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Convener's Report to Presbytery
April 2002
Moderator, as Convenor of Aberdeen Presbyterial Council I bring the report of the Guild and the greetings of the members.
This Session the Guild has been taking forward its current three year strategy under the overall title " STRENGTH FOR LIVING"
The annual theme for 2001-2002 is "STRENGTH THROUGH GOD'S PRESENCE" and this was launched at the annual meeting "TOGETHER 2001" in the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow last September. Several representatives from this presbytery were among the 2000 or so members who heard an inspiring talk on the theme from Dr. Elaine Storkey, the writer and broadcaster on Christian issues in contemporary society. In his address the moderator
Rt Rev John Miller, paid tribute to the Guild's nurturing role within the wider Church.
Many Guilds have focused on the DISCUSSION TOPIC for the session, which has been "OVERCOMING VIOLENCE"- This was chosen as part of our response to the World Council of Churches' call for this to be a Decade to Overcome Violence
Guilds have addressed the issue in a variety of ways covering many different forms of conflict, from playground bullying and domestic abuse to international war.
The issue of violence is one, which unites the Churches and is the focus of several ecumenical initiatives. The Guild is joining with the Catholic Commission for Social Care and others in mounting a Conference on Domestic Violence in June this year.
Under "Strength for Living" theme Guilds continue to support the following six Projects
- With Wings as Eagles-Mission Aviation Fellowship in Papua New Guinea
- Rainy Hospital, South India-World Mission
- Rebuilding Lives-Lodging House Mission Glasgow
- Forgotten Frontier- Scottish Bible society work in Siberia
- A Way of Life- Board of Communication
- The Well -Asian advice centre -National Mission
Guilds within this Presbytery have been holding fund raising events for these projects. So far the National total raised stands at £280,385.92
The Guild has also taken part in several government consultations through the membership of the Women's National Commission and has commented on pre-legislative papers on Sectarianism and witness protection in rape trials. Membership of such wider bodies, both within and beyond the church, enriches the life of the Guild and offers many opportunities to contribute a distinctly Christian voice to debate.
In Aberdeen Presbyterial Council we have enjoyed fellowship together at our summer rally in Garthdee Church where
Rev Ian and Mrs Ruth Forbes spoke about their work in Mozambique.
At our Autumn Rally in North Church of St. Andrews Rev Ross McLaren gave us an insight into the work carried out at The Lodging House Mission Glasgow which is one of the current projects we are supporting.
At our Spring rally in Rubislaw Church Mr Richard Wallis Moderator of Presbytery conveyed greetings from Presbytery and Mrs Alison Twaddle National Guild secretary spoke about her visit to Croatia for the rededication of the Church at Tordinci Eastern Slavonia. This was one of the Churches of The Reformed Church in Croatia supported by the project "A Church for a Croatian Village" which was part of the Guild project scheme " Riches and Poverty" 1997-1998
As a guild initiative Christian Women Together held a praise evening in The Music Hall on October in aid of Chaplaincy facilities at the New Children Hospital £5700 was handed over to
Rev James Falconer. This was a wonderful ecumenical event of togetherness.
I myself continue to visit guilds within the Presbytery and to date have brought greetings from the Council to 23 Guild branches. I remain on the National Executive Committee and recently attended a conference on "Understanding Islam".
National membership of the Guild stands at 40, 396, while here in Aberdeen our membership totals 1,246 members very little changed from last year. Guild ladies continue to Knit and sew for Ekwendeni Hospital Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and more recently for Project Linus UK a project supplying security blankets for terminally ill children.
Thanks to Rev Fred Coutts the Guild is now on Presbytery web site.
Most of you will remember the Banner Exhibition in St. Machar's Cathedral to commemorate the millennium. The guild has produced a Banner Book and a Video; I commend to you in particular the book selling for £9 in aid of Guild funds.
Moderator, I am grateful to you for inviting me to speak and I now present this report to Presbytery.
Betty Murdo
Convener
Reports from Other years
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