| Church of Scotland | |
 Modern logo of the Kirk |
|
| Classification | Protestant |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Mainline |
| Polity | Presbyterian |
| Founder | John Knox |
| Origin | 1560 |
| Separated from | Roman Catholic Church |
| Separations | Scottish Episcopal Church (definitive separation 1689); Free Church of Scotland (separated 1843); incorporated the United Free Church of Scotland in 1900 |
| Associations | Action of Churches Together in Scotland; Churches Together in Britain and Ireland; Leuenberg Agreement World Alliance of Reformed Churches; Conference of European Churches; World Council of Churches |
| Geographical Area | Scotland |
| Statistics | |
| Congregations | 1,200 |
| Members | 600,000 |
The Church of Scotland (CofS; Scottish Gaelic: Eaglais na h-Alba), known informally by its pre-Union Scots name, The Kirk (of Scotland), is the national church of Scotland. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Christian Theology is discourse concerning Christian faith Christian theologians use biblical Exegesis, rational analysis and argument for other uses see Mainline (disambiguation The mainline (also sometimes called Mainstream) or mainline Protestant denominations Ecclesiastical polity is the operational and governance structure of a Church or Christian denomination. Presbyterian polity is a method of Church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of Presbyters or elders John Knox (c 1510 – 24 November 1572 was a Scottish clergyman and leader of the Protestant Reformation who is considered the founder of the Presbyterian The word schism (ˈsɪzəm or /ˈskɪzəm/ from the Greek σχίσμα skhísma (from σχίζω skhízō, "to tear to split" The Scottish Episcopal Church (Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba is a Christian denomination in Scotland and a member of the Anglican Communion, although it Year 1843 ( MDCCCXLIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The United Free Church of Scotland (or ‘UF Church’ is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS is a national ecumenical organisation of churches in Scotland, founded in 1990. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland ( CTBI) is an Ecumenical organisation Leuenberg Agreement (Concorde de Leuenberg is an Ecumenical document adopted in 1973 by major European Lutheran and Reformed churches The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC is a fellowship of more than 200 churches with roots in the 16th-century Reformation, and particularly in the theology of The Conference of European Churches (CEC was founded in 1959 to promote reconciliation dialogue and friendship between the churches of Europe at a time of growing Cold War The World Council of Churches ( WCC) is an international Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. The Acts of Union were a pair of Parliamentary Acts passed during 1706 and 1707 by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to put into Scots ( The Scots leid) refers to Anglic varieties derived from early northern Middle English spoken in parts of Scotland and Northern The term national church is usually a reference to a church organization in Christianity that claims pastoral jurisdiction over a Nation. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation. Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity The Scottish Reformation was Scotland 's formal break with the Roman Catholic Church in 1560 and the events surrounding this
The Church of Scotland traces its roots back to the beginnings of Christianity in Scotland, but its identity is principally shaped by the Reformation of 1560. Christianity in Medieval Scotland pertains to the Christian Religion in Scotland in the Middle Ages. Its current membership is about 12% of the Scottish population - though according to the 2001 national census, 42% of the Scottish population claim some form of allegiance to it (see Religion in Scotland). Scotland covers an area of 78782 km² or 30341 mi², giving it a Population density of. Scotland is traditionally a Christian nation with around 65% claiming to be Christian at the 2001 census.
Contents |
Position in Scottish society
The 2001 Census:
| Religion | Percentage of Population |
|---|---|
| Church of Scotland | 42% |
| No Religion | 28% |
| Roman Catholic | 16% |
| Other Christian | 7% |
| No Answer | 5% |
| Islam | 0. 8% |
| Buddhism | 0. 1% |
| Sikhism | 0. 1% |
| Judaism | 0. 1% |
| Hinduism | 0. 1% |
| Other Religions | 0. 5% |
The Church of Scotland has around 1,400 active ministers, 1,200 congregations, and its official membership at approximately 600,000 comprises about 12% of the population of Scotland. In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform clergy functions such as teaching of beliefs However, in the 2001 national census, 42% of Scots identified themselves as ‘Church of Scotland’ by religion. The Church of Scotland Guild, historically the Kirk's women's movement, is still the largest voluntary organisation in Scotland. The Church of Scotland Guild or simply The Guild (formerly know as the Woman's Guild) is a movement within the Church of Scotland.
