[ACNS] The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Revd David Chillingworth, joined other Christian leaders and the leaders of other religions this week for a meeting with the First Minister of Scotland.

After the meeting, the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, praised the role of faith groups and inter faith work in “transforming lives and building a stronger, fairer and equal Scotland.”

“At the weekend we witnessed faith groups working together as one voice to show their support to what is first and foremost a humanitarian crisis that requires all communities to work together to support those in desperate need,” Ms Sturgeon said. “Interfaith work and the contribution of faith groups is essential in transforming lives and building a stronger, fairer and equal Scotland. The overwhelming support we have seen from across Scotland over the past week [to the refugee humanitarian crisis] shows willingness of the people of Scotland to help the most vulnerable arriving in Scotland and across the world.

“By working together with all communities I want to see a safer, stronger and more inclusive society which we are all able to fully contribute to and benefit from.”

In addition to discussing interfaith dialogue and the refugee crisis, the meeting also discussed the importance of faith in public life.

Bishop Chillingworth was joined at the meeting by a number of other faith and religious leaders including the Rt Revd Dr Angus Morrison, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Archbishop Mario Conti from the Roman Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Rabbi Moshe Rubin Senior Orthodox Rabbi of Scotland, and Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi from the Ahl ul Bayt Society.