Stay updated with breaking news from ஆண்ட்ரூ ஓபிறீேன். Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Church of Scotland General Assembly agrees to cut minister numbers by a quarter and cap posts in each area scotsman.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from scotsman.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Rev Rosemary Frew, convener of the Faith Nurture Forum, said the Church of Scotland currently had 700 ministers in post, 137 ministries development staff and 299 vacant congregations. We are draining the resources of the church – people, morale and finance – just to keep this broken system going. And she said there was a retirement cliff looming. Over 35 per cent of our ministers either have reached or will each 65 in less than five years. Without a radical treatment plan the Church of Scotland will not survive. Our report offers the whole church a chance to thrive and lay down the burdens which have been exhausting us. ....
He said allowing ministers to conduct same-sex marriages was not a threat to anyone s strongly-held beliefs and did not require anyone to conduct such ceremonies against their convictions. But Eric Smith, an elder from Falkirk, called for the issue to be remitted to the Kirk’s theological forum for consideration. “It appears this is not based on a positive biblical theology for same-sex marriage but an incremental chipping away at the biblical doctrine of marriage we as a church continue to affirm in name.” The Rev Peter Johnston from Aberdeen noted previous decisions had left the Assembly in the “dubious position” of accepting ministers who were in same-sex marriages but not allowing them or anyone else to conduct such a marriage. ....
28 28 28 The Queen visited the warship yesterdayCredit: PA The warship - affectionately called Big Lizzie - set off from Portsmouth Naval Base for the deployment by the Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific region. The 28-week-long deployment will cover 26,000 nautical miles. The group will visit 40 nations including India, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. The Queen beamed yesterday as she visited the warship in her first public appearance since Prince Harry s latest broadside at his nightmare life as a royal. The monarch toured the HMS Queen Elizabeth amid a tumultuous week for the Royal Family. A source said of her public appearance: There is a desire from Her Majesty to get out and about to show people that normal life can resume. ....
Britain's £3bn 'Big Lizzie' warship sets sail on six-month tour after Queen's flying visit the-sun.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from the-sun.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.