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New Beginnings - Community Announcement

November 19, 2024 2 1
New Beginnings - Community Announcement

In 2022 Sanctuary First, the pioneer online worshipping community of the Church of Scotland, became a Charity in its own right a (SCIO) separate from Falkirk Presbytery. 

 

For the past three years we have received core funding from the central funds of the Church of Scotland. This three-year period of funding has now come to an end. 

 

FAPLT, the church’s mission and ministry body, has informed the Sanctuary First board that they would now like to re-define their relationship with Sanctuary First while they seek to develop a national digital strategy for the whole church. This means that the present arrangements regarding ministry and ministerial support will no longer be in place. 

 

As of the 30th November the Rev Ruth Kennedy will no longer be assigned as Minister and CEO of Sanctuary First.We’re  grateful for the unique contribution that Ruth brought to the Sanctuary First Community during the past year and we 

wish her well as she seeks to share her experience, helping to shape  digital ministry within the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team”

 

The board of Sanctuary First are grateful for the past financial support received from FAPLT and are now seeking to develop a new funding model, one based on greater support from individuals within our ever-growing online community and also through developing new financial and ecumenical partnerships with other organisations in digital ministry. 

Both Sanctuary First and the Church of Scotland will develop their own digital footprint and look to engage well with each other where common ground is found.

 

The Sanctuary First board will now reflect on the style of leadership required to take the aims and objectives of the charity forward. 

Please pray for all concerned during this time of transition. 

 

We continued to be blessed by a dedicated production team and a board of Trustees that is enthusiastically embracing this new challenge and the opportunities that God will open up for Sanctuary First in the coming years. We trust that you will join us in this new chapter of our ministry.

 

We will continue to keep you informed of the developments.

 

Very Rev Albert Bogle - Chairperson

Rev Laura Digan - Board Member 

Jim Steel - Board Member

Rev Jonathan Fleming - Board member

Paul Goode - Treasurer & Board member

Jane Steel - Secretary to the Board & Accounts Administrator