We are truly making progress
Dave Kendall describes the shift in mood at this year's General Assembly and reflects on his hope for the future.
The Rev David Cameron, as Convener of the Assembly Trustees, began his speech at the 2024 General Assembly with a list of very sincere thank you messages.
His words were a tribute to the tireless, often unseen efforts that sustain the Church through these challenging times. David's heartfelt gratitude resonated on every level – local, regional and national – acknowledging the remarkable dedication that permeates the Church's fabric.
David and I are in a privileged position as we see first-hand the impact of these efforts on our communities. It is the people of God living out their solemn oath to the Lord, who shine through their selfless actions in support of others; their reach extends beyond Church walls, weaving faith and compassion into every part of the communities we serve.
As I left the General Assembly, the echoes of gratitude lingered as Committees reported on their work to move the Church forward over the past year. We looked to the GA commissioners that represent us all for endorsement and input to the future plans. The five days of reporting unveiled a rich tapestry of our Church's life. Much of the debate centred on actions to address our concerns and modernise the Kirk so that we are in good shape for the future.
The atmosphere in the hall was noticeably different this year. For the first time in a long while there was a genuine sense of hope that we are beginning to emerge from the other side of the recent years of radical action to reshape and reform. Whilst I have had a sense of this optimism from my interactions across the Church, experiencing it collectively as one body of Christ together at the Assembly was profoundly uplifting.
We understand that embedding the vital changes we have been implementing across the Church in recent years will take time. These changes, encompassing national restructuring, new presbyteries' reorganising regionally and mission planning locally have set a new course for us all. What we saw at GA 2024 was not just a readiness to confront these future challenges head on, but also to go a step further with proposals from the floor of the Assembly that supported the goals. The shift of ownership, responsibility and accountability from the national to the local was a key theme being grasped and grappled with.
As GA 2024 concluded, one further thank you resonated deeply with me – a thank you for putting your continued trust in us to take the bold steps necessary to reform our Church. We've heard countless stories of past attempts to address these issues that fell short, but now, together, we are truly making progress. It will be great to get to the day when we are focusing more of our time and attention towards delivering our mission – to inspire the people of Scotland and beyond with the Good News of Jesus Christ through enthusiastic worshipping, witnessing, nurturing and serving communities – and less on our finances and how we are organised. As we have emphasised, each of these plays a crucial role in this transformation. It is clear to me that for true success, we must move away from depending solely on national solutions and recognise and embrace the power of local implementation.
I am positive by nature, I truly believe that our Church can and will be revitalised in the coming years. We need to stay the course over the next year to solidify the recent changes and stabilise our situation. By GA 2025, we'll be in prime position to present the next stage of our plans for the future. Let's hold our nerve and focus on the bright path ahead, ensuring we're in the best shape possible to continue our journey of renewal and growth.
Take care and God Bless,
Dave.