Church of Scotland Guild
The Church of Scotland Guild or simply The Guild (formerly known as the Woman's Guild), is a movement within the Church of Scotland.
Historically it was, and often in practice it is, an exclusively woman's movement. It has groups, organised at a congregational level, in most of the parishes of Scotland. The aim of the movement is "to invite and encourage both woman and men to commit their lives to Jesus Christ and to enable them to express their faith in worship, prayer, and action". The associated motto is "Whose I am, and Whom I serve'.[1]
History
The 'Woman's Guild' was founded in 1887 by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on the initiative of A. H. Charteris. Charteris acknowledged woman were already involved in Christian service but that there "was a need to develop and organize them as an official working unity within the church."[2]
Within then years, there was 29,000 members in 400 branches. This reached a peak in the 1950s of over 160,000 members. By the centenary of 1987, this had halved to 80,000.[2] Also from the 1950s, Young Mothers' groups were formed, which eventual evolved into the Young Woman's Groups section of the Guild. This section shared the same basic aims.
Today the guild has about 35,000 members and is one of Scotland's largest voluntary organisations[3]
In 1997, following a major review, the Guild adopted its current constitution. The new constitution changed the name 'Woman's Guild' to 'Church of Scotland Guild' - and opened up groups to men as well as women.[3]
Structure
At a congregational level, groups are free to organise under the supervision of the local Kirk Session. The structure of these groups varies depending on size and other local needs. Larger groups will have a committee and often a 'President', who traditionally is an influential figure in the life of the local church.
Above the local level, groups are organised into area 'Presbyterial Councils' (which meet depending on local needs). Each Council nominates one person to serve at the national level on one of the five main committees.
The committees are: Executive, Finance and General Purposes, Projects and Topics, Programmes and Resources, Marketing and Publicity. The Guild is also represented on the Church of Scotland's Church and Society Council and Mission and Discipleship Council.
The Guild reports annually to the Church's General Assembly, through its National Convenor. The Assembly approves any changes to the Guild's constitution.