THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Revd Lorna Hood, has spoken out about "discrimination" against women in the Kirk.

Speaking to 2000 female members of the Church's Guild in Dundee, on Saturday, Mrs Hood said: "Recently, I've been saddened because I've spent time with women who, although dedicated to their Lord and his Church, have experienced real discrimination.

"There are parts of the country where women are still denied a place on Kirk sessions; Elders who, having moved from one part of the country to another, find their ordination is called into question. We talk of the great advances made since women were ordained in 1966, but in some areas that is still a huge issue."

Mrs Hood told BBC Scotland on Saturday that she had become aware of women in the Kirk "who are just not allowed to fulfil their potential - particularly in regard to the Eldership. . .

"I've really been touched by that, and I've experienced their tears and their pain. It's never been part of my background - it's never been part of my ministry, and I've never really been so aware of that as I have been recently."