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GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2011
My first event attended was the service at St. Giles on the morning of Sunday 22nd May. The singing was most uplifting but the style and nature of the building is such that for most of the time hearing rather than seeing takes place. Afternoon saw a more light hearted event in Princes Street Gardens, “Roll Away the Stone” an expression of Christian faith and witness. In the evening I attended worship at the Abbey Church of Hollyrood.
Monday saw the same sex debate. A most interesting debate, which ran all day with a proposal to move Section 4 to after Section 7. It was defeated and so to Section 7, which was the main point with Clause (A) to maintain the moratorium on same sex relationships for the training/ordination to ministry or (B) to consider further the lifting of the moratorium on acceptance etc. By 5.20pm a vote was taken the outcome was Section (A) 294 votes. Section (B) 351 votes, so Section (B) was carried. A more detailed version of these clauses can be found on the Church of Scotland Web Page. However a Theological Commission has been set up to report back in two years i.e. 2013 Assembly, the report was finally accepted at 6.10pm.
Tuesday assembly was opened in the usual manner to stand and sing with about 800 unaccompanied voices is most inspiring. Debate opened with the Social Care Report. A video showed a young Glasgow man turn his life around through social care. A speaker spoke about the Sunflower Project in Simpson House in Edinburgh. This was followed by the Guild Report, which following discussion and debate was accepted.
Lunch (free) saw me attend a talk on the work being done for young men prone to suicide.
Church and Society. A report with 51 Deliverances – ranging through racism, climate change, recycling education, the war in Afghanistan and youth within the church was finally accepted about 6.0pm.
A petition from Falkirk Presbytery for anent Constitution of Grahamston United Church of Scotland, United Reform and Methodist Church. This was accepted.
A panel for Review and Reform discussed large and grouping following questions concern was raised and after two votes the Proposal was defeated by 235 to 269. A carried motion to remove a large part of the Deliverance was accepted by 300 to 269. As a result a large part was removed, which rendered the work of the Panel for Review and Reform’s time meaningless.
Various reports from Housing and Loan and Iona Community, which is now in its 73rd Year were passed.
Thursday saw about 40 service chaplains were on parade. We were addressed by an Air Vice Marshall.
Safeguarding – New Handbook Volume 1 will be out in June.
Ministry Council after long discussion a petition by Ayr Presbytery to be classified as Urban/Rural was upheld. This gives Ayr 2/3 new posts. An alarming fact is that two-thirds of churches cannot support a full time minister and that 30% of churches support the other 70% with their giving. During the debate a flock of doves descended on Assembly – cost £2.50 – to aid overseas work. This was the longest session of the week with a 7.00pm finish with the Trustees Report to be concluded on Friday.
The day opened with an address by Rabbi Julia Newbangur, a female rabbi, who spoke on Care for the Elderly. The last major debate was on ordained local ministry, which has no upper age limit and could be seen as a way forward. During the discussion one speaker explained that trained elders could be better used with the local church.
Lasting memories apart from the cut and thrust of debate – must be the singing.
James C. Williams |
