Church of Scotland weighs apology over slavery ties and justice response

Faith Facts

• The Church of Scotland is reviewing a report on historical ties to the transatlantic slave trade.
• Church leaders will vote on an official apology and possible justice initiatives at the General Assembly on May 16.
• The report says some church members may have defended or benefited from slavery, even after it was outlawed in Scotland.

The Church of Scotland is preparing to review a detailed report on historical connections to the transatlantic slave trade.

The assessment will examine whether past members profited from, or theologically defended, the practice of slavery.

As believers, we know that every person is created in the image of God and deserves dignity.

The proposed apology seeks to address past moral failures and point toward repentance and reconciliation.

“We are grieved beyond telling by the extraordinary suffering we have inflicted – through our actions and our inaction – on our brothers and sisters.”

True repentance requires us to acknowledge where we have failed to love our neighbors as ourselves.

By naming these past wrongs, the institution hopes to bear fruit worthy of faith and align more closely with Biblical justice.

Pray that the Church seeks wisdom and truth as it navigates these complex historical accounts.

May the pursuit of reconciliation always be grounded in the grace and transformative power of the Gospel.