COMMITTEE ON ETHICS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2001

INTRODUCTION

"One of the tragedies of the contemporary church is that just when the world seems to be ready to listen the church often seems to have little or nothing to say. For the church itself is confused; it shares in the current bewilderment, instead of addressing it. The church is insecure; it is uncertain of its identity, mission, and message. It stammers and stutters, when it should be proclaiming the Gospel with boldness. Indeed the major reason for its diminishing influence in the West is its diminishing faith." So wrote John Stott in his book 'The Contemporary Christian.' It is certainly true that we seem to be faced with issues which become ever more complex by the hour. We need to address the issues of the day in the context of the guiding principles of our faith.

The Committee receives a wealth of information on matters relating to the Scottish Parliament, the Westminster Parliament, International Affairs from the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, and papers from the Justice Peace Social and Moral Issues Commission of Action of Churches Together in Scotland. As a small Committee we have to be selective. Early in the year we lost one of our new members, Miss Catherine McFie, who moved to England. It was not possible to replace her during the year. The Committee concentrated on a few select issues which it felt were of relevance and where it could make a contribution. Much of the year was taken up clarifying the way forward on the question of Caring for the Elderly.

JAMBO KENYA

Jambo Kenya is of course the Denominational Appeal which succeeded "Hope for Cambodia". We are delighted to report that many congregations have already actively taken up the Appeal. At the time of writing the Appeal had raised £13,084. Last year we reported that there would be an opportunity in 2001 for someone from the United Free Church to join a party of students to spend several weeks in Kenya familiarising themselves with the project. Your Committee is delighted to report that Susan Milligan from our Croftfoot congregation has been accepted by Christian Aid to visit Kenya in the month of April. By the time this report is presented Miss Milligan should have returned from Kenya. It is intended that opportunities should be made available for her to communicate her experience to the church at large. Both the Ethics and Current Affairs and Women's Home and Overseas Committees were able to contribute financially to the cost of the trip. The Jambo Kenya Joint Churches Committee arranged for the Christian Aid Field Worker to visit Presbyteries to promote the project.

THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

Your Committee has appreciated the very detailed and helpful briefings from the Scottish Churches' Parliamentary Officer, Rev Graham Blount. These briefings have assisted the Committee in responding to Consultative Documents from the Scottish Executive. Attached to this report is a report from Rev Graham Blount outlining the year's activities.

The Committee is requesting that Dr Blount be invited to address the Assembly and speak about his role as the Parliamentary Officer.

CARE OF THE ELDERLY

As we reported last year around 7% of the membership of the United Free Church of Scotland is in care, and around a further 8% may need to go into care over the next five years. How might the Church respond to this scenario? To assist our deliberations in this area the Committee met with a representative from Age Concern Scotland, to further their understanding of the most appropriate way of meeting the needs of those who are or will be in need of residential care. We were also very grateful to Rev Helen Cook who provided us with significant background material and advice in the area of care of the elderly. We are keeping a close watch on developments in the Scottish Parliament with regard to the implementation of the Sutherland Report. One or two statistics from Age Concern Scotland may help to set the scene. 18% of Scotland's population is of pensionable age. There are an estimated 62,000 people with dementia in Scotland. 55% of the population aged over 75 lives alone. Over 500,000 adults in Scotland are providing some care for an older person. How can the United Free Church respond?

At the time of writing the Committee is investigating a proposal to prepare an information pack for congregations which would cover such areas as: - aspects of ageing; understanding memory loss; the role of a befriender; sharing worship one to one. A special meeting has been arranged to take this matter forward.

SCOTTISH CHURCHES COMMUNITY TRUST

One of the Vice-Conveners, Rev Robert Owens, continues to represent us on the trust. The trust is involved with some 70 community projects throughout Scotland, and is looking to develop both urban and rural projects. Information leaflets to congregations and a Stedfast article will, in the near future, keep congregations abreast of developments, and advise them how to set up or obtain financial backing for a local project.

SCOTTISH CHURCHES HOUSING AGENCY

The Committee accepted an invitation to become affiliated to the Scottish Churches Housing Agency whose remit is to work with the Churches towards realising a vision of a Scotland in which each individual can live in a home suited to their needs. Rev Tom Ireland has agreed to represent us on the Agency.

CHRISTIAN AID

We continue to be represented on the Scottish Christian Aid Committee by Mr J F Henderson. Rev M Collin has recently accepted an invitation to be our second representative.

Christian Aid is the official relief and development agency of some 40 denominations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is the arm of the Churches in the world. Its intent is to work with those who are committed to supporting poor and marginalised communities to eradicate poverty and promote basic rights and justice, to respond effectively, in partnership with other agencies to emergencies, and to challenge unjust and unequal power relationships, systems and structures that discriminate against the poorest people in this world.

