Home
News and Features
Events
Church Resources
About URC Scotland
• Synod
• Committees
• Area Councils
Local churches
• North Scotland
• South Scotland
• East Scotland
• West Scotland
Ministers and pastors
Women's Union
Youth: FURY
Scottish College
Sannox Christian Centre
Links
Synod of Scotland
United Reformed Church
340 Cathedral Street
Glasgow G1 2BX
tel: 0141 332 7667
fax: 0141 332 8463
email:
Church Leaders/ Representatives Meeting: The National Conversation
Church leaders and representatives meet at Holyrood
Posted on Jul 3, 2008
CHURCH LEADERS / REPRESENTATIVES MEETING
THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION HOLYROOD, Thursday 19 June 2008
STATEMENT
Eleven church leaders and representatives accepted the Scottish Government's invitation to meet at Holyrood on Thursday as part of the "national conversation" on choosing Scotland's future.
After a day of reflection, the following statement was agreed:
"We recognise that the Church is on a journey as well as our nation; all of us are going to struggle to get to where we need to be. But for the Church, as well as for our nation and our communities, we aspire towards these Christian values characterising our common life in Scotland:
• A nation that is shaped by the principles of love for God and for all human beings;
• A nation that promotes dignity and justice for all;
• A nation that promotes faithfulness in personal and community relationships;
• A nation that demonstrates compassion and care for the weak and the marginalised;
• A society in which the voices of all can be heard;
• A people who are less concerned with their own welfare and more concerned for the well-being of others;
• A nation that strives for excellence and in which all can experience life in all its fullness;
• A nation that welcomes the unique contribution of those who are making the new Scotland;
• A state that promotes the well-being of all its citizens without exceeding its authority.
For us, these values are rooted in Jesus and have distinctively shaped Scotland's story as it has developed over the years; where they are lived and practised, we find they resonate with people of other faiths and of none.
Having shared together in a day of reflection as part of the national conversation on Scotland's future, we will therefore encourage all who are part of our churches to get involved in the conversations about our constitutional future, seeing these aspirations and hopes as the context for the debate."
Comments:
After the meeting, Cardinal Keith O'Brien said : "I appreciated the on-going conversation with many church leaders, bringing us all closer together as we work for Scotland's future".
Rev Ian Galloway, Convener of the Church of Scotland's Church & Society Council, added "Scotland's future needs to emerge around values that inspire and challenge all its people. We have a great country and terrific people who deserve the best form of government to meet their aspirations to play a big part in making the world a better place – perhaps especially for those whose voices are seldom heard".
Pamala McDougall, from the Religious Society of Friends, spoke of how, as a representative of one of the smaller churches, it had been good to meet in such a constructive and fruitful way: "we are encouraged in involving our own communities to contribute to the future shape of our nation through the national conversation".
Br Stephen Smyth who, as General Secretary of Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS), convened the meeting, said "ACTS is please to have helped facilitate this significant encounter of church leaders / representatives sharing together on matters of such importance to our churches, faith communities and wider civic society".
Participants :
Associated Presbyterian Church Rev Archie McPhail, Clerk of Presbytery
Baptist Union of Scotland Rev Bill Slack, Director General
Congregational Federation Rev Malcolm Muir,
Chair of the Congregational Federation Scotland
Church of Scotland Rev Ian Galloway,
Convener of the Church and Society Council
Methodist Church Dr Bill Reid, Connexional Officer
Religious Society of Friends Pamala McDougall, Representative Friend
Roman Catholic Church His Eminence Keith Patrick O’Brien, Cardinal
Salvation Army Major Robert McIntyre, Scotland Secretary
Scottish Episcopal Church Most Rev Idris Jones, Primus
United Free Church Dr Donald Macdonald,
Moderator of the General Assembly 2008.
United Reformed Church Rev John Humphreys,
Moderator of the Synod of Scotland
Unable to attend due to illness :
Free Church of Scotland Rev David Robertson, Editor ‘Monthly Record’
