The head of Scotland's freemasons is to stand down from the post after only a year, it emerged yesterday. Joe Morrow took up the job of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland last November, but instead of serving a normal five-year stint in the role, the 50-year-old will stand down next month due to "a change in personal circumstances and for health reasons". Earlier in the month, a Sunday newspaper reported how the Labour councillor, advocate and Episcopalian priest was openly gay and was planning to remove some of the mystique traditionally surrounding the secretive organisation.
Source: The Scotsman. posted at 6:34 PM

An Edinburgh church has been targeted by racists because of its links to a nearby mosque. Defaced Islamic faith literature was pushed through the letter box of the Nicolson Square Methodist Church in Edinburgh. It featured diatribes against named individuals, including its minister. Just days before, graffiti with similar abuse was smeared on the walls of the church, a neighbour of the city's Central Mosque with which it has developed a strong relationship. In a joint statement, Mohamed Yamin, representing the mosque at Potterrow, and the Rev Peter Clark, the minister at the Methodist church for the past year, expressed their disgust.
Source: The Herald. posted at 6:29 PM

Historic artefacts from a Glasgow church which is being turned into upmarket flats have been donated to two congregations. The wooden pulpit from Kelvingrove Church is going to St Vincent Street Free Church, while a number of wall plaques commemorating the Rev Andrew Bonar, first minister of Kelvingrove Church and a prolific writer for the Free Church of Scotland, will be rehoused in Dumbarton Free Church.
Source: Evening Times, Glasgow. posted at 6:21 PM

Reverend David Lacy, Moderator of the Church of Scotland's general assembly, advises Prince Harry on his 21st birthday: "Many young people today simply write off Christianity. If I were to advise him about anything, I'd ask him to have a look at the Christian faith himself and have a think about what it could mean for him."
Source: The Scotsman. posted at 6:13 PM

The recent loyalist violence in Northern Ireland was condemned at a recent meeting of the executive of the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland.
Source: Evangelical Alliance news release. posted at 6:11 PM

The congregation at the MacIntosh Memorial Church in Fort William is considering the possibility of selling the 115-year-old building because it needs about £500,000 to carry out repairs.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal. posted at 9:13 AM

There is no antagonism towards Christianity involved in the replacement of BC and AD with BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era) within Glasgow City Council's museums, says Councillor John Lynch, convener of Glasgow City Council's cultural and leisure services committee. "We first adopted the practice as long ago as 1993 when we opened St Mungo's - the first museum of world religions in the UK. In this context, replacing BC and AD was not just a matter of being scrupulously fair, but was in itself a way of communicating how differently different peoples see the world - even something as apparently basic as time can be perceived in radically different ways. There was a great deal of controversy when the museum opened, and representatives of both the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church were consulted about the resolution of the issues involved. The use of BC and BCE was not raised at all as a matter of dispute."
Source: The Herald. posted at 8:59 AM

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg yesterday outlawed a British ban on marriage between parents-in-law and children-in-law. Scotland is already on the way to conforming with the ruling. The Scottish Parliament will tomorrow debate the Family Law Bill which proposes removing the ban on marrying in-laws, which derives largely from the 1567 Act of the parliament of King James VI and the eighteenth chapter of Leviticus. Last night a Church of Scotland spokesman said that a lifting of the ban was not the same as saying in-laws could automatically marry in the church. "Individual ministers have the power to decide who can marry in their churches on basis of pastoral and scriptural criteria," he said. A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland said: "The Catholic Church does not allow such marriages at the moment. However, canon law does permit a dispensation in certain circumstances."
Source: The Herald. posted at 8:55 AM

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Fr Philip Tartaglia as the new Bishop of Paisley. The new Bishop-designate, currently rector of the Pontifical Scots College in Rome, succeeds Bishop John Mone, who retired in October 2004 after 16 years as Bishop.
Source: Scottish Catholic Media Office news release. posted at 9:10 PM

