News & Events

Moderator’s Address

The Moderator’s address can be found HERE.

The Moderator then thanked his wife, and indeed all the wives and other women in the church who worked hard for the gospel: “Where would we be without them?”

(Applause!)

Report of Ecumenical Relations - Rev. Kenneth Ferguson
Report is found under Assembly Reports.
Wanted to thank Moderator for his address.
Committee has done a lot.
The Confession of Faith Communion of Saints…. are bound to maintain fellowship in the worship of God.
Spiritual isolation is anti-Reformed.
We need as far as poss to cooperate in gospel ministry whenever there are opportunities.
The Church of Christ is opposed by secularisation etc.
We are most effective when united.
A threefold cord is not easily broken.

Suggest that the Moderator might be able to give info on recent EuCRC conference in Edinburgh.

Questions…...
Donald Jack: Does FCC have ICRC membership? A: Yes - on the basis of them being a distinct denomination.

Report is moved and seconded.

Speakers:
David Miller: treasures the support he gets from other churches and colleagues in ministry. Values very highly the engagement he had with EuCRC - various cooperative efforts. Calvin had Europe-wide vision, which we need to recover. It is children who think only of themselves. We need to mature. ICRC: wants to advance its cause. Is it good value? Yes - next Conference is in Cardiff—not far away. ICRC is worldwide church.
Speaks of Rich Young Ruler: those who come to Chirst receive a hundredfold - brothers and sisters - in this life! Commends the report.

Colin Dow: We have things in common: those who sow in tears will reap with joy. Speaks of links with Presbyterian church in east Africa. (Representative present). God has brought in over 5 million people in East Africa. The PCEA is reaching out in some of the hardest places: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania. Speaks of the Baraka Fellowship in Glasgow. Pays tribute to Neil and Mairianna White.

Alasdair Macdonald: Attended the UF Assembly. Values the fellowship we have with them. The UF was very grateful for an article which David Meredith contributed to their magazine.

Duncan Peters: Commend the committee for sending David Meredith to Lausanne conference in Cape Town last year. We should have a report in Record or website.

David Meredith: Affinity - has been in the doldrums somewhat. Speaks of attempts to revive it. However, under Peter Middlesome (?), things are changing for better.
“ACTS” is simply a meeting to get to know people. 
Lausanne was phenomenal. Most memorable part was final night communion. It wasn’t the best conference I’ve been to - but some speakers were excellent: Guiness, Piper, Vaughn Roberts etc.
2 big issues raised: tension between word ministry and deed ministry.
We need to remember our brethren in CoS - we should be slow to speak - allowing them to reflect on yesterday.

Kenneth Ferguson - sums up. Commends the work of the gospel through the PCEA - Australia.

Report of Home Missions Board
Rev. Alex MacDonald

His address is here: HERE

LUNCH BREAK

Afternoon Session

Visit of Lord Provost, George Grubb.
- he addressed the Assembly. Moderator gives him copy of ‘The Peoples Theologian’.
- the Lady Provost is presented with flowers by Jessica MacMillan

Return to Home Missions

David Meredith - seconding the report.
This is key issue.
2 issues:

1) Strategy
Could be argued that this is a fad. Not the case.
Across the evangelical church, there is a drift from study to office. However, strategy is absolutely biblical. Look at report. Mentioned twice.
2 elements: has to be degree of honesty. Nehemiah - first thing was to examine walls and assessed difficulty of situation.
Must be honest about ourselves. Tells story of goat walking into service in Skye. The minister preached on as if nothing was happening. This is metaphor of wider church - we preach on as if nothing happening.
We have churches collapsing. Too often, we carry on as if nothing changed since 1943.
Glasgow has changed.

We must suspend our pride.
We need a degree of intentionality. The disciples went over all the earth. Elders were set up. Strategy! They used issues opportunities open to them. There is big debate now about “cities” - we do not neglect rural areas.
Neil MacMillan has helped a lot in this.
Strategy needs not be man-centred.

and

2) Church planting
Reference B5 in report - fad? No. Clear that we need to engage in church planting. I am child of Paisley - a church plant. We have seen green shoots. Livingston, Falkirk etc. We are looking at new models. Traditional church plants are expensive. If you build a church, you need 1 million at least. St. Columba’s is looking at a micro-church in Bruntsfield. Little green - shoots of grass.
Why plant? It is natural. Some churches die. But where there is death, there is resurrection.
New plants bring experience; they reach new people.
Cant stand hearing someone say: doing church.
We love church. Sometimes new expressions of church are superficial. Disruption arguably was about church planting.
We may be small denomination, but tremendous opportunity. Potential for growth. Surely God has job for us in Scotland.
The gospel costs. Are we prepared to pay the cost?