Although it is the national church, the Kirk is not a "state church", and in this, and other, regards is dissimilar to the Church of England (the established church in England). Kirk can mean " church " in general or the Church of Scotland in particular A state religion (also called an official religion, established church or state church) is a religious body or Creed officially The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Under its constitution, which is recognised by acts of Parliament, the Kirk enjoys complete independence from the state in spiritual matters. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories A state is a political association with effective Sovereignty over a geographic Area and representing a Population.
The British monarch (when in Scotland) is simply a member of the Church (she is not, as in England, its Supreme Governor). TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy The Supreme Governor of the Church of England is a title held by the British Monarchs which signifies their titular leadership over the Church of England. The monarch’s accession oath includes a promise to "defend the security" of the Church of Scotland. She is formally represented at the annual General Assembly by a Lord High Commissioner (unless she chooses to attend in person). The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest Court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body Lord High Commissioner is the style of High Commissioners ie direct representatives of the Monarch, in three cases in the Kingdom of Scotland and the The role is purely formal.
The Church of Scotland is committed to its ‘distinctive call and duty to bring the ordinances of religion to the people in every parish of Scotland through a territorial ministry’ (Article 3 of its Articles Declaratory). The Articles Declaratory of the Constitution of the Church of Scotland – often known as the Declaratory Articles - were drawn up early in the 20th century to facilitate the In practice this means that the Kirk maintains a presence in every community in Scotland – and exists to serve not only its members but all Scots (the majority of funerals in Scotland are taken by its ministers). It also means that the Kirk pools its resources to ensure a continued presence in every part of Scotland.
The Church played a leading role in the provision of universal education in Scotland (the first such provision in the modern world), largely due to its desire that all people should be able to read the Bible. Scotland is traditionally a Christian nation with around 65% claiming to be Christian at the 2001 census. The Catholic Church in Scotland ( Scottish Gaelic: An Eaglais Caitligeach) describes the organisation of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church in The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing ( Scottish Gaelic: An Eaglais Shaor a leantainn) is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination which The United Free Church of Scotland (or ‘UF Church’ is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland ( Scottish Gaelic: "An Eaglais Shaor Chlèireach" was formed in 1893 and claims to be the spiritual descendant of the The Associated Presbyterian Churches (APC is a small Scottish Christian denomination (with some representation in Canada and New Zealand) formed The Scottish Episcopal Church (Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba is a Christian denomination in Scotland and a member of the Anglican Communion, although it The Baptist Union of Scotland is the denomination of Baptist churches in Scotland. Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS is a national ecumenical organisation of churches in Scotland, founded in 1990. The Scottish Reformation was Scotland 's formal break with the Roman Catholic Church in 1560 and the events surrounding this Hinduism in Scotland is of relatively recent provenance with the bulk of Scottish Hindus having settled there in the second half of the 20th century The arrival of Islam in Scotland is relatively recent The bulk of Muslims in Scotland come from families who immigrated during the late 20th century The earliest date at which Jews arrived in Scotland is not known Public education is education mandated for or offered to the children of the general public by the Government, whether national regional or local provided by an institution Scotland has a long history of universal provision of Public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly different from other parts of the United Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin However, today it does not operate schools - these having been entrusted into the care of the state in the later half of the 19th century.
Governance and administration
- See also: List of Church of Scotland parishes, List of Church of Scotland synods and presbyteries, and Presbyterian church governance
The Church of Scotland is Presbyterian in polity and Reformed in theology. The Church of Scotland, the National church of Scotland, divides the country into Presbyteries, which are subdivided into Parishes each served The Church of Scotland has a Presbyterian structure which means it is organised under a hierarchy of courts Presbyterian polity is a method of Church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of Presbyters or elders Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically The most recent articulation of its legal position, the Articles Declaratory (1921), spells out the key concepts. The Articles Declaratory of the Constitution of the Church of Scotland – often known as the Declaratory Articles - were drawn up early in the 20th century to facilitate the
Courts and assemblies
As a Presbyterian church, the Kirk has no bishops, but is rather governed by elders and ministers (collectively called presbyters) sitting in a series of courts. Each congregation is led by a Kirk Session. Presbyterian polity is a method of Church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of Presbyters or elders The Kirk Sessions in turn are answerable to regional presbyteries (the Kirk currently has over 40: see list). Presbyterian polity is a method of Church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of Presbyters or elders The Church of Scotland has a Presbyterian structure which means it is organised under a hierarchy of courts The supreme body is the annual General Assembly, which meets each May in Edinburgh. The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest Court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow.
