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Minute of the Scottish Churches’ Industrial Mission (SCIM) Council held on Tuesday 31 October 2006 in the Thomas Chalmers Church Centre, Kirkliston.
PRESENT:
Rev Colin Anderson (Convener, Church of Scotland), Rev Jan Adamson (United Reformed Church), Mr Pat Foley (Roman Catholic Church), Mr Lewis Rose (SCIM Co-ordinator), Rev Andy Sinclair (Baptist Union of Scotland), Mr Ted Wallace (Methodist Church) and Mr John Thomson (Secretary).
APOLOGIES:
Mrs Cate Adams (Team of Chaplains), Mr Donald Black (Rock Foundation, Stirling), Rev Gordon Currie (United Free Church of Scotland), Rev Andrew Jolly (Aberdeen Oil Industry Chaplaincy Trust), Mr Robert Matthew (Angus Industrial Mission), Mr George McSorley (Co-opted) and Mr Matt Smith (Co-opted).
The Convener constituted the meeting with prayer.
27 REV GARETH T JONES
The Convener gave an appreciation of the service given by Gareth during his short time as Tayside Organiser. Gareth had died suddenly on 6 October.
It was noted that a tribute to Gareth would appear in the next IM Agenda magazine.
It was agreed that a tribute also be included in next year’s SCIM Annual Report and that intimation be made to Life and Work magazine.
28 MINUTE
The minute of the meeting held on 4 September 2006 was approved.
29 MATTERS ARISING
29.1 Scottish Pensioners’ Forum
It was noted that the Social Inclusion Network of ACTS is also pursuing engagement with this organisation.
29.2 SCIM Conference on Pensions
It was noted that an approach to the AMICUS Trade Union would be made for sponsorship of this event.
It was also noted that although the position with pension deficits still needed to be monitored, there had been significant reductions in deficits in some funds due to the recent recovery in the stock market.
29.3 Retired Team Members
It was noted that the suggested lunch for former full-time colleagues would not be going ahead.
30 REPORT FROM SCIM CO-ORDINATOR
Lewis Rose presented his report to Council (see Appendix) and spoke to it.
30.1 Rural Affairs
During discussion of this section the Convener expressed regret that past efforts to obtain Scottish Executive funding for the post of a Rural Chaplain had been unsuccessful. Lewis indicated that he was now involved with the Rural Strategy Team and he would be able to pursue with them the appointment of a rural officer or chaplain.
30.2 Team Meetings
Lewis highlighted his plans for a new style of team meetings where the emphasis would be on developmental issues and not routine business.
30.3 Edinburgh Airport
Noting that 8.5 million passengers use the airport each year, Lewis believed there was opportunity for the appointment of a full-time chaplain to the staff. He would be pursuing this possibility with British Airports Authority Management in the near future.
30.4 Tayside
The Convener confirmed that following a conversation with the Rev Dr Martin Scott, Secretary of the Ministries Council of the Church of Scotland, in which it was recognised that the employment and funding of a core of four full time chaplains or organisers was that Council’s policy for industrial mission, the way was open to proceed to recruit a successor to Gareth, via the Council’s Chaplaincies Task Group.
The Secretary was requested to take the matter forward in consultation with the Convener of the Chaplaincies Task Group and ensure that ratification was obtained from the parent committee (Ministries Support and Development) at its next meeting on 23 November 2006.
The Council encouraged the Church of Scotland to proceed expeditiously to a new appointment.
30.5 Forth Valley
Lewis expressed hopes for a further Church of Scotland full-time appointment in Forth Valley.
31 CORPORATE HOMICIDE
In the absence of Mr Ian Tasker, STUC, this matter was carried forward to a future meeting of Council.
32 INTERNATIONAL WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY LECTURE
It was noted that publication of Alf Young’s lecture would be produced soon for distribution.
33 ANNUAL WORKING AGREEMENT WITH ACTS
The Secretary advised that he would report changes in membership of Council to ACTS.
It was agreed to enquire about the possibility of financial support for the Wallace Lecture in September 2007.
34 SUCCESSION OF CONVENER
It was agreed that Mr Ted Wallace succeed the Rev Colin Anderson as Convener of Council with effect from 1 December 2006.
Colin advised that his place as Church of Scotland representative would be taken by the Rev Gordon MacRae.
Lewis Rose then made a presentation to Colin on behalf of Council as a token of its appreciation of his time as Convener and also his earlier service as Convener of the Church and Industry Committee.
35 DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
16 January 2007 and 8 May 2007 both at Scottish Churches House, Dunblane.
The meeting was closed with the saying of the Grace together.