Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officers Forum

The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officers' (SCPO) Forum supports the sharing of ideas and parliamentary and political issues between churches and with the Scottish and UK Parliaments and the Scottish and UK Governments.

Parliamentary officers of Scottish churches or church-related organisations can be employed as staff members or volunteer office-holders. We meet regularly to share in fellowship and exchange news, views, ideas and perspectives on parliamentary and political issues.

We're always delighted to welcome new members, and we currently have reps from the following organisations in our network:

Our aims and objectives

The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officers' Forum is a sign of ecumenical commitment, which is both an essential characteristic of the churches' life and work together, as well as being a more effective way to relate to decision-makers. The focus of the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officers' Forum should underline:

  • The churches' commitment to the common good
  • The role of churches and congregations in communities.
  • Prayer and pastoral support for parliamentarians
  • The churches' multiple roles, as a prophetic voice, as a candid friend, and as a promoter of respectful dialogue and informed debate on national political issues.
Bagpiper with Scottish Parliament building in the background

Objectives:

The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officers' Forum exists to create space for ecumenical fellowship and encounter on parliamentary and political issues in Scotland. It will do this by:

  • Keeping an up-to-date list of forum members in compliance with data protection rules.
  • Regular communication with the SCPO Forum network (church leaders, staff and office holders involved for their organisation in parliamentary activity)
  • Meeting for fellowship and to exchange of knowledge and ideas.
  • Regular communication to keep members up to date with news, upcoming events, research and campaigns.
  • Developing and sharing resources on parliamentary and political issues for congregations and church leaders, including hustings guidance ahead of elections and advice on how to build good relations with elected representatives.

The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer's Forum exists to facilitate and enable Scottish churches in speaking on legislation and political developments. It will do this by:

  • Creating space and time for consideration of issues raised by forum members, both in regular meetings as well as by setting up ad hoc roundtables.
  • Sharing church produced and related research, briefings and analysis.
  • Working closely with the Scottish Church Leaders' Forum, Ecumenical Officers' Forum and the Scottish Churches Committee to bring particular insights and opportunities for common action with other ecumenical groups.

Our story

A Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office was set up in 1999 as a response to the decision to re-establish the Scottish Parliament. Its vision was 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.

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.

Scottish Parliament Building exterior

When the new Scottish Parliament met in 1999 until 2004, its meetings took place at the General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland on the Mound in Edinburgh.

In partnership with other faith communities, the SCPO helped to establish "Time for Reflection" – the weekly Parliamentary slot in which representatives of Scotland's religion and belief communities offer a reflective "Thought for the Day". Graham Blount, our first Parliamentary Officer, gave the very first "Time for Reflection" in October 1999.

In 2024 the Scottish Parliament marked 25 years of Devolution. This also marked 25 years since the opening of the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office. To celebrate this occasion, a one day conference in Edinburgh was held by SCPO on 4 September 2024, in partnership with the Centre for Theology and Public Issues (CTPI), based in the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh. The conference was held in the General Assembly Hall, as a reminder of the new Scottish Parliament's first meeting place and of the link between the Parliament and the Church of Scotland.

The conference was a chance to look back at 25 years of Devolution, reflecting on the opportunities and challenges that devolution has brought to ecumenism and churches political engagement in Scotland, and imagining the priorities that might shape the next 25 years. The conference papers as well as an outline of the day and the speakers is available to download here.

Contact Us

The SCPO Forum is convened by the Church of Scotland's parliamentary officer, David Bradwell dbradwell@churchofscotland.org.uk

Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office
121 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4YN

Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office is administered by the Church of Scotland, Scottish Charity Number SC011353