After more than three hours of debate, the Church of Scotland's General Assembly meeting in Edinburgh has avoided a confrontation on sexuality and ministry, after a motion from anti-gay hardliners was withdrawn before it could be voted on.

The Church of Scotland’s General Assembly, meeting in Edinburgh this week, today decided to continue selling goods from illegally occupied territories at its hotel centre in Tiberias in northern Israel - to the dismay of many in the Church.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu will address the Church of Scotland's General Assembly in Edinburgh this week. The peace and justice activist will attend the last day of the Kirk's annual gathering as a special guest.

A Church of Scotland body claims that Scottish public life would benefit if congregational conflict could be overcome, and admits that churches need to become part of the solution rather than the problem when it comes to angry disputes.