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Home  >  Features  >  General Assembly 2013

General Assembly 2013

Thomas Baldwin
Thomas Baldwin

General Assembly 2013

 

The 2013 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland takes place from May 18-24.

Life and Work 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 Church of Scotland website.


Day seven: Friday May 24

Report of the final day, including final speeches and the General Trustees debate.

 

The Rt Rev Lorna Hood and the Lord High Commissioner, Baron Douglas of Selkirk are clapped out of the General Assembly

The Moderator, the Rt Rev Lorna Hood, and the Lord High Commissioner, Baron Selkirk of Douglas are 'clapped out' of the 2013 General Assembly

Day six: Thursday May 23

Report of the day's business, including the Church and Society Council and Chaplains to HM Forces

 

Jamie Stuart

Jamie Stuart, the author of the Glasgow Gospel, spoke at the General Assembly today to raise the issue of tobacco farmers exploited by the big tobacco companies. Jamie, who at 92 is believed to be the oldest Commissioner to this year's Assembly, is a passionate anti-smoking campaigner and wrote a book called A Counterblaste to Tobacco, the same title as an anti-smoking tract by his near-namesake King James Stewart (VI of Scotland and I of England). He concluded, quoting the king, that smoking is a habit “loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs and in the black stinking fume thereof, nearest resembling the horrible stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless.”

Day five: Wednesday May 22

Report of the day's business, including the Ministries Council, the National Youth Assembly, celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Diaconate, Safeguarding and Pensions.

 

The Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev Lorna Hood, with gold medal-winning paralympic rower David Smith and Sir Chris Hoy, Britain's most successful Olympian. David and Sir Chris had been guests of the Lord High Commissioner. Picture by Thomas Baldwin.

Day four: Tuesday May 21

Report of the day's business, including the World Mission Council, Social Care Council, the Church of Scotland Guild and the Mission and Discipleship Council.

 

During this morning's World Mission Council report, the great explorer David Livingstone's Great Grandchildren, Elspeth Murdoch (85) from Buchlyvie, Mary Dick-Smith (83) from Crieff, Neil Wilson (80) from Kendal in Cumbria were joined at the ceremony by Mrs Ada Wilson (in her 80’s) from Helensburgh, their sister-in-law and widow of their oldest brother David Wilson.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of David Livingstone's birth.
Pictured Left to right: Ada Wilson, Neil Wilson, Mary Dick-Smith, Right Reverend Lorna Hood, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Elspeth Murdoch

Day three: Monday May 20

Church takes mixed economy decision on same-sex relationships and the ministry.

The full wording of the Deliverance agreed by the Assembly

Church of Scotland statement.

 


Day two: Sunday May 19

5000 people attended Heart and Soul, the celebration of the life of the Church of Scotland held in Princes Street Gardens

Pictures by Jackie Macadam


Day one: Saturday May 18

 

Report of the first day's business

 

The outgoing Moderator,  the Very Rev Albert Bogle, reflects on his year in office.

 

Images of the opening day, as the Rt Rev Lorna Hood is appointed Moderator of the 2013 General Assembly. Pictures by John Young.


Interview with the Moderator-Designate, the Rev Lorna Hood

Business Timetable

Fringe Diary