New initiatives shine a light in the darkness

A call to get up and move forward to better days ahead was issued to the General Assembly as Rev Tommy MacNeil, convener of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team (FAPLT), presented its annual report.

Acknowledging that the Church was "in a financial, ministerial, congregational, and denominational crisis", Mr MacNeil added that he felt it was not too much to say that the Church was in its "Gethsemane moment", the scene of the arrest of Jesus and a place of great mental and spiritual anguish.

"There are parts of our report that come as a result of pressure and fill us with a sense of grief," he said.

"We've made the difficult decision to cease publishing Life and Work in its current form. We've brought our joint report on assisted dying. We've also been through a prioritisation exercise where we've had to let go of a number of our Faith Action staff. Painful choices. Painful moments."

However, there was some light in the darkness.

"Over the last 18 months I've had the blessing of visiting 10 of our Presbyteries for roadshows in partnership with Seeds For Growth. At each of our roadshows there was a tangible sense of God's presence with us and His blessing upon us," he said.

"I'm also pleased to mention The Good News Project, which would be a new national campaign for our whole church to engage with.

"There are other lights we're seeing, but time doesn't permit me to speak about new worshipping communities, church planting, church revitalisation, the quiet revival amongst youth and young adults, and the fact that all presbytery plans have now been agreed and in place."

Mr MacNeil concluded his opening remarks by commenting: "I am absolutely convinced there are better and brighter days ahead for our church. But we will only see them if we get up and get going with what God has called us to do."

One of those lights in the darkness for Mr MacNeil was the Church's Vivid Vision, which looks towards the future of the Church.

Describing Vivid Vision as a dream of what could be, three years into the future, Mr MacNeil continued: "The struggles of the recent past are behind us and we're now responding to a new season of life and growth in local churches and our denomination. Such has been the shift that local and national newspapers are running with stories of the surprising turn around in the affairs of the church, locally and nationally."

A video commissioned by FAPLT to illustrate that vision is among the resources available to presbyteries and congregations to help them come up with their own vision for the future.

In a motion, the General Assembly was asked to welcome and endorse the Vivid Vision video and associated resources.

When asked about the cost and impact of the video, Mr Tommy McNeil explained it was £8,000 and that this was the cheapest of three quotes that were asked for. He reminded the Assembly that there will be a conference session around it on Wednesday and that congregations are able to use the video and resources to start conversations at a local level.

Mr MacNeil was also able to announce an extension to the Assistant Minister Scheme, enabling newly ordained ministers to retain a position with the Church until new ministry opportunities open up.

FAPLT has now issued over 70 assistant minister contracts.

The scheme was due to finish at the end of September, but the General Assembly approved a motion to extend this until the end of the year.

Mr MacNeil commented: "As FAPLT, part of our commitment to the church is to listen. As such, we have heard there is a need for the scheme to continue for another short duration and so are proposing extending it for a final three months.

"With this, we want to assure the Assembly that we will continue to journey with and support all our assistant ministers, but the nature of this support needs to be different."

Rev Brian Kerr welcomed the extension and commented: "This is a short-term solution, but allows local presbyteries to identify opportunities that will allow the gifts and talents of local ministers to remain within the Church at this time."

Rev Robbie Hamilton, Clyde Presbytery Clerk, took the opportunity to thank assistant ministers for the work they had done in his area.

"Let's not forget that this scheme has supported vacant congregations in difficult times," he said.

"Their help has been invaluable."

Something fresh

Mr MacNeil also described the new Apprenticeship Route as "another light" in the darkness and an exciting development for the Church.

The initiative, which is aimed at 18 to 40-year olds, provides a non-traditional route towards leadership and ministry, widening access to training and opening up opportunities for younger people who may not have the academic qualifications required by current training pathways.

Since the Apprenticeship Route was approved by the General Assembly last year, FAPLT had received 21 registrations of interest and 12 formal applications, Mr MacNeil revealed.

Faith Action vice-convener for people and training Rev David Clarkson said the scheme was something fresh that spoke to a wider and more diverse call to serve.

"This is not a shortcut," he told commissioners.

"It's a pastoral response to a deeply spiritual reality: that many people hear God's call long before they see themselves in a pulpit.

"The Apprenticeship Route is about catching that spark of calling — and giving it space to grow. Through experience, reflection, and mentoring in local congregations, we want to walk with people early — and discern vocation together."

Rev Callum MacFarlane-Grieve, who told the Assembly that he comes from a working-class background, commended FAPLT for making the hurdles to pursuing ministry less daunting.

"I almost turned my back on my call because I felt it wasn't for me," he admitted.

"How many have we lost because we felt the same? The Church can't let our structures be barriers to those called by God.

"I commend the Apprenticeship Route and will watch closely to see how it develops."

An international vision

The Assembly looked beyond Scotland with a series of motions covering Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Following an emotional statement from Rev Doug McRoberts, the former minister of St Andrew's Church in Valetta, about the experiences of a Sudanese woman who was rescued from the Mediterranean and taken to safety in Malta, the General Assembly passed a motion encouraging the Church to remember and pray for the Church and people of South Sudan as they live with the effects of conflict, coping with climate changes.

The motion also called for a just and peaceful transition to new political leadership, and welcomed a new leadership in the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan.

The Assembly also drew attention to the work of Mediterranean Hope over the last decade in welcoming and supporting refugees and migrants in Italy, and pledged to continue to pray for peace in Lebanon and Syria, but also to explore ways in which the Church in Scotland can offer tangible support for the rebuilding of churches and communities.