Kenyan authorities yesterday issued an arrest warrant for self-styled archbishop Gilbert Deya, who claims that the power of prayer helped dozens of women to give birth. He is suspected of organising a child-smuggling ring whereby women travel from the UK to Kenya to collect babies which they later claim were the result of miraculous conception. It is not clear whether Deya is still staying in Glasgow. Aamer Anwar, his solicitor, said last night: "We will obviously have to look into this."
Source: The Herald. posted at 9:01 PM

Members of Macduff Parish Church will deliver 2,000 copies of John's gospel to homes in the parish and surrounding area as part celebrations to mark the church's bicentenary. Rev David Randall said: "The idea is a friendly approach from the church to the community and shows the church looking outward."
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal. posted at 8:54 PM

The Moderator of the General Assembly, the Right Rev David Lacy, has condemned the behaviour of rioters in Belfast this weekend, saying that their actions had "not the faintest justification in the Christianity or Protestantism which they claim to espouse".
Source: Church of Scotland news release. posted at 9:23 PM

Cardinal Keith O'Brien today launched a new initiative from Missio Scotland, the Scottish branch of the Pontifical Missionary Society of the Roman Catholic Church. The initiative challenges the children to 'Go on a Mission' and schools will be issued with resources to help them explore Ghana, this year's focus country.
Source: Scottish Catholic Media Office news release. posted at 9:22 PM

The Catholic Church yesterday criticised the Burrell Collection in Glasgow after it dropped the Christian calendar from its exhibits. The musem has changed the BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini) labels on its exhibits to BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era), although the numerical dates remain the same. Simon Eccles, the museum's senior curator, said: "We prefer not to impose a Christian dating terminology on pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures, out of respect for their beliefs and values ... We cannot assume these days that everyone has an education in Latin, so that the term Anno Domini may be obscure to many." Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, said: "To say the museum is concerned about imposing Christian beliefs is just nonsense and outrageous double standards. Does that mean when the city council which runs the museum sends out invitations asking guests to RSVP, it is imposing French standards on society? If a council letter includes the traditional mark, NB, is it guilty of imposing ancient Roman culture on its citizens? All of these terms, including AD and BC are common, widely-used terms and cannot possibly be seen as offending anyone." Mr Kearney added: "As for the claim the museum is concerned people do not have a knowledge of Latin so may not understand AD, that is simply ridiculous. When Starbucks sells its coffee as grande or venti, are they assuming their customers have an education in Italian or do you need a degree in Spanish to request chorizo on your pizza?"
Source: The Herald. posted at 9:38 AM

Crimes motivated by hatred of gay, lesbian or bisexual people are to receive stiffer penalties under a crackdown by ministers. New legislation is to be brought forward, under which such 'hate crimes' will be considered an aggravated offence. John Deighan, parliamentary officer for the Catholic Church in Scotland, said: "The trouble with this is where is it going to end up? The working group did say that they didn't want to impinge on the right of free speech, but there is always a worry that this is where it will lead. There has been intimidation of religious groups, who felt they had to keep quiet as a result. You get self-censorship developing. People are afraid to say what they believe in on homosexuality because they feel that they will be accused of homophobia."
Source: Scotland on Sunday. posted at 5:14 PM

A conference that could turn the Anglican community on its head takes place in Alexandria, Egypt, next month, organised by angry Africans and Latin Americans who say they are "sick and tired" of endless debate about same-sex blessings and the ordination of gay Christians. "We've had enough," the Archbishop of Central Africa, Bernard Malango, said last week. The Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) and the recently formed Council of Anglican Provinces of the Americas and Caribbean (CAPAC) will represent up to two-thirds of the world's 77 million Anglicans.
Source: Scotland on Sunday. posted at 5:12 PM

Fresh fears over the impact of spiralling visitor numbers at the historic Rosslyn Chapel have emerged after VisitScotland announced the launch of "Da Vinci Code city breaks". The chapel's director, Stuart Beattie, said restrictions on visitors were being considered amid concerns that the scheme by Scotland's national tourism agency to cash in on Midlothian's link with Dan Brown's best-selling book might exacerbate overcrowding problems.
Source: The Scotsman. posted at 5:10 PM

