Blog

04/08/2017

This week David Mumford writes our blog and gives his personal account of being involved with the organising and running of Scotland's first Nonviolence Conference which took place at Kinnoul from 14th-16th July 2017.

We had spent eight months planning the weekend. I just hoped that it would all go well and that people attending would be inspired to strengthen their witness to peace and nonviolence. And that they would see Jesus in a different light – through nonviolent spectacles and that that would deepen their faith and Christian commitment.

Driving up to Perth I had both speakers in the back of my car – that was one anxiety laid to rest. I had heard John Dear previously and found him an inspiring speaker. Listening to him on the Saturday reinforced this view. If other human beings, created in the image of God are our brothers and sisters, then how can loving them involve killing them? How can the Church, the people of God, reclaim a perspective that sees Jesus himself looking at us out of another’s eyes? How can Christians gather round altars and then go out to prepare to destroy each other?

But often what stops Christians is anxiety that nonviolence will not always ‘work’ and that violence may be necessary – not in self-defence but to defend weak and helpless people. So it was fascinating to hear Lucas of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation talking about what was being done nonviolently by Christians and others in conflict areas such as the South Sudan, Colombia and Israel/Palestine.

Nonviolence was more effective, created less bloodshed, had a much greater chance of achieving post-conflict reconciliation and deepened people’s spiritual lives.

The workshops covered many issues and I would have liked to have gone to them all. I settled for a further encounter with John Dear, which was richly rewarding: Jesus and nonviolent direct action – in the temple overthrowing the moneylenders’ tables or healing people on the Sabbath.

The Mass on Sunday morning illustrated our divisions. I am old enough to remember when at such a gathering (as a good Episcopalian with a high view of the real presence of Christ in consecrated bread and wine) I would happily have been able to make my communion. I pray that such times come again. As it was, receiving a blessing in a reverent and worshipful service led by Fr. Tony Lappin was a joy.

The final session looked to the future and what could be done about Pax Christi in Scotland and about encouraging local churches and congregations to give a higher profile to peace and nonviolence issues. I was especially struck by contributions from Hugh Foy as to how we can work towards a culture of nonviolence in prisons, schools and families. The course from ‘Violence to Wholeness’ sounded to be one that every parish should take up. I see church change as being very much a bottom up process although it was really encouraging to think that there might just be an encyclical on nonviolence in two years time – if so we must be prepared….

My time was interrupted regularly by organisational details… Would people take their sheets off the beds before leaving? Would they remember to hand in their room keys/cards? Would all the requested diets work out (most did). Could we run a bar on a voluntary donation basis (yes, we could and did).

Sometimes a conference feels a bit like herding cats but in general most people got to the right place without too much delay. It was great to be in a refurbished St. Mary’s monastery at Kinnoull. Memories of freezing on the top floor were eradicated. The new showers are a delight. The welcome from those living and working there was warm – Kinnoull comes strongly recommended for any other group planning a conference – our evaluation was excellent.

And the grounds are superb.

Going home I thanked the Lord for a good weekend. Now to see how much fruit it all bears in the life of the church and in Scotland.

David Mumford

You can watch the conference keynote speakers at the Justice and Peace Scotland Youtube channel

28/07/2017

Reflections from a past Convener of the Scottish Churches Anti-Human Trafficking Group

To mark World Day Against Human Trafficking on Sunday 30th July 2017 Hazel Watson writes our latest blog which highlights the work done to raise awareness of human trafficking through the Scottish Churches Anti-Human Trafficking Group.

“Take this old woman – she’ll do whatever you want! She’ll clean, cook, make the beds, look after your children and what’s best of all, after the initial purchase price she won’t cost you a penny. She’ll sleep in a corner on the kitchen floor or in that cupboard under the stairs. As you can see she’s only little so doesn’t take up much space and she only eats scraps and leftovers, if she’s lucky. Now then, moving on to this beauty here …”

I was one of three ‘slaves’ being sold – myself into domestic servitude, a lovely young woman into a life of prostitution and a fit young man into forced labour in the construction industry. It gave me the merest glimpse into how it feels to be a victim of human trafficking and modern slavery. I was being sold in a mock slave auction at Heart and Soul, the Church of Scotland’s festival in Edinburgh. The humiliation was acute and painful – yet I had the luxury of knowing that I would cast off the role and go home to my own bed.

This is one of the ways in which the Scottish Churches Anti-Human Trafficking Group raises awareness of the shocking reality of this most cruel and degrading crime. Human trafficking is one of the world’s most lucrative illicit businesses, operating on a global scale, and it happens here too. Vulnerable people are exploited in our fishing industry, on farms, in brothels, in hotels and restaurants and in private homes.

