Church and Society 2011

Church and Society REPORT OF THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY COMMITTEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2011

INTRODUCTION This session the Church and Society Committee have considered a wide range of issues. Unfortunately, we are not able to include all of them in this report. The issues we have included have either been ones that have concerned us or topics that we thought we as Christians should know more about.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill On the 1st of December 2010 Margo MacDonald’s End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill was defeated at stage 1 by 85 votes against, 16 votes in favour and 2 abstentions. The Church as a whole in Scotland was vigorous in its opposition to this Bill and was very effective in lobbying MSP on this issue.

The committee wish to record their grateful thanks to the General Secretary and Mrs Helena Jarvis for their exemplary work in sending the letter which stated our objection to this Bill by E-mail to every MSP and distributing the outline of a letter to all the congregations which our members could use to register their objection to the Bill by sending this letter to their own MSP. Submission to the Scottish Affairs Select committee on the Scotland Bill.

The Scotland Bill is the response of the Westminster Government to the Calman Commission and our submission to the Government is found in Appendix 1. This Bill is of great importance not only to the future of the Scottish Parliament but also to the future of the Scottish Nation.

BRINGING KINGDOM VALUES TO MODERN SOCIETY The committee is delighted that so many have been stimulated by the paper in last year’s Assembly Report entitled Bringing Kingdom Values to Modern Society and have written articles for Steadfast on the basis of their interpretation of this concept. In Appendix 2 there is a paper which explores how we as Christians should relate to the world’s poor and how we believe the wealthy nations of world could help the poor.

ACTS CHURCH and SOCIETY NETWORK Our association with the ACTS Church and Society Network has stimulated us to consider two important issues. The first is tax evasion by individuals and many large companies and a paper on this subject is found in Appendix 3. The second is the attempt by Ms Godman MSP to introduce a Private Members Bill to criminalise the purchase of sex and is found in Appendix 4. This paper has been prepared by Dr Jacci Stoyle from the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Another issue that has been raised by the ACTS Church and Society Network this year is the Just War Criteria in relation to the War in Afghanistan. The committee has been unable to devote sufficient time to study this paper and comment on it. The paper makes a judgement about the justice of the present military operations in Afghanistan against the generally accepted criteria for a just war which are: 57

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legitimate/right authority – a formal declaration of war (after an ultimatum) by a recognized government or international organization; just cause – defensive not aggressive, and the potential harm or damage caused by the aggressor must be lasting, grave and certain and can be mitigated by defensive action; right intention – for example, to secure justice or remedy injustice; last resort - all other means must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective, and in particular all attempts at diplomatic negotiation and reconciliation must have been exhausted; reasonable hope of success – the chances of achieving the desired just outcome must be good; proportionate means - the use of arms must not produce evils (for example, the violence and suffering caused) and disorders greater than the evil to be eliminated; non-combatant immunity - the rights of civilians, prisoners and wounded soldiers must be respected; non-combatants must be treated humanely.

This paper is available from the church office to all who are interested in this subject.

SCOTTISH CHURCHES HOUSING ACTION The Scottish Churches Housing Action (SCHA) has a vision of making Scotland a nation free of homelessness and has, from its inception in 1994, striven to make this vision a reality. Recently the SCHA has faced a number of financial challenges in that two streams of funding support from the Scottish Government has come to an end and the main funding support from the Scottish Government has been reduced by 28%. Alastair Cameron the Chief Executive of the SCHA has written a paper regarding how the present economic climate affects the homeless in Scotland and this paper can be found in Appendix 5.

We as a committee and our denomination has been closely involved in the work of the SCHA over the years and the committee are of the firm belief that we should make a special effort to help and support the SCHA in the present climate of current financial cuts.

The committee is recommending to the Assembly the launching of a Denominational Appeal to support the SCHA. DENOMINATIONAL APPEAL FOR THE SCOTTISH CHURCHES HOUSING ACTION The committee is intent on launching a Denominational Appeal that will inform the denomination of the work of the Scottish Churches Housing Action and give us the opportunity to support it. To this end we are launching at this Assembly the Denominational Appeal for The Scottish Churches Housing Action which will run for one year.

Information will be forwarded to each congregation about the work of the SCHA. The committee’s intention in launching this appeal is that we as a denomination will be able to help the SCHA in these times of financial challenges and share in its vision of a Scotland free of homelessness.

CHRISTIAN AID SCOTLAND At present Christian Aid Scotland is undertaking a strategic review and is exploring issues including:  Christian Aid’s relationship with its sponsoring churches  The role of Christian Aid’s current and future supporters  What are the values that underpin Christian Aid’s work?  What are the key drivers that shape the kind of organisation Christian Aid wishes to be?

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Is Christian Aid part of a global movement for social change?

What strengths and weaknesses does Christian Aid demonstrate from a Scottish perspective?

SCOTTISH CHURCHES RACIAL JUSTICE GROUP The Scottish Churches Racial Justice Group has this year produced a paper entitled: A Report on the Churches’ attitude to the Travelling Community in Scotland. The Report indicates that both society and the Church have often discriminated against and been prejudiced against this ethnic minority in Scotland. This Report is available from the Church Office.

The Racial Justice Group would like to invite Churches in Scotland to give consideration to how they can work to challenge the evils of discrimination, prejudice and harassment that Travelling people in Scotland continue to experience and to accord them the same level of respect that every member of society is entitled to receive.

Racial Justice Sunday will be celebrated on Sunday 11th September 2011 in Wellington Church, University Avenue, Glasgow and all are welcome.

HEALTH CARE CHAPLAINCY HealthCare Chaplaincy in Scotland has undergone many changes in recent years and has had to adapt to changing attitudes in society and within the NHS itself. The paper entitled: ‘Challenges that face Hospital Chaplains’ is found in Appendix 6 and illustrates the function of Hospital Chaplains in the modern NHS. SCOTTISH CHURCHES PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE This committee has always welcomed the resources provided by the SCPO and the annual Report prepared by Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer; Chloe Clements, can be found in Appendix 7.

CONTRIBUTION TO ORGANISATIONS The following contributions were made in 2010: Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office Scottish Churches Housing Action Scottish Churches Racial Justice Officer TOTAL

£ £ £ £

2,250 2,000 1,600 5,850

CONCLUSION The committee is indebted to the Rev J O Fulton, General Secretary, and Mrs Helena Jarvis for the enormous amount of work that they undertake on behalf of the committee throughout the year.

In the name of the Committee Donald J. Macdonald Peter de Villiers John O. Fulton

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Convener Vice-Convener Secretary