The Church of Scotland Online

SUBJECT INDEX A - D

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

This page covers A - D, or you can use the menu above to look in the rest of the subject index.

A

Accompanied Review Task Group
The task group supports a process which helps those engaged in Church ministries to review their experiences.

Action of Churches together in Scotland
ACTS is an expression of churches' commitment to work together, one of the ecumenical partner organisations with which the Church works.

AIDS and HIV Project
The work of the Church's HIV/AIDS project, information, practical activities to support those living with AIDS and HIV, and how to donate online.

Aims of the Church
An overview of the Church's aims.

Annual reports
Annual reports and financial statements from Trustees, councils and committees for download.

Anti semitism
The Church is committed to human rights and racial justice through the work of the Church and Society Council. Download the General Assembly report on anti semitism.

Apostles' Creed
For a brief summary of the Church's beliefs, it is useful to look at the Apostles' Creed, used by many churches in declaring Christian faith.

Appeals
Appeals currently supported by the Church, including the HIV/AIDS Project and emergency appeals. There are also a number of projects supported by the Guild.

Applying to the Housing and Loan Fund
The Fund helps to provide housing accommodation for retired or widowed ministers.

Applying to the Parish Development Fund
The Fund gives part-funding for work being developed by local churches. Find out how to apply and what work is supported.

Archived news releases
New releases issued before the current month.

Area Team Ministry
The Area Team Ministry Project is an initiative involving congregations working together in groups of parishes in a positive, mission-based way.

Army chaplains
The role of the Royal Army chaplains.

Arrangements for the General Assembly
The Assembly Arrangements Committee's remit and role.

Arranging a service
Guidance on how to arrange a Baptism, marriage or funeral service.

Art 4 God project
The project is a partnership between the Mission and Discipleship Council and artist Fiona Campbell looking at the use of images in the worship and mission of the Church.

Art and architecture
The Church Art and Architecture Committee has responsibility for the art and architecture of church buildings, and provides advice to churches.

Assembly Hall
The history of the Church's Assembly Hall on Edinburgh's Mound dates to 1858. The Hall can be hired for conferences and events.

Auxiliary ministers
Auxiliary ministers are trained and ordained ministers who work in a voluntary capacity. Find out about the range of ministries roles within the Church.

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B

Bangladesh Blether
Information on how Boys Brigade companies in Scotland are raising funds to help people through the Church of Bangladesh.

Baptism and blessing of a child
The Church plays an essential role in providing worship and spiritual guidance for key life events, such as Baptisms, or Christenings, and child blessings.

Baptism certificates
Information on looking for copies of baptism certificates.

Becoming a member of the Church
Infants are usually received into the Church through Baptism, and the child will later come to make a public profession of faith, but the Church accepts members in other ways as well.

Becoming a minister
An overview of the enquiry process to help those who sense a call to any of the Church's ministries.

Beliefs
An official statement of the Church's faith was approved by the General Assembly of 1992.

Bible quiz
Online Bible quizzes for children and young people.

Birth, marriage and death certificates
ScotlandsPeople is the official online source for tracing certificates.

Blue Book
The Blue Book contains the collected reports from councils and committees presented annually to the General Assembly.

Books and publications
An online catalogue is available from the Church's publishing house, Saint Andrew Press.

Books for worship
A number of publications on hymns, services and resources for public worship.

Broadcast Unit
A library of webcasts, video and audio archives, and FAQ about receiving webcasts.

Buildings advice for congregations
Advice from the General Trustees on energy conservation, heating, lighting, maintenance as well authorising sales of properties, alterations and financial assistance.

Information on art and architecture for local churches is available from the Church Art and Architecture committee.

Burial records
Information on locating burial records.

Buying property in Scotland
A guide to the legal process for buying property in Scotland.

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C

Calendar for the Christian year
The date of Easter varies from year to year, along with dates which depend on Easter, such as Ash Wednesday. Our calendar of moveable dates in the Christian year lists these for the coming years.

Call to ministry
An overview of the enquiry process to help those who sense a call to any of the Church's ministries.

Campaign activities, World Mission
Information on some of the campaigning activities in which the World Mission Council is involved, including Fairtrade and Jubilee Scotland.

Care and support
Social care services are provided by the Church's Social Care Council, under the name CrossReach. It has a separate website at www.crossreach.org.uk (This link will take you out of the Church of Scotland website and open a new browser window).

Central Fabric Fund
The General Trustees administer the Central Fabric Fund which makes grants and loans to congregations facing fabric expenditure.

Central Properties Department
Provides a professional property, facilities and health and safety service.

Central Services
Human Resources, Information Technology, Law, Media Relations, Central Properties, Office Management and General Treasurers come under the remit of the Church's Central Services Committee.

Chaplaincies Task Group
The task group provides support to chaplains, and works under the direction of the Ministries Support and Development Committee.

Chaplains
Chaplains are Church of Scotland ministers who serve in non-parish settings, including industry, hospitals, prisons, universities and the Armed Forces.

