Church and Society Council
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The Church and Society Council is an agency of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is tasked with facilitating the Church's engagement with, and comment upon, national, political and social issues.
The Council's remit, is to do this by:
- developing theological, ethical and spiritual perspectives on issues;
- representing the Church in offering on its behalf appropriate and informed comment on political and social issues;
- building, establishing and maintaining networks and relationships with leaders in society, and engaging in long-term dialogue with them;
- supporting local congregations by offering resources on contemporary issues;
- conducting of an annual review of progress and reporting to the Council of Assembly.
The Council was formed on 1st June 2005. Its current convener is Morag Mylne, an advocate based in Edinburgh. The (full-time) Secretary is the Rev. Dr David Sinclair, formerly minister at Martyrs' Church in St Andrews.
[edit] History
The Church and Society Council is the successor to the former Committees on Church and Nation, Education, the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office, the Society, Religion and Technology Project and the social interests remit of the former Board of Social Responsibility.
The Church and Nation Committee was founded in 1919. In its early days, the Committee promoted an anti-Roman Catholic agenda. Under the leadership of the Rev John White in 1923, the Committee published a highly-controversial (and since repudiated) report entitled "The Menace of the Irish Race to our Scottish Nationality." The report accused Roman Catholics of Irish birth or descent of being part of a conspiracy to subvert Presbyterian values and of being the principal cause of drunkenness, crime and financial imprudence.
In 2002 the General Assembly passed a resolution that "regrets any part played in sectarianism by our church in the past and affirm our support for future moves towards a more tolerant society". The Assembly also received a report from the Church and Nation Committee entitled "The Demon in our Society: Sectarianism in Scotland." The Convener of the Church and Nation Committee in 2002 was the Rev. Alan McDonald, who became Moderator in 2006.
The Church and Nation Committee had one of the highest profiles in the Church of Scotland. It took a lead in campaigns, such as opposing nuclear weapons and promoting devolution for Scotland. Such stances, however, led to accusations of left-wing political bias by some critics of the Committee both within and outside the Church.
