Call to honour Livingstone by fighting modern-day slavery

Wednesday November 13 2013

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Reverend Lorna Hood, said today, Wednesday November 13, that the greatest way to honour the legacy of David Livingstone is to continue the fight against human trafficking.

Speaking at the 200th anniversary celebrations in Glasgow Cathedral for the birth of Scotland’s most famous explorer Mrs Hood said: “There could be no greater commemoration of his life and work, than in the continued fight against the evils of the modern day slave trade, the human trafficking of people particularly women and girls.  If he were alive today, Livingstone would urge us to continue the fight.”

Mrs Hood said that in modern times, Livingstone could be viewed as a flawed character but he had many strong virtues not least of which was the courage of his convictions: “With 21st Century attitudes we can be critical of the man and his accomplishments. The modern world can be too quick to judge Livingstone’s life and work including the sacrifices borne by his wife and family.

“Angry at the slave trade which he saw as the open sore of Africa, he sought to stimulate a new economy in central and southern Africa which would render the slave trade redundant. Indeed his campaign against the slave trade became an unstoppable force.  He was truly a man who had the courage of his convictions.”

“David Livingstone lived up to his calling spreading the good news to the ends of the earth, loving his neighbour and being a true ‘bearer of hope’ for the people of Africa.”

The Thanksgiving Service was jointly hosted by the Church of Scotland, David Livingstone 200, EMMS International and the Scottish Bible Society.

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