What We Do
The Diocese has boards and committees that form our organisational structure.
The Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) is a Christian denomination in Scotland that is part of the Anglican Communion, a worldwide family of churches with roots in the Church of England.
The Scottish Episcopal Church plays a vital role in providing spiritual, pastoral, and community services in Scotland. It maintains a distinct Scottish identity while being an integral part of the global Anglican Communion, sharing in its traditions, practices, and mission.
A diocese in the Scottish Episcopal Church functions as a key administrative and pastoral unit within the church’s structure. Each diocese is headed by a bishop and encompasses several parishes, clergy, and lay members. Our diocese covers Aberdeen, Orkney and Shetland and serves as a vital hub for spiritual leadership, support, and governance within the SEC.
Through our boards and committees, we ensure that parishes are supported in their mission and ministry, fosters growth and outreach, manages administrative tasks, and promotes unity and collaboration among its members. The bishop, clergy, and lay representatives work together to fulfil the church’s mission and uphold its traditions and values.
Our churches serve as the local congregational units within the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC), playing a crucial role in the spiritual, pastoral, and community life of their members.
Scottish Episcopal churches are vibrant communities that provide spiritual nourishment, pastoral care, education, and support to their members. They engage in a wide range of activities aimed at worship, community building, outreach, and mission. Through these diverse functions, they fulfil their role in the broader mission of the Scottish Episcopal Church and contribute to the spiritual and social fabric of their local communities.
Diocese Boards and Committees
The Diocese has boards and committees that form our organisational structure. These look at short and long-term planning, advise the Bishop and the Diocese and liaise with Provincial Committees and Boards and with our congregations.
The Standing Committee
The Standing Committee looks at the general management of the Diocese. It has elected lay and clergy members, along with the Bishop and Diocesan Officials (Dean, Registrar, Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary).
The Standing Committee has two pendant boards which regularly meet. These are the Finance and Property Board and Mission and Ministry Board.
Finance and Property Board
The Finance and Property Board manages the finances of the Diocese. This involves forming a budget, monitoring the budget, and preparing a recommended level of Quota for each congregation. This board reviews grant applications to the Diocese and awards grants for properties, curacies, chaplaincies, and travel.
Mission and Ministry Board
Jesus told his disciples “‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good newsto the whole creation.” The good news is that God loves each of us and Jesus became human on earth as a sign of God’s love. Sharing the story of God’s love for the world may involve sharing God’s word, caring for creation, building justice and peace in the world, worship, prayer and serving God, amongst other activities.
The Mission and Ministry Board; a pendant board of the Standing Committee; offers the Diocese support, education and encouragement for these activities locally throughout the Diocese. This includes promoting mission and ministry through events, assisting in the preparation of a budget for ministry and mission, and communicating developments in these areas to Diocesan Synod.
The Board offers the Diocese support, education and encouragement for local efforts to spread the Gospel and strengthen Christian life. This work includes promoting mission and ministry through events, assisting in the preparation of a budget for ministry and mission, and communicating developments in these areas to Diocesan Synod.
Other Committees
There are other Diocesan Committees that do important work for the Diocese, and these include:
- The Boundaries Committee: which considers congregational boundaries in the Diocese including changes.
- The Buildings Committee: which provides advice on church building related matters such as maintenance, upgrade projects and developments.
- The Cathedral Chapter: The Chapter meets when required under the Bishop’s leadership to reflect on the life of the church and the overall direction of the Diocese.
Trustees
There are two types of Trustee:
Property Trustees
These are appointed under the Canons of the Scottish Episcopal Church. They are responsible for the properties and investments owned by the Diocese and also hold the title deeds to most of the churches and rectories in the Diocese.
The Property Trustees of the Diocese are: The Bishop (Convenor), The Dean, The Chancellor, The Registrar, and The Synod Clerk.
Charity Trustees
These are appointed under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and are responsible for the overall management of the charity which is the Diocese.
The Charity Trustees are the Standing Committee.
A proportion of the business of the Diocesan Property Trustees overlaps with that of the Charity Trustees particularly with regard to the Diocese’s property.
People Stories – The Diocese oF Aberdeen and Orkney
John Skinner
John Skinner (1744 – 1816) was born in Longside, and joined his father, Rev. John Skinner, in prison under the Penal Laws in 1753. He graduated from Marischal College, Aberdeen, in 1761, and once ordained he served in Ellon and Udny from 1764 to 1775. Moving to Aberdeen, he built and served in a chapel in his house in Longacre, the basis of the charge that was later to become St Andrew’s, Aberdeen. He oversaw the first building at the current site in King Street. He was consecrated Bishop Aberdeen in 1786, and Primus in 1788. Along with Bishop Robert Kilgour and Bishop Arthur Petrie, he consecrated Samuel Seabury in 1784 in the chapel in his house, to serve as the first Bishop in America.
Skinner introduced the basis of the system of diocesan and general synods by which the Church is governed today, and worked towards settlement with the Government to abolish the Penal Laws. His son William was in turn Bishop of Aberdeen and Primus.