Moderator
The chairperson of each court is known as the 'moderator' – at the local level of the Kirk Session, the moderator is normally the parish minister; Presbyteries and the General Assembly elect a moderator each year. The Church of Scotland maintains a presbyterian polity and is thus governed by a hierarchy of Church Courts. The Moderator of the General Assembly serves for the year as the public representative of the Church – but beyond that enjoys no special powers or privileges and is in no sense the leader or official spokesperson of the Kirk. The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is an honorary role held for 12 months At all levels, moderators may be either elders or ministers.
Councils
At a national level, the work of the Church of Scotland is chiefly carried out by "Councils", each supported by full-time staff mostly based at the Church of Scotland Offices in Edinburgh. The burning bush is an object described by the Book of Exodus as being located on Mount Horeb; according to the narrative the bush was on fire but was not consumed The Church of Scotland offices are located in the centre of Edinburgh (in the New Town) at 121 George Street Edinburgh EH2 4YN The Church of Scotland offices are located in the centre of Edinburgh (in the New Town) at 121 George Street Edinburgh EH2 4YN The Councils are:
- Church and Society Council
- Ministries Council
- Mission and Discipleship Council
- Social Care Council (based at Charis House, Edinburgh)
- Support and Services Council
- World Mission Council
The Church of Scotland’s Social Care Council (also known as "CrossReach") is the largest provider of social care in Scotland today, running projects for various disadvantaged and vulnerable groups: including care for the elderly; help with alcoholism, drug, and mental health problems; and assistance for the homeless. The Church and Society Council is an agency of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is tasked with facilitating the Church's engagement with and Social work is a discipline involving the application of Social theory and research methods to study and improve the lives of people groups and societies Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions Mental health is a term used to describe either a level of cognitive or Emotional wellbeing or an absence of a Mental disorder. Homelessness is the condition and social category of people who lack housing because they cannot afford or are otherwise unable to maintain regular safe and adequate shelter
The national Church has never shied from involvement in Scottish politics. Current situation The largest party is the Scottish National Party, which campaigns for Scottish independence. In 1919, the General Assembly created a Church and Nation Committee, which in 2005 became the Church and Society Council. The Church and Society Council is an agency of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is tasked with facilitating the Church's engagement with and The Church of Scotland was (and is) a firm opponent of nuclear weaponry. A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Supporting devolution, it was one of the parties involved in the Scottish Constitutional Convention, which resulted in the setting up of the Scottish Parliament in 1997. Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a State to government at subnational level The Scottish Constitutional Convention (SCC was association of Scottish political parties churches and other civic groups that developed a framework for a Scottish The Scottish Parliament ( Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba; Scots: Scottish Pairlament) is the devlolved national unicameral Indeed, from 1999-2004 the Parliament met in the Kirk's Assembly Hall in Edinburgh, whilst its own building was being constructed. The Assembly Hall is located between the Lawnmarket and The Mound in Edinburgh, Scotland. Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. The Church of Scotland actively supports the work of the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office in Edinburgh. The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office (SCPO was created in 1999, at the same time as the Devolved Scottish Parliament was established
Other Church agencies include:
- Assembly Arrangements Committee
- Committee on Chaplains to HM Forces
- Church of Scotland Guild
- Committee on Church Art and Architecture (part of the Mission and Discipleship Council)
- Ecumenical Relations Committee
- General Treasurer's Department
- General Trustees (responsible for church buildings)
- Legal Questions Committee
- Panel on Review and Reform
- Principal Clerk's Department
- Safeguarding Office (child protection)
- Stewardship and Finance Committee
Church offices
The Church of Scotland Offices are located at 121 George Street, Edinburgh. The Church of Scotland offices are located in the centre of Edinburgh (in the New Town) at 121 George Street Edinburgh EH2 4YN Situated to the north of Princes Street, George Street is a major street in the centre of Edinburgh. These imposing buildings - popularly known in Church circles as "one-two-one" - were designed in a Scandinavian-influenced style by the architect Sydney Mitchell and built in 1909-1911 for the United Free Church of Scotland. Following the union of the churches in 1929 a matching extension was built in the 1930s.
