Changes

The '''Church of Scotland''' ("Kirk" in the demotic Scots) is the established church in Scotland. [[Reformation|Reformed]] in terms of theology and [[Presbyterianism|presbyterian]] in terms of organization, it has its origins in the [[16th century]] Scottish reformation.

The '''Church of Scotland''' (The "Kirk" in [[Scots]]) is the established church in Scotland. [[Reformation|Reformed]] in terms of theology and [[Presbyterianism|presbyterian]] in terms of organization, it has its origins in the [[16th century]] Scottish reformation.

==History==

==History==

The key figure in the Scottish reformation was [[John Knox]], an Edinburgh preacher and disciple of Swiss reformer [[John Calvin]]. The reformation in Scotland is usually dated to [[1560]],[http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orghistory.htm#reformation] the year the [[Scottish Parliament]] formally rejected Papal jurisdiction. In the following turbulent 130 years, there was a great deal of conflict - at times armed - between various factions in the United Kingdom (formed from the union of Scotland and England in 1603), and religion was often a defining factor in the shifting alliances that shaped the dynastic, political and cultural landscape of the time. (See [[British Civil War]]). Specifically, prebyterianism, [[Episcopalianism]] and [[Catholicism]] were vying for supremecy in this period. With the ascendency of the House of Orange in the Glorious Revolution of 1690, the predominance of the presbyterianism Kirk was assured.[http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orghistory.htm#national]

The key figure in the Scottish reformation was [[John Knox]], an Edinburgh preacher and disciple of Swiss reformer [[John Calvin]]. The reformation in Scotland is usually dated to [[1560]],<ref>http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orghistory.htm#reformation</ref> the year the [[Scottish Parliament]] formally rejected Papal jurisdiction. In the following turbulent 130 years, there was a great deal of conflict - at times armed - between various factions in the United Kingdom (formed from the union of Scotland and England in 1603), and religion was often a defining factor in the shifting alliances that shaped the dynastic, political and cultural landscape of the time. (See [[British Civil War]]). Specifically, prebyterianism, [[Episcopalianism]] and [[Catholicism]] were vying for supremecy in this period. With the ascendency of the House of Orange in the Glorious Revolution of 1690, the predominance of the presbyterianism Kirk was assured.<ref>http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orghistory.htm#national</ref>

==Church organization==

==Church organization==

Rejecting a distinction between bishops and the clergy, and, indeed, downplaying the distinction between clergy and laity, each Church of Scotland congregation is governed by a Kirk Session consisting of body of elected [[elder|elders]], the [[minister]] considered to be but a special case of elder. The church as a whole takes decisions at the annual General Assembly, at which both elders and ministers are represented.[http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orgstructure.htm]

Rejecting a distinction between bishops and the clergy, and, indeed, downplaying the distinction between clergy and laity, each Church of Scotland congregation is governed by a Kirk Session consisting of body of elected [[elder|elders]], the [[minister]] considered to be but a special case of elder. The church as a whole takes decisions at the annual General Assembly, at which both elders and ministers are represented.<ref>http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orgstructure.htm</ref>

==Role in education==

==Role in education==

==Liberal position on women==

==Liberal position on women==

There has been full equality between men and women in the Church of Scotland since 1968.[http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orgwomen.htm]

There has been full equality between men and women in the Church of Scotland since 1968.<ref>http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orgwomen.htm</ref>

==Homosexuality==

==Homosexuality==

While recognizing the theological, scriptural and traditional difficulties, the Church of Scotland is generally tolerant of [[homosexuality]]. A recent report concluded that: ''Many people are both gay and Christian; having a homosexual orientation is not a matter for censure; having a homosexual orientation does not preclude service to Christ in the church and the world.  A homosexual orientation should not be a barrier to any role in church and state, and the Church should oppose all forms of discrimination on these grounds, both in environments where the Church carries authority and in society at  large. ''<ref>http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/generalassembly/downloads/gareports07manddchallengetounity.rtf<ref>

While recognizing the theological, scriptural and traditional difficulties, the Church of Scotland is generally tolerant of [[homosexuality]]. A recent report concluded that: ''Many people are both gay and Christian; having a homosexual orientation is not a matter for censure; having a homosexual orientation does not preclude service to Christ in the church and the world.  A homosexual orientation should not be a barrier to any role in church and state, and the Church should oppose all forms of discrimination on these grounds, both in environments where the Church carries authority and in society at  large. ''<ref>http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/generalassembly/downloads/gareports07manddchallengetounity.rtf</ref>

 

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scotland, Church of}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scotland, Church of}}

[[Category:Christian Denominations]]

[[Category:Christian Denominations]]

[[Category:Scottish Culture]]

[[Category:Scottish Culture]]