General Assembly 2011 summary

Dorothy and myself attended this year’s General Assembly (GA) in Edinburgh from May 21st - 27th. Dorothy attended last year, but this was my first ever visit as a commissioner to the GA. And what a varied week it was.

Proceedings started on Saturday 21st May with the opening ceremony of the GA. Starting with a rousing singing of Blest be the everlasting God, the Roll of Commissioners was laid on the table and Right Reverend David Arnott was sworn in to be the new Moderator for the next year. The Queen’s letter was then read and His Grace The Lord High Commissioner, Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, addressed the Assembly on the theme of pilgrimage and spiritual renewal amidst the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.

The session that followed gave a first sight of the new ‘playpen’ area to commissioners. Greyfriars Recycling of Wood (GROW) project, who work with the homeless and vulnerable, had created the furniture from old pews in Tranent Parish Church, along with some wood from the old ‘playpen’ that has featured so prominently in the past. Saturday also heard reports from the Legal Questions Committee, Church of Scotland Trust and Investor’s Trust, the Council of Assembly, the Youth Assembly and Mission and Discipleship Council.

Sunday consisted of attending the morning service at 10am for commissioners in St Giles’ Cathedral, again attended by The Lord High Commissioner, and at which the Moderator preached. The Cathedral was packed, and in addition to a wonderful sermon, the music was fantastic, led by the powerful and modern Rieger organ.
There was a Gaelic Service in Greyfriars Tolbooth Kirk at 12.30pm.

In the afternoon the Roll Away The Stone event was held in Princes Street Gardens and was attended by an estimated 5,000 people. The start of the event experienced some hefty showers, but as the afternoon progressed the sun came out and we finished in glorious sunshine. The avenue was lined with a range of stalls from various organisations such as the GROW project mentioned above, Biblefresh, Christian Aid, Tear Fund, Traidcraft, Crossreach, Safeguarding Services, World Mission, and Mission & Discipleship Council.

There was a Souper Sunday tent serving piping hot soup and crusty bread in support of the church’s HIV Aids Project, which raised over £650. St Cuthbert’s Church was open to the public and they received over 2,500 visitors during the afternoon (“A normal day for them” according to the Moderator!). I was one of those visitors and was able to go up to the Belfry and see how the bells are rung. I then listened to Lothian Gaelic Choir singing and an organ recital by four talented young organists. The finale was an hour’s worship at the Ross Bandstand. This included a short re-enactment of Jesus’ resurrection, some singing by Netherlee Primary School Choir, some traditional hymn singing and some prayers.

A key feature of the afternoon was the creation of a small cairn of stones. People were invited to bring a stone and write the name of their church on it and place it on the pile. At the end of the service people were invited to come forward and take away another stone with them and remember that church in their thoughts and prayers. The stone I picked up came from Ayr’s St Quivox Church. I have also learned through the grapevine that our stone was picked up by someone from Lhanbryde Church in Moray - a nice coincidence as the minister there is Rev Andrew Robertson, formerly of Kilwinning Mansefield, and whom I had a meal with on the Monday evening, and whom I was also sitting beside at the GA on Friday. The stone is now sitting on the steps to their pulpit as a reminder to continue to pray for us.

Monday started with the Celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, which was followed by the debate on the report by the Special Commission on Same-Sex Relationships and the Ministry, and the whole day was devoted to it. After several hours of debate commissioners voted by 393 to 252 to allow ministers and deacons in same-sex relationships ordained before 2009 to be inducted into pastoral charges. After more lengthy debate the Assembly voted by 351 to 294 to adopt deliverance 7B, which means a move towards the acceptance for training, induction and ordination of those in same-sex relationships for the ministry. A theological commission has been set up to bring recommendations to the 2013 GA, as well as considering whether ministers should have freedom of conscience to bless civil partnerships and possible liturgy for such occasions. Lord Hodge, who had convened the Special Commission was given a huge round of applause and standing ovation.

Afterwards the Moderator said, “I am aware that many people will be hurting today and the Church of Scotland has a pastoral duty to look after these people and show them our love and compassion. We very much hope that people who disagree with what has been decided will nevertheless remain in the Church and work with us as we seeks to find a way forward. Today has been a challenging day for the Church of Scotland but our history shows that we are able to take on board many challenges and continue to be a clear voice in 21st century Scotland.”

After the intensity of Monday’s session, Tuesday was a much lighter, though no less important session. The Social Care Council started the day with their report on the work of Crossreach and the challenges they face. In particular a call was made to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to urge the Scottish Government to adopt the principle that Visitors Centres should be established in all Scottish Prisons, not just the existing one at Perth. The former Chief Inspector of Prisons in Scotland, Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan said they were “the single best investment for reducing crime” and that such facilities are “astonishingly outcome driven and productive”.