The offices of the Moderator, Principal Clerk, General Treasurer, Law Department and all the Church councils are located at 121 George Street, with the exception of the Social Care Council (CrossReach). There is no "chief executive", but each Council has its own Council Secretary. The Principal Clerk to the General Assembly (since 1996) is Finlay A. J. Macdonald. Finlay A J Macdonald is the Principal Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
History
- See also: History of Scotland
While the Church of Scotland traces its roots back to the earliest Christians in Scotland, its identity was principally shaped by the Scottish Reformation of 1560. The history of Scotland begins around 10000 years ago when Humans first began to inhabit Scotland after the end of the Devensian glaciation, the last John Knox (c 1510 – 24 November 1572 was a Scottish clergyman and leader of the Protestant Reformation who is considered the founder of the Presbyterian Geneva (Genève is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French -speaking The Scottish Reformation was Scotland 's formal break with the Roman Catholic Church in 1560 and the events surrounding this At that point, the church in Scotland broke with Rome, in a process of Protestant reform led, among others, by John Knox. John Knox (c 1510 – 24 November 1572 was a Scottish clergyman and leader of the Protestant Reformation who is considered the founder of the Presbyterian It reformed its doctrines and government, drawing on the principles of John Calvin which Knox had been exposed to while living in Geneva, Switzerland. John Calvin (or Jean Calvin) (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564 was a French Protestant theologian during the Protestant Reformation and Geneva (Genève is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French -speaking In 1560, the Scottish Parliament abolished papal jurisdiction and approved Calvin's Confession of Faith, but did not accept many of the principles laid out in Knox's First Book of Discipline, which argued, amongst other things, that all of the assets of the old church should pass to the new. This Book of Discipline refers to two works regulative of Ecclesiastical order in the Church of Scotland after the Scottish Reformation The 1560 Reformation Settlement was not ratified by the crown for some years, and the question of church government also remained unresolved. Ecclesiastical polity is the operational and governance structure of a Church or Christian denomination. In 1572 the acts of 1560 were finally approved by the young James VI, but the Concordat of Leith also allowed the crown to appoint bishops with the church's approval. John Knox himself had no clear views on the office of bishop, preferring to see them renamed as 'superintendents'; but in response to the new Concordat a Presbyterian party emerged headed by Andrew Melville, the author of the Second Book of Discipline. Andrew Melville (1 August 1545 &ndash 1622 was a Scottish scholar theologian and religious reformer This Book of Discipline refers to two works regulative of Ecclesiastical order in the Church of Scotland after the Scottish Reformation
Melville and his supporters enjoyed some temporary successes-most notably in the Golden Act of 1592, which gave parliamentary approval to presbyterian courts. However, King James, by skillful manipulation of both church and state, steadily reintroduced parliamentary and then diocesan Episcopacy. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James Episcopal polity is a form of church governance which is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a Bishop (Greek By the time he died in 1625, the Church of Scotland had a full panel of bishops and archbishops. General Assemblies, moreover, met only at times and places approved by the crown.
Charles I inherited a settlement in Scotland based on a balanced compromise between Calvinist doctrine and Episcopal practice. Charles I, (19 November 1600 &ndash 30 January 1649 was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. Lacking the political judgement of his father, he began to upset this by moving into more dangerous areas. Disapproving of the 'plainness' of the Scottish service he sought to introduce the kind of High Church practice in use in England. The centre piece of this new strategy was the Prayer Book of 1637. Although this was devised by a panel of Scottish bishops, and not that already in use in England, as is so often assumed, Charles' insistence that it be drawn up in secret and adopted sight unseen led to widespread discontent. When the Prayer Book was finally introduced at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in the summer of 1637 it caused an outbreak of rioting, which spread across Scotland. A prominent feature of the Edinburgh skyline St Giles' Cathedral or the High Kirk of Edinburgh is a Church of Scotland place of worship decorating the In early 1638 the National Covenant was signed by large numbers of Scots, protesting at the introduction of the Prayer Book and other liturgical innovations that had not first been tested and approved by free Parliaments and General Assemblies of the Church. The Covenanters formed an important movement in the religion and politics of Scotland in the 17th century In November 1638, the General Assembly in Glasgow, the first to meet for twenty years, not only declared the Prayer Book unlawful, but went on to abolish the office of bishop itself. The Church of Scotland was then established on a Presbyterian basis. Charles' attempt at resistance to these developments led to the outbreak of the Bishops' Wars. In the ensuing civil wars, the Scots Covenanters at one point made common cause with the English parliamentarians - resulting in the Westminster Confession of Faith being agreed by both. The Covenanters formed an important movement in the religion and politics of Scotland in the 17th century The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed Confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition Ironically, this document remains the subordinate standard of the Church of Scotland, but was replaced in England after the Restoration. The English Restoration, or simply The Restoration began in 1660 when the English monarchy, Scottish monarchy and Irish monarchy were restored
Episcopacy was reintroduced to Scotland after the Restoration, the cause of considerable discontent, especially in the south-west of the country, where the Presbyterian tradition was strongest. The modern situation largely dates from 1690, when after the Glorious Revolution the majority of Scottish bishops were non-jurors, and in response Presbyterian government was guaranteed by law. The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, was the overthrow of King James II of England (VII of Scotland in 1688 by a union The nonjuring schism was a split in the Anglican Church in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution, over whether William of Orange could legally be recognized However, controversy still surrounded the relationship between the Church of Scotland's independence and the civil law of Scotland. The interference of civil courts with Church decisions, particularly over the right to appoint ministers, led to a number of groups seceding. This began with the secession of 1733 and culminating in the Disruption of 1843, when a large portion of the Church broke away to form the Free Church of Scotland. The Disruption of 1843 was a Schism within the established Church of Scotland, in which 450 ministers of the Church broke away over the issue of the Church's The seceding groups tended to divide and reunite among themselves — leading to a proliferation of Presbyterian denominations in Scotland.
