Church of St John the Evangelist, Princes Street

Church of St John the Evangelist, Princes Street

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Annual Report 2016

Looking back on the year at St John's

Prepared for the Annual General Meeting

To be held on Monday 14th November 2016 at 7.30pm

At St John’s Church

Princes Street

Edinburgh

EH24BJ

AGENDA

NON AGM BUSINESS

1.Cornerstone Centre at St John’s

• Building Update (John Dennis (Edinburgh Ltd) & LDN)
• Marketing and Fundraising update

2.Children’s Ministry

3.Canonical Change – Equal Marriage

4.Visioning

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1.Prayers and Roll of the Dead

2.Apologies for Absence

3.Minutes of AGM held on 9th November 2015

4.Matters Arising

5.Minutes of Special General Meeting held on 23rd October 2016

6.Presentation and Adoption of Accounts

• St John’s
• Cornerstone Bookshop
• Carbon Reporting

7.Annual Report

8.Together Churches

9.Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection

10.Lay Representative’s Report

11.Elections

12.Thanks

13. The Grace

Introduction from the Rector

And I’ve been looking at the stars

For a long, long time

I’ve been putting out fires

All my life

Everybody wants a flame,

They don’t want to get burnt

And today is our turn

Days like these lead to…

Nights like this lead to…

(James Blunt – Bonfire Heart)

Dear friends,

The other day I walked into my favourite café (Caffeine Drip on Melville Place), when the above quoted song came on. I was very much intrigued: I liked the rhythm and the tune: folksy, contemporary, catchy. Yes, not everybody is taken by this rock-ballad about love (what else?). But it caught my attention. Very much so. And what caught my attention were the last two lines I quote above: Days like these lead to Nights like this lead to

It caught my attention, because I have experienced the last year a bit like this: One thing leading to another, leading to another, leading to another. Yes, there were moments of frustration: some little, unrecognised, extra thing, led to having to postpone some decision, which led to a delay, which led to… And I am not just talking “development!”

But thanks to the patience, insistence and leadership of both lay and ordained members of St John’s, we have moved forward in our ministry, our mission, and we have moved forward in our development.

The past year has indeed been quite unusual, as we have commenced the next step in a process that started over a decade ago. Many have laboured hard to get us to this point – even if at times it seems as if we were treading in place or were moving like molasses. It would be wrong to single out people, because so many hours have been spent behind the scene that made the development possible. Additionally, it is your financial commitment to the project that has made it all possible. Thank you. Thank you indeed!

And what was started under the leadership of Bishop John in the early 2000s is now coming to fruition. By next November, I trust we will meet once again in the hall. But it will be a completely new experience for allof us: Cornerstone Centre at St John’s, a renewed home to our children’s and adult’s formation spaces, to the Cornerstone Bookshop, to the One World Shop, to a café, to St John’s offices, and to a number of other non-St John’s organisations that benefit from accessible and welcoming environments. Remember what I wrote in the last edition of our magazine? The Cornerstone Centre will be “a new building to assist us in putting into reality God’s mission for us, to launch new initiatives as we participating in building Christ’s reign, and to be accessible for a wider variety of people.” It is good to remember this, because we still have some way to go: Days like these lead to Nights like this lead to…

Yet, despite my very own excitement (and, hopefully yours too), we must remember that the building is but a shell. We are not a museum for Regency architecture, but within our walls a community of people gather for worship, to engage in ministry and outreach, and to discern and live into God’s mission. Bricks and mortar are means to nurture and grow an active and sustainable congregation. Despite our most recent and rather necessary preoccupation with the development our focus is somewhere else. The building does not set the agenda. Our Mission does.

And so, it is good to recall that in the past year, despite some interruptions, we were able

-to continue in the Apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers;

-to proclaim the good news by word and deed, serving Christ in all people;

-towork for justice and peace, honouring God in all Creation.

(cf. Baptismal liturgy of the Scottish Episcopal Church)

There is a lot happening at St John’s on a daily basis – too much to mention. And there was a lot accomplished over the past year – too much to mention. But please forgive me, if I indulge in sharing just a few things that might not necessarily be on your radar screen, but that represent the many activities going on continuously at St John’s:

-It is very likely, that whenever you enter St John’s during opening hours, there are people sitting in the nave praying, meditating, and contemplating. Our location and the beauty of our space are such a blessing on so many levels: Encounters with our triune God often happen without our participation and sometimes even despite of us.

