Colin Symes, Leadership Team leader

colin@cce.uk.net

Colin, who currently leads the team bringing oversight to CCE, has been involved in leadership in Edinburgh since the eighties, Colin better picture croppedhaving studied theology at New College, after that working for eleven years in government service. He has been on staff since 1985, and is involved in the teaching, worship and outreach areas of Community Church Edinburgh, particularly leading the team which runs Alpha twice a year. He is a member of the regional Edinburgh Alpha advisers’ team, and also one of the core team of Network Churches Scotland, a partnership of churches which resources and encourages mainly community churches across the nation. His love of languages has opened doors of relationship into nations in Europe, including France, Poland and Slovakia, where, in the case of Central Europe, his activity is mostly among Roman Catholic lay communities involved in mission.

Colin currently chairs Newington Churches Together, which brings together thirteen churches of different traditions across the Newington and Southside areas of Edinburgh, for regular interaction, prayer and worship together, including a Good Friday service on Arthur’s Seat, and ecumenical events in the annual week of prayer for Christian Unity in January.

He is also part of the Scottish Network Churches core team, linking thirty or more community churches across Scotland, involved in encouraging relationships, empowering churches and engaging communities.

In addition Colin serves as part of the national executive of the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland, meeting with others from across the nation to help and support the presentation of good news through Christian lives and words from day to day.

Getting Personal

From: London via Essex, but lived in Edinburgh all the years I’ve had the choice

Last CD bought: Something by Dvorcak I think

Favourite place: Holy Island, near Berwick on Tweed

Worst habit: Talking too much

Dream dinner: Already fulfilled last summer – with my wife, on a balcony high-up on the Grande Corniche, overlooking Nice and the Med at sunset, of red fish and French wine.

Favourite quote: Gaelic proverb

Is minig a thàinig comhairle ghlic a ceann amadain – Wise counsel has often come from a fool’s head

See also Colin’s web site

Ann Symes, Leadership Team

ann@cce.uk.net

Ann is part of the leadership team of CCE, practice manager of, and counsellor in, Hope Counselling Service and with responsibility for pastoral matters. She also liaises for leadership team with the office and with the worship teams of CCE. They have three children.

Getting Personal

From: Newhaven, Sussex

Last CD bought: So long ago I can’t remember!

Favourite place: Walking on the South Downs, Seven Sisters, Sussex villages ….Ann

Worst habit: What do you mean? I don’t have any bad habits!?!

Dream dinner: With my husband (of course), outside, under the stars, somewhere warm and balmy

Favourite quote:

“The nothingness we fear so much is, in fact, the treasure that we long for. We long for the space where there is nothing to prove and nothing to protect; where I am who I am, and it’s enough”.

– from Letting Go: A Spirituality of Subtraction, Richard Rohr