From Mr Richard Murray

Sir, — When I read your report on the "Columba Declaration" (News online, 1 January) and the comment by the Bishop of Chester, Dr Peter Forster: "It’s a bit like building a house: you’ve got to start with the foundations," my immediate reaction was that the authors of the report should put away their tools before they cause any more damage.

In my community, ecumenism is deeply rooted, nourished by God’s love. All are working to make their contribution to the spiritual life of the Scottish nation, and we will continue to pray for the meetings and conversations that take place among us.

At an institutional level, we have ACTS (Action of Churches Together in Scotland), which brings together nine denominations in Scotland which share a desire for "Greater oneness between churches as Jesus prayed, ‘that they all may be one’ (John 17.21); growth of understanding and common life between churches; unified action in proclaiming and responding to the gospel in the whole of life."

We do not need any more structures of the kind that Dr Forster seems to have in mind, especially those that suggest a triumphal crusade is mooted.

RICHARD MURRAY
Rowanbank
Kendal Road Kemnay
Inverurie AB51 5RN