The National Synod of Scotland met in Helensburgh United Reformed Church and online on 11th-12th March. In his opening address the Moderator, Revd Paul Whittle, asked what it means to be the church today as we celebrate the Jubilee of the URC but also consider the global context of pandemic, climate crisis and war. He encouraged us to look to the Synod Aspirations and particularly the desire to celebrate God’s unconditional love, the challenge of inclusivity and the counter- cultural nature of radica

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l love and invited Synod to engage more deeply with the aspirations.Much of the business concerned clarification on the roles and responsibilities of Synod Trustees, the Synod Executive and Area Council, together with some thinking on Committee structures. All but one of the proposed resolutions passed and further work is now possible to find people to serve in the revised structures.The Pastoral Committee introduced a new scheme, ‘Our Church, Our Faith, Our Work’ which replaces Local Mission and Ministry Review. This will involve church visits, working with the Synod team and Mission Action Planning to enable congregations to develop their life. Unlike LMMR this is a voluntary scheme and will involve ministers and congregations working together.

A resolution asking the Joint Public Issues Team to work on a campaign on fuel poverty was brought by the Church and Society Committee and the Ecumenical and Interfaith task group brought a further resolution proposing Ecumenical Guidelines for the Synod, both of these were passed. Synod also noted the appointment of Duncan Walker as Synod Treasurer.Synod will meet again on Saturday 17th September.On Friday 11th March the Scottish College also met at Helensburgh URC, in person and online, to hold their AGM