The Church of Scotland is set to consider a formal apology for its historic links to transatlantic chattel slavery, in a move described as a “moment of honesty” for the national church.
The proposed apology will go before the General Assembly in May and acknowledges that the Church benefited, both directly and indirectly, through the actions of some of its members and their families.
It also recognises that, before the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in the 1830s, some ministers and officials offered theological justifications for a system that treated human beings as property.
In a draft statement, the Church said: “We, the Church of Scotland, are sorry for the ways in which… we contributed to and benefitted from the enslavement of people of African descent.”
It adds: “We are grieved beyond telling by the extraordinary suffering we have inflicted – through our actions and our inaction… We repent, committing ourselves to changing course and bearing fruit worthy of repentance.”
The report accompanying the apology stresses that the legacy of slavery continues to shape experiences of race and inequality today, and that the passage of time does not remove moral responsibility.
It says the message of the cross speaks across generations “to sin, repentance, and hope,” even where the full extent of harm and intergenerational trauma cannot be fully captured.
The apology follows a 2023 decision by the General Assembly to prepare a formal response after research revealed historical financial links between the Church and the slave trade.
The 2026 report entitled Church of Scotland and the Legacies of Slavery, now invites the Assembly not only to adopt the apology, but to explore further actions that demonstrate repentance, justice and reconciliation, with recommendations expected to continue into 2027.
Congregations across Scotland are also being encouraged to engage in ongoing reflection, education and local exploration of slavery’s legacy, as the Church seeks to respond not just in words, but through long-term change.
The Very Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, convener of the group that drafted the report, said: “This apology represents a moment of honesty for the Church of Scotland. It is about telling the truth about our past, and about how slavery’s legacy is still felt today. It recognises the harm done, listens to those most affected, and commits the Church to change, not just words.
“The apology is not an end point, but the beginning of a longer journey of justice, reconciliation and change. We bring it to the General Assembly for prayerful and responsible consideration.”