The conference steering committee are proud to announce that ‘Responding to the Sacred: Gender & Liturgy in Conversation’ will take place this spring as a free online event. Each day from 12-16 April a new discussion video will be released, with space for our audience to comment during the livestream. On 17 April we’ll host a live plenary session from St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh (God-willing or, in the language of these interesting times, Covid-restrictions-allowing).

Aside from going online, our conference aims and roster of speakers remains the same. Taking in a wide range of perspectives we’ll discuss issues in the field of gender and liturgy, in the context of liturgical reform beginning within the Scottish Episcopal Church. Our speakers include: Merete Thommassen (University of Oslo), Bill Paterson (MindfulnessFife), Bishop Ian Paton (SEC), Leon van Ommen (SEC, University of Aberdeen), Bridget Nichols (Church of Ireland Theological Institute, Dublin), David Jasper (SEC, University of Glasgow), Lisa Isherwood (University of Winchester), Beverly Clack (Oxford Brookes University).

[June 2025] The Facebook event page has now disappeared, but you can download the final programme at this link. The email address give was genandlit@gmail.com, but this may or not still be operational

A four-week study on Zoom from 7.00–8:15pm, on Tuesdays in Lent: 23 February, 2 March; 9 March; 16 March.

Tenants of the King is a four-part Bible-based Lent study designed to help each of us and our churches consider what the Bible has to say about today’s climate crisis. Each session is interactive and includes video interviews with leading Christian thinkers and insightful Bible commentary.

The study will be led by Jan Benvie, and will help us to reflect on the challenges of a changing climate, building on the motion passed at last year’s General Synod of the SEC setting the target of zero carbon emissions by the church by 2030 (report on the decision at this link).

It is produced by Operation Noah, a Christian charity working with the Church to inspire action on the climate crisis. There is a booklet to go with the course which you can download in PDF format at this link, or printed copies will be sent on request.

If you are interested, or simply want to find out more, please email jbenvie@yahoo.co.uk, including your postal address if you’d like a copy of the booklet.

This year the Study Group will use the book The Prayers of Jesus, a Cover to Cover Lent Study Guide, by Amy Boucher Pye, a US-born devotional writer living in north London. In simple terms, the book is about exploring Jesus’ prayers to His Father as He moved towards the cross, and following His lead in prayer as we enjoy greater intimacy with God.

The six week course starts on Monday 15 February and meets weekly at 7.00pm on Zoom. This is a lively and friendly group with most of the Rosyth churches being represented. To find out more details and how to join the Zoom meetings please contact Alan Taylor.