General Assembly

John Williams addresseds the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Terminally ill man on 'really difficult' assisted dying conundrum

Increasingly secular society needs to find new moral compass Scotsman comment

Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton. Picture: Andy O'Brien

Church closures are painful but essential, says Kirk moderator

Rishi Sunak

Kirk moderator criticises Sunak’s decision to roll back climate commitments

The Right Reverend Sally Foster-Fulton says closing church buildings is a 'painful' process that also provides 'a real opportunity to reimagine ourselves' (Picture: Jonathan Brady/pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Old Kirk buildings can still play an important part in the community

New Moderator the Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton said she had gone "a bit rogue" in choosing a green jacket for her formal outfit. Picture: Andrew O'Brien.

Hefty challenges face Kirk, says new Moderator as Assembly opens

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will consider an apology for its connections to the transatlantic slave trade when it meets next month. PIC: CC/Enchufla Con Cave

Kirk should apologise for links to slave trade, report finds

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland meets last year

Readers' letters: Church of Scotland should take lead on road to independence

Rt Rev Iain Greenshields

Kirk fears assisted dying could be seen as 'cost-saving opportunity'

The Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Kirk moderator calls for wealth tax and suggests charging visitors to St Giles

Assisted dying legislation is expected to be introduced in the early part of 2023.

Kirk moderator raises fears assisted dying safeguards will be 'loosened'

The Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Moderator calls for tax to tackle poverty crisis

In this image released by the Police Press Service, the view from a drone shows the site of a Russian rocket attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. A Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia killed at least 23 people and wounded dozens, an official said Friday, just hours before Moscow planned to annex more of Ukraine in an escalation of the seven-month war. (Ukrainian Police Press Office via AP)

Ukraine conflict: Russian strike kills 23 on humanitarian convoy in Ukraine as U...

Very Rev Dr John Chalmers with his son, JJ Chalmers.

JJ Chalmers' father recalls the moment he heard his son had been in bomb blast

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Tehran last month (Picture: Sergei Savostyanov/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran's bloodsoaked president must be banned from UN General Assembly

The Rev Mike Goss speaks at the Assembly on fuel poverty and excess profits.

Church of Scotland General Assembly 2022: Kirk backs windfall tax on oil and gas...

The General Assembly agreed to apologise for the role of the church in persecuting those accused of witchcraft.

Kirk apologises over witchcraft persecution

The Very Rev Dr Susan Brown speaks at the Assembly

Kirk calls for ban on conversion therapy

Professor Jason Leitch addresses the General Assembly

Leitch tells Kirk: Covid hasn't gone away

Moderator Rev Dr Iain Greenshields addresses the Assembly on Monday morning
Pic: Andrew O'Brien

Kirk says ministers can conduct same-sex marriages

A group of supposed witches being beaten in front of King James I (King James VI of Scotland) around 1610

Readers' letters: Church of Scotland should apologise for hundreds of deaths

This year's General Assembly is a hybrid gathering with 400 commissioners in the hall and another 200 taking part online. Picture: Andrew O'Brien.

Kirk invests £25m to grow new and existing congregations

Lord High Commissioner Lord Hodge addressed the Assembly over Zoom. Picture: Andrew O'Brien.

Kirk told of importance of truth in public life

Moderator Rev Iain Greenshields is installed in a ceremony at the beginning of The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland by his predecessor Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness.

Queen’s letter to Church of Scotland Assembly applauds supportfor refugees

Outgoing Moderator Lord Wallace greets his successor, the Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, at the Assembly Hall.

Kirk holds first hybrid General Assembly

Prime Minister Boris Johnson meeting military personnel at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to thank them for their ongoing work facilitating military support to Ukraine and NATO.