In 2011 Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS) established the Scottish Churches Anti-Human Trafficking Group to work ecumenically, raising awareness among churches of human trafficking. We developed and distributed information leaflets to local churches that offered hospitality during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, but despite suggestions that trafficking might increase during the Games, there was no evidence of the assumed increase.

This did not mean, however, that human trafficking was not an issue here. United Nations reports showed rising numbers internationally. Scotland was not exempt. We heard of abject misery suffered by people lured into leaving their homes and families with promises of a better life here. We joined campaigns to introduce legislation in Scotland to make human trafficking a specific crime and encouraged church members across Scotland to ask their MSPs to support the legislation. The Act was passed in 2015. More recently we helped develop the government’s strategy to implement that legislation.

A new initiative offers spiritual befriending to women who have been trafficked for sexual exploitation and who wish to attend church or discuss matters of faith. We are also working with Migrant Help, the organisation that supports adults who have been trafficked for all other forms of exploitation.

Now we are planning a conference in partnership with the Augustine Institute and the Centre for Theology and Public Issues, New College, University of Edinburgh. This will be held on Saturday 7th October. Further details will be available soon.

During my three years as the group’s convener I’ve met many people who are working hard to end this evil crime. Delivering talks with various church groups has allowed me to meet wonderful people from Stonehaven in the north-east to Dumfries in the south-west. Best of all, I have had the honour of working with the amazing people on the Scottish Churches Anti-Human Trafficking Group. Their knowledge, talents and enthusiasm have shaped our work and will continue to contribute to the fight against trafficking.

To be bought and sold for selfish gain, threatened, and forced to work long hours in appalling conditions is a far cry from the abundant life that Jesus wants for us all. We take comfort from the fact that God ‘heals the broken-hearted’ (Psalm 127:3) and that He sent Jesus to ‘proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, and to set the oppressed free’ (Luke 4: 18).

21/07/2017

Building communities of welcome

In our latest blog, Iain Johnston, Director of Faith in Community Scotland, reflects on one of the charity’s projects which seeks to build community amongst people leaving prison.

We finally got round to it. The climb up Ben A’an. Not a normal ‘day at the office’ for any of us – but there isn’t such a thing in the diverse work of Faith in Community Scotland! Some folk didn’t make it right to the top, but what really mattered was the encouragement, care and support shared and received by everyone in the group, whether they were enjoying the climb now that they were out of prison, or taking part as a volunteer or member of staff.

In Faith in Community Scotland we believe profoundly in the goodness which lies deep within people and communities, and we play our part in harnessing the potential of everyone to work for positive change – at both a personal level and in building flourishing communities where people are loved, welcomed and encouraged to be all they can be.

One way we do this is through our Faith in Throughcare project, which we’ve been developing for the past 7 years in the north of Glasgow, and more recently in Kilmarnock, Inverclyde and Dundee. When ‘Andy’ (his name has been changed) was nearing the end of his sentence in Low Moss prison, he started to meet with us to prepare; and on the day of release, one of our volunteers met him at the gate.

Andy faced many challenges, certainly. For a start, he needed to sort out somewhere to stay; and he was determined to stay off drugs – something we were keen to support him in. But that wasn’t – and isn’t - the whole story.

Andy had – and has - hopes and dreams. And this lies at the core of our work. We listen carefully to people like Andy, supporting them to make changes – and encouraging them to take up new challenges. For Andy it was cooking and enjoying the outdoors.

Andy helped plan a residential trip to Argyll, the first time he had been anywhere so beautiful. Before the trip Andy had never cooked. A volunteer encouraged him to try something new and on the second day he cooked lunch for 18 people and was delighted!

It may seem simple but Andy’s confidence grew and he’s continued to cook for himself and get out of the city and into a peaceful environment. Others have become involved in gardening, creative writing groups, photography classes and community choirs.

And in all this work, we depend on the interest and support of local communities, including churches. In the north of Glasgow, for example, St Augustine’s Parish works closely with St Matthew’s Episcopal Church and Colston Milton Church of Scotland. They support us in lots of different ways by offering space to meet, lending the minibus for trips and playing an active part in the local management group.

But it’s the volunteers who make a real difference. They are the ones who help build communities of welcome and hospitality where people who are leaving prison can share a coffee with new friends, learn how to grow potatoes, take up glass painting, or sing their heart out!

Back to that climb up Ben A’an. It was a challenge for sure, steep at the bottom and then again at the top – with a gentle meander in the middle. When we got to the top, we all relished the view as far as the eye could see. And although we eventually had to come down, the memories of the view – and the companionship on the way up – provide each of us with the fuel and energy to take us on to the next challenge.

So - if you believe in the potential of people, and can spare about half a day a week (or more), we would love to hear from you! We start new volunteer training programmes in Glasgow and Dundee on the 31 August, so if you’re interested, please get in touch on 0141 221 4576, or by sending an email to info@faithincommunityscotland.org .

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