17 April 2026

When you think about origins, we begin with the person of Christ and the community of faithful people who became the first Christian Church. They are the ones who ‘devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers’.

In the Church of Scotland, our origins begin with the Scottish Reformation and two descriptors which embrace what it means to belong to the Kirk. The first is Reformed. This is the re-formed church which came into being by an act of the Scots Parliament in 1560.

Being part of the Reformed Church means that our faith and life is centred upon the Word of God. Whilst tradition plays a part in shaping our day to day life, it is constantly challenged by our devotion and dependence on the Word of God. Preaching the Word is a distinctive characteristic.

The other descriptor is Presbyterian. This describes how we are governed.  Our forebears created an alternative to the threefold ministry of deacon, priest and bishop. They established a series of courts – Kirk Session, Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly. This network has two important consequences.

Firstly, we are governed corporately – not by a minister nor a bishop nor a pope but by ministers, elders, deacons working together to discern the work of the Holy Spirit. This is the synodality which inspires the papacy at this time.

Secondly, we are not independent congregations living in isolation from others. We are connected to each other. As a consequence of this, we have responsibilities towards each other. This manifests itself locally in  the ‘Giving to Grow’ allocation. 

This often criticised levy on congregations pays for ministry locally and nationally and supports the work of the church in mission, social care, national and international relationships saving us from self-serving isolationism and  inspiring compassion, generosity and peace.