Conference to examine relationship between churches and Scottish Parliament

A special conference is being held to mark the 25th anniversary of devolution and the Christian church's relationship with the Scottish Parliament.

The one-day event at the Assembly Hall in Edinburgh on 4 September will allow attendees to reflect back on a quarter century of parliamentary and political engagement and imagine the future of religion and politics in Scotland.

Entitled Devolution @25: Reflections, perspectives and visions of the Churches' relationship with the Scottish Parliament, the commemorative event, which is being held from 10.30am-6.30pm, will also mark the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office. (SCPO)

Organised by SCPO and the Centre for Theology and Public Life (New College, University of Edinburgh), it is fitting that the conference is being held at the Assembly Hall on The Mound because it was the home of Scotland's devolved legislature for five years after it reconvened in 1999 until the Scottish Parliament building at the other end of the Royal Mile opened in 2004.

Prior to devolution in 1999, churches in Scotland played an important role in the discussions around constitutional reform.

When the Scotland Act 1998 declared ‘There shall be a Scottish Parliament' it marked the beginning of a new era in Scottish politics and the churches wanted to continue their commitment to the common good in the public square.

How successful has devolution been?

SCPO was set up to build a fruitful relationship between churches in Scotland and the new parliament and to help them relate and respond effectively in the political process.

A wide range of speakers from churches and The School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh will reflect on this vision through a programme of talks and panel discussions.

Questions that will be explored include ‘what were the hopes and opportunities offered by devolution and has the Scottish Parliament lived up to these hopes?'

What were the challenges that devolution presented, what are the challenges facing churches in politics today and what might the future look like for religious communities and politics in Scotland?

Professor Rachel Muers, chair in Divinity at the School of Divinity, said: "We're delighted to be co-organising this conference and to have the chance to forge new connections and take our thinking forward."

"It will be a unique chance to think together about how faith and politics relate in Scotland, and how the churches and those engaged in public life can collaborate for the common good.

"We will be bringing together an exciting group of speakers with very different expertise and experience to share, to learn from the last 25 years and to think about what the future might look like.

"As the Centre for Theology and Public Issues we are committed to bringing academic research in theology into deep conversation with everyone who has an interest in the questions that theology raises – justice, community, working together across difference, and other concerns that are at the heart of politics."

Attendees will be welcomed by David Bradwell, the current Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer, and the key note speaker is Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness KC (Jim Wallace), a former Deputy First Minister of Scotland from 1999-2005.

Session one focuses on Scottish churches and the parliament and speakers include Rev Dr Graham Blount, Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer 1999-2008 and Dr Alison Elliot, former Associate Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues, New College.

Lord Wallace was Moderator of the General Assembly in 2021-22 and Dr Elliot served in the ambassador role in 2004-2005, the first woman to do so.

They are both elders in the Church of Scotland.

Session two focuses on the University of Edinburgh School of Divinity Panel and speakers include Stephen Noon, a PhD researcher, Professor Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies and Dr Alex Chow, Senior Lecturer in Theology and World Christianity.

Church speaks into politics

Session three will focus on the work of church Parliamentary Officers in devolved nations and speakers include Sarah Komashko, Parliamentary Engagement Officer (Scotland), Quakers in Britain, Anthony Horan, director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office, and Major David Cavanagh, assistant secretary for Scotland, The Salvation Army.

Prof Muers is taking part in a in-conversation event with Lord Wallace, who served as the MSP for Orkney from 1999-2007 and is now a life peer.

At the end of the conference, Very Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, immediate past Moderator of the General Assembly and UK and Global Church Ambassador for Christian Aid, will lead an ecumenical service of thanksgiving and recommitment to the work of churches in Scottish politics.

It will be followed by a networking reception.

SCPO exists to create space for ecumenical fellowship and encounter for parliamentary and political affairs in Scotland.

It offers support to church leaders in meetings with politicians and senior civil servants, builds relationships with political and parliamentary figures and civil servants and arranges opportunities for meeting and exchanging ideas.