The Rev Gordon Kennedy, who will be the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland which meets from the May 15 to 18 this year, said in an article published in The Herald in October last year that “the Kirk has faced challenges as it adapts to the changing role of religion in society. The way we’ve been doing church over the past 30-40 years was great for then, but it isn’t great for this moment in time. We need to change but the challenge is we’re not always sure about how we need to change and in what direction we need to change”.
I am in no doubt that Gordon Kennedy is right in suggesting that there is a need to find new ways of “doing church”. It is however difficult to be confident in the future of a church which has decided that those congregations which are unable to meet their financial contributions to the centre will be declared “insolvent” and shut down.
Congregations in deprived areas ought to be at the core of the Kirk’s work in accordance with Jesus’s priority, which is building a society founded on compassion, on justice, equality and human rights in the here and now.
Consequently Church of Scotland congregations in prosperous areas ought to be called to support work in deprived areas to a greater degree than they currently do. Could this be the above-mentioned new way of “doing church”, choosing a “preferential option for the poor” a concept adopted from Latin American Liberation Theology which advocates structural change to protect the marginalised?
A new Reformation? If not, the institution as we know it will continue to decline at a time when its message of justice and peace is needed as never before.
John Milne, Uddingston.
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Be brave, back assisted dying
Dr Bob Scott makes a heartfelt plea for tolerance and compassion for those who choose to access assisted dying ("Whose life is it anyway? Our society will only truly come of age when its members take control of the end of their lives", The Herald, February 24). Their decision comes at the conclusion, not at the beginning, of a journey of unbearable physical and mental suffering. Within the parameters of Liam McArthur's bill, these individuals are already very close to the end of life. They are seeking a managed, dignified death at a place and time of their choosing, and in the arms of their loved ones.
For some, such as my late husband, Grahame Baines, there was no such choice. He died, by his own hand, at the third attempt, alone. I am in awe every day of his bravery and I urge those MSPs who are hesitating over their decision, to match Grahame's bravery and vote in support of the bill.
Dr Julie Lang, Secretary, Friends at the End, Edinburgh.
Help for the People's Palace
Reading your reports on the SNP Government's bias towards the much-needed refurbishment of the People's Palace (“Scottish Government snub for People’s Palace revamp”, The Herald, February 19 and "People’s Palace neglect ‘slap in the face by Scottish Government’", The Herald, February 24), I am minded to suggest two possible solutions.
In your report today by Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, it is again mentioned that Glasgow's museums and art galleries host circa four million visitors every year. Would an entrance fee be a part of a solution instead of the free entry that has applied for ever? £5 per person would bring in the needed shortfall of £15.9 million relatively quickly.
The other possible solution is a bit of tongue in cheek and could be considered as being an over-reaction, but what if Glasgow held an auction sale for its stored works of art, those that are rarely on display. How much might that raise?
What is clear is that something needs to happen as Holyrood isn't going to give very much in spite of the governing party acting for the whole of Scotland (aye, right). Other parts of Scotland please comment on your own specific examples.
Ian Gray, Croftamie.
Long live our libraries
A sincere thanks to Garrett Stell for the Big Read article on Saturday ("Our libraries aren't a luxury. They're a lifeline. But they're increasingly at risk", The Herald, November 21).
Our family didn't have a lot of money in the 1940s; my parents didn't have "spare" money to buy books. Our local library was most certainly a lifeline to me as a young child and has remained an invaluable resource ever since.
Our council has closed some of our public libraries but thankfully we still have the main one based here in Alloa.
I am grateful for the services provided by the committed and helpful staff, with the bonus of access to public toilets catering for the young, those with disabilities and the elderly, available in the town centre.
Long may this local public service continue for current users and the generations to come.
Mrs Teresa McNally, Alloa.
Spend on coaches, not imports
The collapse in Scotland's Uefa coefficient has Matthew Lindsay referencing “the health, standing and reputation of Scottish football” ("Coefficient collapse will cost our clubs tens of millions – lessons must be learned", Herald Sport, February 23).
The problem is that there is very little left of “Scottish” football, with depressingly few Scottish footballers or managers now getting on the team bus.
Not so far away a town in Norway, Bodo (a quarter the size of Aberdeen), is showing how to do it. Bodo/Glimt has a team mostly made up of Norwegians and a few fellow Scandinavians, who have been doing really well in Europe.
Scotland used to do the same, but we now buy in, or get on loan, players from the bargain basement instead of coaching our own kids. This dismal state of affairs leaves club owners with less to spend on “the quality of player they are able to target in the transfer market”.
This false economy has seen these same “quality” players drag Scottish football into its present decline. Why don’t they spend the money on more and better coaching instead of short-term player fixes that obviously haven’t worked for Scottish football’s reputation or the competitiveness of our teams?
The SFA seems indifferent or powerless to change things, but there will be no happy ending to this tale without change.
GR Weir, Ochiltree.
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