Meet Caroline, our speaker…from Basingstoke.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I live in the wonderful town of Basingstoke and for nearly 30 years have served the church family of St Mary’s as Women’s and Children’s Minister. I originally trained as an Oncology nurse but left to do a year out as a ministry trainee and never returned. My ideal day off is a good walk and
lunch with friends.

What are some of the challenges and joys of being involved in gospel ministry?
There are many of both! As I write this I’ve just finished a holiday club for seniors and been challenged by the refusal of some to engage with the gospel, it’s so clear their eyes are blinded and yet the joy of seeing the Lord soften the hearts of some, some wonderful conversations about Jesus and seeing godly saints who despite frailty and sickness faithfully trusting Jesus, is wonderful. It is also a joy seeing a team love Jesus and want to serve him each using their God given gifts. Those challenges and joys are evident in gospel ministry for all ages and stages of life.

What one thing has the Lord been teaching you about yourself and himself in recent times?
I’ve spent several weeks looking at Psalm 23 and delighting in seeing the Lord as my shepherd.
It’s such a familiar psalm but the Lord has spoken to me deeply about his character and how I can
trust Him at all times.

Tickets can be purchased from Brushfire here

We are taking a break. For a variety of reasons, some members of our planning team have had to take a step back from helping to organise the convention. As our passion is to host a convention of as high quality as possible we feel that taking a break for 2023 is the right thing to do. We want to bring on new members and give ourselves time to plan properly. 

But don’t worry we will be back! This really is only a break, not the end! In the meantime, please pray for the planning team as they look to bring on new members and make plans for 2024. 

We look forward to being able to continue to have a convention which encourages us and blesses us through God’s Word. Our passion continues to run a day of faithful Bible teaching by women for women with the Lord Jesus as our focus.

Running order for Scottish Women’s Bible Convention 2022

9am Doors Open and bookshop open

10am Session 1

11.15am Break and bookstall open.

12noon Session 2 – Seminars

1pm Lunch

2pm Session 3

3pm Finish. The bookstall will remain open.

Please bring your own lunch, or visit local cafes to get something. If you have your own keep-cup, please do bring that along.

On arrival at the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention, everyone will need to sign up for their seminar. To avoid long queues, we’d encourage everyone to have decided beforehand what they’d like to sign up for. Below are the seminar description with links to the post from the seminar leader sharing more about the topic.

Karen Soole, from Lancaster, will be leading a seminar called Liberated: How the Bible exalts and dignifies women. Equality for all people is a foundational principle in our culture and embedded in our law. However religion is often blamed for promoted inequality especially towards women. What are we to do when the world says the Bible’s view of women is utterly abhorrent? What are we to make of passages that make us fear they might be right?

Amy Wicks, from Glasgow, will be leading a seminar called ‘What is church?’. It’s easy to think about church in terms of things that we do – church is where we hear from God’s
word, where we sing, where we do community. But what actually is the church? We’ll be looking
at what God says about the church, and how that shapes our relationship with church and the
people in it.

Carrie Sandom, from Tunbridge Wells will be leading a seminar called God’s sovereignty when hard times strike. Life often takes an unexpected turn – redundancy, financial difficulties, health crises, broken relationships and sudden bereavement – but does that mean God is no longer in control or that He no longer loves us? Is He punishing us for something we did in the past? These are questions that often come into our minds, whether we’re the ones going through a hard time or seeking to help others who are. How does God’s word help us to understand these trials and what comfort is there for those who are struggling?

There are now only 3 sleeps until the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention.  I hope you are all as excited as the planning committee. To make the most of the day there are a few things which we thought it would be useful for you all to know.

• Firstly, doors will open at 9am and tea & coffee with be available. If you can give bring your own keep-cup that would be great.
• Do give yourself time to sign up for your Seminars. Check out the blog for information on the seminars.
• The first session will start at 10am and the last session will be finished just after 3pm.
• There will be a bookstall provided by 10ofthose.com, so do come prepared to purchase some awesome books!
• Nursing Mums are more than welcome to bring their baby.  There is be a room with a video feed available if you want to breastfeed in privacy.
• Lunch is not provided but there are plenty of places nearby to pick up some lunch, or why not bring something with you so you can use the lunchtime period to have fellowship with one another.
• Charlotte Chapel is situated at 58 Shandwick Place and is easily accessible by public transport. The train is an easy option as Haymarket is a 10-minute walk from Charlotte Chapel. There will be a reduced train service on Saturday so do check out Scotrail for the changes and do plan accordingly.
• Tram or bus stops are just outside the church. The Lothian Bus website will give you all the information needed. 
• Parking around Charlotte is all on-street parking and pay and display.  Melville Street is the best place to aim for. It is possible to park a little further out where is it free on a Saturday and walk the rest. Edinburgh Council has an interactive map which shows the parking restrictions and where it is free to park on Saturday. If you are coming from Glasgow or over a bridge an alternative would be to park and ride at Ingliston You can park for free and then get the tram into town. The tram stop is 2 mins walk from the church.
• Please do get in touch at scottishwomensbibleconvention@gmail.com if you have any questions.  Also, do remember in your prayers our speaker and the seminar leaders as they finalise their preparations.

Please do get in touch at scottishwomensbibleconvention@gmail.com if you have any questions.  Also, do remember in your prayers our speaker and the seminar leaders as they finalise their preparations.

