John Swinney praises role of church after visit to Church of Scotland's General Assembly
Moderator promises the church’s prayers for all MSPs following May 7 election
John Swinney has spoken of the “important and valued” contribution of the church to society after visiting the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly.
The First Minister attended the second day of the annual Kirk gathering at the Assembly Hall on The Mound and heard the new Kirk Moderator, the Rt Rev Gordon Kennedy, minister of Edinburgh’s Craiglockhart Parish Church, promise the church’s prayers for him and all MSPs.
Mr Swinney sat in the guests’ gallery, close to former Lord Advocate Lady Elish Angiolini, who is the Lord High Commissioner, the King’s representative to the Assembly.
Mr Kennedy addressed Mr Swinney and told him: "We are glad to renew our promise to pray for and support all our MSPs in our newly-elected parliament. We hope you will take these wishes with you back to share with your colleagues.
"We are grateful that we live in a nation where we can have elections where we can all take part in the process."
He passed on the church's "good wishes" as the Scottish Parliament begins its new five-year session following the May 7 election.
Mr Swinney said later: "I was honoured to attend this year's General Assembly, and to meet the new Moderator and the Lord High Commissioner.
"The Scottish Government's relationship with the Church of Scotland is very important to me - it is an historic institution that has profoundly shaped our country and the values that guide us.
"By building cohesion between our diverse faith and belief communities, promoting social justice and helping many of our most vulnerable people, the Church continues to make important and valued contributions to the civic life of our nation."
On Friday, a letter from the King was read out to the General Assembly.
It said: "The task of the Church in this present age is to articulate the gospel in new living and dynamic ways through ministry in local parishes and communities, through the discovery of fresh expressions of what it is to share in communion and community, through the social care agency of the Church of Scotland Crossreach .
"We do so that all may be one, and that we may serve as a unifying force in our world today.
"May your faith and courage be strengthened in your deliberations during the week ahead and through the times to come."