With the news that the First Minister, Alex Salmond, has announced his resignation, our Primus, the Rt. Rev. David Chillingworth, has written to him to express his prayerful good wishes:
Dear First Minister,
I am responding to the news that you intend to leave office as First Minister of Scotland later in the Autumn.
I write on behalf of the Scottish Episcopal Church to mark the significant leadership and public service which you have given to the people of Scotland during your time as First Minister.
Those of us in leadership in the churches and faith communities have particularly valued the generous amounts of time which you have given to our regular meetings and the openness with which you have approached those meetings. With our partner churches, we believe that we should be part of public debate and discourse as policy and legislation for Scotland is shaped. We are grateful to you for the way in which the Scottish Government has enabled us to do that under your leadership.
I also recall with great pleasure moments such as the Kirking of the Parliament in St Giles’ Cathedral when the faith communities of Scotland were able to express the rich diversity of peoples and cultures which is part of Scotland today.
We believe that it is part of our Christian duty that we should pray constantly for our leaders. As you come to the end of your term of leadership, we offer you our good wishes and our prayers for the future.
Yours sincerely,
Rt. Rev. David Chillingworth,
Primus, The Scottish Episcopal Church
Bishop of St. Andrew’s, Dunkeld and Dunblane
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