Scottish Christians showcase crucial role of rural churches

Scottish Christians will join together at this week's Royal Highland Show to tell people about the support, encouragement and love that thousands of rural churches across Scotland are giving to their communities.

They will host a 'Churches in Rural Scotland Stand' to showcase the positive difference that their message of hope is making to their rural communities, as well as the church's central position in those communities.

The Royal Highland Show, which begins today and runs until Sunday, will be joined by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev David Lunan, who will visit the stand on Thursday.

The Church said that last week's publication of the report into the contribution of the Church of England to civic society, 'Moral, but no compass', is "set to raise anew the place of religion in public [life]". The report notes that the enormous contribution churches across England are making to the wellbeing of their communities, in the shape of practical action and service, is being underestimated by the Government.

Rev Bryan Kerr, Minister of Greyfriars Church, Lanark, who led the churches' Highland Show planning group, believes that churches play a "crucial" role in rural life, particularly in times of crisis when they offer their practical and spiritual support.

"In 2008 we want to emphasise through the displays at the stand, and the programme that we have planned, that the churches are fully aware of the challenges facing rural communities," he said. "In many places, besides the activity that is recognisably 'church', it is Christian people who volunteer for community organisations and who play an active part in leadership and in practical acts of service.

"To take but one topical example, at a time when many remote and rural communities are faced with the prospect of the closure of a local post office service, maybe churches can think in terms of using their facilities to host a post office."

The stand will also host seminars on fair trade and the link between supporting a strong Scottish agriculture and safeguarding against the exploitation of consumers and producers in developing countries.

The stand will also invite prayer requests and welcome members of the public to daily short acts of devotion each morning, as well as afternoon prayers.