Respectful dialogue 'a blueprint for future discussions'

Thursday September 4 2014

The Church of Scotland’s ‘respectful dialogue’ on the independence referendum provides a blueprint for how the country’s future should be discussed, regardless of the result, according to the Moderator of the General Assembly.

Speaking at last night’s final Church-run debate in Glasgow, the Rt Rev John Chalmers said: “It’s important that we can hold this discussion, disagree without denigrating, and say the Grace to one another in acknowledgement that even in our difference we remain part of the same community, bound together by much more than what separates us.”

Mr Chalmers had earlier in the week expressed concerned that referendum campaigning had turned ‘ugly’. He added at the debate, in St George’s Tron Church: “I hope we take away a real sense that it is possible to have sincerely held different perspectives on this important matter. If we do, we set the scene for our working together whatever the outcome.”

His comments were backed by the Rev Dr Martin Johnstone, the Church’s Priority Areas Secretary, who said that in every contribution to the debate he heard people who loved their country: “Whatever happens on the 18^th, let’s make sure that on the 19^th we work together for this country we love.”

And the Convener of the Church and Society Council, the Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, said the ‘re-energised, revitalized electorate’ created by the debate was ‘an opportunity to take forward a vision of what kind of Scotland we want to be, whether we take that into an independent nation or a United Kingdom we have recommitted to’.

She said: “I have been asked whether God is taking a side in this. From the Gospel perspective, the only side God is ever on is the side of the poor and vulnerable. They come first.”

The Yes campaign was represented at the debate by Scottish Finance Secretary, John Swinney. He argued that independence was the best way to ensure ‘equality of opportunity’ in Scotland, as well as removing nuclear weapons from Scotland and changing our approach to international affairs ‘to one of conflict resolution rather than conflict participation’.

He added: “The key point to me is that the structures of the UK prevent us from building the type of society we want. In a country that on the one hand has weapons of mass destruction and on the other foodbanks, a change in our priorities is long overdue.”

Baron (Jim) Wallace of Tankerness. on behalf of Better Together, said that the argument that an independent Scotland would be more socially just was flawed: “Even if we accept that we will be better off in the long run the transitional pain and disruption would still be inevitable and the poor would be most affected by that.”

He said that the current system of government offered ‘the best of both worlds’, with a strong Scottish parliament backed by the ‘shared risks’ of being part of the UK and ‘the economic stability of being part of the world’s most successful currency union’.

The debate was webcast and linked with 10 satellite events in churches from Ayr to Orkney.

Afterwards, Mr Chalmers announced that a post-referendum event, ‘Imagining Scotland’s Future Now’, is to be held on November 5, also in St George’s Tron.

Post Tags: referendum

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