In the last couple of days two simple, but important, news items have come out of the Church of Scotland.

First, you may remember that just before Christmas last year a burglary at the home of then Moderator John Christie resulted in the loss of the ceremonial ring of the Moderator.  Well, this week part of the ring was returned to the Church of Scotland in an anonymous envelope.  The stone from the ring, an amethyst engraved with the seal of the church, is now back in the possession of the Kirk.  It is presumed that the gold from the ring has been sold. The news and a picture of the ring as it was originally is in a story from the BBC.

The second news item is the announcement of the first ordination of a new variety of minister, an Ordained Local Minister, earlier today.

Congratulations to Dr. Fiona Tweedie, previously a university statistics lecturer, who will be serving at Barclay Viewforth Church. She is the first in a class of five that has been training for this position and who will all be ordained over the next month.

The form of service as an Ordained Local Minister was approved by the General Assembly back in May and is described in the press release like this:

The Ordained Local Ministry (OLM) was approved by May’s General Assembly, the Church’s decision-making body. Unlike parish ministry,
OLMs will be deployed by their Presbytery rather than being called to a
specific congregation and participate in around 10-hours of work a week.

With a flexible approach to training and serving, the new scheme is
expected to be popular amongst congregational members feeling a call to
ministry but unable to work full-time as a minister due to other work
and family commitments.

In line with that description, the article says Dr. Tweedie’s new responsibilities are:

She has been appointed as Edinburgh Presbytery’s mission facilitator and
researcher – an unpaid post in which she will contribute to the
Church’s strategy to engage with communities across the city.

Looking at the Ministries Council Report from the last GA, the concept of Ordained Local Minister (OLM) is described this way:

1.8.2.4 Concept of OLM: OLM is conceived as a nonstipendiary form of the ministry of Word and Sacrament, aimed at engaging those with an appropriately tested sense of call towards ordination, but who wish to serve primarily in a localised ministry. This would often, though not exclusively, be in support of those working in leadership roles as Parish Ministers (whether full-time or part-time). The normal expectation would be that OLMs would offer around 10 hours per week in an unpaid role, though it is recognised that some may find themselves in situations where they are able and willing to offer more time. It is also likely that in some circumstances OLMs will be appointed to work in other roles specifically designated by Presbyteries, for some of which they may receive payment (eg as a Locum).

In function, the report describes the OLM like this:

1.8.2.12 The function of the OLM would be a localised one. Appointments to OLM posts would be the prerogative of Presbytery, in a manner analogous to that of the existing Auxiliary ministry, to a particular locality or a specific role. If an OLM should move Presbytery for one reason or another, he or she would be eligible to take up an appointment in that Presbytery, but only able to do so as directed by Presbytery (and obviously where an appointment exists!). It is clear that existing Auxiliaries work in a wide variety of roles and there is no proposal to diminish the spheres of activity. On the contrary, it is anticipated that OLMs will gradually come to be deployed in creative and innovative ways by Presbyteries.

If you are interested in further details there is the full description of the OLM in the Ministries Council Report beginning on page 46. The Ministries Council is still refining the position and more adjustments are expected at the 2012 General Assembly.

In the mean time we congratulate Dr. Tweedie and her colleagues and offer our prayers for their ministry.