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Church of Scotland

2007-07-12T17:44:54Z

MoreRealism:

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The '''Church of Scotland''' (The "Kirk" in [[Scots]]) is the established church in [[Scotland]]. [[Reformation|Reformed]] in terms of theology and [[Presbyterianism|presbyterian]] in terms of organization, it has its origins in the [[16th century]] Scottish reformation.

==History==
The key figure in the Scottish reformation was [[John Knox]], an Edinburgh preacher and disciple of Swiss reformer [[John Calvin]]. The reformation in Scotland is usually dated to [[1560]],<ref>http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orghistory.htm#reformation</ref> the year the [[Scottish Parliament]] formally rejected Papal jurisdiction. In the following turbulent 130 years, there was a great deal of conflict - at times armed - between various factions in the United Kingdom (formed from the union of Scotland and England in 1603), and religion was often a defining factor in the shifting alliances that shaped the dynastic, political and cultural landscape of the time. (See [[British Civil War]]). Specifically, Presbyterianisms, [[Episcopalianism]] and [[Catholicism]] were vying for supremacy in this period. With the ascendancy of the House of Orange in the Glorious Revolution of 1690, the predominance of the Presbyterianism Kirk was assured.<ref>http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orghistory.htm#national</ref>

==Church organization==
Rejecting a distinction between bishops and the clergy, and, indeed, downplaying the distinction between clergy and laity, each Church of Scotland congregation is governed by a Kirk Session consisting of body of elected [[elder|elders]], the [[minister]] considered to be but a special case of elder. The church as a whole takes decisions at the annual General Assembly, at which both elders and ministers are represented.<ref>http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orgstructure.htm</ref>

==Role in education==
As a result of the zeal of early reformers to spread the [[Word of God]], Scotland became the first country in the world to pass a law requiring a school to be established in every parish, in [[1616]]. By the end of the [[seventeenth century]], this goal was achieved, and Scotland is generally held to have been the first modern country to have instituted a system of universal [[public education]]., a source of great pride among Scots and their descendants to this day.

==Liberal position on women==
There has been full equality between men and women in the Church of Scotland since 1968.<ref>http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orgwomen.htm</ref>

==Homosexuality==
While recognizing the theological, scriptural and traditional difficulties, the Church of Scotland is generally tolerant of [[homosexuality]]. A recent report concluded that: ''Many people are both gay and Christian; having a homosexual orientation is not a matter for censure; having a homosexual orientation does not preclude service to Christ in the church and the world. A homosexual orientation should not be a barrier to any role in church and state, and the Church should oppose all forms of discrimination on these grounds, both in environments where the Church carries authority and in society at large. ''<ref>http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/generalassembly/downloads/gareports07manddchallengetounity.rtf</ref>

It is sympathetic to the the [[homosexual agenda]]<ref>[http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/generalassembly/downloads/gareports07manddchallengetounity.rtf A challenge to unity: same-sex relationships as an issue in theology and human sexuality]</ref>. This has led the leading [[conservative]] [[Christian]] [[Pat Robertson]] to describe Scotland as "dark country full of [[homosexuals]]"<ref>[http://kucinich.us/ 'Dark land' with 'strong homosexuals,' televangelist says]</ref>. The homosexual agenda is exemplified by support for the repeal of laws banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/761129.stm Kirk 'accepts' Section 28 repeal]</ref>, the recognition of [[same-sex marriage]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5006752.stm Kirk backs gay 'wedding' choice]</ref>, the [[adoption]] of children by homosexuals<ref>[http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=841942006 Kirk gives blessing to gay couples adopting]</ref> and qualified support for [[abortion]]<ref>[http://www.request.org.uk/issues/topics/abortion/abortion06.htm What the Churches Say:The Church of Scotland]</ref>.

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scotland, Church of}}
[[Category:Christian Denominations]]
[[Category:Scottish Culture]]

Ainsley Harriott

2007-07-12T17:44:41Z

MoreRealism:

Wikipedia is NPOV. It's this website that's biased!

'Ainsley' is a popular British TV Chef.
[[Image:Ainsley2.jpg|thumb|right|A classic pose from Ainsley]]
== Early Years ==

Ainsley trained at Westminster College and embarked on a career in London’s top hotels and restaurants, starting out as a junior trainee at West End restaurant Verrey’s, where he graduated to commis chef before moving to The Strand Palace as Chef Tournant. He also started his own catering company. “It was an exciting period,” says Ainsley. “One day I’d be creating posh nosh for Elton John; the next I’d be making steak and kidney pud for Princess Margaret. I’ve worked at every level of the catering business - and I think that it’s an enormous advantage to know how to make delicious beans on toast as well as Lobster Thermidor.” With over twenty years experience working in professional kitchens, Ainsley has a very wide understanding of his craft. Hotels and restaurants include The Dorchester, Brown’s, The Hilton, The Westbury, Café Pelican and Quaglino’s.

In the early 1990s Ainsley worked as Head Chef of the Long Room at Lord’s Cricket Ground and it was during one cricket season that BBC Radio asked him to present More Nosh, Less Dosh for BBC Radio 5. A call from BBC Pebble Mill soon followed and Ainsley moved in to become resident chef on BBC tv’s Good Morning With Anne And Nick. This in turn led to Ready Steady Cook and his tv career took off.

== Ainsley in Business ==

[[Image:Yourfile.jpg|thumb|left|One of the many food ranges from Ainsley]]

Ainsley’s own-brand food products have gone from strength to strength and are a familiar sight not only in the UK’s supermarkets, but worldwide. 2006 has seen sales reach new heights, particularly in his cous-cous and soup range. And his popularity continues to take him round the world; over the past few years he has made riotously successful appearances at live events and on major tv programmes in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and most European countries.

[[Category:Cooking]]

River Clyde

2007-07-12T17:44:22Z

MoreRealism: Replacing page with 'Wikipedia is NPOV. It's this website that's biased!'