Saturday May 20 2023
The Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, with First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf and Lord High Commissioner Lord Hodge. Picture: Andy O'Brien/Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland is to initiate a conversation across the church and with sister churches in Scotland about how they can work together in mission and service.
The instruction to the Ecumenical Relations Committee, proposed by the Rev Sandy Horsburgh, followed concern that the ecumenical element is sometimes missing from presbytery mission planning.
The Rev Ross Blackman, convener of the committee, admitted that some ecumenical aspects of presbytery and mission planning may have been overlooked 'in our rush to meet the incredibly challenging obligations', and the Rt Rev Dr John Armes, representing the Scottish Episcopal Church, said that there had not always been consultation with ecumenical partners over church closures in remote areas.
Mr Blackman said: “We cannot hope to reach the whole of Scotland alone. But, why should we go it alone, when we’re not alone?”
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The Assembly approved the merger of nine presbyteries into a new Highlands and Hebrides presbytery, Clèir Eilean Ì (literally translated as the Presbytery of Iona). The new group brings together the current presbyteries of Argyll, Caithness, Sutherland, Ross, Inverness, Abernethy, Lochaber, Lochcarron-Skye and Uist.
Presenting the Overture for the creation of the new presbytery, the Rev Doug McRoberts said it would be ‘a presbytery like no other’, covering 40% of Scotland’s land mass: “Countless square miles of lochs, glens, islands and mountains, together with cities, suburban and university communities.” Discussion had begun in 2019 but been held up by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Presbytery of Lewis has not agreed to join the new presbytery, but Mr McRoberts said that it was hoped that would happen at a later date. The Principal Clerk, the Rev Fiona Smith, said that discussions with Lewis were ongoing and that relationships were good.
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The Assembly agreed the formation of an advisory Ethical Oversight Committee to help the Church of Scotland Investor’s Trust (COSIT) navigate ethical and theological issues around the church’s investments.
The committee was proposed by a special commission set up following the debate in recent years on whether the church should disinvest from fossil fuels companies. Committee convener Val Brown told the Assembly that issues around ethical, ‘clean’ or green investments were complex: while the church can disinvest from industries it doesn’t like, it may be invested in companies that finance those industries. The proposal had been suggested by FaithInvest, a non-profit organisation that helps religious groups facing such issues.
The chairman of COSIT, Robert Burgon, said the trust welcomed the new committee.
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Earlier, the Assembly was addressed by Joe Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms (the chief heraldic officer of Scotland) who defended the ceremonial elements of the General Assembly. He said that the pageantry represented the links between the church and state, celebrating the Church’s influence with the sovereign and governments. “The Assembly should never forget that through the ceremonies we get those people here, to be able to influence them,” he said.
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In the first vote of the week, the Assembly rejected a proposal that net proceeds from the sale of the Moderator’s Flat in Edinburgh (which was approved) should be allocated for a specific ‘innovative and missional use’. The Church’s General Treasurer, Anne Macintosh, argued that putting the money into a specific fund would be limiting, and that it would still be used for mission even if it was put into general funds.
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Laura Dunlop KC was thanked for her years of service as Procurator of the General Assembly as she stepped down after 18 years. The Rev Grant Barclay, convener of LQC, said she had : ‘provided clear thinking expressed in straightforward and understandable way and has always offered this in spirit of service to the church’.
Mrs Dunlop, who was given a lengthy ovation by the Assembly, said it had been ‘an enormous privilege’ to have served.
Jonathan Brodie KC was appointed as Mrs Dunlop’s successor.
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Presenting the report of the Scottish Bible Society, chief executive Elaine Duncan urged people to share the Bible through book groups. She said: “Scotland needs a church that is vibrant, confident not in our own abilities but our willingness to share the Bible.” She also spoke of the work of the SBS partner organisation in Ukraine, which is meeting a growing demand for Bibles and offering Bible-based trauma courses.
General Assembly 2023: full coverage
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