News

General Assemblies approve closer co-operation through a national covenant

June 16 , 2006

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which met in May, and the General Assembly of the United Free Church of Scotland, which met last week, have approved a proposed Covenant between the two churches which will encourage closer working relationships between the two Presbyterian denominations.

The Covenant acknowledges the common history of the two denominations, the pain of division, the failure to give priority to reconciling differences, and looks to local examples of closer working together as giving impetus for the national covenant.

It is intended that the Covenant will give space for people and congregations to move closer together at their own pace and as the need arises. The Covenant itself will be reviewed biennially so that the journey of the two denominations will be in step with local developments.

The Covenant is due to be signed by the Moderators of the two General Assemblies, Rt Rev Alan McDonald from the Church of Scotland and Rev Andrew McMillan from the United Free Church of Scotland, at a special service to be held in Dunblane Cathedral in September.