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General Assembly 2008: Kirk set to celebrate 40 years of women in Ministry

Assembly will be asked to 're-affirm' Church to cause of equality

This year, the Church of Scotland's General Assembly will celebrate the 40th anniversary of women being admitted to the ministry of the Kirk on the same terms as men.

The historic day was Wednesday 22 May 1968, when the General Assembly gave final approval to the Act 'anent the Admission of Women to the Ministry' which had been sent down to the Presbyteries under the Barrier Act in 1967.

It is fitting that, as the Church approaches this significant anniversary, the post of Moderator of the General Assembly is held by the Right Reverend Sheilagh Kesting - the first-ever woman minister to fulfil that role.

This year's Assembly will hear that, over the last four decades, women ministers have contributed at every level of Church life and in almost every part of Scotland, having served as ministers of Word and Sacrament in many congregations, chaplains in the forces, healthcare and industry, conveners of national Councils and Committees and now, finally, as Moderator of the General Assembly.

The Ministries Council recognises that, although the 1968 Act brought an end to the official exclusion of women from the ministry, the early women pioneers in ministry faced opposition, even hostility in some quarters... The Council gives thanks for those first women who were willing to face often difficult circumstances in forging new patterns of ministry. Their courage and determination enabled many of the early fears of the unknown to be overcome, allowing change to take place and positive experiences to flourish. (Section 1.2.3)

The 2008 Assembly will be asked to re-affirm the Church of Scotland's commitment to the cause of equality, and it is expected that it will approve moves to instruct the Council to work together with Presbyteries to ensure that women in every part of Scotland have the full and equal opportunity to participate in the ministries of the Church and that any discrimination of the ground of gender practices is eradicated. (Deliverance, section 3)

Ends

Note to Editors:

1. For a copy of the full report, please contact Grant McLennan at the Church of Scotland Media Relations Unit in the first instance. Telephone 0131 240 2268.

2. For further details, please contact the Rev Graham S. Finch, convener of the Ministries Council, on 0141 772 1363. He will be available on Tuesday 6 May.

GANR/19/04/08

Tuesday 6 May 2008

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