Archbishop Mario Conti has criticised museum chiefs for ditching the Christian calendar. Curators at Glasgow's Burrell Collection took BC and AD dates off their exhibits. They have replaced them with BCE - Before Common Era - and CE - Common Era. But Conti, the archbishop of Glasgow, said: "Many items in the Burrell are inspired by the Christian faith. I am not aware of any offence being taken by other faiths or those of no faith over the use of traditional dates." The Church of Scotland backed the Conti stance. A spokesman said: "I think that it is rather unlikely that the use of BC and AD would offend non-Christians." A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "The use of BCE and CE has been standard practice in museums around the world for some time. The St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art has used this system since 1993."
Source: Sunday Mail. posted at 5:07 PM

The Church of Scotland's Moderator and the Scottish Chair of the Muslim Association of Britain have vowed to continue to work for a "wider and deeper understanding" between Scotland's Christian and Muslim communities. The Right Rev David Lacy and Dr Salah Beltagui were speaking at the Kirk's 'Big Saturday' event in Glasgow.
Source: Church of Scotland news release. posted at 3:36 PM

A chaplain to the oil industry who is retiring after 14 years' service, Rev Angus Smith, has spoken of his admiration of the men and women he has helped.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal. posted at 3:29 PM

An Australian minister has been appointed as the new professor of church history and church principles at the Free Church College in Edinburgh. The Rev Dr John McIntosh is a native of New South Wales, where his father was minister of St George's Church, Sydney, the largest congregation in the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia. Since 1994, he has been minister of Poolewe and Aultbea Free Church, Ross-shire.
Source: Edinburgh Evening News. posted at 3:24 PM

The Herald Diary shares: "A Scottish Executive report yesterday on infertility treatment stated: 'Women aged 35 to 39 have a 50% less chance of conceiving spontaneously than women aged 19 to 26.' We must admit we have never heard of spontaneous conception before ..."
Source: The Herald. posted at 5:56 PM

Brian Monteith deplores the position of Edinburgh city council and "especially its educational soothsayer, the Reverend Councillor Ewan Aitken", over parents who wanted to send their child to Hermitage Park Primary School. "The council is taking us back to the failed policies of the 60s and 70s when socialists and collectivists of varying hues experimented with social engineering without a care for the attainment of our children," he writes.
Source: Edinburgh Evening News. posted at 5:37 PM

The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev Bruce Cameron has encouraged Episcopalians to support Racial Justice Sunday this weekend.
Source: Scottish Episcopal Church news release. posted at 6:08 PM

Feature on Tabeetha School, run by the Church of Scotland in Jaffa, Israel, where 320 pupils of 30 nationalities - Arab, Jew and Muslim - are educated side by side.
Source: Daily Record. posted at 3:06 PM

Representatives of the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church today visited 10 Downing Street to remind the Prime Minister that as the British presidency of the European Union begins, "there is a great responsibility to eliminate unfair trade rules in the call for trade justice".
Source: Methodist Church news release. posted at 9:38 PM

The first Scottish Asian Christian Convention takes place at Greenside Parish Church, Edinburgh, this weekend. The convention is being held by Asian Concern, an Edinburgh based charity set up in 1989 by white and Asian Scottish Christians.
Source: Church of Scotland news release. posted at 9:34 PM

The Church of Scotland's annual assembly for young people takes place in Dundee from 9 to 12 September. Over 200 delegates from all over Scotland, the wider UK and some from Europe will take part in the four day event.
Source: Church of Scotland news release. posted at 9:32 PM

The former Episcopalian Bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway, today criticised church leaders for condemning plans to allow gay adoption. He said of comments by Cardinal Keith O'Brien and Kirk Moderator David Lacy: "The old ritual tradition has kicked in. They have fallen into the old trap of believing the strictures of their religious code should be enforced on those that don't share it."
Source: Edinburgh Evening News. posted at 9:26 PM

Nuns who have worked with a Highland community for more than 20 years are being forced to leave due to a lack of numbers. The village of Caol, near Fort William, is saddened that Sister Clare McHale and Sister Patricia Mitchell, who have devoted a large part of their lives to parishes in Lochaber and worked with the community and particularly young people, are having to quit. According to the rules of the Sisters of Assumption order, which follows the rules of St Augustine, there should be no fewer than four sisters to make-up a convent.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal. posted at 9:22 PM

