ACTS Ecumencial Audit Report summary version May 2006

An Ecumenical Audit Summary Report Commissioned by Action of Churches Together in Scotland By Mairi Munro Contents Contents 2 Introduction 3 Insights, needs and opportunities on the ecumenical journey 3 Emerging themes 4 Ways forward 5 Diagram of interview themes 6 Participant Quotes: issues, reflections & stories 7-10 ACTS Ecumenical Audit Summary Report May 2006 2 Introduction In the midst of changing patterns and structures of church and the challenges this presents locally and nationally, an ecumenical audit was commissioned by Action of Churches Together in Scotland to discover and reflect upon the nature of ecumenical engagement in three distinct areas of Scotland and to identify current insights, opportunities and needs on the ecumenical journey. Focussing on these three areas of Scotland (Paisley, Inverness and St Andrews) in 2005, and working through the local Churches Together Groups, people in local churches were asked to engage in workshops, interviews and a postal questionnaire to describe and reflect upon their ecumenical experience. This generated information on the nature of ecumenical activity, the challenges at local level, resources and support required from a national level. What insights, needs and opportunities on the ecumenical journey? An early discovery – particularly in the workshops - was the range and fluidity of the definition of “ecumenism” and what it means ...