‘Idiot church-goers’ going the extra mile

SIR,– I refer to the comments from Robin Mair, “God save us from idiot church-goers” (Letters, March 26).

Aberdeen Presbytery instructed all Church of Scotland congregations, within our boundary, to cease worship and all activities on March 17 and, as far as I am aware, every congregation followed that instruction. If nonChurch of Scotland buildings were open that Sunday, then that was indeed wrong. However, rather than behaving like idiots, the vast majority of church members are active in assisting in schemes to help vulnerable members of the community and in supporting foodbanks, they are engaged in pastoral care by phoning those experiencing loneliness, ministers are still conducting funerals in circumstances that are even more difficult than normal for bereaved families and many congregations are providing online worship.

It was very unfortunate that you chose to highlight church-goers as idiots in your headline at a time when the church is doing all it can to help those in need during these deeply troubling and uncertain times.

Rev Dr John Ferguson, Presbytery Clerk, Aberdeen Presbytery