'We repent!' Church of Scotland issues formal apology for historical role in slavery
The Church of Scotland has formally apologised for its historical involvement in the slave trade, with the declaration receiving approval at the Kirk's General Assembly in Edinburgh on Saturday.
The apology acknowledges, prior to the abolition of slavery across the British Empire during the 1830s, certain Kirk members provided theological arguments to justify chattel slavery.
In presenting the apology, the Very Rev Sally Foster-Fulton told delegates that the historical events being examined continue to influence contemporary society in unavoidable ways.
She emphasised "healing begins where truth is spoken" and stressed acknowledging this history was about faithfulness rather than assigning blame.
The Kirk also accepted some of its members historically gained from both direct and indirect involvement in the slave trade.
The formal statement expressed the Kirk is "grieved beyond telling by the extraordinary suffering we have inflicted through our actions and our inaction on our brothers and sisters".
The apology further declared: "We repent, committing ourselves to changing course and bearing fruit worthy of repentance."
Ms Foster-Fulton outlined how the consequences of this period reach communities both locally and internationally, shaping persistent structures, attitudes and inequalities.
She described slavery's legacy as casting "a shadow over our local, national and global landscape".
The Moderator made clear that confronting this past openly serves a purpose beyond attributing fault, stating it represents an act of faithfulness and a necessary step toward reconciliation.
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Rose Wedderburn, who serves as general secretary of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, welcomed the Kirk's statement.
She said: "While the process has understandably evoked deep emotions the effort invested in truth-telling and honest engagement is worthwhile."
The Church of Scotland joins a growing number of Scottish institutions that have publicly addressed their connections to the slave trade.
Both Edinburgh and Glasgow councils issued their own apologies for historical links to slavery in 2022.
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