INTRODUCTION

The committee thanks all those who have contributed to its work, which once again has been quite extensive. However, as intimated at last year’s General Assembly we will limit our report to an outline of the work with which we have been involved and produce more substantial material as and when necessary. The problems which afflict our society are very much the concern of the Church and we fail in our duty if we do not address them. The work of the committee has been a constant effort to keep abreast of social and moral developments within our society. It seeks to be informed and to inform the wider Church, and where possible to be involved in the structures which may facilitate a Christian contribution.

Comment

There are many reasons for thinking we cannot expect our churches to go on functioning well for another sixty years without very marked changes. Some of these are practical, and an increasing number financial. Some however are much more fundamental, involving questions of belief and the interpretation of the Christian message itself. If Christian faith is to be acceptable, the approach to it must be one which faces the problems of believing, but which must also take with utter seriousness everything science can discover and what new probes and instruments for our use it can develop. It must however be an approach which puts all this in its place - a vital but not the most fundamental place. We may gain the whole world and still dreadfully be losers. For we cannot, over the generations, continue to develop as human beings without the inwardness and inward stability which our faith in something far greater than ourselves makes possible - something not subject to constant change. As we know, without hope and love we would shrivel - so do societies. To ensure a body of people who trust in God become and stay a community of believers which has depth will demand that the churches and denominations learn far more from each other. They must also be sources of stability. Loving other people, caring for those in need, whether far off or near, can bring into closer community many people of diverse character, belief and loyalty. All of these matter to believers, learning how to be silent together, how to meditate, how to search, even briefly, for more of the depths in themselves and their society.

HOPE FOR CAMBODIA

In 1995 this campaign was launched as a denominational appeal that would be small enough to enable us to make a significant contribution’ yet large enough to present a real challenge. In addition to aid provided, it was hoped that there would be a two-way flow of information between our Denomination and the project so that we would become at least partially identified with the project. It was also agreed that the appeal should be shared with the Scottish Congregational Church. This year sees the completion of the three year project. It has surpassed all expectations in every particular. Four denominations (United Reformed Church, Scottish Congregational Church, Congregational Federation and the United Free Church) have been closely involved with the project and a liaison group has met regularly for planning and support. Various initiatives have received enthusiastic support and we have benefited from these projects. Our involvement has grown substantially over the years and information flow although variable has been well received. Our knowledge of Cambodia has developed substantially. In March the four denominations’ joint youth week end at Aberfeldy with the theme “Hope - into the melting pot” included a Cambodian dimension. In April this year a visitor Kong Socheat a deputy programme manager with Church World Service in Cambodia was with us in Scotland. He attended a number of important meetings taking part in church services and various joint church gatherings. New information, letters, updated information sheets, posters and collecting boxes have all been greatly appreciated. The result is that over all the financial target has been changed more than once. It was the expectation that over the three years £30,000 would be a realistic figure that might have been possible to reach! That was passed within eighteen months. To date the actual amount raised is £51,000 and it appears the original target will be doubled. We are thankful to God for all the blessing this project has achieved The liaison group of the four churches would like to continue to work together on a further project. However, it was felt that after a short break and consultation with Christian Aid a new venture should be identified and launched by June 1999.

JUBILEE 2000

Packs containing petition forms and other information have now been circulated to all congregations with a letter commending the initiative. Mrs R Jackson represented the committee at a conference in Edinburgh entitled “Africa - Whose debt is it anyway?” The speakers were Bishop Sengulane from Mozambique, Anne Pettifor of Jubilee 2000 and a World Bank representative. It was pointed out that for every £1 given to Africa in aid, they repay £3 in interest on debts. It is planned to form a human chain around the G8 summit in Birmingham in May in order to call on the heads of government to break the chains of debt. The arms trade is often a prime cause. The Jubilee 2000 Charter “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants”. Leviticus 25:10 The aim of the Jubilee charter is: 1. To liberate the poorest nations from the burden of the backlog of unpayable debt owed by their governments to other governments, to international financial institutions or to commercial banks. 2. To achieve such liberation, and a return to sustainable development, through the unrepeatable one-off remission of unpayable debts of the poorest countries by the year 2000. 3. To provide a focus and catalyst for harmonising and mobilising international co-operation, support and actions to promote and achieve this Charter’s aim 4. To promote understanding among creditors as well as debtors

The purposes and principles underpinning the Jubilee 2000 Charter are: 5. To correct the perverse operation of the international financial system whereby the poorest countries are transferring scarce resources to rich countries and institutions in surplus - through, inter alia, The Paris Club, the London Club of Banks, the IMF and World Bank. 6. Through the remission of the burden of unjust and unpayable international debts, to promote economic and social justice and fundamental human rights, for the poorest peoples of the world, now afflicted by such bondage. 7. By such means, to promote the right of all peoples to economic self-determination; in particular the principle that in no case may a people be deprived of their own means of subsistence

Unemployment and the Future of Work

The committee has a video, produced by CCBI to promote the report on “Unemployment and the Future of Work”. There is also a work book available. We would want Kirk Sessions and congregations to be aware of the report and take time to consider the issues which were raised. As a first step we requested an order of the day at each Presbytery when a representative from the committee could speak to the report. Each presbytery would also be encouraged to arrange a day conference when the report could be further explored. Three of our members will be responsible to represent the committee at their presbytery Mr R Campbell the East, Mr A Scott the West and Rev I Lloyd the North.

