Presbyterian General Assembly 2023: Leaders from across church to reflect on Covid pandemic and conspiracy theories

Previewing the agenda for the media, Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev Trevor Gribben, said one key issue for consideration would be revisiting the pandemic and the church's response to it, as set out in the 16-page report, Pandemic Response (Theological, Moral, Spiritual) Task Group.

One key point the interim report examined in relation to the pandemic was the "general erosion of trust and accountability in public and political authorities – a possible consequence of a so-called ‘post-truth’ culture".

It added: "The rise in propagation of conspiracy theories before and during the pandemic shaped a context in which many people became suspicious of the integrity of political decisions and decision-makers.

"The Task Group notes that this also made it more difficult to raise legitimate concerns and questions about perceived government overreach into many areas of life and work. This was compounded

by the introduction of legislative restrictions which sat uneasily with the prevailing Western liberal norms of personal autonomy and self determination."

It is understood that as part of its work, the Task Group spoke to a wide range of Presbyterians, a minority of whom hold "conspiracy theories" on the pandemic. Some contributors question whether vaccinations should have been carried out.

Briefing journalists on the report, Rev Gribben commended it for consideration by the church.

He said that the Presbyterian church is "a wide and diverse group" in the same way that society is.

"We have a range of views on [questions such as], 'Did society just bow down to the government and let all its liberties be stolen without proper scrutiny? Should we ever do that again?'

"So those kinds of issues are teased out [in the report] – and the debate on that will be interesting."

Among the report's recommendations are that in any similar circumstances in the future, the church "considers when it is appropriate to voluntarily set aside our own rights and privileges as believers in order to facilitate the common good".

It also stated that where the church has access to government, it should act as "a prophetic voice and raise issues and concerns on behalf of the poor, the marginalised and the voiceless".

And it urges that in a time of crisis, it works with other Christian denominations and in "co-belligerence with others as appropriate", in its interaction with government.

• See all reports for the 2023 assembly here.