Moderator Criticises 'Powerful Forces' Seeking to Reduce Faith Voices

                                                                                                                                         Saturday September 5, 2015

THE MODERATOR of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has criticised ‘powerful forces’ aimed at diminishing the role of faith voices in society.

Addressing the annual gathering of the Church of Scotland Guild in Dundee, the Rt Rev Dr Angus Morrison said: “There are powerful forces at work in our culture and society which aim at shutting up, permanently, the Christian voice – indeed the voice of faith of whatever kind. We won’t go quietly, indeed we’re not going anywhere at all, and we might well make a bit of noise right where we are.”

In a reference to comments made by the Alex Salmond, the former First Minister earlier this week about his preference for people of faith, Dr Morrison said: “I’m sort of encouraged that at least some political leaders prefer people of faith, though I’m not sure that people of faith are very inclined to make that kind of comparative assessment.”

Earlier Dr Morrison presented Guild National Convener Linda Young with a clay cross created by Jacqui Sellar, a sculptor in his own congregation of Orwell and Portmoak and based on a 1,000-year-old cross that stands in Portmoak churchyard.

He paid tribute to the Guild’s fundraising and described as ‘astonishing’ the £4m raised for partnership projects since 1997.

With a Guild focus on ‘Go in peace’ in the first part of the Guild’s three year strategy (Be Bold, Be Strong), Dr Morrison said the theme was timely.

“Visiting Srebrenica in Bosnia-Herzegovina in February, as part of a Scottish delegation, I learned why, in the most painful way possible. Peacekeeping in this fallen world has its value, but that value is seriously limited.”

Concluding his address, Dr Morrison said as Christians ‘we are not optimists’ but were people of hope.

Around 2000 women and men gathered at the Caird Hall, Dundee, to learn about the challenges of psychiatric chaplaincy (including the secure Broadmoor Hospital) from the Rev John McMahon, Head of Spiritual and Pastoral Care at West London Mental Health Trust, a Church of Scotland minister.

The gathering also provided an opportunity for the Guild to unveil its new marketing and communication strategy which includes a new e-newsletter, redesigned website and an enhanced social media presence on Facebook and Twitter.

Specially branded Guild nail varnish (in red) and umbrellas are among the new items now sold from the Guild shop to promote the work of the organisation.

Guild General Secretary Iain Whyte said some of the items might not meet with approval from some Guild members, but were part of a new strategy to reach out and promote the work of one of Scotland’s biggest membership organisations.

The Gathering also marked the launch of the Guild's new three-year partnership with six new projects, including Feed the Minds, Breaking the Cycle of Female Genital Mutilation.

More information about the Guild and its partner projects is available here

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