SW News: The Christian community in Scotland is about to witness a significant ecumenical milestone as the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will be invited to welcome an epoch-making Declaration of Friendship with the Catholic Church. Marking the pinnacle of ecumenical efforts lasting more than a century, the Declaration will be presented to the Church of Scotland on May 23.

Ratified by the Catholic bishops of Scotland, the Declaration highlights the shared faith in Christ and the common ground that brings together members of both Churches. It reads, “We recognise each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, and we wish to express our friendship and respect for one another as fellow Christians, citizens and partners in announcing the kingdom of God in our land.”

It was drafted by senior leaders of the Catholic Church and Church of Scotland.
“My brother bishops and I welcome this declaration, and we hope that it will likewise be welcomed by our Catholic brothers and sisters throughout the country,” said Archbishop and Metropolitan of St Andrews and Edinburgh Leo Cushley of the Church of Scotland. “The strands of a more profound dialogue will continue as before, but there is much to be said for acknowledging all that we hold in common, and for celebrating the friendship of the members of our two churches.”

The Declaration points to the common heritage uniting members of both Churches and that is the early missionaries who sowed the seeds of faith and nurtured it. They include St Ninian, St Columba and St Margaret. It is also an effort to heal the wounds of the divisions that occurred in the past and seek forgiveness for the hurt and make amends. “We also recognise that, even in more recent times, much could have been said between us more kindly, written more magnanimously, and done more charitably, to promote pardon and healing and friendship among Christians in our land,” says the Declaration.

It also acknowledges the challenges that still remain in spite of all the progress made in the ecumenical dialogue between both Churches. “While recognising that unity does not mean uniformity, we commit ourselves to continuing our pilgrimage towards greater unity, as we believe that it is the Lord's will that we be one,” reads the Declaration. Also enshrined in the Declaration is a pledge to live as brothers and sisters in Jesus both in public and private, “to pray with each other and for each other, to be good neighbors, both to each other and to all people.” It also expresses hope that theological contemplations and ventures flourish for the good of all and for the greater glory of God.

Known as the Kirk, the Church of Scotland is the national Church of the nation and 20 per cent of the Scottish population claim to be its adherents according to a 2019 poll. It broke away from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation in 1560 led by John Knox and established itself as a faith community based on Calvinist Presbyterianism It is governed by a General Assembly that is chaired by the Moderator.