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Convener's Report to Presbytery
April 2004Moderator, as Convener of Aberdeen
Presbyterial Council, I bring the report of the Guild and the greetings of
the members.
This session has been the first one of the Guild’s new three year strategy
under the overall title “Dare to Care”.
The annual theme for 2003/4 is “Dare to Care with Courage” and this was
launched at the Annual Meeting “Challenge 2003” in the Royal Concert Hall,
Glasgow last August. About 50 ladies from this presbytery were among 2000
or so members who heard an inspiring talk on the theme from Rev. Kathy
Galloway, leader of the Iona Community. She challenged us to be more like
the God who “runs to the margins” so that no one is left outside his love.
Many Guilds have focused on the Discussion Topic for the session which has
been “Who Cares”. This question is one that concerns every community when
increasing numbers among us are acting as the principal carer for a family
member, neighbour or friend. Support for those in this demanding role is
something that we can offer, either as individuals, as Guilds or as Church
Communities.
The issue of violence continues to be on the Guild’s agenda and many
groups have made it their business to find out more about local support
networks for victims of abuse and to display information and helpline
contact numbers. The Guild has welcomed the way in which the Church has
responded to the 2003 General Assembly’s instruction to study this issue,
following on the report of the Committee on Church and Nation.
The Guild was represented on an ecumenical group which produced a resource
pack on domestic abuse “No Exceptions” for use in the churches.
Along with the Theme and Discussion Topic, Guilds have supported a new
range of Projects under the “Dare to Care” theme. They are:-
1 Building Community - with L’arche - rebuilding workshops and renewing
Braerannoch House where people with learning difficulties live in the
community.
2. Together for a Change - Boards of National and World Mission - bringing
together poor communities from home and abroad.
3. Changing lives - Prison Fellowship - taking Christ to men and women
prisoners and their families.
4. Walking with the Disabled - World Mission - working in Cairo with the
Joint Relief Ministry to refugees from Sudan.
5. Growing with Care - Social Responsibility - supporting children living
in drug misuse families through various therapies.
6. Silent Hunger - Tear Fund - working in remote villages in Guatemala to
combat the threat of malnutrition.
Guilds within the presbytery are once again giving their wholehearted
support to the projects. Presbytery will be interested to learn that the
final total of donations for the “Strength for Living” projects supported
during 2000/2003 was over £597,000.
This splendid effort is in the Guild’s long tradition of working hard to
make a difference in people’s lives. This historical legacy was called to
mind last summer when many members from the South West attended the first
Charteris Memorial Lecture in Dumfries in memory of our founder.
The Guild continues to be a member organisation of the Women’s National
Commission, which is the advisory body to government on women’s issues. It
is also part of the Network of Ecumenical Women in Scotland, through which
it works with other Christian organisations on issues like the threat of
violence and the end of trafficking in people. Membership of wider bodies,
both within and beyond the Church, enriches the life of the Guild and
offers many opportunities to contribute a distinctively Christian voice to
debate. The Guild is particularly pleased that its application for a seat
on the Steering Group of the newly formed Scottish Women’s Convention was
successful. The Convention has been set up by the Scottish Executive as
its main means of communicating with Women throughout Scotland.
Speakers at our Council Rallies have included Su Parry who told of her
time on Logos II with Operation Mobilisation. Mrs. Eleanor Olly updated us
on the Cairns Counselling Service and Mrs. Margaret Imlach spoke on
Roxburghe palliative care and the new Roxburghe House.
The Moderator conveyed the greetings of Presbytery at our recent Spring
Rally and the National Convener of the Guild - Moira Alexander - led our
Theme Day in BB H.Q.
Guild ladies continue to support, through knitting and sewing, Ekwendeni
Hospital, Linus UK and A.R.I. This year too they raised money to provide
the materials for the Soft Wall Hanging in the new Woodend Chapel.
As the session comes to an end, we look forward to our summer activities
and to the beginning of a whole new programme in September.
Moderator, I am grateful to you for inviting me to speak and I now present
this report to the Presbytery
Alison Collie
Convener
Reports from Other years
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