SURROGATE MOTHERHOOD

Over the past few years we have been working on the issue of Surrogate Motherhood. Mr R Campbell has been co-ordinating this field of study and has done considerable work on our behalf. It was felt it was now time to attempt to draw the material together so that we could clarify our position. Therefore the subject of Surrogate Motherhood would be issued as a special report by the committee as a study document.

DIGESTS & OCCASIONAL PAPERS

It was the unanimous decision of the committee that in future its work will include the production of Digest and Study Papers on various ethical and current affairs issues. Instead of including these in the report to the General Assembly they will be made available when completed to Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries. Already prepared are digests on Family Matters, Internet, Alcohol Issues, Drug Issues, Scottish Rural Issues, The National Lottery and The Elderly in the Community.

ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION

A report on a recent campaign regarding organ transplantation was discussed this year by the committee. Leaflets which had been produced invite people to put their names in the NHS Organ Donor Register. The advisory group set up by the government to look into the ethics of xenotransplantation (transplantation of animal organs into humans) had in it published report concluded that: Pigs are an acceptable source for donor organs. More information is needed on: how the animal organs will function in the human body, the question of rejection and the risk of disease transmission before clinical trials on humans can start. A regulatory body is to be set up to consider applications for clinical developments. An official arbiter will be set up prior to a legislative authority called the UK Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority to be chaired by Dr John Habgood (former Archbishop of York). There have been optimistic responses from organisations like the National Kidney Federation who welcome the developments. Because the National Renal Review confirms many predictions that dialysis facilities will be supersaturated by 2005 unless there is an injection of up to £350 million. The crisis can be helped by an increase in organ donation and possibly xenotransplantation. This raises important ethical considerations. We will continue to monitor and pursue this matter.

ACTS COMMISSION ON JUSTICE, PEACE, SOCIAL AND MORAL ISSUES

The United Free Church has two members of the committee who attend this commission. Reports of the meeting are regularly produced for the committee and many of the issues dealt with have had direct bearing on the work of the committee. The opportunity to participate with other churches has also proved challenging and stimulating. This year it was important to be kept informed about the Church of Scotland’s problem which had arisen concerning the employment policy of its Social Responsibility Board. It had been claimed that attempts to recruit staff with a Christian background was a breach of racial discrimination legislation. A ruling was being sought from the Race Discrimination Commission. There has been considerable discussion on the consequences of Scottish Constitutional Change brought about by the referendum and later the white paper and now the Scotland Bill. There had been a meeting with Henry McLeish and an assurance had been given that the government was keen to foster links between the Churches and other groups in society in the new parliament. It had been noted that the Churches had played a positive role in the events leading up to the referendum and this had been appreciated. There was an opportunity here for the Churches to retain and develop their influence in the affairs of the nation if we were able to seize it. Papers are tabled from various denominations on current issues and are often discussed and regular reports from World Council of Churches, Christian Aid and Scottish Churches Industrial Mission, Scottish Churches Europe Network, Scottish Churches Constitutional Group, Scottish Churches Agency for Racial Justice. Programme to Overcome Violence. The work of your committee has been greatly facilitated through its participation on the ACTS JPSMI Commission.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (CCBI)

The convener has been able to attend a number of the International Affairs Liaison Group meetings in London. Mr Paul Renshaw has been appointed as the new Co-ordinating secretary for the International Affairs by the CCBI. He took up his post in January in succession to the Revd Keith Clements who is now General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches. This valuable committee covers world wide matters and has various working groups who report back to the committee. on issues and concerns in Africa, Europe including the Balkans, Asia and Pacific. There is also a close link between Christian Aid and the International Affairs Group and we have received a paper from Peter Madden on the Government’s Aid White Paper, the first on Aid in 22 years, and information from the Bretton Woods Update. This is a project which facilitates the work of UK non-government organisations (NGOs) concerned about social and environmental impacts of World Bank and IMF financing in developing countries. The importance of Human Rights for the committee’s work is vital and it should be noted that this year is the 50th Anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Your committee would like to take this opportunity to ask the General Assembly to affirm the value and importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

DEBATE OF THE AGE

“A dramatic change is taking place - the Ageing of Society. It has never before been experienced in the history of mankind and it presents everyone with challenges, problems and unprecedented opportunities. You are invited to take part in the Millennium Debate of the Age, the most important Debate of its kind the nation has ever seen. Your views will shape policy that governs our society as we enter the new Millennium. You can play a key part by joining and supporting the Debate.” (Age Concern Report) Age Concern, in its role as the national Council on Ageing has initiated, and will facilitate, the debate. Churches have been approach through the CCBI Social Responsibility Group to participate in this imaginative venture. There are already five Millennium Papers produced by five study groups covering the important subjects of “Paying for Age - The cost of an ageing society”, “Ageing and the future of Health and Social Care”, “The Future of the Built Environment as society ages”, “Work & Lifestyles” and “Attitudes and Values in an ageing society”. The CCBI working group as well as your committee intend to encourage a positive response to this initiative that we may play our part as a people of Faith in the Debate of the Age.

In the name of the Committee

ANDREW McMILLAN, Convener

IAN F R LLOYD, Vice Convener

ANDREW SCOTT, Vice Convener

JOHN O FULTON, Secretary