Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS) is a national ecumenical organisation of churches in Scotland, founded in 1990. Scotland is traditionally a Christian nation with around 65% claiming to be Christian at the 2001 census. The Church of Scotland (Eaglais na h-Alba known informally by its Scots language name The Kirk, is the National church of Scotland. The Catholic Church in Scotland ( Scottish Gaelic: An Eaglais Caitligeach) describes the organisation of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church in The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing ( Scottish Gaelic: An Eaglais Shaor a leantainn) is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination which The United Free Church of Scotland (or ‘UF Church’ is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland ( Scottish Gaelic: "An Eaglais Shaor Chlèireach" was formed in 1893 and claims to be the spiritual descendant of the The Associated Presbyterian Churches (APC is a small Scottish Christian denomination (with some representation in Canada and New Zealand) formed The Scottish Episcopal Church (Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba is a Christian denomination in Scotland and a member of the Anglican Communion, although it The Baptist Union of Scotland is the denomination of Baptist churches in Scotland. The Scottish Reformation was Scotland 's formal break with the Roman Catholic Church in 1560 and the events surrounding this Hinduism in Scotland is of relatively recent provenance with the bulk of Scottish Hindus having settled there in the second half of the 20th century The arrival of Islam in Scotland is relatively recent The bulk of Muslims in Scotland come from families who immigrated during the late 20th century The earliest date at which Jews arrived in Scotland is not known Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) It is the successor to the former Scottish Council of Churches. Formerly based in Dunblane at the Scottish Churches' House, its office has been relocated to Alloa at the beginning of 2006. Dunblane ( Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Bhlàthain) is a small cathedral town and former Burgh north of Stirling in the Stirling council Alloa ( Allmhagh Mòr in Gaelic is a small Burgh in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, 6 miles to the east of Stirling, on the north
ACTS is one of the four national ecumenical bodies in the UK, with equivalent bodies being Churches Together in England, Cytûn in Wales and the Irish Council of Churches, plus Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. Churches Together in England (CTE is an Ecumenical organisation and national Christian church council in England. Cytûn is the Ecumenical Christian organisation of Churches Together in Wales. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland ( CTBI) is an Ecumenical organisation
Contents |
The member churches of ACTS
- Church of Scotland
- Congregational Federation
- Methodist Church
- Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
- Roman Catholic Church
- Salvation Army
- Scottish Episcopal Church
- United Reformed Church
| UK Christian Denominations |
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Holiness & Pietist Other |
Secretariat
The new General Secretary is Brother Stephen Smyth, a member of Marist Brothers. The Church of Scotland (Eaglais na h-Alba known informally by its Scots language name The Kirk, is the National church of Scotland. The Congregational Federation is a Federation (or Association or Union of independent Congregational churches in England Scotland and Wales Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations The Salvation Army is a Christian charity and church that is internally organised like a military service. The Scottish Episcopal Church (Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba is a Christian denomination in Scotland and a member of the Anglican Communion, although it An unrelated American church of similar name is the United Reformed Churches in North America. This article is about the development of religion in the United Kingdom (UK since its formation in 1707 Denominationalism|List of Christian denominations|Church (disambiguation A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name structure and doctrine within This article is about the development of religion in the United Kingdom (UK since its formation in 1707 Affinity describes itself as "a growing network of many hundreds of Bible-centred churches and Christian agencies throughout Britain and Ireland" Churches Together in Britain and Ireland ( CTBI) is an Ecumenical organisation The Evangelical Alliance (EA is a London -based charitable organization founded in 1846 with a claimed representation of over 1000000 evangelical The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC is an organisation linking independent evangelical churches in the United Kingdom. Churches Together in England (CTE is an Ecumenical organisation and national Christian church council in England. Cytûn is the Ecumenical Christian organisation of Churches Together in Wales. The Evangelical Movement of Wales was born in the 1940s it came to light as a counter move by reformed Christians to the liberal theology which was gaining Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican The Free Church of England is an Anglican church which separated from the established Church of England in 1844. The Church of Ireland (Eaglais na hÉireann is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion, operating across the island of Ireland. The Scottish Episcopal Church (Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba is a Christian denomination in Scotland and a member of the Anglican Communion, although it The Church in Wales (Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru is a member Church of the Anglican Communion, consisting of six Dioceses in Wales. