A religious leader will today call on other church heads to reunite under the same banner and redraw the Christian map of Scotland.

In his keynote address, the Rev Dr John Ross, Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, laments the fractured state of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland and calls for the formation of a new, united church.

Dr Ross will argue that in recent years there has been an "aggressive sabotage" of Scotland's Christian heritage, combined with increasing social exclusion, family breakdown, soaring abortion rates, gender confusion and a collapse of church attendance.

If the present rate of Scottish church decline continues, by 2020 it will reach a point not experienced since the days of Saint Columba and the Celtic Church, 1400 years ago.

Dr Ross said: "The scale of the mission confronting us calls for the creation of a new Presbyterian Church made up of the Free Church of Scotland and the confessional congregations of the Church of Scotland, along with all others who desire to be reunited in wholehearted commitment to Christ, Scripture and mission.

"I long to see a rejection of the fractious tendencies of our history and a growing involvement with other Christians in a movement towards unity.

"I want to see people of God working hand in hand to heal and reunite the fragments of a torn and disordered church. With all my heart, I desire foolish rivalry to be ended."

The moderator aims to heal the schism of The Disruption of 1843 when 450 ministers of the Church of Scotland broke away to form the Free Church of Scotland over the issue of patronage and whether the congregations or wealthy patrons were to have the greatest say in selecting ministers.

The moderator's call comes as both the Church of Scotland and Free Church hold their annual meetings separately in Edinburgh.

The Church of Scotland's gathering yesterday heard a controversial hotel in the Holy Land owned by the Kirk had made a profit for the first time.

Delegates were told that the 69-bed hotel at Tiberias made £312,000 last year, despite having to close during the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

But the Rev Colin Renwick, convener of the church's World Mission Council, said that despite the international make-up of the hotel guests, difficulties in obtaining passes to visit Israel meant that many Palestinians were unable to visit.

"It is a matter of considerable regret to us that those in the West Bank and Gaza cannot use those facilities and that is something of a running sore and one that we feel."

The Assembly looked at a report on how it should deal with sex offenders who want to join congregations.

The report by the Kirk's Safeguarding Committee acknowledge that the concept of forgiveness for sex offenders who, on release from prison, seek to worship in congregations, is a new issue facing the Church after legislation passed by Holyrood earlier this year.