19-01-2010
A locally supported partnership of churches and individuals in Scotland
with those involved in ministry and mission in South Africa
with those involved in ministry and mission in South Africa
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Steering Group takes shape
Graham & Sandra Duncan's contract with the Church of Scotland's World Mission Council (WMC) ended on 31st October 2006. Graham continues working in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria and as a minister in the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (UPCSA). Sandra has been appointed at the administrator of Sedibeng, the Faculty's House of Studies.
Many of the students training for the full-time ministry at the University of Pretoria come from poor backgrounds and, just like students here, are away from home for long periods. Self-sufficiency is not always easy – books have to be bought, travel costs met, accommodation, food and clothing all provided, and so on.
The Duncans, with the help of congregations in Scotland, have supported the basic needs of these students and this work continues. Because finance for the Duncans' work will no longer be provided by central Church of Scotland funds, discussions are taking place among their partner churches about setting up a Trust to allow this work to continue. Also, a mechanism needs to be set up so partner congregations can keep in touch with Graham & Sandra and hear about their ongoing work.
A Steering Group has been established to take these forward and to maintain the partnership links.The idea of a Steering Group being set up to allow congregations and individuals to continue supporting the work of Sandra and Graham Duncan after 31st October arose out of two meetings held during summer 2006 and attended by many of the congregations that were previously partnered with the Duncans through the WMC partnership scheme.
The main purpose of this Steering Group is to set up a formal Trust to manage the relationship between the partner congregations and the projects supported by the Duncans. A set of aims has been agreed it is hoped that they will form the basis for the operation of the charitable trust.
The current draft aims are:
- to promote religious and educational links between congregations in central Scotland and students in training for the ministry of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa;
- to promote links between the Universities of Stirling and Pretoria, including student exchanges;
- to support individuals who are engaged in appropriate religious, educational or social welfare work in South Africa; funds to be distributed at the discretion of the Trustees;
- more specifically, to encourage congregations in Falkirk and Stirling Presbyteries to form partnership links with the recipients;
- more generally, to publicise the aims of the Trust to people in the wider community in order to foster their interest and financial support.
More immediately, the Steering Group will take over some of the work previously done by the World Mission Council, such as keeping congregations up-to-date with the Duncans' news, including Partner Plan letters, arranging visits by the Duncans to partner congregations in Scotland, etc. The development of this website, for example, is under the auspices of the Steering Group, as are the arrangements for the visit in December by three students from the University of Pretoria.
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