Archbishop of Canterbury makes historic first with Church of Scotland's Columbia Declaration

Chiqui Guyjoco Thursday, May 26, 2016

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby arrives at the Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity in Burundi's capital Bujumbura, March 3, 2016. | Reuters/Evrard Ngendakumana

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has become the first head of the Church of England to participate in a debate at the Church of Scotland's General Assembly on Wednesday, May 25 that approved the proposal for the Columbia Declaration.

"We are united in witness to Christ as churches of our two nations within the one country of the United Kingdom, and that gives particular parameters to our unity in witness," said the archbishop during the assembly.

According to The Courier, the reverend has voted for the proposal on the Columbia Declaration, which paved the way for a "deeper relationship" between the two churches by allowing members and clergy to minister and worship in each other's churches.

Welby also indicated that the two churches are united politically, historically, and economically, citing samples to emphasize his point.

"In itself the Declaration is largely of a symbolic nature but it does pave the way for our further growth in fellowship and for extending partnership in mission as sister and national churches who share many common roots, challenges and opportunities," said Right Rev. Dr. Angus Morrison, as reported by The Church of Scotland.

In February, Dr. Morrison participated in a debate for the same proposal during the General Synod in London that approved the agreement. Former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams also spoke at the General Assembly in 2012 but did not participate in a debate.

According to Christian Today, another Scottish church that has existing links with the Church of England, the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC), is unhappy with the Declaration and has withdrawn from talks concerning the landmark report.

The six-day gathering opened on Saturday, May 21 in Edinburgh and is attended by 850 commissioners not just in Scotland but also in the U.K., Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. On its first day, the assembly voted to allow ministers to be in same-sex marriages.