Assembly Trustees Update July 2025 (Part 2)

Although summer is a time when things slow down in congregations, they do not stop. This is also the case in the national offices where people continue working to serve the local church. For example, Safeguarding is covered, payroll is processed, the General Trustees are there to support our buildings work, the Principal Clerk's Office to support the church law side and the legal department to support our interface with civil law; as well as a myriad other groups of people not mentioned here.

Most of the time we never notice how much support is actually there for us until something goes wrong and we need to call on it. Behind each of these departments are individuals who see what they do as more than a job; this is their calling and their way of serving Christ's kingdom.

In addition to all the regular routine, work going on the Assembly Trustee Sub-Group set up by GA2025 is now up and running. They have put together 16 questions which have been sent to different groups in 121 as well as to Presbyteries themselves and, through Presbyteries, to 5 congregations chosen by the Business Committee. The aim of this is to find where the blocks/sticky points are in how we operate and identify ways to remove them. These blocks/sticky points can be at local, regional or national levels of the church and the Sub-Group consider it is important this exercise is done from a congregation's point of view. Why? Repeatedly the Trustees have said the national serves the local. We still hold that is the case and believe we can only be a strong and healthy denomination when we have strong and healthy congregations.

You will not be surprised to read that the situation in Israel/Palestine is still very much at the forefront of our minds. Our hearts go out to all those caught up in the war there. We read about the suffering and it breaks our hearts; for those living and experiencing it we can only imagine how much worse it is. Our prayers are that the Holy Spirit to whom no hearts are closed will bring peace to a region where human endeavour has so far failed to do so.

Having supported our establishments in Israel with a cash injection last month the Trustees continue to wrestle with whether we can do this on an ongoing basis. Every pound invested there is a pound not invested somewhere else and we do not have enough pounds to cover everything we feel compelled to do. No decision has yet been made as many factors are continually being weighed up.

The Trustees recognise we need to make the best decision we can with the best information we have but that any decision will be made at a snapshot in time. In 3 years, we may look back and say it was a great decision, at 5 years a bad decision, at 7 years an ok decision and so on. Whatever decision is ultimately made will please some and infuriate others; we are aware of this.

We also recognise as we mentioned in our last update that while some decisions lie with the Assembly Trustees others lie with the General Assembly. The Trustees are very aware of this.

To give ourselves the best information the Trustees have embarked on an information gathering exercise through July and into August. We have spoken to a wide range of stakeholders including and especially those local to the situation and those with experience of the situation. That information will then form the basis of any decisions about the establishments in Israel that will be made. As of the date of writing this update no decision has been made.

Please remember to pray for the staff in 121 who work to serve the church, your Trustees and all those involved in building Christ's kingdom. We work for His Glory and seek to see the fulfilment of the great commission.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28: 18-20

Rev Norman A Smith Admin Trustee

If you have any questions on this update, please contact Rev Norman Smith, Administrative Trustee via the departmental email address OATadmin@churchofscotland.org.uk