Devolution @25: Reflections, perspectives and visions of the Churches' relationship with the Scottish Parliment A one-day conference that looks back at 25 years of the churches’ work in parliamentary and political engagement, and imagines the future of religion and politics in Scotland. This event will take place in the Assembly Hall, Mound Place. Please direct registration queries to divinity.news@ed.ac.uk Please direct event queries to ctpi@ed.ac.uk Register To register for this paid event, please book your ticket via our Eventbrite. Standard Ticket – £10 Unwaged/Low Income Ticket – £3 Register Event Description This one-day conference, organised by the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office and the Centre for Theology and Public Life (School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh), will provide a unique chance for those interested and involved in Christian engagement with Scottish politics to look back over 25 years of working with the Scottish Parliament, and to reflect on the opportunities and challenges of this work both now and for the future. Prior to devolution in 1999, Churches in Scotland played an important role in the discussions around constitutional reform. When the Scotland Act 1998 declared, "There shall be a Scottish Parliament," it marked the beginning of a new era in Scottish politics and the Churches wanted to continue their commitment to the common good in the public square. The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office was set up to build a fruitful relationship between the Churches in Scotland and the new Parliament, and to help them relate and respond effectively in the political process. Now, twenty-five years later, expert speakers from churches and from the School of Divinity will reflect on this vision through a programme of talks and panel discussions. Together we’ll explore questions such as... What were the hopes and opportunities offered by devolution? Has the Scottish Parliament lived up to these hopes? What were the challenges that devolution presented? What are the challenges facing churches in politics today? What might the future look like for religious communities and politics in Scotland? Followed by an ecumenical service of thanksgiving and recommitment and concluded with a networking reception. Refreshments will be provided. Speakers include: The Right Honourable, The Lord Wallace of Tankerness - Former Deputy First Minister (Keynote) Revd Dr Graham Blount, SCPO Officer (1999–2008) Dr Alison Elliot, Former Associate Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues Professor Mona Siddiqui, University of Edinburgh Programme 10:30-11:00am – Registration and Coffee 11:00-11:10am – Welcome and Introduction David Bradwell – Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer (2020- present) 11:10am-12:00pm – Keynote Speech Rt. Hon. Lord Wallace of Tankerness KC – Deputy First Minister of Scotland (1999-2005) 12:00-1:00pm – Session 1 Scottish Churches and the Parliament: 25 years of change Chair: Revd. Dr Alexander (Sandy) Forsyth – School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh Speakers: Revd. Dr. Graham Blount – Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer (1999-2008) Dr. Alison Elliot – Former Associate Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues, New College 1:00-1:45pm – Lunch 1:45-2:35pm – Session 2 University of Edinburgh School of Divinity Panel Session “Religious communities and politics in Scotland – where are we now and what might the future look like?” Chair: Stephen Noon – PhD researcher Panel: Dr. Stephen Sutcliffe – Senior Lecturer in the Study of Religion Prof. Mona Siddiqui – Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies, Dr. Alex Chow – Senior Lecturer in Theology and World Christianity 2:35-2:50pm – Comfort break 2:50-3:40pm – Session 3 Quick Fire Talks The work of church Parliamentary Officers in devolved nations. Chair: David Bradwell Speakers: Sarah Komashko – Parliamentary Engagement Officer (Scotland), Quakers in Britain Anthony Horan – Director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office Major. David Cavanagh – Assistant Secretary for Scotland, The Salvation Army Rev. Gethin Rhys – Policy Officer, Cytûn: Eglwysi Ynghyd yng / Churches Together in Wales 3:40-4:10pm – Concluding Session Prof. Rachel Muers, Chair in Divinity, School of Divinity, in conversation with Lord Wallace. 4:10-4:30pm – Comfort Break 4:30-5:00pm – Ecumenical Service of thanksgiving and recommitment to the work of the Christian Churches in Scottish Politics Led by The Very Revd. Sally Foster Fulton – UK and Global Church Ambassador, Christian Aid. 5:00-6:30pm – Reception Sep 04 2024 10.30 - 18.30 Devolution @25: Reflections, perspectives and visions of the Churches' relationship with the Scottish Parliment Reflections, perspectives and visions of the Churches’ relationship with the Scottish Parliament. Assembly Hall, New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LX
