Moderator against attempt to reverse church closures

Scotland’s top minister has spoken out in opposition to a legal bid to reverse the closure of the country’s churches under lockdown measures.

The Right Rev Dr Martin Fair, who is moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said the move risks undermining the Covid-19 public health message.

A group of 27 Scottish church leaders have launched a bid for a judicial review and claim closing churches amounts to the “criminalisation of public worship”.

They are backed by the Christian Legal Centre, which provides pro bono legal support for Christians in the UK.

Dr Fair, the minister at St Andrew’s Parish Church in

Arbroath, posted a video to the Church of Scotland’s Youtube channel.

In it, he stressed the importance of individuals worshipping alone for the time being.

He said: “I want to reiterate that it is the Church of Scotland’s position that we want to work with the Scottish Government, understanding that this is a temporary measure.

“It’s absolutely necessary and churches will reopen when it is safe for them to do so.

“We need, in the meantime, to understand the severity of the situation.

“Right here in my community, we have wards in care homes where Covid19 is rife, we have hospital wards where Covid-19 is present, people in our community suffering through Covid-19.

“And I have folks in my own congregation who have tested positive and who are suffering from the Covid-19 virus right now.”

Leaders from a number of churches are spearheading the campaign.

These include the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), the Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland, and a number of independent churches.

They say the closures are unlawful and breach European Convention of Human Rights law and the Scottish constitution.

One of those is the Rev Dr William Philip, leader of the Tron Church in Glasgow.

Dr Philip said it means many elderly and vulnerable people are being “excluded completely” from Christian worship, and the “comfort and encouragement in life and death only this can give”.

However, Dr Fair said the public must “do everything possible to keep ourselves and others safe right now”.

He added: “There is no doubt in my mind that keeping our buildings closed for public worship is absolutely part of that equation right now.”

The Church of Scotland has been keen to distance itself from the action, making clear individuals who support it are speaking for themselves.

A spokesperson said the “vast majority” of its members “understand and support” the restrictions.

MESSAGE: The Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair said the public must “do everything possible to keep ourselves and others safe”.