Restructuring of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland and Episcopal Responsibilities
5 October 2022
The Catholic Church in Scotland is moving with the times. At the plenary meeting of bishops at the Royal Scots College in Salamanca, Spain, it was agreed to a restructuring of the offices and agencies of the Bishops’ Conference.
The new structure will comprise 6 areas of mission activity, they are:
1) Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ
2) Promoting respect and care for human life
3) Supporting lay vocations
4) Ordering Sacred Liturgy and Worship
5) Forming for Ministry
6) Nurturing Catholic Heritage and Culture
The work of the Conference and its Agencies will be informed by the Vision of BCOS: Faith seeking understanding in the light of the Joy of the Gospel and seek to implement its agreed Mission: Walking together in faith, with the lay people, clergy and religious of Scotland, we embrace and share the Joy of the Gospel and the vision of the Catholic Church.
Conference President Bishop Hugh Gilbert said: “The bishops are immensely grateful to the staff and volunteers who support and advance the work of the Bishops’ Conference. In trying to respond to the times as they change, we have looked closely at the role and remit of all our agencies and commissions and ensured Episcopal representation for them all.
“We hope this structure will allow us to share the Joy of the Gospel and the vision of the Catholic Church with the people of Scotland.”
Our Lady of Fatima, Pilgrimage around the Diocese of Scotland.The Pilgrimage Statue of Our Lady of Fatima arrives at St Mirins Cathedral in the Diocese of Paisley,Rosary and veneration of the statue led by Bishop John Keenan, Sunday 8th Oct 2017.Photo by and copyright of Paul Mc Sherry 07770 393960 @Paulmcsherry2
Archbishops William Nolan and Leo Cushley and Bishops John Keenan and Joseph Toal.
The list of Conference Agencies and Episcopal responsibilities is shown below:
1) Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ
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– Evangelisation and Mission
Synodality Committee.
Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Brian McGee -
– Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue
Joint Commission for Doctrine, Scottish Churches Forum Episcopal Responsibility Archbishop Leo Cushley Committee for Interreligious Dialogue
Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Brian McGee -
– Education
Scottish Catholic Education Service, SPRED Episcopal Responsibility Archbishop William Nolan Teacher Education and Development
Episcopal Responsibility Bishop John Keenan CHAS and CHAPS
Episcopal Responsibility Archbishop Leo Cushley -
– Public Affairs
Scottish Catholic Media Office
Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Joseph Toal
Catholic Parliamentary Office, Scottish Churches Committee Episcopal Responsibility Archbishop Leo Cushley -
– Missio Scotland
Episcopal Responsibility Archbishop Leo Cushley, Bishop Joseph Toal, Bishop Brian McGee2) Promoting respect and care for human life -
– Care for Creation Office
Episcopal Responsibility Archbishop William Nolan -
– Life Issues
Day for Life, Beginning of Life Issues, End of Life Care, Bishops’ Joint Bioethics Committee
Episcopal Responsibility Bishop John Keenan -
– Justice and Peace
-
Justice and Peace Scotland, Migrants and Refugees
-
Episcopal Responsibility Archbishop William Nolan
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– Pastoral and Social Care
Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency, Safeguarding Standards (In God’s Image)
Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Brian McGee
Prison Chaplaincy
Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Stephen Robson
Hospital Chaplaincy, World Day for the Poor, SVP
Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Joseph Toal 
– SCIAF
Episcopal Responsibility Archbishop William Nolan, Bishop Brian McGee, left.-
– STELLA MARIS (Apostleship of the Sea) Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Hugh Gilbert3) Supporting Lay Vocations
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– Consecrated Life, Joint Commission of Bishops and Religious in Scotland Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Hugh Gilbert
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– Marriage and Family Office
Episcopal Responsibility Bishop John Keenan -
– Lay Faithful
Adult Catechesis, Catholic Youth Service, Catholic Associations, New Movements Episcopal Responsibility Archbishop Leo Cushley -
– Scottish Catholic Tribunal Office
Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Stephen Robson4) Ordering Sacred Liturgy and Worship -
– Liturgy Commission, Committee for Liturgical Music
Liturgical Calendar, National Pilgrimage, Devotional Practices and Initiatives Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Hugh Gilbert
5) Forming for Ministry
– Priesthood and Permanent Diaconate
Seminaries, Priests for Scotland, Commission for Permanent Diaconate Ongoing Formation for Ministry
Episcopal Responsibility John Keenan
Seminaries, Priests for Scotland, Commission for Permanent Diaconate Ongoing Formation for Ministry
Episcopal Responsibility John Keenan
6) Nurturing Catholic Heritage and Culture
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– Heritage and Culture
Heritage Commission, Scottish Catholic Heritage Collections Trust, Scottish Catholic Museum Management Committee
Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Joseph Toal -
– Scottish Catholic Archives
Archives Management, Preservation and Storage, Data Protection Episcopal Responsibility Bishop Joseph Toal