Moderator to meet religious and political leaders during London Week
Published on 18 November 2024 2 minutes read
The Moderator of the General Assembly is in London this week to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest to the Church with ecumenical and interfaith partners and political party representatives.
Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson arrived in the city yesterday with Principal Clerk Rev Fiona Smith and Ecumenical Officer Rev Dr John McPake.
The Moderator will attend a special reception for religious leaders, hosted by Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace, during the week.
He said: "I am very much looking forward to meeting London-based political leaders and our ecumenical and interfaith partners.
"The Church plays a vital role within communities across the country and this coming week presents a wonderful opportunity to learn from and share with each other as we meet and discuss areas common concern."
Ecumenical and interfaith partners
On Tuesday, the Principal Clerk, in her role as Co-President of the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) will talk alongside Co-President and Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE on the topic of Difficult Dialogue: The Church of Scotland and Office of the Chief Rabbi Glossary project, highlighting the good work that has developed between the two communities in producing the glossary.
Mirella Yandoli, Interfaith and Equality Officer at the Church of Scotland, will be a part of an in-person conversation along with and Rabbi David Mason, Executive Director of HIAS+JCORE.
As it's a hybrid event people can register in advance to watch the event online.
Throughout the week, the Moderator will meet with representatives from the Church of England, the Catholic Church, Methodist Church, United Reformed Church and Jewish community.
The first religious representative that he will meet is Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Holy Family of London.
Born in Canada, he was appointed as bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Holy Family of London in January 2020.
Dr Paterson is scheduled to meet with Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols and will preach at the parliamentary service in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster and read at an Evensong service at St Paul's Cathedral.
Westminster
During the week the Moderator will meet with various political figures - Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray MP, Shadow Secretary of State Andrew Bowie MP and SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn MP.
The trip will see Dr Paterson join former Moderator of the General Assembly, Lord Wallace of Tankerness KC, to meet with Sir Edward Davey MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West and the party's spokesperson for Women and Equalities, will also be in attendance.
The Moderator will meet with Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, the Speaker of the House of Commons, and his chaplain Rev Mark Birch, who was appointed as the 81st person to take up the role last week.
Charity
Dr Paterson will visit Scotscare, a London-based charity that supports first and second-generation Scots and their children, and meet with chief executive Shona Fleming.
On Wednesday evening, the Moderator will take part in a Presbytery of England and the Channel Islands question and answer session at St Columba's Church in Knightsbridge.
Dr Paterson will conclude his trip on Sunday 24 November by preaching at St Andrew's Kirk in Newcastle before having lunch with the congregation.