Picture by Derek Fett

Thursday May 26

Armed forces covenant agreed

• Call for young people's inclusion in worship and decision-making

• Theological Forum convener commits to including evangelical perspective

An Armed Forces Covenant is to be drawn up which will commit the Church of Scotland to supporting members of the Armed Forces and their families.

During the report of the Committee on Chaplains to HM Forces this morning, the General Assembly approved the proposal to draw up the document, to which next year’s gathering will be asked to subscribe. Similar to an existing agreement between the Forces and the Church of England (and being considered by other churches), it will be based on the principles that nobody should face disadvantage because of their service in the armed forces, and that sometimes special treatment is appropriate.

The convener of the committee, the Rev Gordon Craig, said: “Our chaplains have asked this committee if the Church of Scotland would consider joining those other churches in affirming its support for those who are or who have served their country.”

As is customary on ‘Chaplains Day’, the Assembly heard from a senior member of the British Armed Forces. Vice-admiral Jonathan Woodcock, Second Sea Lord, said: “We will not forget the importance of faith in our work… it doesn’t matter how noisy or dirty or difficult the conditions, our chaplains are happiest when they have the opportunity to working their way into people’s daily routines or just pass the time of day together.

“Our servicemen and women know that the chaplaincy will be there with them for the pastoral and spiritual support they need.”

The lion’s share of the day was given over to the Mission and Discipleship Council, with warm words and encouragement for many of the Council’s resources and conferences. The Council convener, the Rev Colin Sinclair, said that the Council aimed to be an encourager of the church.

Among several additions to the deliverance, the Assembly instructed the Council to bring proposed themes for the church to follow ‘to focus the worship, witness and work of the Church on every level’. Proposals will be brought next year for a five-year programme starting from 2018.

The Assembly also agreed to a new section added by Iona Kimmitt, instructing the council ‘to promote congregational learning and awareness of the issues transgender and gender non-conforming people experience, in order to better facilitate pastoral care to and inclusion of transgender and gender non-conforming people at a local level’.

The convener agreed to instruct the council in collaboration with the WMC and ecumenical relations committee to reflect on the evolving church situation in contemporary Scotland, by undertaking a study of the ‘immigrant’ churches in Scotland and developing initiatives to strengthen mutual learning, partnership and closer working with the Church of Scotland.

During the section on children’s faith, there was a plea from Sarah Ross for children to be fully included in worship and communion. Referring to figures quoted earlier in the week, that of 54,000 children in the church only 3000 take part in Communion, she said: “Please fully disciple your children before they leave malnourished in faith.”

The group that is currently reviewing the National Youth Assembly was told to investigate the possibility of making the Moderator of the NYA a paid position. The current incumbent, Hannah Mary Goodlad, said that she had used all her leave and had taken unpaid leave while carrying out the role. “I was happy to do this, and I am lucky to be in a financial position where I am able. But future Moderators may be students, or unemployed, or may be on zero hours contracts or trying to support a family.

“All these future moderators should be able to give their all to the role. The church deserves that and the young people deserve that.”

In another new motion, presbyteries were encouraged to hold a youth information day as a way of keeping in touch with their young people and letting them know the opportunities open to them.

During her speech, Ms Goodlad said that reluctantly going to the 2012 Youth Assembly had brought her back to the church she had drifted away from as a teenager. She said: “My eyes were opened to what Church of Scotland was, what it stood for, who it stood for, what it did for Scotland I felt like I belonged.

“I say this not as some gushy personal testament but because I want to highlight to you the importance of the life and work of the Youth Assembly and the profound impact it has on the lives of our young people.”

She called on the Church to support the Youth Assembly, and argued that delegates to the event should not have to pay, pointing out that Commissioners to the General Assembly get all expenses paid; and also for the Church to use the talents of its young people and to enable them to take part in decision-making.

During the report of the Theological Forum, convener the Rev Prof Iain Torrance committed to making sure the voices of evangelical ministers and member of the Church would be heard in its deliberations. Prof Torrance was responding to the Rev Prof Andrew McGowan, who was concerned that he and evangelical colleagues were not represented on the Forum.

The Assembly rejected a motion that would have instructed the Forum to cease working on its report on the theology of same-sex marriage, which is due to come next year.

Proposing the motion, the Rev David Torrance said that the Church was tired of debates around same-sex relationships, and needed ‘a time to pause, to give ourselves some respite, to allow our congregations some space to draw breath and focus on mission’.

However, Prof Torrance argued that the Church had done no theological report specifically on same-sex marriage, and assured the Assembly that it would not be bringing instructions next year but would merely present the report for consideration.

Prof Torrance also expressed his objections to the possibility of Elders being allowed to administer the sacraments, arguing that the Reformation principle of qualified, educated ministers had ‘served the church well and become a defining characteristic of the church’.