It was a simple question put to the people of Scotland to which there was a simple answer, yes or no. The question asked them to choose between continuing membership of the United Kingdom or independence as a separate sovereign state. The result of that referendum, announced on Friday morning of last week, went in favour of staying together as the United Kingdom . A democratic process worked and a decision was reached.

 The arguments used in the weeks prior to the vote tell us a great deal about relationships and local expectations, about the need for identity and an appreciation of the value of a decision-making process that is close at hand and personal.

Local need within a larger framework, solutions found that acknowledge sensitivities, customs and language, is a pattern that is similar to what we term in the Church as collegiality.   When there is a remoteness between those defining structures and those who are expected to live within such structures, then there is the possibility of argument, disagreement and discord.

 It is for this reason that the issue of effective collegiality must be urgently addressed. In our attempt to define a recognisable whole we have often over-ridden local custom and community. The value of enculturation has been ignored to our cost. Such a rigidly defined structure holds good for a while but eventually the cracks begin to show under the strain. Unless at that stage there is careful management of the process of addressing questions, those cracks can become serious fault lines with self-evident consequences.

 A serious political discussion now has to take place in the UK on the pattern of our future government.

Such a discussion also needs to be encouraged within the Church. We are not a national group, a political entity so the circumstances are in many ways different. But in one essential aspect we share a common ground, the need to involve people. Because the result of the Referendum was going to be so significant, the turn-out of voters was huge, well over 80% of registered voters.

 In the same way, at parish and diocesan level, people will get involved if it is clear that their views count, that their opinion matters. It is imperative that a structure exists to enable that exchange to take place. Every parish should have a parish council even if the parish priest would prefer to manage without one. Every diocese should have a pastoral council where meaningful discussion can take place.

 At a time when there is an ever-growing shortage of priests, encouragement of the laity to accept a positive role in evangelisation must surely have a high priority.

 The coming months and years following the decision in Scotland will be of great consequence for the political future of the countries that form the United Kingdom . So will the future of our Church be determined by the courage of diocesan bishops in seeking local solutions to issues rather than always looking for final validation of any and every action from Rome .   

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