KIRK MINISTER IN COP26 ROLE

A Church of Scotland minister has been appointed by Glasgow Churches Together as their ambassador to the UN climate change conference COP26, which comes to the city in November.

The Rev Dr Martin Johnstone will work with member churches, ecumenical organisations, civil society groups and the Scottish and UK governments to seek transformational outcomes from the high profile summit.

Dr Johnstone, who has also served in a number of high-profile roles at the Church’s administrative offices, said he was ‘humbled’ to take on the role.

He added: “Our churches, alongside many others, have a vital role to play in ensuring that those who will make planetdefining decisions in Glasgow this November know that they must be bold and courageous. As well as calling for change, as followers of Jesus we must demonstrate that change both in what we do in the months leading up to COP26 and in the decades following it.”

The Rev Chris Foxon, Chair of GCT, said: “We are delighted to announce this appointment of someone well known across Scotland’s churches and civil society groups for his record of commitment and advocacy on social issues. Martin has worked at a senior level on Church and Society issues for the Church of Scotland and has worked on an ecumenical and interfaith basis with Faith In Community Scotland and the Poverty Truth Commission.

“We believe he will have a crucial role in helping churches to play our part in COP26 as we welcome the world to Glasgow. We are grateful to ACTS (Action of Churches Together in Scotland) for the financial support which has made this appointment possible.”