Archaeo-botanist Dr Brian Moffat describes the work of the black-cowled medieval Augustinian canons of Soutra Hospital, who for 500 years served the diseased and the battle-ravaged who were travelling to and from - or marauding through - Edinburgh.
Source: Edinburgh Evening News. posted at 9:21 PM

An Inverurie minister whose work helped to form Christian Aid today celebrates 60 years with the Church of Scotland. The Rev Douglas Lister, 85, of Port Elphinstone, has worked tirelessly for the church since he was posted to Gibraltar as garrison chaplain in 1946.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal. posted at 6:21 PM

A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland has warned people against attending an appearance in Edinburgh on Sunday at the Assembly Hall on The Mound by Greek 'mystic' Vassula Ryden, founder of the True Life in God Movement, who claims that Jesus appears to her in dreams. He said Vassula "certainly did not" operate with the approval of the Church and said the Vatican had issued a warning about her activities after an investigation led by Pope Benedict XVI while he was a Cardinal. A spokeswoman for the Church of Scotland, which owns the Assembly Hall, said: "Vassula Ryden represents a religious organisation with which we have no dealings."
Source: The Scotsman. posted at 6:08 PM

The President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, has sent a message of sympathy to his US counterpart, Bishop William S. Skylstad, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. "We pray especially that grieving families are consoled in their loss and that those involved in rescue and reconstruction operations are given the strength they will need to complete their arduous tasks," he said.
Source: Scottish Catholic Media Office news release. posted at 5:59 PM

The Evangelical Alliance has appointed two new directors "to play key roles in the organisation's mission to unite Christians to be a more influential voice to government, society and the Church". Mike Morris, a former CEO of Spring Harvest, is the new executive director in charge of the day to day running of the Alliance, releasing general director Joel Edwards to fulfil a more ambassadorial role. R. David Muir is to be public policy director, responsible for the theology and public affairs departments.
Source: Evangelical Alliance news release. posted at 5:56 PM

The Scottish Executive today launched a consultation on whether to create a specific criminal offence of forcing someone to marry. Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said: "Forced marriage, without the consent of both partners, clearly violates the basic human rights and is fundamentally wrong."
Source: Scottish Executive news release. posted at 5:52 PM

The Caird Hall in Dundee played host on Saturday to 2000 members of the Church of Scotland Guild, who were gathered for their annual meeting. The Moderator of the Kirk's General Assembly talked about his personal views on the living church and linked them to the theme of this year's conference - dare to care with commitment. Fiona Punton, guild information officer, said: "It has all gone very well indeed."
Source: Dundee Courier. posted at 10:00 AM

Students at two of Scotland's biggest universities have clashed over a "compulsory condoms" campaign that will see freshers being given contraceptives whether they want them or not. In the Glasgow University scheme, undergraduates will receive free condoms during this year's Freshers' Week. But the decision has been branded "irresponsible" by a student leader at Edinburgh University. Peter Kearney, a spokesman for the Catholic Church, accused the Glasgow SRC of being presumptuous. He said: "I can only describe it as an amateurish, cack-handed attempt at health promotion by some staggeringly inept students."
Source: Scotland on Sunday. posted at 11:43 AM

One of the UK's leading theologians says controversial best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code must be taken seriously by Christians because it offers many readers a spirituality they feel is lacking in the church. The Anglican Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Tom Wright, said the novel has functioned as a lightning rod for several impulses within our culture. Speaking ahead of a lecture to the Scottish Bible Society - titled The Bible and Postmodernism - Wright said: "It [The Da Vinci Code] has a great deal to say about where our culture currently is and which myths our culture is eager to buy."
Source: Scotland on Sunday. posted at 11:40 AM

Should gay and unmarried couples be allowed to adopt? The Scottish executive is in favour, but in an extensive feature Cardinal Keith O'Brien responds with a firm 'no'. "Were more families to consider adopting, there would be no need to widen the definition of suitable adopters," he writes, adding: "A mass of evidence attests to the instability of unmarried relationships and the chronic instability of same-sex partnerships, yet worryingly our 'experts' ignore it."
Source: Sunday Times. posted at 11:37 AM