-Even though Souper Saturday’s location had to move to Old St Paul’s during the development, we are still involved in this wonderful outreach. Souper Saturday provides a safe space, a friendly welcome, and delicious food for anybody who comes. I wonder, how often we have been able to welcome Christ coming to us in the face of a stranger on a Saturday?

-It was a great joy for me to bring together the speakers for the third Festival Pulpit this year. When inviting each one of them, it was good to hear that St John’s is known beyond our fair city – our ministry has created an impact that goes much further than we think.

-When Stephen started Compline for the first time, we had no idea what would happen. But people came… There seems to be a spiritual hunger out there – a yearning to connect in new, yet old ways with something bigger than ourselves.

-I have been very deeply touched by one particular mural, created by Syrian refugee Nihad al Turk in June. While not a mural in the traditional sense, it brought home the suffering of those fleeing war and hardship and challenged our society’s ignorance.

-A few year’s back, our choir introduced me to John Ireland’s (1879 –1962) Te Deum (see ). Of course, the ancient words speak deeply to truth and identity. But it is this particular setting that has now become a favourite of mine. Whenever I hear it, I am thankful for the introduction – and I realise how fortunate we are with our music ministry and those involved in it.

-Many of us over the past year have gone through troubled times. Sickness and grief, depression and threats to our livelihood have made for a dark time. But when our pastoral visitors reach out, connect, pray, and walk alongside those in pain, then god’s compassion and care is made real and becomes touchable and experience-able.

-

Yes, a lot happens at St John’s and a lot happened last year.

However we will continue to have prayer and worship, baptising and confirming new members, offering Christian formation for all ages, assisting those struggling in a world that seems to get colder and colder, standing up for all parts of creation, and challenging prophetically the powers-that-be.

On the one hand this sounds like a tall order. On the other hand, however, it is a rather general view of what a church needs to think about in order to discern God’s call and God’s mission. More concrete ideas are needed.

This is why vestry and I have started a process of visioning to focus our attention and to listen to what the Spirit is saying to us right now.

More will be shared with you at the AGM, but let me say this already: In an initial step, vestry and I identified three Christian practices that we believe to be St John’s strengths: worship – beauty – reflection. I have added a fourth practice, which I believe to be a growth area: hospitality.

Over the next months we will continue in our prayerful discernment and expand our conversations to include members of the St John’s community and also include that of the greater community around us. This will help us to spell out more clearly how these areas will shape our ministry: for God’s sake and for the sake of those God has called us to serve. Worship – beauty – reflection – hospitality; these are not just self-serving and introspective. But these practises will push us beyond the boundaries of St John’s deep into the city of Edinburgh and the world. They will help us identify concrete ministry projects to focus our attention and energy and to live more fully into God’s mission for us.

In addition to this visioning process, there are a few further aspects, which will need attention in the more immediate future:

-Children & Families

St John’s is blessed with a significant number of younger families, who are very much part of our core identity. Vestry and I are committed to creating relevant and considerable programmes and ministry opportunities for families.

-Cornerstone Centre

Much has been said already, but I want to point out once again, that during the construction period much of my attention will be focused on completing the new Cornerstone Centre.

I also need to remind you that, for a variety of reasons, we have created a separate company to run the development: Cornerstone Development (Edinburgh) Ltd. Due to tax reasons, this company will remain active in running the building beyond September 2017. They will not only oversee the construction, but also make decisions about usage post-completion. Already the CDEL-board has proven to be efficient, focused, and skilful and I am very grateful to the members for their hard work!

-Equal Marriage

The Scottish Episcopal Church started the process of changing its marriage canon over two years ago. As a congregation, we have engaged in the provincial “Cascade Process” both with members of other congregations and also on our own. Many of us, however, have been involved with this conversation for decades – and it is, not surprisingly, a topic dear to my heart. I hope and pray that our next General Synod will finalise the canonical process and allow for clergy to opt into the Scottish Equal Marriage legislation. I furthermore hope that the community of St John’s will support those of its clergy, who are willing to preside at the marriage of two members of the same gender at St John’s.

-Administration

Thanks to the work of vestry, the personnel committee, and (last, but not least) our Associate Rector, we have now completed implementing the staff-related suggestions of the Organisational Review. A next step will be to look at governance, including our constitution, to bring them up-to-date and in line with our mission objectives.

-Stewardship

Our Finance Committee and its convenor have over the past two years provided significant and insightful information about the nature of Christian stewardship. Thank you! And you have responded generously. Thank you indeed! But there is still room to teach and learn more about the theological and spiritual aspect of stewardship and its relevance for most if not all aspects of our life as Christians within God’s creation.

Phew!

