Thursday May 22 2014
The 'guillotine', which 'fell' at 5.30pm, came before the controversial call for the Scottish Government to change the name of religious observance in schools to 'Time for Reflection' could be discussed. This meant that a representative of the Presbytery of Lewis (which publically dissented from the Time for Reflection call in February) was prevented from speaking against it. The motion was agreed on a vote.
Earlier, the Rev Bryan Kerr had a motion accepted that urges the Scottish Government to address issues surrounding funeral poverty, and urging local authorities and funeral operators to ensure that funeral charges are fair and compassionate.
He said: “With some of the most vulnerable people in our society being the worst affected by funeral poverty, it doesn’t take a leap to work out that people will begin to rely more an dmore on pay day loan companies to bridge the gap, plunging them further and further into debt.”
He suggested that the Government should use National Insurance to provide everyone with an allowance to cover basic funeral costs.
The Assembly also heard from a funeral director, Margaret Dow, who told commissioners to encourage bereaved families to shop around.
The Council is also to look into the implications of ending the requirement for corroboration in criminal trials in Scotland. Proposing this report, the Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan said that “Something must be done about the painfully low rate of conviction in cases such as rape… yet nothing must be done to make it more likely that innocent people will be convicted because of malicious accusations. Both the punishment of the guilty and the protection of the innocent are tremendously important.”
A new theological report on the issues around assisted dying was called for. Proposing the report, the Rev Dr Paul Middleton said: “The vast majority of people in the UK are in favour of some change in the law to allow assisted dying. Not only that, the majority of people in most faith groups support a change in the law.
“I’m not seeking a change in the church's position, but I think the church has to be more robust in the way it defends its position. We will be able to point to a report that is substantial, theological and helpful.”
The Rev Linda Dunbar spoke of giving sleeping pills to her dying father sleeping pills prescribed by the doctor and, when he woke up a few hours later, him saying 'The goodbye pills didn’t work'. She added: “That was the last time he was lucid and he died peacefully four days later.
“I am still in the process fo trying to understand… what did it mean when he was disappointed that to quote him the pills didn’t work. Because of that I no longer know what I think about assisted dying. (This report) would be useful for all those people like me whose minds are in a guddle about this situation)."
There was a move to delete a section of the theological report on violence against women, but that was defeated.
There was a call to urge the UK government the policies that lead to asylum seekers being destitute. The Rev Peter White said the treatment of asylum seekers in this country left him "utterly ashamed" and the Rev Barbara Quigley said it was "degrading, infantilising and dehumanising."
There was also a prelaunch session on the new Churches Mutual Credit Union, including a video from the Archbishop of Canterbury in support of the initiatve (which is a partnership of the Church of Scotland, England and Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Methodist Church).
The Moderator said: “This is one way in which we can encourage people to join a lending process which is going to treat them as individuals and not just try to rip them off or charge extortionate interest rates.”
The Assembly also supported a motion encouraging all members of the church to consider using credit unions for both saving and borrowing.
The Church's official neutrality on Scottish independence was reaffirmed, with the Assembly voting not to allow a motion commending 'aspiration to full nationhood' to even be put to it. An amendment brought by Miriam Weibye added that 'the place of the poor and marginalised should be central to the debate'.
The morning had begun with an address from the Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, in which he acknowledged the damage of last year’s Inheritance of Abraham report on Jewish-Christian relationships in Scotland, but pledged to continue dialogue with the Church, "as friends and partners striving to conserve religious commitment in Scotland." Responding, the Moderator told him the Church still had concerns about the treatment of Palestinians: “We have to speak of these things and I am only too glad you are there to do it with us.”
During the report of the Committee on Chaplains to HM Forces , the Assembly heard from Air Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, who thanked the Church for its support for the armed forces and the chaplaincy. “We feel that support and you can be certain that we prize it.”
An early attempt was made to overturn a decision from late yesterday, in which the Legal Questions Committee was asked to consider the impact of same-sex marriage, which is likely to be a reality in Scotland by this time next year, on the ministers and same-sex relationships Overture. Robin Brodie argued that it was inconsistent with the Church’s position on same-sex marriage and that the decision should not have been made as a housekeeping matter without being put on the screens. However, his motion was overwhelmingly defeated.
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