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described The Catholic Church in England and Wales is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, The Catholic Church in Ireland, part of the world-wide Catholic Church, is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the curia in Rome, and The Catholic Church in Scotland ( Scottish Gaelic: An Eaglais Caitligeach) describes the organisation of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church in The Old Catholic Church is a Christian denomination originating with churches (many of them German -speaking that split from the Roman Catholic Church in The Old Catholic Church in Europe or OCCE is a traditionalist Church in the Old Catholic / Independent Catholic tradition The Mariavite Church is an independent Christian church that emerged from the Roman Catholic Church of Poland at the turn of the 20th century Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. The Baptist Union of Great Britain is the oldest and largest national association of Baptist churches in Great Britain. The Baptist Union of Scotland is the denomination of Baptist churches in Scotland. The Baptist Union of Wales (Undeb Bedyddwyr Cymru is a fellowship of Baptist churches in Wales. Grace Baptist Assembly is designed to facilitate the fellowship of Particular Baptist churches and was first organised in England in 1980 when the Strict Baptist The Old Baptist Union is a group of evangelical Baptist churches in the United Kingdom. Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later Christian Outreach Centre (often referred to as "COC" is an international movement of churches founded in 1974 by former Methodist minister Clark Taylor The Church of the Nazarene, often referred to as the Nazarene Church is an International evangelical Christian denomination that began in This page is about the Moravian Church globally For information about the church in a particular geographic area use the links at Organisation below The Salvation Army is a Christian charity and church that is internally organised like a military service. The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated " Adventist " Church is a Christian denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance Holiness Tabernacles are a Christian denomination within Protestantism, which has resulted from the Holiness renewal of the 19th century Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations The Free Methodist Church, is a denomination of broader Methodism. The Methodist Church in Ireland has approximately 80000 members across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Methodist Church of Great Britain or British Methodist Church is the largest Wesleyan / Methodist body in the United Kingdom, with congregations The Wesleyan Reform Union is an Independent Methodist Connexion based in the United Kingdom. Families of churches Eastern Christians have a shared tradition but they became divided ( Schism) during the early centuries of Christianity in disputes about The Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain is an Archdiocese of the Eastern Orthodox Church, part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sourozh ( Суро́жская Епа́рхия is a Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church which has for its territory the islands The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (Ру́сская Правосла́вная Це́рковь Заграни́цей ru Russkaya Pravoslavnaya Tserkov' Zagranitsey Families of churches Eastern Christians have a shared tradition but they became divided ( Schism) during the early centuries of Christianity in disputes about The British Orthodox Church is a small Oriental Orthodox jurisdiction canonically part of the Coptic Patriarchate of Alexandria. The Celtic Orthodox Church is an indigenous Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Europe with representation in the United Kingdom for over 100 years Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism Assemblies of God in Great Britain and Ireland, known as Assemblies of God in the United Kingdom, is a Pentecostal denomination a part of the world's largest Pentecostal The Church of God in Christ Incorporated is a Christian church in the Pentecostal tradition The Elim Pentecostal Church (EPC is a UK-based Pentecostal Christian denomination (not to be confused with the U The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel is an evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination Ichthus Christian Fellowship is a Christian church movement based in London United Kingdom. New Frontiers redirects here New Frontiers program is a NASA space program to explore the solar system The Worldwide Church of God (WCG formerly the Radio Church of God, is a Christian church currently based in Glendora California, United States. Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically The Associated Presbyterian Churches (APC is a small Scottish Christian denomination (with some representation in Canada and New Zealand) formed The Church of Scotland (Eaglais na h-Alba known informally by its Scots language name The Kirk, is the National church of Scotland. The Congregational Federation is a Federation (or Association or Union of independent Congregational churches in England Scotland and Wales The Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales ( EPCEW) is a Reformed Church of England and Wales. The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing ( Scottish Gaelic: An Eaglais Shaor a leantainn) is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination which The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland ( Scottish Gaelic: "An Eaglais Shaor Chlèireach" was formed in 1893 and claims to be the spiritual descendant of the This Presbyterian denomination is not related to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland or the Free Church of Scotland The Free The Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland derives its name and