agree to a liturgy for such blessings.
The Church of Scotland is the mother church of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, with Presbyterianism planted in Ulster 400 years ago this year with the first congregation set up in Ballycarry, Co Antrim.
However, the two churches are a separate entity in structures and theological standpoint. The principles of Calvinism unite the two churches.
The incoming Scottish moderator will attend the general assembly of the Presbtyterian Church in Ireland in Londonderry on June 3-6.