Christians standing together calling for peace in the Middle East

A minister said it was a privilege to stand alongside Christians from other denominations to call for peace in the Middle East.

Rev Dr Grant Barclay, clerk to the Presbytery of Glasgow, said it was enriching to stand shoulder to shoulder and listen to a Catholic priest who said Gaza is "almost a hell but Jesus is there".

He told the General Assembly that denominational difference "melted away" as Father Gabriel Romanelli urged them and the world to do everything it can to end the awful suffering in the troubled region.

The General Assembly backed a deliverance tabled by Dr Barclay which commended the Archdiocese of Glasgow, Justice and Peace Scotland, SCIAF, the Secretary of Glasgow Churches Together and the Ecumenical Officer of the Church of Scotland for hosting Father Gabriel Romanelli on 26 April.

The spiritual leader of Holy Family Parish congregation in Gaza called for a ceasefire, describing it as a necessary step to restart dialogue between all parties.

Clarity and faith

Dr Barclay said: "I was privileged to hear Father Gabriel Romanelli speak.

"He described the present conditions for his small flock and for the whole population who used to live in an open prison and now inhabit an open sewer and wasteland.

"He spoke with compassion and with grace about Israelis still held hostage and families mourning loved ones lost in the October 7 attack by Hamas.

"He spoke too about more than 35,000 people and among them too many women and children killed in Israeli bombardment and gunfire.

"Father Gabriel spoke with clarity and faith and said two things.

"One that Gaza is almost a hell and two, that Jesus is there.

"Denominational difference melted away in light of his words as he described such suffering by so many in different ways."

Dr Barclay said it would have been easy for Glasgow Presbytery congregations to have missed the events held at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Andrew because they were "caught up in the routines of work and the challenges of mission planning."

"We were able, as fellow Christians, to take part because of the ecumenical ties we enjoy in Glasgow and the work of the secretary of Glasgow Churches Together, Elspeth Glasgow, and the work of our church's Ecumenical Officer Rev Dr John McPake," he added.

They made arrangements so that people from all denominations might stand together in shared concern and prayer.

"To that gathering of people of God together, the Gazan Christian urged us and the world to do everything we can to end this awful suffering and bring hope to all the people in Gaza and the whole troubled region.

"We are enriched when different denominations can build together and can share in learning, in worship and a common witness pleading for peace."

Christ the rock

The Church of Scotland works closely with ecumenical partners and Most Reverend Leo Cushley, Archbishop and Metropolitan of St Andrews and Edinburgh, and Rev Mark Slaney of the Methodist Church in Scotland addressed the General Assembly.

Rev Ross Blackman, convener of the Ecumenical Relations Committee, said: "Last year, I reminded us that "we are not alone", and that comment received a hearty response from representatives of our sister denominations accompanying us on this journey.

"We were reminded that we cannot work in isolation, but we look for the future together; and this call was echoed by the then Moderator to ‘Remember who you are'.

"This year, we are reminded that we are building together – building, not just as congregations within a single denomination, but building the kingdom of God, led by Christ and in company with skilled tradespeople from across the denominational spectrum.

"And, so, your Ecumenical Relations Committee is pleased to remind us that there has been a tremendous amount of work completed along with the wonderful tradespeople of other denominations and crafts.

"First and foremost, we build upon Christ the rock.

"Then the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone."

Mr Blackman said a new Scottish Christian Forum is being developed, which will be a lighter, more flexible, and inclusive building, together of the "future shape of the Church".

"We see renewed work, in the Joint Commission on Doctrine, and in light of the St Margaret Declaration, there are further existing and new friendships that are developing behind the scenes for which we hope there may be future declarations."