A historic Declaration of Friendship between the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Catholic Church in Scotland was agreed on Day Two of General Synod, with Synod members giving overwhelming backing to what will be known as the Saint Ninian Declaration.
The friendship agreement articulates and supports a deepening relationship between Episcopalians and Roman Catholics in Scotland.
It affirms the possibilities for working more closely together while acknowledging that there are distinct differences between the two churches, and it encourages joint worship and prayer, shared preparation for baptism and confirmation, common study of faith, co-operation in lay and ordained ministry, and shared witness to the world.
The agreement had received input from the Faith and Order Board and the Inter-Church Relations Committee, and it already been approved by the Conference of Bishops of the Catholic Church in Scotland, ahead of its approval at Synod.
The Most Rev Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, was present at St Paul’s & St George’s in Edinburgh as the motion was debated, and warmly welcomed its acceptance by members, saying: “I value friendship deeply. It is only through friendship that we will come to trust each other, it is only by trusting each other that we will learn from each other, and it is only be learning from each other that we will take this forward, and the great project that Our Lord prayed for the night before he died will come again to pass, here in the Christian West.
“My friends, thank you very much for agreeing to this Declaration of Friendship. I think it will bear fruit. It might be slow, it might be fast, but it gives an opportunity to all of us to put it before our people and to say that our two institutions have agreed to this – let’s see how we take this forward as friends together.”
Earlier, Bishop Ian Paton had urged Synod members to back the agreement, saying: “It is a declaration of friendship, and friends do not have to agree about everything. We develop our friendship not because we have overcome all our differences, but because we have them. And we pray and work together to resolve them. And while we’re doing it, we can find myriad ways of serving the people of Scotland effectively together in each place. I am delighted to commend this declaration to you.”
The Saint Ninian Declaration follows the Saint Andrew Declaration of 2021 between the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Scotland, and the Saint Margaret Declaration of 2022, a declaration of friendship between the Conference of Bishops of the Catholic Church in Scotland and the Church of Scotland.
In another of the highlights of the day’s business, Synod voted to accept the recommendation of the Faith and Order Board that Eric Liddell, Olympic athlete and Christian missionary, be included in the Scottish Calendar for his “unstinting service to the people of China during the Cino-Japanese war and his sacrificial service to the people interned with him in a camp in the Japanese-run Weihsien internment camp, China, during the Second World War.
Liddell, pictured, was born in China to Scottish missionary parents, and returned to the UK to attend school and then university in Edinburgh. He won the 400 metres at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, after refusing to take part in his strongest event, the 100 metres, because the heats were held on a Sunday. While the 100 metres qualifying took place, Liddell preached at the Scots Kirk in Paris.
After his athletic success he left sport behind to teach the children of missionaries in China, and when all British and American subjects were sent to an internment camp in 1943, Liddell acted as an interpreter, taught the children in the camp, and led worship. He died in the camp, from a brain tumour, in 1945.
“Liddell upheld Christian values and showed Christ’s love to all he encountered including his Japanese captors,” said the Rev Nick Bowry, who had nominated Liddell’s inclusion in the Calendar.
“His positive influence on so many people and his example as a Christian in the most dire of circumstances makes him a worthy role model and someone I believe we should honour and remember.”
Also in the Liturgy Committee session, Synod accepted a proposal that Blessing of a Marriage (2025) be added to the Schedule to Canon 22 to be read for the first time (the alteration of a Canon requires two successive ‘readings’ at General Synods).
The second day of Synod had begun with a session marking the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The Rev Canon Prof Charlotte Methuen, led an interactive session on the Nicene Creed interspersed with table discussions and feedback from the floor.
Later in the morning session, Synod accepted the Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2024, presented by Bridget Campbell, Convenor of the Provincial Standing Committee.
The Very Rev Sarah Murray, pictured, Convenor of Mission Board, addressed Synod for the final time as her term reaches its conclusion, presenting an overview of the Board’s work over the last year and over the last five years.
Following on from the joint College of Bishops and Standing Committee look at strategy and direction, the Mission Board undertook a review of its work over the past 12 months: assessing its main achievements in 2024, asking what successful mission looks like, and considering how mission would be developed if resources were unrestricted.
Looking to the future, there would be an incoming new Convener, focus on local mission, investment in mission, and a commitment to youth work and the importance of developing children and families within our church and congregations.
Gavin McEwan, a solicitor and specialist in charity law and regulation who is also Chancellor of the Diocese of Edinburgh and Legal Assessor to General Synod, briefed Synod on the responsibilities of trustees, the role of OSCR, and recent changes to regulations which affect charities.
The Primus, Bishop Mark Strange, updated Synod on the recent work of the Legacy of Slavery Working Group, which aims to: investigate the Scottish Episcopal Church’s involvement in the transatlantic enslavement of African peoples, understand and acknowledge the role that slavery has had in the history of the Scottish Episcopal Church, work towards an apology, and discuss how to repair relationships.
“We want to produce recommendations and guidance on how to repair relationships with churches and communities in the regions affected, largely in the West Indies,” said the Primus. “It’s no use just simply saying ‘sorry’ and then carrying on with life, because what’s really important is to find a way in which that history is something we can move forward from and learn from.
“I firmly believe we can only speak out on how things have to change if we’ve acknowledged our own part in the process of the beginning.
“I commend the work of the group, and I ask you to pray for them, because there are moments when this will be difficult, where we will be facing people who are uncomfortable with what we’re doing, and discovering things that we might be very unhappy with ourselves. It is something I believe we need to do.”
After lunch, Synod considered changes to Canon 4, in particular the timescale for the electoral process for a new bishop after a vacancy arises. The Faith and Order Board proposed that the Canon is updated so that the 12-month time limit for the process should start from the date upon which the mandate is issued, rather than when the vacancy arises, thus allowing for circumstances such as when a period of mourning would be needed. Synod agreed that the amended text of Canon 4 be read for the first time.
Session Six opened with Bishop Ian Paton, in his role as Convener of the Provincial Environment Group, introduced a presentation by the Net Zero Team, led by Paul Williams, the Net Zero Delivery Director.
Paul, pictured, reminded members that the decisions we make now can enable change and define the future of the planet, using the illustration of the growth of world population and the history of technology. The biodiversity crisis was also highlighted, along with the global response.
The activities of the Net Zero Team overt the last year were explained, and the invitation was again extended to all to participate in this difficult and ambitious challenge – “to think about what kind of Church you want to be in the future, and to be purposeful and creative in doing that”.
Paul acknowledged that data collection represents a challenge for churches, and stressed that the Net Zero Team is there to help, and a resource to be used. He also reminded Synod of the call of the Provincial Youth delegates on Thursday to take action on climate change, and said that switching to renewable tariffs was a way that charges could respond to that.
The day at St Paul’s & St George’s ended with a Gaelic Eucharist led by the Rev Canon Simon Mackenzie and the Very Rev Dr Emsley Nimmo.