However, in the 1920s, the British Parliament passed the Church of Scotland Act 1921, finally recognising the full independence of the Church in matters spiritual, and as a result of this the Kirk was able to unite with the United Free Church of Scotland in 1929. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories The Church of Scotland Act 1921 is an Act of the British Parliament, passed in 1921 The United Free Church of Scotland was itself the product of the union of the former United Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the majority of the Free Church of Scotland in 1900. The United Presbyterian Church of Scotland (1847-1900 was a Scottish Presbyterian denomination
Some independent Scottish Presbyterian denominations still remain. These include the Free Church of Scotland (formed of those congregations which refused to unite with the United Presbyterian Church in 1900), the United Free Church of Scotland (formed of congregations which refused to unite with the Church of Scotland in 1929), the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (which broke from the Free Church of Scotland in 1893), the Associated Presbyterian Churches (which emerged as a result of a split in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in the 1980s) and the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (which emerged from a split in the Free Church of Scotland in 2000). United Presbyterian Church was the name of multiple Christian denominations in the world among which are the following The United Presbyterian Church The United Free Church of Scotland (or ‘UF Church’ is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland ( Scottish Gaelic: "An Eaglais Shaor Chlèireach" was formed in 1893 and claims to be the spiritual descendant of the The Associated Presbyterian Churches (APC is a small Scottish Christian denomination (with some representation in Canada and New Zealand) formed The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing ( Scottish Gaelic: An Eaglais Shaor a leantainn) is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination which
The motto of the Church of Scotland is nec tamen consumebatur (Latin) - 'Yet it was not consumed', an allusion to Exodus 3:2 and the Burning Bush. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The burning bush is an object described by the Book of Exodus as being located on Mount Horeb; according to the narrative the bush was on fire but was not consumed
Theology and practice
The basis of faith for the Church of Scotland is the Word of God, which it views as being ‘contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament’. Its principal subordinate standard is The Westminster Confession of Faith (1647), although here liberty of opinion is granted on those matters ‘which do not enter into the substance of the faith’ (Art. The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed Confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition 2 and 5).
The Church of Scotland has no compulsory prayer book although it does have a hymn book (the 4th edition was published in 2005) and its Book of Common Order contains recommendations for public worship which are usually followed fairly closely in the case of sacraments and ordinances. Decisions concerning the conduct of public worship in the Church of Scotland are entirely at the discretion of the parish minister. The Book of Common Order is the name of several directories for public worship Preaching is the central focus of most services. Traditionally, Scots worship centred on the singing of metrical psalms and paraphrases, but for generations these have been supplemented with Christian music of all types. A metrical psalter is a kind of Bible translation: a Paraphrase of all or part of the Book of Psalms in Vernacular Christian music is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life The typical Church of Scotland service lasts about an hour, and has been characterised jokingly as a hymn-prayer sandwich, in which everything leads up to a climax in a 15-minute sermon near the end. There is normally no sung or responsive liturgy. However, worship is the responsibility of the minister in each parish, and the style of worship can vary and be quite experimental. In recent years, a variety of modern song books have been widely used in order to appeal more to contemporary trends in music, and elements from Iona Community liturgies are incorporated in some congregations. The Iona Community, founded in 1938 by the Rev George MacLeod, is an Ecumenical Christian Community of men and women from different Although traditionally worship is conducted by the parish minister, lay participation in services is becoming more frequent.
In common with other Protestant denominations, the Church recognises two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion (the Lord's Supper). Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those The Church baptises both believing adults and the children of Christian families. Communion in the Church of Scotland today is open to Christians of whatever denomination, without precondition. Communion services are usually taken fairly seriously in the Church; traditionally, a congregation held only three or four per year, although practice now greatly varies between congregations. In some congregations communion is celebrated once a month.
