General Assembly 2025

Thomas Baldwin casts an eye over some of the reports to this year’s General Assembly.

ASSEMBLY TRUSTEES

‘With heavy hearts’, the Assembly Trustees introduce a report warning that ‘the Church of Scotland is at a tipping point in terms of its financial viability’ and ‘needs to act now’.

While the 2024 financial results were not as bad as anticipated – an operating deficit of nearly £5.9m was £2.25m less than budgeted, due mostly to higher than expected investment income and legacies – initial calculations for the 2025 budget showed a deficit of £7.625 million. The Trustees report that they refused to approve this budget ‘and instructed the Senior Leadership Team to come up with a further plan of action to significantly reduce the budgeted deficit and move towards a break-even position for 2027’.

Among the areas of work affected is the Seeds for Growth fund, which has seen its allocation for awards for the remainder of 2025 reduced from £2.2m to £500,000 (grants already agreed will be honoured). There has also been a voluntary exit scheme for staff from the national office, to be followed later this year by compulsory redundancies.

‘Considerable work is being undertaken’ towards a sustainable model for financing ministry, with proposals being developed for next year for implementation from January 2027. The principles underpinning the new model would include charges that can afford a full time minister being able to call, with provision made for those not able to meet the full cost. Presbytery income would come not from the national budget, as at present, but from local presbytery dues.

The church membership statistics make predictably grim reading, with total membership falling by about 14,000 to less than 245,000. This is the first time membership has dipped below 250,000, and represents a drop of over 50,000 since 2020. The eldership has decreased by over 5000 people to 19,180 in the same period. There were 695 professions of faith in 2024, a fall of 65 compared to 2023 but higher than each of the three years before that.

The Church offices at 121 George Street are now ‘housing a range of tenants’ and generating ‘at least £400k per annum income’. The report states: “This project has enabled a significant improvement to the material condition of the asset and added value to the building’s worth. Any investment required to generate this new income has been returned within a year.”

The work of the church in Israel/Palestine now falls under the auspices of the Trustees, run by a sub-committee named the Israel Palestine Committee. The report of this committee warns that the situation in Gaza ‘remains dire’ and that ‘violence in the West Bank, mainly by Israeli settlers, continues unabated’. The deliverance encourages the church to pray for peace with justice in the region, and instructs the committee to ‘share the voices of those from the region, particularly Palestinian Christians’.

The appendices to the report include a Theological Statement on Disability Inclusion which states that ‘the journey towards a fully inclusive Church… is both a challenge and a calling’. “The Church must actively listen to the voices of people with disabilities, inviting and valuing their contributions and leadership,” it concludes. “It must advocate for societal changes that reflect God’s justice, where people with disabilities are afforded the same dignity, rights, and opportunities as others. Moreover, the Church is called to be a prophetic voice, challenging cultural assumptions and stereotypes about disability, and proclaiming a message of hope and inclusion. It must also be a place of refuge and strength, offering pastoral care that empowers individuals, supports families, and nurtures a sense of belonging.”

FAITH ACTION PROGRAMME LEADERSHIP TEAM (FAPLT)

The FAPLT report begins by endorsing the Vivid Vision video launched at the day conference for parish ministers in Edinburgh at the end of February. The short film ‘paints a picture of the hopeful future we see for our Church’, and FAPLT asks for feedback on how people see this vision developing. The conference is described as ‘an encouraging and envisioning day for all who attended’, and the hope is to organise similar conferences for people in other ministry roles, depending on budgets.

A survey of ministerial wellbeing has found that almost two thirds – 62% – have ‘average wellbeing’, with 9% having high wellbeing and 30% meeting the thresholds for either mild or clinical depression. FAPLT plans to set up a working group to reflect on the support offered by the Church towards ministers.

The Assistant Minister Scheme, which provided employment for newly-qualified ministers who were unable to seek a charge during the recent Presbytery Mission Planning process, is due to end on September 30 this year, with the implementation of new ministry allocations due by January 1. FAPLT acknowledges that this will present ‘a considerable challenge’ for some of the affected ministers but says that ‘conversations with Presbytery Clerks are focusing on local support and opportunities’. The deliverance thanks all the Assistant Ministers for their service and encourages presbyteries ‘to identify creative opportunities for local deployment’.

Following the approval last year of a new apprenticeship route to ministry, an initial pilot scheme of up to 12 apprentices has been launched and will commence later this year.

FAPLT is instructed, in collaboration with Seeds for Growth and the Assembly Trustees, to develop a church planting strategy and report to next year.

The Church of Scotland HIV Programme has been absorbed into the larger Faith Action Programme. The Assembly is asked to give thanks for the support of the programme over the 22 years since it was launched, and to encourage congregations to continue to engage with partner churches to support people living with HIV.

The sections on engagement with the world church encompass statements on South Sudan, Korea and the Middle East. Congregations are encouraged to pray for, learn about and find ways of supporting the churches and partner organisations in those regions.

GENERAL TRUSTEES

The General Trustees warn that changes to the Listed Places of Worship Scheme announced by the UK Government to limit the amount of VAT that can be reclaimed ‘will have a negative impact on any project over £125,000 in value’. The deliverance encourages them to work with other areas of the Church and ecumenically to lobby the government to reverse the change.

Presbyteries are instructed ‘once again and urgently’ to comply with their obligations on attestation of property inspection records, five-yearly surveys and any works required to buildings.

A new manse handbook has been approved by the Manse Working Group and Fabric Committee, and commissioners are asked to note it and the amended manse specification.

THEOLOGICAL FORUM

The largest part of the Theological Forum report is a reflection on the contemporary significance of the Council of Nicaea, the 1700th anniversary of which is celebrated this year across the global church, and which resulted in the first version of the Nicene Creed.

The report notes that the Creed has taken on additional relevance in Scotland in recent years, particularly in ecumenical dialogue between the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Catholic Church. It is contained within the Church’s new book of confessions, which is to be presented for approval by this Assembly, and if accepted will become one of the subordinate standards of the Church. The report says that this would ‘help to strengthen the unity of the Church of Scotland’ and ‘would also help our partnerships with other churches’, by reminding members that ‘we have more in common than what separates us, and… we are a single Church with a common faith’.

The Forum also reports on its contributions to work on assisted dying (a separate report is to be presented to this year’s Assembly), the proposed apology for the Church’s involvement in historic slavery and a reflection on the decline of the Church of Scotland, both of which will result in full reports in 2026.

OVERTURES AND CASES

The committee reports that 12 of the 14 Presbyteries approved the amended Confessions of Faith Overture proposed last year, and invites the General Assembly to make final approval. If it does so, the Church’s new Book of Confessions, along with updated vows and subscription of Church office holders, will be made available and published in hard copy by January 1, and the ordinal and service book updated. The report notes that this is the ‘culmination of a process that has lasted seven years’, since the Theological Forum was instructed to review the place of the Westminster Confession of Faith and the role of the subordinate standard within the Church of Scotland.

ASSISTED DYING

The Joint Report of the Theological Forum and FAPLT on Assisted Dying examines the debate from a scriptural and theological perspective, as well as exploring issues around pastoral care, personal autonomy and ‘slippery slope’ concerns.

It concludes that the range of views in the Church – those who would continue to support opposition to assisted dying, those who would not choose it for themselves but ‘recognise the ethical legitimacy of that choice for others’ and those who would consider it for themselves – ‘can all be held with theological integrity within the Church of Scotland’.

A list of areas on which Christians agree include that life is precious, fear of becoming a burden to loved ones should not be an acceptable reason for assisted dying, that legalising it is a ‘serious step… with inherent risks’ that must not be rushed, and that ‘death is too much of a taboo subject in society’.

The Deliverance includes calls for the ‘development of excellent palliative care services’ and for ‘robust safeguards’ if assisted dying is legalised.

ECUMENICAL RELATIONS

The Ecumenical Relations Committee notes the ‘Catholic and Universal significance’ of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, and the ‘universal dimension of the identity of the Church of Scotland’.

It concludes: “In 2025, we seek to live out our faith in the place where we are and in so doing to bear witness in a ‘divided and polarized world’ to the One Lord ‘who for us...and for our salvation...was made flesh’ amongst us. As we do so, we live out the reality of what it is to be part of the Universal Church in the context of the Church of Scotland of which we are members, of the wider Church in Scotland of which we are a part, and in the locality in which we are called to bear witness so ‘that the world may believe’.”

Among developments over the year are initial discussions with the United Reformed Church over the possibility of a Joint Declaration between the two churches, along the same lines as the Declarations with the Church of England, Scottish Episcopal Church and Catholic Church in recent years, which it anticipates will include ‘an articulation of the Apostolic faith we hold in common (and) focus on the practical outworking of that faith within our shared tradition’.

ETHICAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

The Ethical Oversight Committee was set up following debates over the Church’s investment strategy, in particular around ‘the fossil fuels industry’. In its second report, the Committee presents a set of Ethical investment Guidelines, setting out investment principles aligned with the Church’s mission, encompassing climate and sustainability, economic justice, peace building, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It also sets out the existing investment restrictions, which include fossil fuels as well as companies profiting from alcohol, tobacco and recreational cannabis, gambling, sexually exploitive entertainment and pornography, and weapons.

The Assembly is asked to welcome the guidelines and encourage all parts of the Church which hold investments to make use of them.

INVESTORS’ TRUST

The Investors’ Trust warns that the conflicts in the Middle East and uncertainty about the impact of the Trump administration continued to impact on global stock markets during the year, although ‘almost all markets delivered positive returns in Sterling terms’. One of the funds it oversees, the Growth Fund, underachieved against benchmark and the decision was taken to replace the firm managing it. The Income Fund however outperformed its benchmark.

PENSION TRUSTEES

The Pension Trustees report that all of the pension schemes they administer remain fully funded and the schemes for staff and Mission Development Staffare now fully insured. This means that all the pensions are self-sufficient, with enough money needed to pay benefits and expenses held within the schemes. Statutory increases of payments on benefits accrued since April 1997 were 1.7%. Discretionary increases implemented by the Trustees on the ministers scheme were 1.7% on pre-1997 service, 2.7% on the Widows and Orphans Fund, and 2.7% on the Contributors Fund.

CHAPLAINS TO HM FORCES

The Committee on Chaplains notes a ‘positive response’ to last year’s appeal for people to put themselves forward to military chaplaincy. The committee has endorsed five candidates for chaplaincy since the last Assembly and is in discussion with another three. However, it warns that ‘numbers remain at an historic low’ and continues to encourage all eligible ministers to discern whether they are being called to serve as a chaplain.

IONA COMMUNITY BOARD

The Iona Community Board asks the Assembly to ‘affirm the importance of learning about the pressing economic circumstances affecting the people of our country’, to affirm the position of the Church of Scotland on nuclear weapons as ‘sinful and an offence to God’s created order’, to ‘encourage all congregations and members to consider how they can further peace in their context’, and to ‘encourage congregations to put environmental concerns at the heart of their mission’.

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

The Nominations Committee, which identifies and recruits people to serve on the Church’s central committees, expresses concern about the number of mid-year vacancies it was required to fill in 2024/25. The 26 vacancies, caused by resignations from the committees, is double the number from the previous years. The committee says it is keeping an open mind on the reasons, but will report to next year should the trend continue.

CHURCH HYMNARY TRUSTEES

The Hymnary Trustees remind churches that funds are available towards projects ‘assisting in the development, promotion, provision and understanding of hymns, psalms and paraphrases for use in public worship’ and encourages applications. This year they agreed a grant of £2670 towards the cost of a projector for a congregation in the Borders.

1139 copies of the various editions of CH4 were sold in the year September 30 2024, and 1277 units of the new supplement, God Welcomes All.

CHALMERS LECTURESHIP TRUST

The Trust reports that the Chalmers lectures of 2024, delivered by Dr Katie Cross and the Rev Professor John Swinton on the theme ‘Hope in today’s world’, gave attendees ‘not only a deeper theological understanding of presence, friendship, and hope but also practical tools for living out these concepts in their communities and personal lives.” Work is underway on producing a congregational resource based on the lectures. ¤