Faith and constitution project launches this month

A research project studying the role of faith in Scotland’s constitutional future will begin with a day conference in Glasgow on Saturday October 7.

The Faith in Scotland’s Constitutional Future project will engage with churches across Scotland to encourage Christians to reflect on key questions about Scotland’s constitutional future, whether as an independent country or remaining within the UK. The project, announced in March, is being run by the School of Critical Studies /Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Glasgow, supported by the Paristamen charity.

Led by Professor Heather Walton and the Rev Dr Doug Gay, and supported by the project’s researcher, the Rev Matthew Ross, the project will oversee research throughout Scotland, exploring how church members and adherents apply faithbased arguments to Scotland’s continued belonging to the UK or its becoming an independent country. Doug Gay and Matthew Ross are both ministers of the Church of Scotland. Matthew has recently returned to Scotland after working for the past five years with the World Council of Churches based in Geneva, Switzerland. Heather is a cradle Methodist, who is a Church of Scotland elder.

The aim of the project is to bring together those on all sides of the independence debate, including those who are undecided, to listen and respond to a range of arguments and perspectives.

Following the conference on October 7, there will be 12 regional consultations across Scotland. Participants will be invited to respond to presentations on how to relate faith to constitutional questions and take part in facilitated discussions.

The Rev Dr Doug Gay, Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology at the University of Glasgow, said: “There is a lot of interest today in the place of faith in public life in Scotland. We were delighted to received funding from Paristamen to explore these issues with folk in the pews. We believe this project will deepen our understanding of how people relate their faith to their thinking about constitutional options.”

The Rev Matthew Ross added: “It is vitally important that churches engage constructively with debates on constitutional change both within Scotland and internationally – not out of selfinterest, but by promoting human dignity through justice, peace and reconciliation globally. The theological implications and questions that might not be asked in other forums must be raised and explored.”

Church members of any denomination are welcome to attend the Glasgow conference on Saturday October 7 or any of the regional events. Presbyteries will be kept informed about the regional gatherings. More information and ticketing information will be available on the website www.faithinscotlandsconstitutionalfuture. wordpress.com, on X/Twitter at @ FaithScotConstF or by searching Faith in Scotland’s Constitutional Future on Facebook.