Trustees' Perspective: God's call to us remains unchanged
Rev David Cameron reflects on the message of hope to be taken to the ‘mission field on our doorstep'.
It is a sad fact that people are walking away from churches, with many abandoning religion altogether, turning instead to humanism, secularism, or consumerism.
These ideologies have, in some ways, become the new "religions".
Why are people leaving, and why are they staying away? Some have been disillusioned by hypocrisy, sexism, outdated traditions, or even a disagreement with the church's direction. Others have simply found alternative "gods" —money, entertainment, or personal success. And when people leave, they miss out on one of the church's most essential messages: hope.
I was recently asked to conduct a funeral for someone who hadn't attended my church for many years. The family didn't want a religious service but asked for "a little prayer, but none of the religious stuff."
As a minister, I wouldn't compromise the message of resurrection hope, so the family ultimately opted for a secular celebrant instead. I was unable to offer the comfort of Christ's promise —the hope of eternal life. It saddens me how common this is now.
As the Church, we are in the business of offering hope. A hope that transcends the hardships of life, a hope rooted in God's promise of salvation and resurrection.
The Church of Scotland faces a difficult challenge. We must reflect on our mission. There is evidence of fatigue, apathy and burn out in our system as we try to fulfil the mandatory functions and associated committees to service this need. When we become bogged down in bureaucracy, we risk losing sight of our true purpose. Looking at the statistics across Scotland many of those that identified as being Church of Scotland don't attend and a larger number still claimed no religion at all – this is a mission field on our doorstep.
The truth is, many have been hurt or alienated by the church, or they have misunderstood its message. However, God's call to us remains unchanged: we are to reach out and care for all people, especially those who feel forgotten. We must not become complacent or content with who we are. Our mission is to ask, "How can I serve? What can I give?" This call to mission is not optional. It's at the heart of what it means to be the Church.
The Church of Scotland, as a national church, has a duty to bring the ordinances of religion to every parish. No matter how far someone may have strayed, God offers hope. The question we must ask ourselves is: Are we sharing that hope?
Churches often leave lasting impressions on people based on how they were treated. Was the message one of hope, or one of judgment? Was the community one of inclusion, or exclusion? We are called to share a message that inspires, nurtures, and welcomes. The church doesn't need to be perfect, but it does need to be honest, warm, and real.
Jesus didn't shy away from stepping beyond boundaries. He sought out the neglected, the forgotten, and the discarded. And so must we. God pushes us out of our comfort zones, inviting us to reach beyond ourselves. We must care for those who feel left behind, who are searching for meaning, or who have simply lost hope.
With resilience and hope in the face of difficulty and change, we must persevere and focus on God's mission. As individuals and as a national church, we cannot effectively reach our communities with the message of the Gospel if that message doesn't first inspire our own lives.
It's time for us to live out that hope —fiercely, creatively, and tenaciously —both within and beyond the walls of our churches. Remembering the church is not just for us —it's for those we haven't yet reached.
Rev David S Cameron
Convener, Assembly Trustees