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Society, Religion and Technology Project

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Church of Scotland

Looking at the ethics of technology for a New Millennium

cscotgif BurnBush

SRT REPORTS TO THE
CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SRT reports each May to the Church of Scotland General Assembly. This page guides to our reports since 1993.

2006 General Assembly
Previous General Assemblies

See the Church of Scotland's main website for :
  • Information about the General Assembly
  • All the 2006 General Assembly Reports
  • Press Releases of 2006 General Assembly

    • 2006 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 20-26 May

    Her Majesty the Queen again referred to SRT in her Gracious Letter to the General Assembly.

    We are aware of the Church's Soicety, Religion and Technology Project continuing to engage with the complexities of stem cell research with a significant report on the subject coming before your Assembly. It is important to engage with new technology; to bring an ethical perspective to such activities; and to foster ethical debate on such issues within the Church and throughout society.

    SRT Stem Cells Report

    SRT's main focus at the 2006 Church of Scotland General Assembly was a multi-disciplinary working group report on Embryo Research, Human Stem Cells and Cloned Embryos, which was debated on 23 May 2006. It assessed the scientific developments in adult and embryonic stem cells and cloning, in the context of case studies on their potential use to treat Parkinson's, Huntington's and and motor neurone diseases, diabetes and blood disorders. The report warned against overclaiming the potential of different approaches, which are mostly far from therapeutic application. It re-examined the complex issue of the moral status of the human embryo, recognising the differences of view within the Church.

  • Embryo Research, Human Stem Cells and Cloned Embryos - Summary Report as debated by the 2006 General Assembly on 23 May
  • Motions Passed on Human Stem Cells by the 2006 General Assembly
  • Embryo Research, Human Stem Cells and Cloned Embryos - Working Group Report the Full Working Group Report, as background. (489kB MS Word File)
  • Press release on Stem Cells report

    The General Assembly The Assembly agreed that embryo stem cell research might be permitted up to 14 days, using surplus IVF of PGD embryos, but only for a very good reason. It opposed the creation of IVF or cloned embryos for research, except under exceptional circumstances, and opposed the creation of animal-human hybrid and parthenogenetic embryos. It urged the Government not to relax the present regulations governing embryo research in forthcoming legislation.

    SRT General Report

    SRT also presented its SRT General Report 2006 briefly covering its activities and especially work on Nanotechnology, Climate change and Energy policy, and Eco-Congregation, and with a brief update on Energy Policy issues. This year SRT presented this report primarily as the Science, Technology and the Environment part of the Church and Society Council report in the new structures. The General Assembly deliverances commended the work of the Society, Religion and Technology Project, particularly its involvement in the European Commission research project on the ethics of nanobiotechnology, welcome progress in the Eco-Congregation Programme and the support of the SRT Trust in enabling its extension for a year. An additional motion was passed addressing the Government on climate change and calling on church members to sign a pledge in the "stop climate chaos" campaign.
  • SRT General Report 2006
  • Update on Energy Policy issues
  • Motions Passed on SRT's General Report by the 2006 General Assembly

    On-line SRT Reports to Previous General Assemblies

    2005 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 21-27 May
    In 2005 the Assembly gave a warm endorsement to the work of the Project. In his SRT address to the General Assembly, SRT Director Dr Donald Bruce stressed the importance of SRT's mission role. Its unique impact for the church on the world of science and technology depends on the continued recognition of its engagement with the scientific community based on scientific expertise and establishing a relationship of respect. He reported new involvement with European projects on nanotechnology and the formation of a new working group on stem cells, as well as the continuing work of Eco-Congregation.
    For more see SRT's full report to the 2005 General Assembly

    2004 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 15-21 May
    SRT reported to the General Assembly in a new slot for all ‘Church and Society’ issues, on Tuesday 18 May 2004 and presented four reports :

  • General Report for the 2004 General Assembly SRT's report of its year's activities.
  • Should we become a GM Nation? This is an update on whether GM crops should be grown in the UK following the major 1999 report and subsequent additional comments made in SRT general reports intervening years.
  • Environmental Policy for the Church of Scotland The text of the environmental policy for the Kirk adopted by the General Assembly in May 2004, building both on previous Assembly deliverances and also the growing commitment to environmental care in many of the Kirk’s congregations via the Eco-Congregation Programme.
  • Supplementary Report on Cloned Human Embryos Note that this is now the subject of a working group which submitted its Stem cells report to the May 2006 Assembly.

    2003 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    SRT General Report 2003 - Sustainability for the Future, 20 May

  • Report on World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg;
  • Sustainability in the Church - the Eco-Congregation Programme;
  • Sustainable Science and Technology - Science and Soicety;
  • Sustainability, Biotechnology and Agriculture - the 2003 national GM Debate, Can Organic and GM live together?, Future for Agriculture;
  • Sustainable Health - SRT's national and international opportunities in human genetics

    2002 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    SRT General Report 2002
    Special Report : Sustainable Agriculture

    2001 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    SRT General Report 2001
    Special Report : GM Animals, Humans and the Future of Genetics

    2000 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    SRT General Report 2000

    1999 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    SRT General Report 1999
    Special Report : Genetically Modified Food

    1998 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    SRT General Report 1998

    1997 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  • SRT Reports to the 1997 General Assembly
  • The SRT General Report 1997
  • Special Report : Cloning Animals and Humans
  • Special Report : Patenting Living Organisms
  • Press Release of SRT's Main Report 1997
  • BSE/CJD crisis (Church & Nation Committee)

    1996 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    SRT General Report 1996

    1995 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    SRT General Report 1995

    1994 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    SRT General Report 1994

    1993 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    SRT General Report 1993

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

    This page has been produced by the Society Religion and Technology Project of the Church of Scotland. For more about our work on other issues, see our Other SRT Project pages, or our SRT Publications List.

    We'd also welcome any comments you may have. We don't claim to have said the last word!
    If you want to send us a comment or obtain further information or receive our latest Newsletter,

    email us at :
    mailto:srtp@srtp.org.uk

    or send an ordinary letter or fax to :

    Dr.Donald M.Bruce,
    Society, Religion and Technology Project,
    , 121 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4YN, Scotland.
    tel. +44 (0)131-240 2250, fax +44 (0)131-240 2239,
    email address : srtp@srtp.org.uk

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    This page was last revised on 31 May 2006