In its prophetic role, Christian Aid is in the process of launching a new campaign, with the slogan 'Trade for Life'. This campaign has the ambitious aim of challenging the current system of world trade and of reforming it so that it works for the benefit of all the people and includes an imperative to eradicate poverty. Christian Aid acknowledges that it does not have all the answers but hopes to stimulate discussion and debate so that those with the power and the knowledge are led to discover a new and fairer system. The challenge is great but if we have faith we will succeed. The success of the recent and continuing campaign for the remission of debt owed by the poorer countries of the world demonstrates what can be achieved.

EUROPEAN EQUAL TREATMENT DIRECTIVE

There had been concern that EC Directives might impinge on the freedom of denominations such as the United Free Church of Scotland to require those whom it employs to adhere to its principles and beliefs, and that it might be adjudged discriminatory to reject applicants for (for example) who did not subscribe to those beliefs and principles. We are grateful for the efforts of the Evangelical Alliance who lobbied U.K. Government ministers on this issue.

The Evangelical Alliance has advised us that the Equal Treatment Directive agreed by the European Council of Ministers under its Article 4 states that "this Directive shall not prejudice the right of churches and other public and private organisations, the ethos of which is based on religion or belief, acting in conformity with national constitutions and laws, to require individuals working for them to act in good faith and with loyalty to the organisation's ethos." Both EA and CARE who worked in partnership on this issue have welcomed this provision as a substantial improvement on the original text.

RACIAL JUSTICE

The Committee has recently received from Action of Churches Together in Scotland a significant document in the form of a review paper on the Scottish Churches Agency for Racial Justice. We have been asked to respond to the review, the principal purpose of which is to establish how the member churches of ACTS currently engage with the task of promoting racial justice within Scotland and how to take the work forward. The review states that racism is endemic everywhere and a need exists for education and training in racism awareness throughout the Churches, and that racial justice is not to be regarded as a peripheral concern, but rather as integral to our Gospel calling and commitment. According to the document, all the evidence suggests that the need for racial justice within Scottish society is now more urgent than ever. The review emphasises the need for a full-time worker in the field funded largely by the Scottish Churches to raise awareness and activity concerning racial justice within the Scottish Churches. Your Committee will be responding to the review.

BIO-ETHICAL ISSUES

The Westminster Parliament recently accepted recommendations from the Donaldson Committee with regard to embryo research. The Committee is concerned at Parliament's decision which means that research will now be permitted on embryos to allow understanding about human diseases and disorders. Previously research was only allowed in relation to infertility treatment. Embryos will be used for research which have been created either by IVF or by cell nuclear replacement (CNR). The Committee's concern covers two main areas: - the unethical use of embryos; and the potential for future reproductive cloning. The position of the General Assembly has been to affirm that life begins at conception. We disagree with embryo research because we believe that embryos are human beings who should be treated with respect. This is a difficult area but if we believe that life begins at conception it is clear that embryo research is unacceptable, and we should say so.

RETENTION OF ORGANS AT POST MORTEM

The Minister for Health has recently set up a Review Group on the Retention of Organs at Post-Mortem. The Committee has been invited to respond to material received from the Review Group. The British Medical Association drew up interim guidelines following the report of events at Bristol, Alder Hey, and Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow.

EUTHANASIA

A Private Member's Bill promoted by Ann Winterton, MP, to close a legal loophole for Euthanasia which arose in 1993 when the Law Lords ruled that food and water could be withdrawn from Hillsborough victim, Tony Bland (Airedale NHS Trust v Bland), ran out of time for debate. The issue of Euthanasia and Advance Directives is still active and is being pursued by pro-euthanasia organisations. The Committee wrote to an Anti-Euthanasia group of Westminster MP's led by John Gummer, expressing support and asking to be kept informed of any developments

DIGESTS

At the time of writing two digests on the Committee's work are being prepared for distribution to Congregations and Kirk Sessions. One is on Post-Modernism and the other on Genetics.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO ORGANISATIONS

Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office £250

Scottish Churches Action for Racial Justice £100

VASHTI £ 50

National Viewers and Listeners Association £ 50

Scottish Churches Community Trust £250

Scottish Churches Housing Agency £100

CONCLUSION

The convener would like to express his thanks both to the vice-conveners and to a hard-working and enthusiastic Committee. We are indebted to the General Secretary and his staff for an enormous amount of work following Committee meetings and throughout the year.

In the name of the Committee

ANDREW SCOTT Convener

IAN F R LLOYD Vice-Convener

ROBERT O OWENS Vice-Convener

JOHN O FULTON Secretary