INTRODUCTION
The Church of Scotland met in General Assembly with the Rt Revd John P Chalmers as Moderator. Owing to the number of wide-ranging issues and topics covered, only a selection of matters discussed and passed are touched on in this report.
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHURCH OF INDEPENDENCE FOR SCOTLAND
A joint report was offered by the Church and Society Council, the Committee on Ecumenical Relations and the Legal Questions Committee on ‘The implications for the Church of Scotland of independence for Scotland’. In keeping with previous assemblies, the Church reaffirmed the position that it would remain impartial in terms of the referendum question and continued to affirm that local congregations should host hustings in order to engage with the debate in a neutral environment.
It was noted in the report that, from discussions between the Scottish Government and the Churches, there was ‘no intention to change the role of the Church in any future constitutional arrangements’. However, it would appear that the view of the joint committee presented to the General Assembly might be slightly different.
The Moderator hosted an inter-faith forum which put forward the case for the contemporary need for a plurality of views and beliefs pertaining to religious matters to be addressed in a new constitution. This would perhaps be seen as being at odds with the provisions of the Act of Union 1707 regarding the maintenance of the Protestant religion and the Reformed and Presbyterian character of the established Church – which is unsurprising in a multi-faith society. However, the Assembly affirmed in its Deliverances that it reiterated
the view of the 2013 General Assembly that, in recognition of the historic and continuing role of the Christian faith in Scottish society, any [new] constitutional arrangements which may be made for an independent Scotland must continue to recognise the Claim of Right [1689], should recognise that human realms are under the authority of God, and should also recognise the role of religion in general and the Church of Scotland in particular.
That statement in itself was under the same trajectory of the Church of Scotland Act 1921 and the Articles Declaratory, in which the Church asserts itself as being a national Church but not to the detriment of any other denomination (or indeed, by extension, of any other religion) that wishes to do likewise.
The debate at the Assembly on independence involved a minister, the Revd Dr Doug Gay, speaking in favour of leaving the United Kingdom and Douglas Alexander MP (not being a commissioner appointed by a presbytery) speaking for remaining in the Union, as well as two other speakers for either side. In keeping with the principle of impartiality a vote was not taken at this debate.
LEGAL QUESTIONS COMMITTEE
The committee's report focused on ministerial practising certificates and issues pertaining to human sexuality. The former related to the Special Commission on Tenure and the status of Ministers in terms of being employees or office-holders with respect to Act II 2000 (Ministry Act), as amended.
In terms of the outcome of the debate from 2013 on the Special Commission on Same-sex Relations in the Ministry, the committee had also sought to address issues of working under a ‘mixed economy’ Equality Act 2010. The General Assembly voted in favour of a proposal that may lead to the ordination of ministers in civil partnerships. Following debate, commissioners voted 369 for and 189 against. Consequently, the Assembly has agreed to send down to its presbyteries for further discussion as draft legislation (as an Overture under the Barrier Act 1697). The decisions of all presbyteries will be reported back to the Assembly in May 2015.
Comment was passed on the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014, which will not come into effect until after the Equality Act 2010 has been amended by the Westminster Parliament. It was noted that the Church's current position is that marriage is between one man and one woman and that in consequence the Church cannot support the legislation. Comment was made on the need to protect those with genuine religious convictions which do not embrace same-sex relationships.
CHURCH AND SOCIETY COUNCIL
The council presented a number of topical issues, chiefly addressing the economy and welfare reform. A new issue this year was funeral poverty: the Assembly urged the Scottish Government to address the matter in its upcoming review of legislation relating to burials and cremations and to urge local authorities and others to ensure that funeral charges are fair. Furthermore, the Assembly urged that national insurance contributions and benefits should cover basic funeral costs.
SAFEGUARDING COMMITTEE
The Assembly again issued an instruction that all staff and volunteers in congregations should be enrolled in the Protection of Vulnerable Groups scheme by October 2015 and that guidance and procedures produced by the Church should be rigorously observed.
