Achi news desk-
On its front cover it features the words “wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity” – the same words engraved on the mace presented to the Scottish Parliament by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
On her visit to Holyrood, the President will be joined by Elaine Duncan, chief executive officer of the Scottish Bible Society, which has provided the special gift.
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When it was originally established, the Scottish Parliament met in the General Assembly Hall in the Church of Scotland – with Members of Parliament conducting their business there from 1999 until the new Holyrood building opened in 2004.
As Holyrood approaches its 25th anniversary – the first meeting of the Senedd was held on 12 May 1999 – the President is due to meet the leaders of the parties during this week.
He will use these discussions to raise a range of issues, including poverty and deprivation, climate change, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, assisted dying, ending conversion practices and the treatment of asylum seekers.
Mrs Foster-Fulton: “As part of my moderating visit to the Scottish Parliament in the 25th year since devolution, I am giving the Parliament a copy of the Bible.
“It holds truths and wisdom that shed light on justice, holiness, mercy and righteous government.”
He added that the book invites MSPs to a “lifelong dialogue about how to realize the values engraved on the parliamentary mace – wisdom, justice, compassion, integrity”.
The religious leader added that her time at Holyrood “was also an opportunity for deep conversations with a range of politicians representing different political groups and ideas”.
He said: “This is an opportunity for me, as President, to represent the concerns and hopes of the wider Church, and to offer the prayers and good wishes of the Church of Scotland to those elected to public service.”