The Guild Report followed and urged ministers and Kirk Sessions to encourage local guilds, particularly those which need support in identifying and developing leaders. The Guild was commended for its continued support of the projects in it’s partnership schemes.

The Ecumenical Relations Committee then gave its report where it was noted with regret the closing of Scottish Churches House, Dunblane in July 2011.

Following this there was the Petition from the Presbytery of Falkirk regarding the formation of a local ecumenical partnership which shall be called “Grahamston United Church” (Church of Scotland, United Reformed and Methodist). This was warmly commended and passed by commissioners.

The final session on Tuesday was from the Church and Society Council which had no less than 52 deliverances! These ranged from responding to Climate Change, Young People and Decision Making - a section which the youth delegates were very vocal at in amending deliverances. However one key message here was that all churches and Presbyteries need to encourage their youths to take a more active part in the church and support them in attending the National Youth Assembly. Further topics included the use of the Internet, Mental health, Suicide among young men, Domestic abuse, and Sectarianism.

Wednesday saw one of the biggest upsets in this year’s GA when the recommendations of the Panel on Review  and Reform of Presbytery Structures were rejected by just 31 votes. After another lengthy discussion a countermotion was successfully tabled which effectively dismissed two-thirds of the Panels’ report and kept the status quo with Presbyteries.

The day finished with reports from the Housing and Loan Fund, the Iona Community Board and the World Mission Council including the HIV Council. Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan launched the “Invest in Peace” initiative and commissioners were invited to donate money for special dove lapel badges produced by the L’Arche community in Bethlehem.

Thursday started with the Report of the Committee on Chaplains to Her Majesty’s Forces. The convener made an impassioned plea for eligible CoS ministers to consider a call to the services. A guest of the Lord High Commissioner, Air Marshal Andrew Pulford CBE RAF also addressed the Assembly on the role of the chaplains and the work of the Armed Forces.

Thereafter the Safeguarding Committee gave a short report and then the fun began! The Report of the Ministries Council was started, and included two Overtures - one from the Presbytery of Ayr regarding their Geographic Designation and one from the Presbytery of Greenock and Paisley regarding the Special Commission on Ministries and 20:20 Vision (essentially looking at suspending the presbytery planning process and allowing a minister to be called in every parish). The Council’s report was heard first. Then Greenock & Paisley’s overture was heard, debated and wording agreed on it’s deliverances. This was then parked. Ayr’s Overture was then heard about classifying them as Urban/Rural as opposed to Urban. Their accompanying presentation finished on a humorous note - “Here is a picture of a field near Ochiltree. Here is a picture of another field near Dailly. And finally, here is a picture of an Ayrshire Cow - we have as many of them as we have parishioners in some villages. And there are even more sheep! We are definitely rural!”.  Ayr’s Overture was successful.

After more debate Greenock & Paisley’s Overture was eventually defeated. By 7pm only half of the Ministries Council report had been debated, and it was agreed to carry business over to Friday.

So, with brains frazzled after Thursday’s confusing sessions, the GA convened on Friday morning for it’s final day. After morning worship, the GA was addressed and reinvigorated by Rabbi Julia Neuberger, the first lady Rabbi to address the GA. She praised the CoS for its “truly amazing” care to older people in a speech  dedicated to the care of the elderly. She also said, “Religious services tend to offer very good care services, in my experience among the best in the UK and indeed worldwide. Still, we Jews could learn so much from the Church of Scotland about how you care for the elderly and the dying.”

Brief reports were heard first from the General Trustees, the Central Services Committee, the Church Hymnary Trustees, Pensions Trustees, Nominations Committee and Selection Committee before we returned to the unfinished business of Thursday’s Ministries Council. The main item concerned that of introducing the concept of Ordained Local Ministries - in effect a reworking and expanding of the current Auxiliary Ministry. Lengthy debate again ensued, but time was getting short and commissioners were getting fewer and fewer! A counter-motion suggesting proposals for the further education, training and mobilisation of the eldership was agreed despite the legal and theological problems it would raise. However on a vote with the printed deliverance the countermotion fell by just 10 votes - 200 to 190 in favour of adopting Ordained Local Ministry.

A rapid nodding through of the remaining deliverances and the Joint Report on the Emerging Church saw the GA suspend at 2pm, before reconvening for the final time at 3pm where the Report anent Deceased Ministers, Missionaries and Deacons was heard. The Moderator gave a short address and then The Lord High Commissioner addressed the commissioners once more and the GA was dissolved for another year.

So, as you can see it was a very full, a very tiring, but very interesting (at times!) week. There was seriousness. There was inspiration. There was humour (not least with Bill the Deacon and Daniel of the unpronounceable surname from Bishopton), and despite the controversy of many of the debates, it was all done in a very gracious manner.

There are official statements on the Church of Scotland website from the Moderator regarding the outcomes from Monday’s debates on the Special Commission on Same-Sex relationships which can be found at: www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news

Stuart