Former England captain Terry Butcher talks in depth about his introduction to sectarianism when he joined Rangers FC. Graeme Souness vowed to end Rangers' refusal to sign high-profile Catholic players when he became player-boss in 1986, and eventually succeeded in 1989 when Mo Johnston joined the club. But Butcher has told how Souness wanted his new skipper from Ipswich Town - his first major signing - to be Catholic. However, the manager was kept in the dark for weeks as Butch refused to reveal his Church of England background.
Source: Daily Record. posted at 7:58 PM

Father James Boyle, 69, has left St Paul's Parish Church in Milton of Campsie, after more then 10 years. Local councillor Charles Kennedy said: "We all wish Father Boyle a speedy recovery from major surgery and for him to have a long and enjoyable retirement." During his time at Oxford University, where he graduated with first class honours in English literature, he struck up a close friendship with JRR Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Source: Kirkintilloch Herald. posted at 7:43 PM

A church elder died from a heart attack as he was being introduced to delegates at a conference in Japan. News of 64-year old Richard Dingwall's sudden passing has saddened members of St Mary's Parish Church, Haddington, where he served as session clerk for four years.
Source: East Lothian Courier. posted at 7:36 PM

Rev Harry Findlay is retiring after almost 38 years as minister of St Mark's Church in Coltness.
Source: Wishaw Press. posted at 7:28 PM

Obituary of Dr John Robertson, who served as an elder of Galston Parish Church from 1957.
Source: Kilmarnock Standard. posted at 7:21 PM

A Scottish Muslim family suffered defeat yesterday in their legal fight to stop doctors withdrawing life support systems from their critically ill father. The family believes only God has the power to bestow death, but three Appeal Court judges ruled it would be lawful for doctors to stop giving the "intrusive" treatment that is sustaining the life of Mr A, 86, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Source: The Scotsman. posted at 3:45 PM

Professor Patricia Peattie, former principal of Lothian College of Health Studies and later assistant principal of Napier University, is taking over as convener of the General Synod's standing committee of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Source: Edinburgh Evening News. posted at 3:44 PM

David Murray, the Rangers chairman, last night defended the club's battle against bigotry at Ibrox, saying that there had been "massive improvement" in behaviour among its supporters. However, the Rangers chairman appeared to bridle at the suggestion that "Hello! Hello!" - to many one of the objectionable songs chanted at Ibrox - was offensive. "What's wrong with those songs?" said Mr Murray. "It's the wording that I don't agree with, but I think these are traditional Rangers songs." (See the transcript of the BBC1 programme Scotland's Scotland's Secret Shame. As in: 'We're up to our knees in Fenian blood, Surrender or you'll die...')
Source: The Herald. posted at 3:41 PM

An exhibition at a Deeside museum traces the history of a Scottish abbey in one of Aberdeen's twin cities. Blairs Museum is displaying artefacts from St James's monastery, in Regensburg, to mark the 50th anniversary of the city's official link with Aberdeen.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal. posted at 3:26 PM

Church volunteer Ernest Christie has been left with sight problems after being attacked while overseeing a disco at Torry St Fitticks Church. First offender Shaun Dearie, 24, was fined £500 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal. posted at 3:22 PM

The Church of Scotland Guild is set to welcome around 2,000 of its members to Dundee this weekend, when the Caird Hall will play host to the organisation's annual meeting.
Source: Church of Scotland news release. posted at 2:45 PM

The World Council of Churches' general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia has expressed compassion and solidarity with victims of Hurricane Katrina. "In particular, we hold in our prayers all the church relief agencies, workers and volunteers who are struggling to assist those in need," he said.
Source: Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS) news. posted at 2:40 PM

The Scottish Episcopal Church has offered prayers for those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Bishop Bruce Cameron said: "The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is daily presenting us with a picture of
tragic and dramatic destruction and human suffering."
Source: Scottish Episcopal Church news release. posted at 2:37 PM