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Comment on A long, long read by david

david — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:43:59 +0000

Thank you for your comment Allan. Sorry about the acronyms – I hope I almost never do that. There are hardly enough of us in the Scottish Episcopal Church [SEC] to be able to do insiders and outsiders.

I thought I had explained Spiritual but not Religious [SBNR] I’ve unwrapped the others in my response below to my friend Renee Kingston

Comment on A long, long read by david

david — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:41:05 +0000

Sorry Renee I hope that I almost never do that but I suspect that I was in more of a headlong rush than usual. Glossary of terms as follows:
GSO – General Synod Office – smoke-filled rooms and corridors of power of the SEC – Scottish Episcopal Church otherwise knowns as Piskies
TISEC – Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church – our clergy and other ministries training engine
Brompton – folding bicycle – poetry in motion – Simon will know about it, I suspect. Joined at the hip or more generally the posterior to mine

Comment on A long, long read by Allan Ronald

Allan Ronald — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:04:43 +0000

I agree with the previous comment. The use of these acronyms, meaningful only to those in the know, simply baffles and irritates those on the outside, SBNRs and others. My own position regarding the church is very much of that of Charles Péguy as described by Geoffrey Hill, ‘self-excommunicate but adoring’, and it is this air of introspective cosiness that does a lot to keep me like that.

Comment on A long, long read by Irene Kingston

Irene Kingston — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:21:24 +0000

GSO? TISEC? – please add a little glossary for the interested but unengaged Constant Reader- including the SBNRs. And I had a wild moment of thinking that “unfurling the Brompton” might be some arcane spiritual exercise from London, but I got over that. All the best.

Comment on A long, long read by Sandra Dukelow

Sandra Dukelow — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:38:59 +0000

We only celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Reader Ministry in the C of I in 2009.

Comment on Columba and the SBNR by Philip Gaskell

Philip Gaskell — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:49:34 +0000

Read David Zigmond on some responses to the Francis Enquiry – hospital care – http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f878?tab=responses

Comment on Vocations Sunday by Martin Ritchie

Martin Ritchie — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:26:35 +0000

Great to hear that the SEC is looking to encourage vocations amongst younger people. Does the SEC have some kind of central vocations fund that can support full-time training for ordinands? If not, why not set one up backed by a vision for full-time ministry in the SEC? I’m sure that the many wealthy adherents of your church who value full-time ministers would get behind this provided that the vision is strong and inspiring. The Scottish University divinity schools provide an admirable base for theological education. I am currently in training for Ministry in the Church of Scotland, studying at New College, Edinburgh, alongside two of your ordinands, and would love to see more episcopalians in the mix. In my view, this can only improve ecumenism and help to bridge the gap between these estranged sister churches of Protestant Scotland. In the case of Edinburgh there are a number of Episcopal Ministers on the staff, surely making the possibility of incorporating an element of ministerial formation for your own tradition a possibility in addition to the core academic programme?

Comment on Floreat Glenalmond by Martin Ritchie

Martin Ritchie — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:10:56 +0000

I’d like to explore Gladstone’s Scottish identity further – I believe his father was a wine merchant in Leith? – and of course there’s the country estate at Fasque. Has anyone explored this in depth?

Comment on Connecting again by Laurene MacKenzie

Laurene MacKenzie — Sat, 11 May 2013 07:22:37 +0000

Love the sunshine! Bit wet here but still hopeful. Your phrase ” something intensely personal and spiritual was given enough formality to ‘carry’it” hit the mark. Went to marvellous Ascension Day service at Holy Trinity Stirling on Thursday which did just that & fed the soul. I thought, we need more of this.

Comment on Chaff? by david

david — Mon, 06 May 2013 09:24:41 +0000

Hi Chris.

Hope the Lutherans of Minnesota have all this sorted out. For my favourite Father Ted, read instead Garrison Keillor. I always remember with affection the black lady pastor who used to squeeze members of her congregation at the Peace as if testing them for ripeness

One of the other problems at the heart of all this is a lack of humour. There is an inherent ridiculousness in it all – antidote to the flat-footed heavy-treadedness which creeps in when one is trying to give expression to the most serious things of all. But a church which is anxious and stressed loses the ability to laugh at itself.

Plenty to laugh at around here!

Comment on Chaff? by Rev. Chris deForest

Rev. Chris deForest — Sun, 05 May 2013 23:11:20 +0000

This is such a true, and challenging, post. No “answers”, but asking the right questions. It is encouraging that we share pretty much the same problems here in the USA, especially in rural areas where I serve as Rev. It is also discouraging, to be honest…couldn’t you all in the SEC please figure out the perfect solutions, then share them with the rest of us? Oh well. I guess we’re all in this together. Lord, have mercy.

Comment on Vocations Sunday by david

david — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:49:55 +0000

Thanks Felix. What you write stirs a couple of responses in me

One is that your arrival – along with other younger clergy – will provide an important role model which will encourage others

Two is that we don’t at this moment know the future shape of TISEC as we respond to the recent MinDiv Inspection. We have an opportunity to address some important issues

Three is that we need to get the younger ordinands challenge right, As you suggest, there is every indication that the Spirit is looking after the vocation area, We need to provide clarity about the training – and finance – to support it. And we need to be – as I trust we are becoming – a church with real confidence in our future and our mission in Scotland,

Comment on Vocations Sunday by Felix Smith

Felix Smith — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:58:05 +0000

As one of those who might be included within the ‘younger ordinand’ bracket, it seems to me that what is needed from the church is a clear pathway and support for those younger people from the SEC wanting to explore their vocation. Whilst, given the part-time nature of TISEC training and lack of resources for anything more substantial, perhaps training in England through an English diocese may well be the only option (for the moment), this does not mean the SEC need ‘lose’ these ordinands. An encouragement of vocation right from the beginning is vital, with perhaps a PDO specifically for those ordinands training in England to keep in contact with over the training period. The possibility of curacies and how they might be organised within the SEC also needs to be made clear, so that an ordinand who felt called to Scotland would understand what this may involve.
As you say, the issue doesn’t seem to be with a lack of vocation from younger people in the SEC, but how they are dealt with and the information available to them.

Comment on I’m glad you asked that question …. by Inter-faith issues: good discussions on Monday! | Broughton High School Parent Council

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:31:42 +0000

[...] David Chillingworth, Anglican Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld, and Dunblane, who is full of praise in his blog this morning for our young people’s enthusiasm and goodwill in discussion. Our thanks to all [...]

Comment on I’m glad you asked that question …. by david

david — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:52:50 +0000

Hi Amy

Thanks for coming back. It was really interesting because we were talking about the most important things in life – but it wasn’t a conversation about religion and churches and all that. I suppose that’s what we mean by spirituality – the deep questions of life, its meaning and purpose.

Life as a gift? Well I suppose I am bothered by people who see everything in terms of how it affects them – but who aren’t sensitised about how things like issues of justice affect others who are more vulnerable.

I suppose it also shapes things like how we use our lives and our talents – to make ourselves rich or to serve others. And I used to be a hospital chaplain. Things happen and people naturally feel, ‘Why me?’ Difficult if it is terminal illness.

I thought you were all great – much more fun than the people I usually spend my day with!