{"id":71247,"date":"2021-05-24T14:05:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-24T13:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/primus-to-address-declaration-at-general-assembly\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T10:29:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T10:29:18","slug":"primus-to-address-declaration-at-general-assembly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hillside.work\/sec\/staging\/primus-to-address-declaration-at-general-assembly\/","title":{"rendered":"Primus commends Declaration to General Assembly"},"content":{"rendered":"

The proposed Saint Andrew Declaration between the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Scotland received resounding backing at the General Assembly on Monday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, spoke warmly of the \u201cshared journey\u201d with the Church of Scotland and reaffirmed the strong ties between the denominations. The Churches are seeking agreement on formal recognition of the way that they have both ministered to the whole of Scotland for many years, and how they will continue to work together.<\/p>\n

The Saint Andrew Declaration outlines a series of acknowledgments and commitments between the Churches, and is the result of conversations that have taken place in the Our Common Calling Working Group.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me this is a fundamental understanding of how we both see church,\u201d the Primus told the Assembly. \u201cIt is about providing a loving and prayerful worshipping community for the whole nation, from the glen head in Sutherland to the close end in Partick.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is why these past months which have been so painful have also been so remarkable in our shared journey: the concern of keeping the church alive in this new way of life, people discovering that they could join a Eucharist in Holy Trinity Melrose, morning worship in St Cuthbert\u2019s Edinburgh and finish of with Mass at St Mary\u2019s RC.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have heard more and more people telling me that their faith isn\u2019t denominational, rather it is about where they encounter God, where they feel loved, nurtured and respected for who they are.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Saint Andrew Declaration uses forms of words that we have both shared in other declarations with ecumenical partners across the world, yet this is something we have never shared with each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes it has seemed that our relationship is too complicated, with too much history and too many differences, But I believe that two good friends – or is it two siblings? – realise that the faith needs of the people of Scotland are not best served when we each spend time doing many of the same things in two separate places, almost next door to each other especially when in the next community, church life has already ceased.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis Declaration doesn\u2019t ignore the things that seem to make us different from each other. Some of those differences will need to be worked through or accepted as differences we will always have. Remember, unity is not the same as uniformity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I believe the Declaration is doing is trying to encapsulate the working together that we have already achieved while also informing the communities we serve that we aren\u2019t here to compete for your loyalty, we are here to share with you our vision of a Scotland still served by the church, with all its breadth, history and prayers for the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI commend this document and look forward to the day we are able sign it together.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Church of Scotland’s Committee on Ecumenical Relations reported: \u201cThe Saint Andrew Declaration lays the foundation for all sorts of possible developments in ministry and mission. With it, two of Scotland’s national churches will signal our intent to come closer together, while still maintaining and celebrating our own characteristics and identities, to respond co-operatively and intentionally to the call to God’s mission in Scotland.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Declaration was further commended by the Rt Rev Ian Paton, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane, the Scottish Episcopal Church’s representative among ecumenical guests at the Assembly, and its adoption was approved by the Assembly by 453 votes to 10.<\/p>\n

The Declaration will again be on the agenda when General Synod takes place next month, after which it is hoped it will be officially signed by both Churches.<\/p>\n

Responding to the Primus, Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland said: \u201cThank you very much for your address to the Assembly and being with us today.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’ve given us your very profound thoughts and indeed your commendation of the St Andrew Declaration.\u201d<\/p>\n