Johnson calls Russian invasion is a ‘disastrous misbegotten venture’ by Putin

Lord Wallace became Moderator at last month's Church of Scotland General Assembly

Former deputy first minister returns to Holyrood in new role

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge departing after the the closing ceremony of the Church of Scotland's General Assembly Picture: Andrew O'Brien

William praises 'ethic of neighbourliness'

The Assembly is being held mainly online with only a few present in the hall. Picture: Andrew O'Brien

Kirk backs plan to cut minister numbers

Rev Rosemary Frew delivers the report of the Faith Nurture Forum Picture: Andrew O'Brien

Kirk 'will not survive' without cutting ministers

A service will be held in St Giles once pandemic restrictions allow

Service for Duke planned for St Giles

The Assembly is taking place mainly online with only a few present in the hall Picture: Andrew O'Brien

Kirk's latest move on same-sex marriages

The General Assembly is taking place largely online with very few people in the hall Picture: Andrew O'Brien

Kirk 'very different' in future, Assembly told

Moderator-elect Lord Wallace (left) and retiring Moderator the Right Rev Dr Martin Fair greet each other outside the General Assembly Hall

Kirk Moderator warns on mental health

When you work in a start-up, every day is a school day, says Littlejohn. Picture: Jim Newbery.

Tapping into start-up community's expertise - comment

The General Assembly under normal conditions

Kirk hosts first ever virtual General Assembly amid cash worries

A proposal had been made at the Kirk's General Assembly earlier this year, to disinvest in fossil fuels - however, it was rejected. Picture: John Devlin

Church of Scotland urged to sell off shares in oil and gas

National Youth Assembly Moderator Tamsin Dingwall delivers the group's annual report

Cash shortage sees Church of Scotland axe Youth Assembly

General Assembly of the Church of Scotland: Youth representatives and their supporters held a silent protest against the rejection of a call for the church Investors Trust to divest from oil and gas companies by the end of 2020

‘Silent protest’ by young members against Kirk’s fossil fuel move

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been held at the Mound in Edinburgh almost every year since 1560. Throughout the week-long event, the assembly examines its work and laws and makes decisions that affect the future of the Church. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

New Moderator of Church of Scotland’s General Assembly installed in Edinburgh

Larbert Old Parish Church

Hoping to halt Larbert churches merger

General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Military chaplains say Kirk job Act '˜marginalising' them
The Kirk's military chaplains are feeling 'marginalised and that their ministry is undervalued' by now having to undergo assessments identifying 'skills sets a...

Rev Susan Brown took up the role at Saturday's opening ceremony in Edinburgh. Picture: PA Wire

Church of Scotland's new Moderator installed

Church of Scotland votes to draft same-sex marriage legislation. Picture Wiki

Church of Scotland votes to draft same-sex marriage legislation

Margaret Thatcher addressing the Church of Scotland General Assembly in 1988. Picture: Youtube

Kirk Moderator: Thatcher's '˜Sermon on the Mound' couldn't be made today

Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

Isle of Lewis compared to Saudi Arabia by Sunday campaigners

The Very Rev Dr Duncan Shaw

Obituary: Dr Duncan Shaw, General Assembly Moderator who helped bring about '˜Th...

The literary critic and author Stuart Kelly PIC: Jayne Wright

Book review: The Minister and the Murderer, by Stuart Kelly

In the film It's a Wonderful Life, James Stewart's character is saved by an angel. Picture: RKO/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Church of Scotland Moderator: What if Jesus had never been born?

Same-sex marriage legislation was approved in Scotland in 2014, but until now, no mainstream church had permitted it to take place in a church.

Leader comment: Churches take the only viable option on gay marriage

Gay minister Rev Scott Rennie speaks during the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland yesterday.

Leader comment: Kirk is right to apologise

The Princess Royal and Right Rev Dr Derek Browning, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. PICTURE: ANDREW O'BRIEN

Same-sex marriage and apology to be debated by Kirk

Commissioners bowed their heads in prayer and a minute of silence for the victims in Manchester. Picture: Andrew O'Brien

Church of Scotland condemns '˜appalling and brutal' Manchester attack

Rev Dr Russell Barr

Leader: Tackling homelessness needs more than political will

The Very Rev Dr Russell Barr told the General Assembly that the numbers of homeless people is a stain on Scotlands character and consciousness. Picture: Andrew O'Brien

Political will needed to tackle homelessness, says Kirk moderator

As an international trading city, with a big Scottish diaspora, New York is a real target for Scottish business and Scottish entrepreneurs says Jim Duffy.

Jim Duffy: Cracking the code gives access to a new world of opportunity

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries