Craighead Institute seeks new Director:

an opportunity to lead on building capacity for synodality

The recent Open House event on Synodality demonstrated the need to equip all the baptised to take co-responsibility for mission.

Since the 1980s, the Craighead Institute has been working with individuals and parish groups In Scotland and further afield to grow their confidence in being lay leaders and to live out their baptismal vocation as Christians in their churches, homes, workplaces and communities. The Institute also works with leaders to navigate uncertainty and change and introduce reflective practice into their organisations.

Our latest course, ‘Growing in Faith, Living in Hope and Serving in Love’ (featured in the January edition of Open House) has been successful in enabling people to share their faith stories, learn to listen deeply and be encouraged to be co-builders of God’s Kingdom in the world.

We have a particular emphasis on social justice and, with funding from the Jesuit Fund for Social Justice, we are now able to offer this 6-week course in parishes in two areas of social deprivation, including on an ecumenical basis.

On the retirement of the present Director, Rev Dr Lisa Curtice who is leaving to become priest-in charge of Heartland group (St Mary’s Scottish Episcopal Church. Port Glasgow, St Fillan’s Kilmacolm and St Mary’s Bridge of Weir), the trustees of the Craighead Institute are also seeking a new Director to lead the development of the Institute’s next phase and to co-ordinate the small team of Associates who deliver its courses.

The Director will seek out new opportunities, lead courses for adult Christians in the community, motivate and grow a small team of freelance associates, and be responsible for the running of the Institute under the Board of Trustees. Requirements include experience in adult education, group facilitation and organisational management, education to Masters’ level or professional equivalent and strong skills in written and oral communication.

The contract is for 2 days a week for 2 years in the first instance with a 6-month probationary period. The post is located in Glasgow, although remote working will be considered. Some work in evenings and at weekends is required. Administrative support will be available. Salary is to be negotiated, depending on experience and qualifications. The appointment is subject to a satisfactory PVG Scheme Record Disclosure (Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007).

Ignatian in spirituality, experiential in approach and committed to social justice, the Craighead Institute is a charity and registered company with its roots in the Catholic tradition which has worked ecumenically in Scotland and beyond from its beginning in 1987. The aim of the Institute is to work with the ongoing life experience of lay Christians and people of good faith to integrate the experience of their life journey with faith, Ignatian spirituality and the social teaching of the churches.

Founded by Sr Christine Anderson FCJ, the Institute has a distinguished track record of innovation and courageous development. Former staff member, Alam McKell, who died in December 2023, led a Craighead team to deliver a programme on Integrating Life and Faith (ILF) in Lithuania in 1993 at the invitation of the Jesuits there. It proved to be a powerful methodology to free up people’s spirituality and to give the life of faith, scripture, and Christian social teaching practical expression in everyday life. The success in Lithuania led to the foundation in 1998 of ’Gyvenimo ir Tikejimo Institutas Lietuvoja’ - The Lithuanian Institute of Life and Faith. ILF was also delivered in other parts of post-communist Europe - Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Latvia, and Romania. The methodology of Integrating Life and Fauth was profiled in the March edition of Open House this year.

To enquire about the Growing in Faith course and for further information of the Director vacancy and details of how to apply email: craigheadinstitute@gmail.com

For an informal discussion of the Director post, telephone Jim Christie SJ (Chair of Trustees) on 07960 955 073

The closing date is 31 August 2024.

Resources for voters

The Centre for Catholic Social Thought and Practice brings together academics, charities, religious orders and social movements engaged in Catholic social thought and practice, and facilitates an ongoing conversation about how to think, talk and act in response to our rapidly changing context and the social thought of the church.

It currently offers resources for voters on a range of issues and asks what faith has to say about them. See https://ccstp.org.uk

Holding Politicians to Account

Watch a recording of the Justice & Peace Commission for Argyll & the Isles Online event held on May 21st 2024 - Shaping Our Country: Holding Politicians to Account (An Argyll & the Isles Diocese Pre Election Special).  This was an online event designed to help us seek a just and nonviolent world by reflecting on the questions we should put to the candidates standing in the forthcoming general election. Bishop Brian McGee Anne-Marie Clements, Scottish Bishops Justice and Peace Commission Marian Pallister, Justice and Peace Commissioner for Argyll & the Isles Anthony Horan, Director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office.

See https://www.paxchristiscotland.org/

Pax Christi UK briefing note

Pax Christi writes: The UK General Election on Thursday 4th July comes against a background of increased violent conflict around the world. The war in Ukraine continues, there are no signs of a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and, in Sudan, a potential genocide is proceeding largely unreported. There are violent conflicts in other countries that we hear very little about. As Pope Francis has said, it is as if a third world war is being fought ‘piecemeal’.  Both major parties have made security and defence (in their words) a significant pillar of their campaigns. We have been told we are living in a ‘pre war’ state and must prepare for war. The Tories, Labour Party and Liberal Democrats are all committed to increased military spending. All are committed to maintaining the UK’s nuclear weapons system.

In the UK , we can easily ignore what has been described as an epidemic of serious youth violence not just in our major cities but across the country. We sense increased polarisation and division in and between our communities. Even our politics is broken with very little trust in any party or politician.