its liberal and tolerant identity from early eighteenth century Presbyterian ministers refusing to subscribe to The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (or PCI (Eaglais Phreispitéireach in Éirinn, operating seamlessly across the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern The Presbyterian Church of Wales (Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru also known as The Calvinistic Methodist Church (cy ''Yr Eglwys Fethodistaidd Galfinaidd'' is a denomination The Reformed Presbyterian Church is a group of denominations following a form of Protestant Christianity related to Presbyterianism. The United Free Church of Scotland (or ‘UF Church’ is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland An unrelated American church of similar name is the United Reformed Churches in North America. The Brethren in Christ Church (often abbreviated BIC is an Anabaptist Christian denomination with roots in the Mennonite church Pietism, and The Churches of Christ discussed The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC is an organisation linking independent evangelical churches in the United Kingdom. Britain Yearly Meeting ( BYM) is the umbrella body for the Religious Society of Friends in Britain (England Scotland Wales the Channel Isles and the Isle The Ireland Yearly Meeting is the umbrella body for the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland. The Association of Vineyard Churches, also known as the Vineyard Movement, is a Christian organization of over 1500 churches worldwide The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary a Roman Catholic Marian Society, are a Catholic Religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people He took up the post in July 2007. He was formerly the Ecumenical Officer for Glasgow Churches Together. [1]
The Deputy General Secretary is the Revd Lindsey Sanderson of the United Reformed Church. There are also two Network officers to support the work of the four Networks of ACTS and two part time officers who serve two of ACTS ecumenical associated groups: the Racial Justice Officer - Scottish Churches Racial Justice Group (or SCRJG) and the Interfaith Education Officer - Churches Agency for Interfaith Relations (or CAIRS).
The previous General Secretary (1999-2007) was the Reverend Dr Kevin Franz (of the Scottish Episcopal Church), who moved to work for Quaker Peace & Social Witness in 2007.
Working as Churches Together
ACTS is a place where churches meet, experience, reflect, share and act together. There are a number of projects which ACTS coordinates across Scotland. It is not intended that ACTS should develop into a "superchurch". Prior to 2003, four member churches of ACTS were part of the "Scottish Churches Initiative for Union" (which sought institutional unity - project which ACTS was not part of), but a negative vote at the General Assembly in 2003 entailed the withdrawal of the Church of Scotland from SCIFU. The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest Court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body The Church of Scotland (Eaglais na h-Alba known informally by its Scots language name The Kirk, is the National church of Scotland. Henceforth, greater emphasis has been placed on the development of Local Ecumenical Partnerships.
The principle of being Churches Together is of central importance to the work of ACTS. Essentially, this is known as the "Lund Principle" (which was adopted in Lund by churches at the third world conference on Faith and Order in August 1952. The Lund Principle is an important principle in ecumenical relations between Christian churches (lɵnd is a city in the province of Scania, southern Sweden. The town has 76188 inhabitants out of a muncipal total of 105000 ) This states:
"the churches should act together in all matters . . . except those in which deep difference of conviction compel them to act separately"
Scottish Churches’ Forum
The agenda of ACTS is set at a national level by the church denominations through their representatives on the "Scottish Churches’ Forum". The Church of Scotland and Catholic Church each have four representatives on the Forum; other member churches have two representatives each. The Forum has a Convener and two Vice Conveners.
Networks
ACTS has four Networks, which are central to the work of ACTS. These are:
- Church Life (focusing on worshipping together)
- Church and Society (serving the community together)
- Faith Studies (studying together)
- Mission (proclaiming together)
Associated Ecumenical Groups
The Associated Ecumenical Groups (AEGs) are bodies of the Scottish Churches’ which each have a specialist subject area and remit. There are currently seventeen.
See also
- Conference of European Churches
- Ecumenism
- Scottish Churches Industrial Mission
- Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office
- Society, Religion and Technology Project
- The Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ)
- World Council of Churches
External links
The Conference of European Churches (CEC was founded in 1959 to promote reconciliation dialogue and friendship between the churches of Europe at a time of growing Cold War Ecumenism (also oecumenism, œcumenism) refers to initiatives aimed at greater Religious unity or cooperation The Scottish Churches Industrial Mission is an Ecumenical action of Scotland ’s Churches engaging with working life in Scotland The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office (SCPO was created in 1999, at the same time as the Devolved Scottish Parliament was established The Society Religion and Technology Project - or SRT Project for short - was begun by the Church of Scotland in 1970 to address issues being raised by the impact The Council of Christians and Jews, or CCJ is a Voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom. The World Council of Churches ( WCC) is an internationalDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic