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Church to Host New Referendum Debate

                                                                                                                                  Wednesday August 6, 2014

 

THE Church of Scotland is to host a fresh debate on the Referendum on Independence in the days leading up to next month's crucial vote.

The debate, which will take place at Glasgow: St George's Tron, follows the Church's much praised 'respectful dialogue' at the General Assembly in May, with speakers including Douglas Alexander MP, the Rev Dr Doug Gay, Principal of Trinity College, Glasgow and Dr Alison Elliot, a former Moderator.

Following on from this theme, speakers including Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney and the Advocate General for Scotland the Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC, will participate in a dialogue chaired by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev John Chalmers on September 3.

A panel of speakers will also include the Convener of the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council, the Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, and the Rev Martin Johnstone, who is Priority Areas Secretary of the Church of Scotland and also Chief Executive of Faith in Community Scotland.

Mr Chalmers said: “How we conduct our discussions in the lead up to this vote will have a significant influence on how we build unity after we know the result.

“There is no hiding from it; this is one of the biggest decisions in Scotland’s history and each of us must be ready to play our part in making it.

“While the Church of Scotland has committed to a position of neutrality on the referendum our congregations, our ministers and our members still have much to contribute to the substance of the discussion.

“The objective is not to take votes or make decisions, but to contribute some profound substance on how we as Christians can make sense of Scotland’s future.”

The debate will be attended by members of the Church of Scotland along with civic and other faith group leaders.

The event will run in conjunction with ten other local dialogues at Church of Scotland venues across the country, who will use the content to stimulate their own discussions. It is anticipated more than a thousand people be able to participate in the evening, as well as the wider online audience.

The link to this event will be available at http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/

Comments

Tom - Life and Work - Thursday, August 28th, 2014

“Apologies for the delayed response to this. The information we have is that it is mostly invitational but a few spaces are available through Glasgow Presbytery - 0141 332 6606.”

Margaret Graham - Saturday, August 9th, 2014

“Will this be a ticket event and how do we apply? I am an elder with Trinity Church Larkhall and would love to be able to attend . ”

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