Devolution @25: Reflections, perspectives and visions of the Churches' relationship with the Scottish Parliment A one-day conference that looks back at 25 years of the churches’ work in parliamentary and political engagement, and imagines the future of religion and politics in Scotland. This event will take place in the Assembly Hall, Mound Place. Please direct registration queries to divinity.news@ed.ac.uk Please direct event queries to ctpi@ed.ac.uk Register To register for this paid event, please book your ticket via our Eventbrite. Standard Ticket – £10 Unwaged/Low Income Ticket – £3 Register Event Description This one-day conference, organised by the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office and the Centre for Theology and Public Life (School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh), will provide a unique chance for those interested and involved in Christian engagement with Scottish politics to look back over 25 years of working with the Scottish Parliament, and to reflect on the opportunities and challenges of this work both now and for the future. Prior to devolution in 1999, Churches in Scotland played an important role in the discussions around constitutional reform. When the Scotland Act 1998 declared, "There shall be a Scottish Parliament," it marked the beginning of a new era in Scottish politics and the Churches wanted to continue their commitment to the common good in the public square. The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office was set up to build a fruitful relationship between the Churches in Scotland and the new Parliament, and to help them relate and respond effectively in the political process. Now, twenty-five years later, expert speakers from churches and from the School of Divinity will reflect on this vision through a programme of talks and panel discussions. Together we’ll explore questions such as... What were the hopes and opportunities offered by devolution? Has the Scottish Parliament lived up to these hopes? What were the challenges that devolution presented? What are the challenges facing churches in politics today? What might the future look like for religious communities and politics in Scotland? Followed by an ecumenical service of thanksgiving and recommitment and concluded with a networking reception. Refreshments will be provided. Speakers include: The Right Honourable, The Lord Wallace of Tankerness - Former Deputy First Minister (Keynote) Revd Dr Graham Blount, SCPO Officer (1999–2008) Dr Alison Elliot, Former Associate Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues Professor Mona Siddiqui, University of Edinburgh Programme 10:30-11:00am – Registration and Coffee 11:00-11:10am – Welcome and Introduction David Bradwell – Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer (2020- present) 11:10am-12:00pm – Keynote Speech Rt. Hon. Lord Wallace of Tankerness KC – Deputy First Minister of Scotland (1999-2005) 12:00-1:00pm – Session 1 Scottish Churches and the Parliament: 25 years of change Chair: Revd. Dr Alexander (Sandy) Forsyth – School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh Speakers: Revd. Dr. Graham Blount – Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer (1999-2008) Dr. Alison Elliot – Former Associate Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues, New College 1:00-1:45pm – Lunch 1:45-2:35pm – Session 2 University of Edinburgh School of Divinity Panel Session “Religious communities and politics in Scotland – where are we now and what might the future look like?” Chair: Stephen Noon – PhD researcher Panel: Dr. Stephen Sutcliffe – Senior Lecturer in the Study of Religion Prof. Mona Siddiqui – Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies, Dr. Alex Chow – Senior Lecturer in Theology and World Christianity 2:35-2:50pm – Comfort break 2:50-3:40pm – Session 3 Quick Fire Talks The work of church Parliamentary Officers in devolved nations. Chair: David Bradwell Speakers: Sarah Komashko – Parliamentary Engagement Officer (Scotland), Quakers in Britain Anthony Horan – Director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office Major. David Cavanagh – Assistant Secretary for Scotland, The Salvation Army Rev. Gethin Rhys – Policy Officer, Cytûn: Eglwysi Ynghyd yng / Churches Together in Wales 3:40-4:10pm – Concluding Session Prof. Rachel Muers, Chair in Divinity, School of Divinity, in conversation with Lord Wallace. 4:10-4:30pm – Comfort Break 4:30-5:00pm – Ecumenical Service of thanksgiving and recommitment to the work of the Christian Churches in Scottish Politics Led by The Very Revd. Sally Foster Fulton – UK and Global Church Ambassador, Christian Aid. 5:00-6:30pm – Reception Sep 04 2024 10.30 - 18.30 Devolution @25: Reflections, perspectives and visions of the Churches' relationship with the Scottish Parliment Reflections, perspectives and visions of the Churches’ relationship with the Scottish Parliament. Assembly Hall, New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LX
Sep 04 2024 10.30 - 18.30 Devolution @25: Reflections, perspectives and visions of the Churches' relationship with the Scottish Parliment Reflections, perspectives and visions of the Churches’ relationship with the Scottish Parliament.
