Objections raised to Anglican-Presbyterian agreement

February 04, 2016

The Church of England and the Church of Scotland have agreed to the Columba Declaration, an ecumenical statement that calls for closer cooperation between the two bodies and permits clergy to minister in one another’s churches.

The Church of England is the Anglican body in England and Wales; the Church of Scotland, founded by John Knox, is Presbyterian.

The Columba Declaration has led to objections from the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Anglican body in Scotland, whose primate questioned whether the Church of England has overstepped its bounds in making the agreement.

Concern has also been expressed about the prospect of Church of England clergy choosing to take part in the Church of Scotland’s worship, rather than worshipping with Scotland’s own Anglican community.

“The Anglican way is to recognize the territorial integrity of each province — they are autonomous, but interdependent,” said Bishop David Chillingsworth, the Scottish Episcopal Church’s primate.

 

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Further information:

• England-Scotland ecumenical agreement published (Anglican Communion News Service)
• Scottish Episcopalians query Columba Declaration (The Church Times)
• Scottish Episcopal Church concerned about cross-border ecumenical agreement (Anglican Communion News Service)