3 Amendments….

1) Norman Smith - to keep East Kilbride under special arrangements, as long as they remit 85% stipend. EK was badly affected by 200 split. There is now prospect of new elders. Dedicated minister for 10 years. Congregation remits over 90% stipend. EK is largest urban area in Scotland. EK should enlist the help of development officer.

2) Peter Morrison - wants the Commission of Assembly to set up a team ministry in Glasgow and Argyll in October, rather than wait till next Assembly.

3) Addendum. Gordon Matheson. Wants the Assembly to clarify the role of “team ministry councils” in the light of scripture, with respect to principle of parity and plurality of elders - and give Presbytery guidance. 

Speakers:

Angus Howat. A word about team ministries. Wants first to pay tribute to Alex MacDonald, outgoing chairman. (Applause). Is there future for small congregations in new finance structure? It’s been my joy to notice how much Alex has emphasised that we are not there to close down, but new ways of providing ministry. He has gone to these places himself. In 2008, the Commission instructed Assembly to bring proposals for team ministries. Last year, they were brought and submitted under Barrier Act. They approved. We need to now approve. This is not way of getting ministers into congregations where they would not otherwise have them. In practice, this may work out such that one particular minister spends most of his time in one congregation. Two words of warning. 1) This is not the answer to every problem. It will only be effective if there are men available to make up team. Otherwise, back to square 1. 2) Also - this requires lots of homework. We congratulate the Northern Presby for their work. Presbyteries should only do this when they do the work.
Team Ministry Councils: this is working group. All congregations involved do not have same session. But in order to coordinate the effort between congregations.
We trust that this will open a door to provide a flexible way to bring the gospel.

David Lipp: Support the petition for team ministry in Northern Presbytery. Ministers are in situ, but we’re looking for another person. He gives background. Why team ministry for North? We’ve thought about various options. Hampered by FC legislation. Until now - this is way ahead. Its essential to get alongside congregations. Takes time. Congs are very positive in North about this. Plan includes some union between some congs - should make things easier and perhaps lead to their own minister. Sometimes, I felt that this was too administrative. It can be dispiriting at times. Small numbers. But we need vision for work - to keep congs alive. This is new way of working; if it’s accepted by you, the hard work begins. 

Colin Dow: Report of Glasgow City FC in Cambuslang. Local ch is organism and must seek to reproduce itself. Preaching must remain same and our confidence in our preaching.
Why Cambuslang? Romantic? George Whitfield? No. Cambuslang is almost size of Inverness, but no Reformed Witness. 5 families living in C area - began with BS - then outreach service on Sunday afternoon. We give out leaflets before service. But now more Cambuslang people come. 30 - 35 people every month. 8 people who began in Cambuslang now come to Glasgow City. Would love to do this in other areas. Please pray for this work. Also, take some inspiration. You dont need church laws to start outreach in other areas.

John A. Mackay: A word about the Glen. Great spiritual need. We are fragile, but with potential. I have been 6 years now and have changes for good in everyone in congregation. We are fragile, but with potential. We refurbished building and, last Friday, we had opening: church was full - many who had never come before OR havent been there for years. Last week, we had one new member - a 13 year old girl. We need to be sons of encouragement - like Barnabas.

Calum Iain Macleod (Back): Speaking on behalf of Finance and Social Responsibility Committee of HMB. There has been much to encourage us. Much financial difficulty. Two boards HMB and IMB have had to raise funds. Both boards now expected to raise 40% of budgets. HMB will do utmost to rise to this challenge. There are three key projects. Short DVD also - highlighting these. Board has responded positively to application from Lewis for evangelism coordinator, who will arrange such as ‘Christianity Explored’. To do more, we must give more. This translates into more workers and projects. Commend the projects - pray for this work.

Brian Kee (Dundee) : St. Cyrus/Montrose. We took decision to stop services in this area. We decided to adopt different strategy. Currently, a two-weekly Bible Study in a home. This has produced significant spiritual growth. We are also working in partnership with other like-minded churches.
Dundee: work continues. Conducting a different course: the life of Jesus. Recommends this.
Student work continues: we have 30-35 students attached to congregation.
We have had great opportunities to engage for the gospel in the local area.
Story: Ralph - has been converted. When I first saw him, I didnt expect him to be interested. He is in prison. In prison, he read his Bible and has been changed. We pray for that same work.

