Church leader questions indy ref “reconciliation service”
A Scottish church leader
has questioned the need for a Church of Scotland “service of reconciliation” three
days after the independence referendum in September.
Incoming Church of Scotland
Moderator Rev John Chalmers claimed there was a danger the aftermath of the referendum
vote could set ‘families and communities against each other.’
His claim was rubbished
by Free Church of Scotland minister Rev David Robertson.
Mr Robertson, Free Church
minister in Dundee and director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity, said:
“The announcement that the Church of Scotland is going to hold 'reconciliation' services
post referendum, at which the great and good will be expected to attend is to say
the least interesting.
“First of all we question the need. Are the people of Scotland
at war? Is there fighting on the streets? Are we living in a watered down version
of Syria?
“Secondly we question the purpose -
The Scottish church leader continued:
“And then what kind of service will it be?
“Non-
“Instead of talking up the need for the Church to be involved
in 'reconciling' warring factions in the independence debate, the Church should be
seeking to encourage a mature debate where people can disagree without becoming enemies.
“I am a Free Church minister who is a supporter of independence. I don't expect that
I will have to be reconciled to my fellow Free Church minister, John Ross, who is
a strong supporter of the Union.
“Talk of holding reconciliation services is an embarrassing
indictment of Scottish society. I don't believe we are that immature!”
Mr Robertson
concluded: “I suspect that this is a combination of a cheap publicity stunt, combined
with an increasing desperation for a declining national church to re-
“The Church would be better off preaching
the gospel of Christ’s reconciliation and leaving the politics up to the politicians.
“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Let the politicians do politics. And let the prophets
prophesy.”