Buzz groups move ecumenism forward

A special conference session at the May meeting of Glasgow Presbytery looked at how Christians from different traditions could work more closely together.

The session, led by the Rev Chris Levison, Brother Stephen Smyth and Greta Doig, looked at the development of the ecumenical movement and how it could be taken forward.

One of the key questions it considered was: ‘How do we respond to the ecumenical call in a way that is rooted in our history and tradition without being stuck there?’

Br Stephen, the Ecumenical Officer of Glasgow Churches Together, said the traditional perception of relations between the faiths focused on relations between Protestants and Catholics and sectarianism and football.

But he said a large amount of work was being done to bring people of different traditions together through the works of small groups throughout Glasgow and Scotland.

In a departure from normal Presbytery ways of discussing business, parts of the special conference session as discussed among small ‘buzz groups’ of two or three members of Presbytery.

It was pointed out that the modern ecumenical movement really started in Scotland at a World Reformation Council meeting in Edinburgh in 1910.

Br Stephen said people were beginning to look at whether there should be some kind of special event to mark the centenary of that seminal conference.

At the end of the session the Rev Howard Hudson, of Bridgeton Church, said the schools closure programme presented an opportunity for the Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic Church to work more closely together.