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History Grants Governance Contact

Action of Churches Together in Scotland
Eaglaisean Còmhla an Gnìomh an Alba

GRANTS

The following general guidelines for the award of grants were approved by the trustees on 1st December 2025 and revised on 29th April 2026

Following the establishment of the Scottish Christian Forum (SCF), which is now identified as the ecumenical instrument of the Churches in Scotland, the role of Action Together of Churches in Scotland (ACTS) has undergone a profound transformation. ACTS holds significant assets given by the member Churches for ecumenical work and will now function as a grant-making body using these funds for ecumenical projects which promote the united life, witness and service of the Christian Churches in Scotland. Recognising the need for funding to be granted according to clear and objective criteria, after due deliberation and consultation with the member Churches of both ACTS and the SCF, the trustees have adopted the following guidelines for evaluating projects and applications for funding:

Grant applications must be submitted on the form available here .

Criteria

1. Projects presented for funding should promote the ecumenical life, witness and service of the Christian Churches in Scotland and should include clear and measurable objectives for one or more of the core areas of Church and Society, Faith and Order, and Local Ecumenism.

2. Preference will be given to projects which, in addition to those ecumenical outcomes, are also aligned with one or more of the ‘marks of mission’.¹

The Five Marks of Mission: The mission of the Church is the mission of Christ

1 To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

2. To teach, baptise and nurture new believers

3. To respond to human need by loving service

4. To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation

5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth

3. Proposals for research project should include clear indications of how the findings are expected to contribute to ecumenical practice and action, with particular attention to local ecumenism whenever possible.

4. Priority will be given to projects supported by member churches of ACTS or those participating in the Scottish Christian Forum.

5. Applications will also be welcomed from associations, and groups of local churches.

6. Projects presented by para-church or subsidiary bodies will be expected to have the support of one or more of the member churches of ACTS or those participating in the the Scottish Christian Forum.

7. Projects presented for funding must have appropriate authorisation and approval by the relevant governance bodies.

8. Projects with matched funding are strongly encouraged.

9. ACTS will not provide funding to cover ordinary operational costs or structural deficits but will provide funding for projects designed to restructure financial models and achieve sustainability within a realistic timeframe

10. ACTS will consider applications for interfaith projects only if there is a significant contribution to strengthening the ecumenical life, witness and service of the Christian churches in Scotland and the projects has the support of a majority of the member churches of ACTS or of those participating in the Scottish Christian Forum.

¹ The Five Marks of Mission

© 2026 Action of Churches Together in Scotland is a Scottish Guarantee Company (Company No SC348236) Registered as a Scottish Charity under Scottish Charity No SC000295