The four centuries-old ceremony of “Kirking of the Council” is a matter for the church rather than Highland Council, Inverness Church of Scotland Presbytery insisted this week.
Organisation of the ancient kirking service, and an invitation – in bygone days a strict obligation - to civic dignitaries to attend, is clearly the prerogative of the minister of the city’s oldest church, Inverness Old High, members agreed.
They voted unanimously to recommend that Old High St Stephen’s congregation continue its invitation to Inverness City Committee to attend the annual kirking ceremony, one of the few such events remaining in Scotland.
And they strongly urged “the continuation of this important Christian tradition and link with the past in the Old High Church”.
The presbytery’s church and community committee has over the past month fast-tracked research on the issue, with the help of former depute Inverness provost and local historian Sheila Mackay.
It has confirmed that the ceremony – to mark local politicians’ affirmation to serve God and their fellow citizens - dates back to 1602, shortly after the Reformation reached the Highlands.
The issue arose in the wake of Provost Bob Wynd’s unilateral decision last month to suspend the kirking ceremony for the remainder of the current council’s tenure of office, which ends in May 2011.
Provost Wynd, who during this year’s ceremony refused to read the Scripture lesson chosen by interim moderator the Rev Douglas Clyne, and instead delivered a message on the need for “inclusivity”, stirred up a storm of protest after revealing his intention to suspend the ceremony for the rest of his term of office, without consulting either fellow councillors or Mr Clyne.
The city committee, many of whose members have criticised the provost’s action, has since agreed to set up a working group to consider proposals for future kirkings.
