Church of Scotland Apologises for Its Role in Chattel Slavery: "We Repent"
The Church of Scotland has formally apologised at its General Assembly for the Kirk's historical involvement in chattel slavery. The apology, presented on 17 May 2026 by Very Rev Sally Foster Fulton, acknowledged that the Church both directly and indirectly benefited from slavery and that...
Very Rev Sally Foster Fulton Presents Apology to General Assembly as Delegates From Jamaica, Ghana, and Nigeria Demand Reparative Action
The Church of Scotland has formally apologised at its General Assembly for the Kirk's historical involvement in chattel slavery. The apology, presented on 17 May 2026 by Very Rev Sally Foster Fulton, acknowledged that the Church both directly and indirectly benefited from slavery and that some members previously offered theological justifications before abolition in the 1830s.
"We repent, committing ourselves to changing course and bearing fruit worthy of repentance," Foster Fulton declared.
How Church of Scotland Plans to Move Beyond Words to Reparative Action
"The legacy of slavery stretches like a shadow over our local, national and global landscape," Foster Fulton said. "Naming that is not about blame, but about faithfulness, about recognizing that healing begins where truth is spoken."
International delegates from Jamaica, Ghana, and Nigeria were present during the Assembly debate. They responded with calls for substantive implementation beyond words. The Church will now establish a working group in partnership with affected communities to recommend concrete reparative actions. The exact form, whether financial reparations, scholarship programmes, or expanded mission partnerships, will be debated in the coming year.
The Crusader's Opinion
The Kirk's apology is the right step. Scottish Christianity must not pretend it was a passive observer of the slave trade. Glasgow merchants, plantation owners, and yes, some ministers, profited from the suffering of millions. Repentance is biblical. So is restitution. The next step matters more than the apology. If the working group produces real partnership with the African and Caribbean Christian communities affected, that is faithful obedience. If it produces a glossy report and nothing else, it is performance. The Lord will judge the difference.
Take Action
- Read: The full Church of Scotland General Assembly statement
- Donate: Christian ministries in Jamaica, Ghana, and Nigeria affected by the slave trade legacy
- Pray: For the working group and for honest follow through
- Reflect: On your own church's history and where repentance may be due
- Share: Foster Fulton's repentance quote