On Monday, we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention. For the next few weeks, we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.

What is the seminar about?

Equality for all people is a foundational principle in our culture and embedded in our law. However religion is often blamed for promoted inequality especially towards women. What are we to do when the world says the Bible’s view of women is utterly abhorrent? What are we to make of passages that make us fear they might be right?

Who is the seminar for?

This is for every woman! It aims to give us confidence that God is good for women. However, it is also aimed to help us explain that truth to our friends.

Why is this area important?

Through church history some things have been taught that have undermined women. We can fear that the bible rather than being liberating is in fact the cause of oppression. We can especially struggle with some of the teaching in the Old Testament or feel trapped by stereotypes.
It is important for us in our walk with Jesus to be confident in God’s love and the value he places on women.
It matters for our friends who come from a feminist perspective and are suspicious of the bible. As we grow in confidence in the bible we will be able to share the gospel more confidently with those who fear the bible is sexist.

Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention are you looking forward to and why?

I’m really looking forward to being with my Scottish sisters in Edinburgh – wonderful fellowship in a
beautiful city!

Tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite here

On Monday, we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention. This year we are pleased to have the charity Home For Good come and join us on the day. We asked Duncan Shelton to tell us about their work and their participation at the convention.

In which part of Scotland do you live?

I live in the beautiful West End of Glasgow around Finnieston that I believe, is home to some of the best coffee shops and parks in all of Scotland!

What is the purpose of Home for Good?

Home for Good has a bold vision to find a home for every child who needs one in the UK through fostering, adoption and supported lodgings for teenagers, and we believe the Church has a crucial role to play. We inspire individuals and families to open their homes to children and young people, and we equip the Church to wrap around them in support.

How are you going to be involved in this year’s SWBC?

First of all, we’re excited to be sharing more about Home for Good in a Q&A on the mainstage at some point throughout the day where you’ll hear more about Home for Good, our heart behind what we do, and why it’s so important! We’ll also have a stand open throughout the day where we’ll have resources available, including our Home for Good book written by our founder, Krish and Miriam Kandiah, bible studies and a few activities to get you thinking about the care community in your local area. At the stand, you’ll be able to ask further questions and explore how you can actively participate in the vision of Home for Good!

How is the work of Home for Good relevant to SWBC attendees?

This year’s SWBC topic is so relevant to the work that Home for Good. Scotland occupies the second highest number of looked after children away from home in the UK with over 10,000 children and young people. This number is at an all-time high. Home for Good believes that each one of us has a part to play to ensure that every child and young person in Scotland, no matter their background or upbringing, experiences the safety, love and sense of belonging that they deserve. No matter what part you choose to play, we believe that together we can make a transformational difference in our local communities and to society.

What are you most looking forward to about the event and why?

I’m most looking forward to engaging with you all on a topic that is so close to the heart of Scotland right now. The Scottish Government are currently in the process of implementing the changes that were recommended to them after the Independent Care Review was concluded in a report named The Promise. We are right at the beginning of seeing those changes and Home for Good are working hard to be part of those changes as well. The more we talk to people and listen to the stories of those that are care experienced, the more we raise awareness of the needs of the care system and the exciting changes happening within the care system right now!

Tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite here

On Mondays we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention. We asked our speaker Rachel Sloan to share more about what she will be speaking on.

What are you speaking about at the Scottish Women’s Convention and why?

As believers we know and rejoice in the fact that through Christ, God forgave us, redeemed us and justified us. But the blessings of the gospel do not end there. Theologian Trevor Burke explains, “God does not only justify people and then leave them destitute with nowhere to go – he adopted them into the warmth and security of his household.” God has another blessing for us. We have been given new status – daughters of God and now have a permanent intimacy with God as our heavenly Father. 

Through exploring Ephesians 1 and Romans 8 my prayer is that we will see afresh the wonderful privilege of being adopted as daughters, with God as our father. As we do, we shall see we can live as a daughter in freedom, rather than a slave to fear. We enjoy God’s tender love knowing he carefully provides for all our daily needs. We have hope for the future knowing that we will one day receive a glorious inheritance which will never perish, spoil or fade.

Besides speaking, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention are you looking forward to and why?

Being able to gather with so many women to sing God’s praise is wonderful. It is also such a blessing to meet friends who I haven’t seen in a while.

Tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite here – Tickets

On Monday, we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention. For the next few weeks, we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.

What is the seminar about?

Its easy to think about church in terms of things that we do – church is where we hear from God’s
word, where we sing, where we do community. But what actually is the church? We’ll be looking
at what God says about the church, and how that shapes our relationship with church and the
people in it.

Who is the seminar for?

Anyone who is part of a church or looking to join one, anyone who wants to be encouraged by
thinking about God’s plan for the church, and anyone who wants to grow in their love for the
church.

Why is this area important?

It’s a simple idea, but what you think something is drastically affects how you relate to it. God’s
view of the church is bigger and more glorious than we might dare to believe. When we start to
think about church the way God does, it has a huge impact on the way we relate to our church,
and the people has placed there.

Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Convention are you looking
forward to and why?
I moved to Scotland less than a year ago, so I’m looking to meeting some new people and hearing
your stories about how God is at work in your local church.

Tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite here