The changing face of Ascend E-News
Since our last edition of the eNews there have been a number of changes within the staff team within the national offices. The People and Training team have had to take their share of staff redundancies and sadly this has included Clare Milrine, who has served as The Project Officer within the team having had particular responsibility for Ascend.
We are very grateful to Clare for all the work that she has done to ensure that Ascend has become a recognisable ‘brand’ of information and support within the ministries of the Church of Scotland. She undertook from the very early stages the development of the website, and in more recent times has overseen the production of the monthly e-News, working with Lindsay O’Riordan to ensure that applications for study leave and other supportive resources are looked after.
Ascend remains a vital place of interaction within and between the national ministries of the Church. It is a gathering point for information about events, conferences and webinars that allows us as a Church to build informal links with our academic partners, other denominations, and groups and organisations who share our passion for faith. It gives details of how those in ministry may find support and encouragement on both a personal and professional level, whilst not being prescriptive about how an individual Minister, OLM, Deacon or Reader may do that. It gives a home to many of our handbooks, policies and other documents that while not required on a daily basis, are grouped to cope with an urgent need for an answer, or for a leisurely perusal for those with more ‘anorak’ tendencies!
With these staff changes, we need to ensure a continuity of the service provided, knowing that changes are inevitable.
We do though require to consider how we ensure a continuity of the service provided, whilst that changes are inevitable.
One major challenge is the continuation of the production of the monthly e-Newsletter, and after careful consideration we are making some changes.
First, we intend to combine the March/April, July/August, and December/January editions reducing the number of editions from 12 annually to 9.
Secondly, until we find a new rhythm, each edition will adopt a broader theme that will connect each of our articles, rather than run a number of series across several editions. We may need to run at times with fewer articles, but also hope to bring some more substantial pieces from areas of the Church who are not always heard.
Thirdly, we want to reach out to a broader contributor base. The joy of the Ascend e-News is that it often allows people to have the opportunity for the first time, to write for a wider audience, and allow their voice to speak from their own parish, congregation or context. There have been many articles in the past years that have spoken from the heart of both hurt and joy, wisdom and learning, and whose candour has given reassurance to others.
Such writing by those in ministry for others in similar or different ministries, generates a deeper response in each of us, that helps strengthen the realisation that in these changing and challenging times we are not alone. To speak from the inner voice not only creates a space for self-reflection for the writer, but allows the reader to grow in confidence to reach out for the support or affirmation that they may need for that moment. This mutual learning will mean that at times our articles will be challenging, soothing, motivating, gently critical or controversial, as we want to cheer, stimulate, inspire and provoke, and we want to do this with a graciousness that acknowledges the spectrum of experience, theology, culture and practice within the Church of Scotland.
To do this, we need you to write about what matters to you. To write from the nub of your own experience – what is it that feeds you, encourages your ministry, has rescued you, has stimulated you. Writing from the ‘I’, of who you are in the sight of God, be that as we had in recent months, those speaking of the realisation of more need for self-care, of recovering from addictions, or travelling through the menopausal years. Not everyone will know or understand, but others will be lifted and be a little braver for having read your words.
So, we may come knocking at your door! But if this has stimulated your thinking, why don’t you knock ours, and be in touch in with us through Ascend. As a starter for 10, here are some of the themes we are intending to have over the next few months:
September – Stories of change in the season of leavings and new beginnings
October – Stories of growth in the season of planting and pruning
November – Stories of challenge in the season of remembrance
December/January – Stories of hope in the season of darkness
Please do contact Eleanor through the Ascend email box ascend@churchofscotland.org.uk
or through her own email address: emcmahon@churchofscotland.org.uk
Eleanor McMahon, the People and Training Manager