Chaplains to HM Forces
An overview of the role of chaplains in the armed forces, and recruitment and training.

Child protection
The Safeguarding Office deals with child protection training and assisting those who work in outreach with children.

Children's pages
Information, stories and activities for children and young people on the website.

Parents, carers and teachers can download information and resources for working with young people, including the Church's Strategy for young people.

Christenings
The Church plays an essential role in providing worship and spiritual guidance for key life events, such as Baptisms, or Christenings, and child blessings.

Christian festivals
An introduction to the festivals and seasons of the Christian year, including Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension Day, Pentecost and Trinity Sunday.

Church
Information on the structure and aims of the Church of Scotland, both at home and abroad.

Find out about ministers and parishes throughout our congregations in our A to Z Parishes online listing facility. The Church's beliefs and faith are on our Faith and Worship pages. Churches working together to encourage and enable an ecumenical vision in Scotland is the focus of our Ecumenical Relations pages.

Church and Society
An overview of the role the Church takes in national, political and social issues in Scottish and international life. Work is undertaken in this area by the Church and Society Council, which produces news and information on events, and a range of resources and information packs on issues such as human trafficking, alternatives to custody and gambling.

Church art and architecture
The Church Art and Architecture Committee has responsibility for the art and architecture of church buildings.

Church buildings
Advice on the maintenance of buildings for congregations, including energy conservation, heating and lighting is available from the General Trustees.

The Church Art and Architecture Committee has responsibility for the art and architecture of church buildings.

Church emblem
History of the Church's emblem, which is available to download.

Church finance
Annual reports and financial statements from Trustees, councils and committees for download and links to other financial information on the site. The General Treasurer's department has responsibility for finance and managing accounts.

Church of Scotland Trust
The Trust holds properties outwith Scotland and acts as a trustee in third party trusts.

Church offices
Contact details for the Church's main offices, councils, committees and departments.

Church without Walls
An innovative project encouraging congregations to break away from established worship structures and develop new ways of communicating Christ's work.

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
CTBI is one of the ecumenical partner organisations with which the Church works. Its core portfolios include study, church and society, and inter faith.

Church-to-project support
The World Mission Council can help congregations to identify specific projects overseas which they can support.

Clann
News and events about the Church for children.

Climate change
The Church is concerned that climate change poses a serious threat to people everywhere, and has set up the Responding to Climate Change project.

Cloning
An information sheet from the Church and Society Council on the ethical issues of human cloning.

Coffee shops for young people
Cosycoffeehouse is an initiative for running a coffee shop for young people in the church and community. Find out how to order a kit.

Come to church
Find your local church and parish minister, and details about services.

Commissioners to the General Assembly
Commissioners are sent from the Church's parishes and presbyteries.

Committee on Chaplains to HM Forces
An overview of the Committee, which is involved with the spiritual well-being of the Armed Forces and supports their chaplains.

Community of Protestant Churches in Europe
The Church is a founder member of CPCE, which has a membership of over one hundred Protestant churches in Europe.

Competition for schools
The Stevenson Prize in Religious Observance and Religious Education is awarded to schools.

Conference and Development Task Group
The task group has responsibility for in-service training and development for all the ministries of the Church, and works under the direction of the Ministries Support and Development Committee.

Conference of European Churches
CEC has more than one hundred churches as members, including the Church, a founder member.

Congregations
Find out about a specific congregation of the Church of Scotland by visiting our online mapping pages.

Contact us
Contact details for church offices, local churches and ministers, the website team and links to other sites.

Copyright advice
Copyright advice for congregations using songs and music, and about the website.

Cosycoffeehouse
An initiative for running a coffee shop for young people in the church and community. Find out how to order a kit.

Council of Assembly
The council has authority to take administrative decisions between General Assemblies and co-ordinate the work of the Church's central administration.

Courts and authority of the General Assembly
The General Assembly is the highest court of the Church with authority to make laws.

CrossReach
CrossReach is the name under which the Church's Social Care Council carries out its work providing social care services. It has a separate website at www.crossreach.org.uk (This link will take you out of the Church of Scotland website and open a new browser window).

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D

Daily agenda for General Assembly
A daily timetable with papers and minutes of the last or current General Assembly.

Deacons
Deacons are ordained people who work in a professional supportive role in a parish.

Deaf ministry
The Church supports the work of ministers who work among deaf communities in west, east and north of Scotland.

Death certificates
The official online source for tracing certificates is ScotlandsPeople.

Design
The Church's in-house design agency provides high-quality design, layout and print management services.

Disclosure checks
The Safeguarding Office provides information about disclosure checks and Disclosure Scotland for those working with children and young people.

Donations
You can donate to the Church through Gift Aid or through your will in our Stewardship and Finance section.

Donations can be made to the HIV/AIDS project through our secure online facility, and to projects supported by Guild members.

Find out where money sent to the Church is allocated.

Duncan McClements Trust for ecumenical training
The Trust awards grants to attend events and courses.

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