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Church of Scotland in favour of creating scheme to support ministers living in fuel poverty

by Premier Journalist

The Church of Scotland's General Assembly has voted in favour of creating a new scheme to support parish ministers struggling to pay energy bills.

An overture brought forward by Rev Bryan Kerr, said many ministers live in "ill-equipped and expensive to run" manses with their families and some are weighing up whether they can afford to continue in their roles.

Rev Kerr said that one minister had told him about their energy bill rising to £9,000 a year from £3,000 last year.

He called for existing church funds to be used.

Commissioners decided by 227 votes by 122 to instruct the Assembly Trustees, in consultation with the Faith Nurture Forum and General Trustees, to help those facing hardship due to rising heating and electricity costs.

During the first day of the General Assembly, the 68-year-old minister of St Margaret's Community Church in Dunfermline, Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, was also installed as the new moderator.

He will chair the proceedings from the Assembly Hall for five days and thereafter will act as the Church's ambassador at home and abroad for the next 12 months.

The Church of Scotland’s General Assembly runs until Thursday 26 May at the Assembly Hall on The Mound in Edinburgh.

It’s the first Kirk’s hybrid meeting with 400 people attending physically in Edinburgh and 200 taking part online.

 

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