There seems to be an awful lot coming our way… Well, yes, it could all be overwhelming. Therefore, at this point, I need to come clean: I didn’t quote James Blunt correctly. I left out the last line of the refrain:

Days like these lead to…

Nights like this lead to…

Love like ours.

The last few months and the road ahead might look like they are marked by steep hills to climb. Well, yes, there is a lot to organise and finalise – and it won’t stop even at the completion date. Many of us will have to get used to the changes once the Cornerstone Centre is completed. And that will take adjustments. Equally, ministry often can feel like turning into Sisyphus, who kept on rolling a stone up a hill, which, once he reached the top, would toll down the other side.

But if we really trust that God is with us and has called us to this life and to what we do as a community than Days like these lead to… Nights like this lead to… Love like ours: a love that heals, that tears down walls, and that unites us with the God of love.

There is already a lot of love at St John’s, even if at times it is hidden by culturally-inspired reservations… And I have seen love expressed at St John’s in many ways. Thank you for your care and compassion. Thank you to Stephen, for his inspiration and support. Thank you to the members of the ministry team for all their untold hours spent in helping to establish the kingdom of God. Thank you to the lay leaders of the congregation (especially vestry) for taking on so many more responsibilities last year. Thank you to the dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of volunteers that help out in so many different ways. Thank you to the staff for their laughter, commitment, and hard work. And thank you to you for being who you are, whoever or whatever you are, and for being willing to work with me, despite of my idiosyncrasies, my faults, my crazy ideas, my grumpiness (or maybe because of it…).

It promises to be a lovely and exciting year!

Yours as ever,

Markus

P.S. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

2016 Statistics

Baptisms / 3
Weddings / 8
Funerals / 8

VESTRY

AUSTIN REILLY

The last 12 months have been busy and eventful for Vestry.

In December, we welcomed Tony Falconer and Colin MacEachran as elected members of the Vestry. At the same meeting I was appointed Vestry Secretary and Alistair Dinnie, who had been Secretary for the previous 8 years, was co-opted back onto Vestry as part of the Development Executive.

It is certainly the case that for much of the year there has been a major focus on the Development as we worked with our Design Team and the Consultant advising us during the tender process, culminating in the decision taken at our August meeting to appoint contractors. Many technical details had to be agreed including the formation of Cornerstone Developments Edinburgh Ltd to be the St John’s interface with the contractors and consideration of the due diligence requirements of CAF Bank in respect of the loan we are obtaining from them. This, in turn, led to the steps we are taking to amend the Constitution of St John’s to incorporate the authority to borrow.

In addition to the Development, much work was undertaken to implement the recommendations of the Organisational Review completed in October 2015. One of the consequences of the review was a complete change in Staffing in both the Office and in the Vergers. The fact that this was all completed smoothly is due in no small measure to the expert way in which the Personnel Committee (formerly the General Purposes Committee) chaired by Romy Langeland went about the task. Romy is standing down from this role at the AGM and we would like to record our great thanks and appreciation for her work during her membership of the Committee and Vestry.

Several other matters were considered during the year including the potential impact on the Congregation of Council proposals to impose parking restrictions on Sundays, the Scottish Churches Census (and the initial results relating to St John’s) and the Canon 31 proposals from General Synod in respect of a possible change to the Canons on marriage.

Over the next year, one of our challenges will be to follow through on discussions we have had on the governance of St John’s and how best Vestry, as leaders of the Congregation, can support our clergy in their mission work and utilisation of the new buildings we will have on completion of the Development. We took the first steps in this vital activity in September when we held an “away day”, which everyone found a stimulating and rewarding experience, and this will be continued by further such gatherings in the near future.

Finally, I would like to thank Markus, Stephen, Alistair and all members of the Vestry for the help and support they have given me as I settled into the role of Secretary.

FAITH FORMATION

Stephen Holmes

Pilgrim Course

Pilgrim is a series of eight courses developed by the Church of England which explore the basics of Christianity using the Bible, video clips, prayer, discussion, and reflections by contemporary pastors and theologians. Following the success of the first three course at St John’s in 2014-15, St Andrew’s and St George’s west kindly hosted the group on Thursday evenings in Lent because of our building development. This was adopted by City Centre Churches Together as a Lent Course and had members from all three churches. These were again convivial occasions which enabled some deep conversations about the faith and we look forward to the next course on the Eucharist at St Cuthbert’s in November/December. The diocese was interested in our use of the Pilgrim Course, Stephen hosted a meeting of clergy to discuss their experience of Pilgrim and will be facilitating another meeting next year for the diocesan programme Adventures in Faith. See: