THE 450th anniversary of the Scottish Reformation comes to the fore on the Sunday of the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly.
A special session of the Assembly has been arranged by the Assembly Arrangements Committee for Sunday 23rd May at 4pm to mark the historic occasion.
All commissioners, Assembly delegates, invited guests and members of the public are invited to share in this unique celebration.
Says a spokesperson: “Led by John Knox, the Scottish Reformation was Scotland’s formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation. In Scotland, it culminated in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines.”
In view of the Reformation event, there will be no evening worship in the Assembly Hall, but morning worship will take place at 10am at St Giles’ Cathedral, with the Gaelic service at 12.30pm in Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Church.
Next year’s General Assembly could revert back to the previous Saturday to Friday pattern, as the Assembly Arrangements Committee continues to examine the best way of organising business.
The Committee’s 2010 report says the Thursday to Wednesday structure, used for the 2008 to 2010 gatherings, creates an “Assembly of two halves with numbers of commissioners going home for the weekend”.
At the 2007 General Assembly it was decided to try the midweek format because official business never really seemed to get underway until Monday, despite beginning on a Saturday.
The Committee says it will continue to keep matters under review and is always pleased to receive feedback from commissioners on all aspects of the General Assembly.
Ends.
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Contact: Gordon Bell
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Email: gbell@cofscotland.org.uk
Website: http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk
