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Minute of the Scottish Churches’ Industrial Mission (SCIM) Council held on Tuesday 8 May 2007 at Scottish Churches House, Dunblane
PRESENT:
Mr Ted Wallace, Convener (Methodist Church), Mrs Cate Adams (Team of Chaplains), Rev Jan Adamson (United Reformed Church), Mr Pat Foley (Roman Catholic Church), Rev Andrew Jolly (Aberdeen Oil Industry Chaplaincy Trust), Mr George McSorley (Co-opted), Mr Robert Matthew (Angus Industrial Mission), Mr Lewis Rose (SCIM Co-ordinator) and Mr John Thomson (Secretary).
APOLOGIES:
Mr Donald Black (Rock Foundation, Stirling), Mrs Margaret Currie (Congregational Federation of Scotland), Rev Gordon Currie (United Free Church of Scotland), Rev Gordon MacRae (Church of Scotland), Rev Alistair Goss (Team of Chaplains), Mr Matt Smith (Co-opted).
46. OPENING DEVOTIONS
Mr Ted Wallace conducted the opening devotions.
47. MINUTE
The minute of the meeting held on 16 January was approved.
48. PUBLICATION OF MINUTES AND LIST OF MEMBERS
It was agreed that, following approval by the Convener, copies of draft minutes would in future be published on the SCIM website (www.scim.org). Additionally, it was agreed that all previous minutes be published together with the current list of Council Members.
49. MATTERS ARISING
49.1 SCIM debate on Pensions
It was noted that this event would be held on 4 September 2007 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at St Andrew’s and St George’s Church, Edinburgh.
The SCIM Co-ordinator added that the details of the debate will be widely advertised as the date approaches.
49.2 Recruitment of Tayside and North Fife Area Organiser
The Secretary reported that interviews for the vacant position would be held in Dundee on 9 May 2007. It was hoped that the successful candidate will be able to take up his appointment in no more than 3 months’ time.
49.3 Invitation to Mr Ian Tasker, STUC
It was noted that Mr Tasker had agreed to attend the next council meeting on 29 August 2007 to speak on the topic of “Corporate Manslaughter”.
49.4 ACTS Annual Working Agreement
The Secretary reported that a formal response from ACTS was expected later this month which would include a decision on financial support of the SCIM debate.
49.5 International Workers’ Memorial Day Lecture
The SCIM Co-ordinator reported that this event took place on Friday 27 April in Meadowside St Paul’s Church in Dundee. The lecture was delivered by Richard Luxmore, Head of Nature Conservation for the National Trust for Scotland on the topic “Climate Change and the Seas around Scotland”. It was attended by about 100 people and will be published both in hard copy and on the SCIM website.
Lewis requested members to give consideration to who might be approached to deliver the lecture in 2008 and to advise him of any suggested names.
49.6 Topics for future discussion
It was agreed to include the following items at the next meeting:
- Rev Andrew Jolly, Webmaster of the SCIM website, would give a visual presentation of the website.
- SCIM debate on pensions.
- It was noted that Mr Donald Black had suggested that a possible topic might be “The Implications of Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Legislation for Chaplains”. Council members were unsure of the particular issues which Mr Black intended to be raised and it was agreed that the Secretary seek clarification and report to the next meeting.
50. SCIM CO-ORDINATORS REPORT
Copies of Lewis report had been circulated prior to the meeting and were in the hands of members (see Appendix 1).
Lewis spoke to his report and added that the Industrial Mission Trust had requested that members give consideration to contacts and companies which might be approached for donations in support of the activities of industrial mission.
51. SCIM ANNUAL REPORT
The draft report for 2007 was tabled and a copy circulated.
It was agreed that copies would be published which would provide sufficient distribution to all member churches and chaplains’ contacts.
52. PRESENTATION BY MRS CATE ADAMS, ABERDEEN CITY CENTRE CHAPLAIN
Mrs Adams presented a report of significant recent aspects of her work under the title “Flagpoles and Fairy Tales”. (see Appendix 2). The Convener complimented Cate for a thought provoking report which issued a challenge to the church to assume greater interest and responsibility for chaplaincy to the important retail sector.
In response members suggested that Council could communicate with member churches, utilise publications, the website and ACTS to raise the profile of the outreach work of chaplaincy which operates outside church buildings.
53. EDINBURGH CITY MISSION
The Secretary reported that a letter had been received from the Mission Manager which advised that John Hopper would no longer be able to commit to attend the Council meetings in Dunblane. However, the Mission affirmed its continued support of SCIM.
It was agreed to seek clarification from the Mission Manager, in the first instance, to confirm if her communication also meant that Edinburgh City Mission was withdrawing from Council. If necessary, reference was also to be made to the Board of Edinburgh City Mission for a clear decision on the availability of a representative on Council who would be a Board member and not one of its employees.
54. PROPOSED MEETING BETWEEN COUNCIL AND THE TEAM OF CHAPLAINS
It was agreed to postpone this meeting until after the next meeting of Council on 29 August and to advise the team of chaplains of the delay. It was agreed to invite them to begin consideration of how they would best see the relationship between the Team and Council developing.
55. SCIM BANNER
It was noted that the banner is available for display at church events and resource days.
Andrew Jolly intimated that he was also available to give demonstrations of the website.
56. DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
Wednesday 29 August 2007
Tuesday 4 December 2007
Wednesday 20 February 2008
Consideration was given to altering the times of future meetings to the afternoon. It was agreed to postpone any decision until the matter had been discussed further at the meeting in February 2008.
There being no further business the meeting was closed.