Theologically, the Church of Scotland is Reformed (ultimately in the Calvinist tradition) and is a member of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC is a fellowship of more than 200 churches with roots in the 16th-century Reformation, and particularly in the theology of However, its longstanding decision to respect "liberty of opinion on matters not affecting the substance of the faith", means it is relatively tolerant of a variety of theological positions, including those who would term themselves conservative and liberal in their doctrine, ethics and interpretation of Scripture. (The 19th century Scottish distinction was between 'evangelicals' and 'moderates'. Evangelicalism is a theological movement tradition and system of beliefs most closely associated with Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the Gospel Moderates, in church terms is normally though not exclusively used to refer to an important party of Clerics in the Church of Scotland during the 18th ) This is not quite the English concept of a ‘broad church’, but in practice it comes close to it.
The Church of Scotland is a member of ACTS (Action of Churches Together in Scotland) and, through its Committee on Ecumenical Relations, works closely with other denominations in Scotland. Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS is a national ecumenical organisation of churches in Scotland, founded in 1990. The present inter-denominational cooperation marks a distinct change from attitudes in certain quarters of the Church in the early twentieth century and before, when opposition to Irish Roman Catholic immigration was vocal (see Catholicism in Scotland). The Church of Scotland is a member of the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches. The World Council of Churches ( WCC) is an international The Conference of European Churches (CEC was founded in 1959 to promote reconciliation dialogue and friendship between the churches of Europe at a time of growing Cold War
Current reform
In common with many larger denominations, the Church of Scotland faces many current difficulties. Since the 1950s its membership has continued to decline, now being less than half what it was then. In 2008 the membership dropped below ½ million. The Church faces financial strains and the costly upkeep of many older ecclesiastical buildings. Recruitment of ministers was, until recently, a further concern. However, the number of candidates has increased in recent years. Today, around 1400 ministers serve about 480,000 members, and a considerably higher number of adherents.
Since the Reformation, one of the church’s tenets has been ecclesia reformata semper reformanda secundum verbum Dei – a ‘church which is reformed must always be reformed according to the Word of God’. Recently, the General Assembly produced its ‘Church without Walls’ report (2001) which embodies an ethos of change, and a focus on the grassroots life of the Church rather than its institutions.
As in most western denominations, the membership of the Church of Scotland is also aging, and it has struggled to maintain its relevance to the younger generations. The Church has made attempts to address their problems, at both a congregational and national level. The annual National Youth Assembly and the presence of youth delegates at the General Assembly have served as a visible reminder of the Church’s commitment. The Church's National Youth Assembly has grown in prominence and attendance in recent years.
Since as early as 1968, all ministries and offices in the church have been open to women and men on an equal basis. However, it was not until 2004 that a woman was chosen to be Moderator of the General Assembly. Dr Alison Elliot was also the first non-minster to be chosen since George Buchanan, four centuries before. Alison Elliot OBE is the Associate Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. George Buchanan (February 1506 - September 28, 1582) was a Scottish Historian and humanist scholar In May 2007 the Rev Sheilagh M. Kesting became the first female minister to be Moderator. Sheilagh Kesting (born 10 June 1953) is a Scottish minister and the first female minister (though not the first female to be elected Moderator of
Publications
The following publications are useful sources of information about the Church of Scotland.
- Life and Work - the monthly magazine of the Church of Scotland. Life and Work is the 'editorially independent' monthly magazine of the Church of Scotland.
- The Church of Scotland Yearbook (known as "the red book") - published annually with statistical data on every parish and contact information for every minister. Statistics is a mathematical science pertaining to the collection analysis interpretation or explanation and presentation of Data.
- Reports to the General Assembly (known as "the blue book") - published annually with reports on the work of the church's departments.
- The Constitution and Laws of the Church of Scotland (known as "the green book") edited by the Very Rev Dr James L. Weatherhead, published 1997 by the Church of Scotland, ISBN 0-86153-246-5
- Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae - published irregularly since 1866, contains biographies of ministers.
See also
- History and concepts
- Ministry and congregations
- Organisation
- Documents and resources
- Issues
- Bodies to which the Church of Scotland is affiliated
- Other bodies
External links
- Official Church of Scotland website
- 'Church without Walls' report
- website of Action of Churches Together in Scotland
- Church of Scotland daily news monitor and links at Scottish Christian.com
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