Religious Observance: Design and Practice[Full Article] This highly successful course on the design and delivery of Religious Observance in schools is aimed at School staff and chaplains. It is a Masters level module, (worth 20 Masters credits) and delivered by a partnership of Glasgow University, Scripture Union Scotland and the Church of Scotland. The Course:
• Is experience based using participants’ own school situations for material and learning
• Involves learning using reflective practice
• Is peer delivered in flexible modules using a variety of methods including practical workshops, theory exploration, distance learning and mentoring
• Draws on resources of all faith communities and non faith groups
• Has input and support from HMIe for
guidance on meeting the expectations of the 2005/1 circular on RO Course Commitment A 24hr residential event and two afternoons (12.30 – 5pm), all at Glasgow University, 9 hours internet based work and a 3000 word essay. Successful participants earn 20 Masters level credits. These credits can be used towards a Certificate (60 credits) or a Masters (180 credits) or participants can simply be recognised as having completed the module by letter from the University. The whole course costs £100 plus travel and overnight accommodation in Glasgow, (available at a discount through the University or participants can make their own arrangements). This low cost is thanks to a significant subsidy from the Church of Scotland which is being made available to all participants. The Course is open to school staff and to non school staff who deliver RO, (e.g. chaplains, youth workers etc. provided they can obtain a nomination from
the head teacher of (a) school(s) in which they practice)
Dates for 2010/11:
Autumn Term: 17th/18th September, 21st October, 25th November
Winter Term: 14/15th January, 24th February, 24th March. For more information: Call Ewan Aitken on 0131 240 2206
or email eaitken@cofscotland.org,uk or go to http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/religiouseducation Back to Top
Economics Commission [Full article] The Church of Scotland has announced the membership of its newly created Commission on the Purposes of Economic Activity, which will spend two years exploring the fundamental ethical and moral questions underlying economic activity, many of which have been highlighted for society by the “credit crunch”.
The Commission will be chaired by Prof Charles Munn OBE, the recently retired Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland. The other 12 members of the Commission are drawn from a variety of backgrounds, with expertise in many spheres including politics, business and theology. Economics Commission members:
• Linda de Caestecker, Director of Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council.
• Paul Chapman who was for ten years director of "The Employment Project" a
church-supported organization working with unemployed men and women in the New York area,
• Rev. Doug Gay, Lecturer in Practical Theology at the University of Glasgow.
• Rev. Kathy Galloway, Head of Christian Aid in Scotland and former leader of the Iona Community.
• Janette Harkess, director of policy and research, Scottish Council for Development and Industry, formerly deputy editor of the Herald newspaper,
• Werner G. Jeanrond, Professor of Divinity at the University of Glasgow
• David Lonsdale, Assistant Director of CBI Scotland,
• John McFall, Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee from 2001 until he stepped down as an MP at the 2010 General Election.
• Jeremy Peat, Director of the David Hume Institute, former Senior Economic Adviser at the Scottish Office (1985 - 1993) and Group Chief Economist at RBS (1993 - 2005).
• Cathy
McCormack, campaigner, member of the Poverty Truth Commission, and co author of “The Wee Yellow Butterfly”
• Grahame Smith, General Secretary of the STUC,
• Jim Spowart former managing director of Direct Line Financial Services and founder of Intelligent Finance (IF) The Commission will take part in a number of meetings around the country organised through Presbyteries. There will also be meetings in Edinburgh, involving discussion with people with experience relevant to the Commission's work.
The Commission will primarily consider matters relating to the Scottish economy, and has identified two specific groups of problems, those relating to poverty and those relating to the use of wealth.
The Commission will seek to answer three large questions: • How can the Church best offer Scottish society a new vision of what might be achievable in the economic, social and community life of the nation?
• How can the Church, at local and national level, be encouraged to become more engaged in transformative economics, linking values such as justice, cohesion and sustainability to economic success?
• How should inequality be addressed while ensuring that appropriate levels of choice are available to all? Church and Society Council Convener Rev Ian Galloway, whose Council proposed the commission, said “This is a challenging time for many people, especially those who are, in their poverty, paying for the excesses of those who craved wealth. Yet it is also an opportunity for us as a church and a nation to step back and look into the very basis of our
economic system to ask deeply human questions about what is acceptable and what should be the driving force of our economic relationships”
Charles Munn added: “The formation of the Special Commission gives the Kirk the opportunity to speak to its members and to the wider world about matters of great importance. That many parts of the economic system have broken so badly impacts all of our lives. It is important that the national church takes the time to reflect, and look at the ways in which the economic system can operate more efficiently and fairly, in order that the benefits of economic growth are shared more widely.”
The Commission will report to the General Assembly in 2012. Its report will touch on many important issues, including: • a statement of connections between moral values and economic measures of success
• how changes in people's attitudes towards, and beliefs about, the economy might help to achieve wider social goals;
• how to provide the Church with direction about how it might best engage society with this vision of the purpose of economic activity;
• a report on the extent to which Church of Scotland congregations can initiate, support and enable economic development, both locally and further afield;
• an evaluation of the effectiveness of these efforts, identifying principles of good practice and making recommendations relating to the promotion of such development work within and beyond the Church of Scotland. Back to Top | 