Norman Cumming: spoke about Dumfries.
1. Refurbishment of building over 4 years. Had large anon donation. Building hardly recognisable.
2. Thanks to the Interim Moderator: Rev. W. M. Mackay. Faithfulness over many years.
3. Thankful that the FC has kept Dumfries within special arrangements. Some encouragements - some discouragements.
4. We long for gospel ministry among us - and in town.

Duncan Peters. Asian Outreach. Past year has been exciting and encouraging. New weekly Sunday service - going for 6 months now. Multicultural, comprising many backgrounds. Conducted in English, but applied in particular context. We have question/answers after preaching. Attendance around 30. Pool of around 45-50. They come from around 10-12 ethnic groups. Most not from Christian backgrounds. It’s a young gathering. More men than women. 1st-generation immigrants. Highly mobile - 3 families moved already. Some folk are in difficult circumstances - some lost contact with their families back home. Pray for them. We also have Urdu language services - guest services. Recently, one at Easter where over 40 attended.
Other opportunities: occasional invitations to speak at various gatherings.
Question: what has Asian Outreach got to do with reaching Scotland? Jesus tells us to reach all peoples. These groups are growing rapidly in Scotland. Connections everywhere. These people will become new Scots.

Gordon Matheson: Describes Sleat and Strath. Focus on Broadford. We have started Mustard Seed Café. We have a settled group coming regularly. Also ‘ASK’ - discussion group. Skye is heart of Gaelic culture. This is area where we need to work harder. Spoke about alcoholism in Skye. Big problem. Also spoke about importance of unity with other churches in work - like CoS.

Ricky Macdonald: thank you for the opportunity to preach in Badenoch. Opportunity to speak in local school about Jesus - the children would not hear this unless he was there. There is also bridge-building work. Cosy café is a place where we can meet kids who have moved to High School. Thanks to Neil MacMillan for his support. Thanks to Assembly for giving him more freedom in worship. We have less than year - we’ve seen some growth, but in another year, perhaps, a bigger manse for more outreach.

David Millar. Wonder sometimes about how Cobham church fits into wider scheme of things. But we do have special times of meeting. Lost significant people. Gained some. Down around one third.
But Cobham is part of the world church. It IS church extension. We have three young people baptised somewhere else in world, who professed their faith in our congregation. We are also the family to those who come to us. We are home for needy, Reformed people. Like OPC family with three young children, who came to us and stayed with us. We are perhaps a watering church, rather than planting. We are now becoming more widely known in community.

Angus Mackay (Strathpeffer) : How do we motivate people to get alongside those who are outside? They need to want to relate. In 1986, Bonskied we heard of Gethsemane, Calvary and Emmaus - we were challenged to tell. The congregation is the team ministry. Commends report.

Ruairidh Maclean: Harris is depopulating rapidly. Dying a slow death. At same time, a vibrant and welcoming community. I have great pleasure being there. 5 Presbyterian denominations in the area. We and local CoS enjoy close fellowship over recent years. Meet together once per month for prayer. FC involved in Urban Saints - (Crusaders) with kids with no active connection to church. 2 elders added to session. But one of these is leaving for another job. Value support of HMB and Neil MacMillan.

Donald Jack. Wanted to know if Highways and Byways mission was still in existence. Gave background of HB. Went to cong of 7 and saw numbers going up to 45. Spoke of Douglas MacMillan’s work. Remembered work in Bettyhill.

—Showing of DVD of HMB work———

Order of the Day. Delegates…
Dr William Schweitzer - Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales
Rev. Paul Levy - International Presbyterian Church, London.

Paul Levy

Both spoke warmly and were received well.
Moderator welcomed them and sent our greetings to their churches.

Alex MacDonald sums up. Thanks all who spoke.
Amendments?
1) The Board proposes one-year extension for East Kilbride - the amendment proposes three years. Therefore, the amend goes to vote
2) Accept the amendment
3) Addendum by Gordon Matheson - not clear about this. Thinks Gordon has misunderstood, Report does not usurp Church courts. Goes to vote.

Voting:

Amendment 1) versus Deliverance -
Deliverance carried.

Amendment 2) adopted.

Addendum 3) versus Deliverance -
Deliverance carried. 

Break for Dinner.