The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland celebrated the joy of working together with the Scottish Episcopal Church in a historic address to the General Synod in Edinburgh on Friday.

In the first-ever speech to General Synod by a serving Moderator, the Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton spoke of the opportunities both emerging and possible from the Saint Andrew Declaration, a series of acknowledgments and commitments agreed between the churches in 2021 intended to deepen their relationship.

The Moderator spoke of her “hopes and prayers and vision for our shared call in Scotland” and said that despite the churches living through challenging times, there are new opportunities for collaborative approaches.

“One of the greatest joys I have experienced over the years has come from intentional ecumenical partnerships, locally, nationally and globally,” said the Moderator. “What a powerful living out of the gospel, to get over ourselves to get to each other – to be intricately inter-related as part of the body of Christ. When we stand together, walk together, add our voices to a growing call for justice that turns the volume from a whisper to a roar, that embodies the ‘body of Christ’.

“My hopes for the Church in Scotland at this present time are for us to embrace every opportunity for love to take hold mightily, for us to genuinely shake off the stuff that might keep our making a difference together muted or slowed, and for us to be empowered and really excited about practical bridge-building and path-clearing. It has been an extraordinarily challenging time in the life of our shared planet home, the life of this country and the church and communities of faith have not been exempt.

“The body of Christ has work to do, we have love to share, we have justice and equity to seek. We will do that best and most authentically together. Yes, these are challenging times but they are ripe for imagination, for collaboration and, dare I say it, for love.

“To get more of a grounding, I re-read the ecumenical policies of the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Scotland. If we truly embrace the vision they offer, we can, no, we will, truly serve God and our communities. I love how they celebrate our unique gifts and traditions, while at the very same time they are blowing wide open the possibilities to serve Scotland and the world together today.

“Thank you for the Saint Andrew Declaration. I rejoice in the St Margaret declaration with the Catholic church and I commit my time as Moderator to supporting and exploring ways we can put the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the communities we serve first and foremost in our decision-making.

“I see that happening every day in our local communities, so let’s empower that inspiring work. This challenging quote from your ecumenical policy document set my heart on fire. ‘God calls the Scottish Episcopal Church to share in the mission of God and, in the light of this, to remove any obstacles that hinder our cooperation with our sisters and brothers in Christ.’ Amen, sisters and brothers. And we will do the same!”

The Moderator also thanked Synod members for giving their backing to a net zero action plan on the opening day of Synod, and recalled the COP 26 march in Glasgow, “where a sodden and fully robed Primus walked in rain-soaked solidarity with sisters and brothers who know the depth of this climate catastrophe”.  She added: “The Scottish Episcopal Church made a statement that day, and you have continued to be a beacon for the church in Scotland and I am gladdened to hear of your decision yesterday. Thank you.”

The Moderator’s full address is available here.