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Church of Scotland Edinburgh Offices, Wikimedia Commons
Young Scots have the chance to “go for gold” this year with the Church of Scotland as the Kirk launches a new schools prize competition to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics.
The Church of Scotland’s Education Committee is running a competition aimed at school pupils across Scotland exploring issues of faith and spirituality using the Olympics and Paralympics Games as its theme.
A commemorative Moderator’s Medal is currently being designed and will be awarded to the competition during the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Right Reverend David Arnott, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland said: “I warmly welcome any initiative that is going to encourage young people to reflect on matters of faith and spirituality. Eugene Peterson, [behind the Message bible] says ‘We can’t worship God without imagination.’ This competition encourages young people to use their imagination in word, music or paint and to reflect on the Olympics from the point of view of faith spirituality. I look forward to seeing the fruits of such imagination.”
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Web: Moderator’s Medal
The competition, therefore, is not about “what does the Olympics and Paralympics Games mean to you,” but rather how do the values and spirit behind the games inspire young people.
Throughout the 450-year history of the Church of Scotland the Kirk has helped shape not just spiritual life but the nation’s education system. Scotland’s education system began with churches wanting everyone to be able to read in order to read the Bible for themselves. Part of the Church of Scotland’s strategy was to provide schools in every parish.
The Church of Scotland wants to help teachers working with the new Curriculum for Excellence framework, particularly with its encouragement for cross-subject projects and so a flexible prize that welcomes different formats and can be awarded annually fits in with the curriculum.
