The Church of Scotland is in favour of local government decisions being made at community level in the future.
It said it backed calls to radically overhaul the way councils were run and replace it with a system similar to kirk sessions which make the day-to-day decisions in individual churches.
A report by the Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy called for a “re-imagining” of local government in Scotland, which it says is one of the most centralised countries in Europe.
It described the transition from more than 200 local councils in 1974 to only 32 “local” councils in 1996 as “one of the most radical programmes of delocalisation that we can identify anywhere in the world”.
The Rev Sally Foster Fulton, convener of the Kirk’s church and society council, said: “Whether Scotland votes ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on September 18, we remain at our best when we are an interdependent society.
“Supporting and strengthening ways in which citizens can participate in decision making at a local level are intrinsic in a society that works for everyone, especially those who find themselves on the margins.
“Kirk Sessions are the grassroots of local democracy in the church but their equivalent in the secular government, community councils have very little power or authority to take decisions.
“At a time when decisions relating to national democracy have been paramount it is essential to remember that the roots of democracy are local.
“We believe that secure local government, at the level of the parish or community should be strengthened to support and enhance democratic government in Scotland.”
The Church of Scotland has also been active in calling for participatory budgeting to give local people a real share in important decisions about public spending.
The report, written by councillors, representatives of civic Scotland, and a range of experts, suggested councils should be given major tax-raising powers.
It recommended they should have full control of the whole range of property taxes, including council tax, and the freedom to set these in ways that suit local circumstances.