Features
General Assembly 2014
Friday May 16 2014
Welcome to Life and Work's coverage of the 2014 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which opens on Saturday May 17.
We will be providing daily updates from the Assembly hall, as well as giving you a flavour of some of the fringe events. Feel free to get involved in the debates by contacting us through Facebook, Twitter or email. A webcast of the proceedings, along with full reports and key speeches, will be available through the General Assembly area of the Church of Scotland website.
If you're a General Assembly newbie, you may want to check out our Beginner's Guide.
And here's the Assembly business timetable and fringe timetable.
Read our interview with the Moderator, the Rt Rev John Chalmers.
Day 7: Friday May 23
The Moderator calls on the church to 'stop navel-gazing' and get on with its work of mission and ministry. Report
The Moderator and the Lord High Commissioner are 'clapped out' of the Assembly
Day 6: Thursday May 22
Church and Society Council takes in asylum seekers, poverty, funeral costs, assisted dying, and much more - Independence neutrality backed - support for armed forces chaplains - conciliatory words from Chief Rabbi
Report of the day's business
The Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev John Chalmers, with the heads of chaplaincy of the three armed forces and the Church of Scotland chaplains who attended the General Assembly today. Picture by Derek Fett
Day 5: Wednesday May 21
Overture on ministers in same-sex relationship passed - Presbyteries will now be asked to vote on 'mixed economy' - CrossReach aims to re-engage with Church
Report of the day's business
Day 4: Tuesday May 20
Assembly condemns destruction of trees at 'Tent of Nations' - Review of funding of National Youth Assembly - Guild seeks to combat falling numbers.
Report of the day's business
Moderator calls for 'respectful dialogue' after independence debate. Report
The General Assembly resumed in a sombre mood after news of the death of a Commissioner, the Rev Tom Sinclair, Clerk to the Presbytery of Lewis, in a road accident yesterday afternoon. Mr Clerk, 76, was a former Minister of Martins Memorial Church in Stornoway.
The Rev Hugh Stewart, Minister and Charge of Congregations of Lochs-in-Bernera linked with Uig Church of Scotland, said: “My colleagues and I are still in shock at the tragic passing of our dear friend and ministerial colleague Rev Tom Sinclair... in such tragic circumstances reminding us of the transience of life.”
The Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev John Chalmers, told the Assembly: "We commend Tom to the eternal safe keeping of the God he proclaimed in his preaching and his life. We will pray for healing of the pain that all his friends and family will feel at this time."
Day 3: Monday May 19
The Church is to embark on a 'decade of ministry', and strong words about discrimination against women.
Report of the day's business
Day 2: Sunday May 18
Thousands of people gathered again in Princes Street Gardens for Heart and Soul, the annual celebration of the life of the Church of Scotland.
The Countess and Earl of Wessex and Acting Principal Clerk, the Rev Dr George Whyte, at Heart and Soul. Prince Edward is Lord High Commissioner to this year's General Assembly. Click here for more pictures. Picture by Jackie Macadam.
Day 1: Saturday May 17
Report of day one: Prince Edward calls on the church to continue to be a force for good - Church to consider meeting in General Assembly every two years
The Rt Rev John Chalmers receives the Moderator's Cross and Ring from the Very Rev Lorna Hood as he takes over from her as Moderator of the General Assembly. For more images from the opening day go here. Picture by Derek Fett.
