ATM's - when we hear these initials we think of the 'hole in the wall' cash machines outside banks. However, we in the Church of Scotland are being asked to take on board a new form of ATM - Area Team Ministries. This is an initiative designed to create a church structure far more relevant to today's needs than the traditional one church, one minister approach. The General Assembly listed certain principles that would apply to these team ministries -a sense of vision and purpose, making and building relationships, communicating; developing trust, openness and honesty; commitment to the team and valuing the person as a person.

One of the core concepts of the Amos Scripture Care Trust is that of team working, meeting together for a couple of hours a week to produce the cards - and these same principles have been much in evidence in our teams. When some have experienced personal difficulties, team support has played a big part in restoring these situations through loyalty and valuing each other as persons.

During the year we welcomed three new Trustees - Gillian Morton, Josephine Munthali and Eric Ridehalgh. Their brief pen-portraits are included in this report. On a sad note, we report the death of Anne Robinson, one of our founder Trustees. Anne had been a stalwart supporter of the Trust from the outset, giving her time, her financial support, and her prayers for the Trust, besides frequently hosting Trustees meetings in her home. She stepped down as a Trustee in September 2001, prior to moving away from Edinburgh. We give thanks for her life and her commitment to the Trust.

The current priority for the Trust is to encourage people to volunteer to share in its work. Bruce Crerar, our founder, has said that it is uncertain how long he will be able to continue with the Trust. Therefore, we are at a crossroads. We urgently need volunteers for administration-for operating the database in printing out the material for the teams; and to undertake marketing and publicity. The expectation from volunteers for these posts would not exceed two hours a week. In the absence of volunteers, to keep the Trust going, the only option is to consider employing someone part-time, or on an honorarium. Fund-raising will therefore become another priority for the Trust in the coming months.

The past year has been largely devoted to publicising the Trust and seeking volunteers to develop its work. A marketing exercise in the autumn of 2003 produced substantial orders for our cards, and with the help of a young volunteer, a marketing strategy was drawn up. A number of graphic designers have come forward and their skills and ideas have been very encouraging. A video has been produced explaining the ethos and practical working of the Trust, and is being distributed in various ways to extend people's awareness.
Alan Mackinlay