Presently £468m of managed Church investments exist. Recent audits delight in healthy pension scheme surpluses described as ‘gold standard and able to endure for decades’.

Meanwhile, multiple stark warnings of impending financial doom issued by Assembly Trustees were used to promote a ‘radical action plan’. Following remote debate, Commissioners approved a Presbytery Mission Plan Act, which will reduce ministry posts by a quarter to a ‘financially affordable level’.

This year’s unwelcome £11m budget deficit could be eliminated by increased liberality of some £30 per church member. Employment of a little earnest effort would surely overcome this shortfall.

Scotland’s increasingly secular society is manifestly sick. Those who confidently advocate the creation of a centralised, leaner, more streamlined Church have an obligation to recognise we cannot be concerned only with the Church’s own salvation.

To withdraw ourselves from the hard work of preaching the Gospel and extending pastoral care to ALL the world and instead choose retreat cannot be right and is grievously unworthy of our calling.

The kirk’s future has nothing to do with structures but everything to do with attitude. Until we get our culture right and our attitude right at every level, then this long, lamentable decline in faith will continue unchecked.

Scotland’s Kirk must repent. Meaningful renewal demands Mission, not Mammon and requires much faithful perseverance to fulfil the work of the Lord in His great harvest.

James Barbour, Kintyre