Yes, its attendances are in decline, but the Kirk still has a key role to play in Scottish life
I WISH to present a different picture of Christianity today from that painted by Doug Clark in his letter of May 17 (‘Christ’s family values today’).
I do so by quoting from the Church of Scotland’s Faith Action Leadership Team Report containing the proposals on Israel/palestine being put to the General Assembly. I must, in the interests of brevity, be more selective than I wish to be. However the whole report can be found on the internet (sections 10/11 and 7.1 to 7.1.11.4).
For instance, the Assembly is asked to restate its 2015 call urging the UK government to recognise without delay the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel, as a contribution to securing lasting peace and justice for all.
In the Guardian on October 22, 2023, the Chief Rabbi is quoted as saying “Those who do not condemn, condone.”
The aforementioned Team’s response is to maintain that “it is right for the Church to condemn the terror of Hamas, and to demand the release of every hostage. It is also right to condemn the widespread destruction of life, homes, hospitals, and health centres, by the Israeli military, and the deprivation of food and medicine which is leading to a humanitarian disaster.”
The report also draws attention to life in the West
Bank being significantly affected “with lockdowns on all Palestinian cities [Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem etc] …. Violence has spread rapidly, with many Palestinians having been killed by military forces and settlers, with thousands injured.” The recommendations of and sentiments expressed in the aforementioned report are those of many in Scotland outwith the Kirk.
In spite of the dwindling numbers sitting regularly in the pews on a Sunday morning, our national church still has a crucial role to play in Scottish life and overseas, its call based on the life and teaching of Jesus being “justice and love with equal rights for all”.
Such a fundamentalist non-metaphorical understanding of both the Old and New Testaments’ teaching as revealed by Mr Clark is inadequate for the challenges of today.