The Ceremonies Sub-committee (CSC) exists to create, maintain and extend the provision of a range of Ceremonies, conducted by Celebrants registered with the Humanist Society of Scotland. It is set up under the constitution of the Society and answers to the Board of Trustees. It has two places on the Board of Trustees, the NCC and the Depute NCC, ensuring that there is a strong voice to represent the celebrants.

The committee consists of a National Co-ordinator, a depute NCC and three Regional Co-ordinators all of whom are elected into post by the Celebrants. These posts are open to job share and at present some are doing so.  The Celebrant Training Co-ordinator is also a member of the Sub-committee, co-opted under the terms of the constitution.

The Education Sub-committee held its inaugural meeting on 13th January 2008. With its overall strategy approved by the BoT, the committee set out to realise a number of initiatives which would address the general theme of – ‘Education Without Religion – A Humanist Perspective’.

Work began immediately on producing curricular materials appropriate to age and stage in both primary and secondary schools together with support for teachers. A third group prepared materials to support and advise parents as to their rights and the best ways of addressing their concerns.

The Media Sub-committee is broadly responsible for our communications with the outside world, helping the Board of Trustees and its sub-committees to express clearly, in simple language, the policy statements and initiatives they’ve created.

The Media Officer heads this Sub-committee as a BoT member, dealing with all aspects of our Public Relations – handling press enquiries and devising campaigns (like Thought for the Day and our free postcards), gaining us press attention.  

The Membership Services Sub-committee is responsible for the receipt of and accurate recording of all membership applications to the Society. They also provide relevant statistics to the Board of Trustees.

It was through the efforts of the Society's Public Affairs Sub-committee (PA S/c) activity and others, which led in 2005 to the right to conduct legal marriage.  The Leader of the Sub-committee is a member of the Board of Trustees. The leader works with other volunteer members whose various skills can be brought to bear on matters affecting life in Scotland.  It addresses unequal privilege and the influence of non-democratic NGO's and others, which use such in the furtherance of their objectives to the disadvantage of others. In particular, it addresses the right of freedom of and from religion, the discrimination that applies in some education appointments, the state funding of religious schools, the disproportionate level of religious content in the public media and the right to self-determination, amongst others.

• Consider emerging developments in the field of bio-medical research
• Seek the opinions of all members of the HSS
• Establish the ethical stance to be adopted by the HSS
• Make recommendations to the BOT of the HSS
• Report to the parent body of the IHEU-Appignani Center for Bioethics in New York

Any member with an interest in this field is invited to join. No previous knowledge of science or medicine is required but will be very welcome.

If you’d like to join this sub-committee, please This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The inaugural meeting will be held in Central Scotland in summer 2008.