Moderator Launches EU Referendum Blog

Wednesday September 2

^{The Rt Rev Angus Morrison. Picture by Gavin Anderson photography}

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has launched a new online blog to inform the debate around the UK’s continuing membership of the European Union.
 
The Right Rev Dr Angus Morrison said the General Assembly had a long standing view that Britain was better off as part of the European Union, but ministers would not be telling people how to vote from the pulpit.
 
He said decisions taken by people in the in-out referendum, which is likely to be held in 2017, must be made with both the head and the heart. He hoped his contribution to the website Reimagining Europe would create a space for Christian reflection about the potential consequences of withdrawing from the organisation, which has 28 member states.

Dr Morrison added he hoped that the blog, a joint initiative with the Church of England, would show that the Kirk was “up for a vibrant and energising debate”.

In his first blog entry, he writes: “Scotland is on the periphery of Europe, geographically speaking yet our history has been shaped by Europe, whether by the movements of people, ideas or culture.

“The question now facing us as British citizens is not simply one of identity but of belonging to a particular political institution. Political decisions, however, need to be made with the head as well as the heart, and so I am delighted by this partnership between the Church of Scotland and the Church of England.”

“Although we are churches defined by national boundaries, our mission is as part of the universal church, and our ultimate allegiance is not to any earthly political power but to the One who has sovereignty over all.”

Dr Morrison said Scotland’s independence referendum helped to “revitalise” widespread interest in politics and participation in democracy.

Referring to the blog, he said: “Its purpose is not to campaign, but that all of us may gain in understanding and respect for political ideas even, or particularly, if we find ourselves in disagreement. Individuals and institutions can rightly have an interest in the outcome, but over the next few months, in particular, we have a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the importance of informed debate among politically engaged citizens.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, said the Church of Scotland played a mediating and reconciling role during and after the independence referendum last year which was a “model for how the Church can engage in divisive debates”.
 
People active in political and public life will be contributing to the blog from a range of perspectives. Authors include former General Assembly Moderator Dr Alison Elliot, and Suzanne Evans, deputy chairman of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).

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