Eco-Congregation Scotland is a Scottish registered charity (charity number: SC041287) organised as a company limited by guarantee (company number: SC372366) . The trustees of the charity are the directors of the company.
These are the statements of the directors who were elected by the members at the AGM on 5th March 2011.
EWAN AITKEN
I am the Secretary to the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland. A former parish minister in Edinburgh, I am also the present chair of Eco Congregation Scotland Board. I have spent the last 11 years as an elected member of the City of Edinburgh Council, 6 of them full time and 10 months as Leader of the Council. I was also Spokesperson for Education for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities for 3 years. I believe that the witness of the church to what it believes to be true happens in every community and I see it as our task to help you be those witnesses.
STEPHEN ALEXANDER
I represent the Scottish Synod of the United Reformed Church on the Eco-Congregation Scotland Steering Group and became a Board Member on it achieving Independent Charitable status. My role has been to promote Eco-Congregation Scotland to our member churches and provide information and encouragement to their members. I am also a member of the Helensburgh and Lomond Network and work to encourage those churches in the area.I am a retired Naval Engineering Officer where I served mainly in Nuclear and conventional Submarines, worked as a volunteer advisor in Citizen Advice Bureau. I am married and have two (adult) children and four Grandchildren.
ALISON BOYES
I was asked to join the ECS steering group 2 years ago as a ‘grass roots’ member. My appointment coincided with the recent growth of ECS and its transition to a charity, and becoming a director has been an exciting and educational experience.I live in a small village called Dunscore (pop. 500) in Dumfries and Galloway and have been Chair of our Eco-Congregation Group since 2003. We gained our second award in 2008. I am especially interested in how churches can work with other community groups and demonstrate their love of God and his creation through action.
JOHN BUTTERFIELD
has been a Methodist minister for over 20 years and before that he worked in town and country planning. His environmental awareness has continued in ministry with his involvement over the years with the Green Theology Group, Christian Ecology Link and Eco-Congregations. He completed a masters degree in environmental theology in 1993. John became one of the founder directors of Eco-Congregation Scotland in 2010 and has recently worked with “Going Carbon Neutral Stirling” on carbon reduction in congregations and on an initiative to promote community gardens.
DAVID FINDLAY
Employed as a Group Buyer for large bakery manufacturer, responsible for a spend of £38M on Food ingredients and Packaging. I also purchase the group’s utilities, which amounts to £2M per year. I have a particular interest in looking at ways to drive energy reduction throughout the group. I have also been involved in environmental projects with the major retailers. I feel that I can bring this experience to help Eco Congregation Scotland as it continues to move forward at an exciting time. I am Treasurer and Elder at Calderbank Parish Church of Scotland and have 2 sons aged 10 and 6.
ALAN KENNEDY
I am the congregational treasurer of Craigsbank Church of Scotland in Edinburgh which registered with ECS in 2004. An actuary by profession, I took early retirement last year and offered my services when I heard that ECS was looking for a treasurer as it had become a charitable company. I am willing to stand as a board member at the 2011 AGM and am also prepared to continue as treasurer.
ALAN WERRITTY
For many years I have been a member of St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, St Andrews and have represented the Scottish Episcopal Church on the Board of Eco-Congregation Scotland since it became a charity last year. Before then I was a member of the Eco-Congregations Management Board for several years. Within the Scottish Episcopal Church, I currently serve on the Standing Committee of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane, was a member of the General Synod in 2010 and have addressed several previous Synods on the work of Eco-Congregation Scotland. I am an Emeritus Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Dundee where, until I retired in 2010, I undertook research on climate change and flooding – on which I currently advise the Scottish Government. Most recently I was Vice Chair of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Inquiry Facing up to Climate Change: Breaking down the Barriers to a Low Carbon Scotland which reported on 1 March 2011. The role of NGOs in promoting individual and collective ‘buy in’ to a low carbon future is strongly endorsed in the Inquiry report. I believe that Eco-Congregation Scotland can be a significant player in promoting such a future.
SHEENA WURTHMANN
After a career as an academic in ecology and environmental science I am now enjoying in retirement doing some of the things that I was not able to do while working full-time. I have been a member of committees for Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Biodiversity Committee and Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Shortly I will complete my term of office on the Scottish Committee of Heritage Lottery Fund. I have been the lead for my local congregation to gain their first award as an Eco-Congregation. I am convener for the Glasgow Eco-Congregation network and served on Board of Directors. I am also an elder and a member of the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council.
