News & Events

Tuesday 18th May 2010

10:00am
Moderator’s Address
Click here to read the Moderator’s opening address: The Exciting Church

10:00 - David Meredith gave his address, which lasted for one hour. His address, which was on the subject of an ‘Exciting Church’, was well received. The full address is on the website. 

11:30 – Report of Business Committee
Letters from Free Reformed Churches in South Africa, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Canadian Reformed Churches, the Christian Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated), Day One Christian Ministeries. Moderator appointed representative to the OPC General Assembly.
Ecumenical Relations Committee
Convenor – Iver Martin – aim to foster relationships with other churches, with the aim of God’s people being one.
ICRC Conference in New Zealand - Drew attention to the ICRC conference in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was important, but a little bit frustrating because it needed to be a bit more active. There was to be a review of this. The Free Church must retain its involvement in this.
EuCRC conference in Edinburgh - He contrasted the ICRC in New Zealand with the EuCRC conference in Edinburgh. The latter was exciting and vibrant in comparison. He paid tribute to Rev. James Maciver for organising the event so well. Some disappointment was expressed at the low number of Free Church people attending.
Talks with the Church of Scotland - We did not want these to come to an end, however the Committee could not see how meaningful talks could continue, and so they had to be stopped.
Finally, the Convenor congratulated the Moderator, with whom he had been in Sunday School.

Dr George Coghill – (Aberdeen) asked why we had to stop discussions with the C of S when the status of the minister concerned had not changed.
-    Because up till 2009, the C of S General Assembly had not actively supported the matter and endorsed the position.
Mr MacPhee (Stornoway) - What is the position with the APC? And with the FCC?

Answers:
-    With the APC, good locally, a bit muddied
-    With the FCC, there were none.
Rev. A. Macleod - Asked about discussions with the United Free Church
-    Rev. A. Macrae answered the question. Discussions were going on at an informal level. 
Rev. R. Rankine – Asked about £10,412 cost of the Committee. Was it worth sending the delegates to New Zealand? Is it money well spent? Does it have relevance to the people in the pew?
-    The question should have been asked last year. We have to look at the potential of ICRC. It is a big body of Reformed churches – we have to look at what it could do for us. We are a founding member. We are, and need to be, involved. As regards the Conference, you can divide the cost over four years. We have to decide whether we are in it or not.
The deliverance was moved by the Convenor. 
Rev. James Maciver (Clerk) seconded and spoke about the European ICRC in Edinburgh, and again expressed disappointment at the take-up of Free Church ministers. It was a very stimulating conference and we need to take these things seriously. There may be a communication problem. We should take this back to our congregations.
Jeremy Ross (Poolewe and Aultbea) moved an amendment seeking to get closer co-operation with the APC. There were four congregations where the APC and the Free Church worship together. This was seconded by Rev. Douglas MacKeddie (Maryburgh). 
Rev. Angus MacRae (Dingwall and Strathpeffer) spoke in support of the amendment and asked for mutual eligibility with the APC. He also spoke of links with the IPC and the EPCEW, and said it was good that we supported these churches at a British level. They were young churches and we could support them, and also learn from them. Ecumenism also begins at home. We should form kingdom links in our parishes.
Norman Smith (Ayr) offered congratulations from Ayr. Spoke of an experience in his own church the previous Sunday, where a man said he was back in the ‘true Free Church’ and was glad to return from the FCC. There was reconciliation and forgiveness. It was exciting to have someone coming back and seeking forgiveness, and putting their arms around you. 
Dr John Ross (South Africa) again offered congratulations. Expressed his disappointment at the C of S openly supporting a practicing gay minister. That, in a sense, is history and we wait for the outcome of next year’s Assembly. We should be talking to people in the C of S who we would agree with. We need to be supporting our brethren in that. He raised the question of the possibilities of a new church in Scotland. The Ecumenical Relations Committee asked for these contacts to be continued.
The Convenor replied and accepted the addendum, as well as thanking the speakers. He agreed with Dr Ross, but suggested that we did not want to appear to be opportunistic; that could backfire. 

The Session ended.

2:00pm Tuesday
Home Missions Report

The Church does not exist for itself. Ecclesia means “called” - Church exists to call people from sin to God. Jesus said: “as the Father sent me I am sending you.” How did the Father send the Son? Incarnation. He came in the flesh. Took our human nature. Romans 8. Came as near to us as it is possible without sin. Came to where we are. Amongst the unworthy, like the Samaritan woman. 

Our mission, too, must be incarnational. We are in the flesh. Often, the Church has erred in trying to becoame as unlike the world as possible. We must diminish the perceived difference there is between us and others. Paul became all things to all men. Discovered how they behaved. We must be in the world, which means we go into the world. But Jesus’ mission had a message. For this reason I came ...to testify to the truth. He came to achieve our salvation. We need to make that known. We need to raise our expectations of what it means to be a Christian and to be congregations. An evangelist is a bringer of good news. Ministers need to constantly research where the lost are. We love the story of the lost sheep. But we dont realise that Jesus is gving us a paradign for mission. The mission left the 99 that were safe and went after the 1%, putting all his effort into it.

In Edinburgh, there may be as little as 1% who are safe. 99% are lost, yet we are putting the bulk of effort into the 1%. How would it be if the Church reversed its priorities? What would happen if we used max effort to reach the lost? It must be done in co-operation with all our boards etc. There must be vision for mission. The Home Missions Board is intended to raise the profile of national misson.

Report itself…....

Spoke to each section as given - see Report under ‘Resources’ section of website.
Team ministry? What the reason for it? It is a way of providing ministry to smaller congs in scattered areas. 2 reasons:
1) There will be the mutual support between the two minsters.
2) It will provide cost-effective ministry in these areas.

For example, Argyll. Team ministry is ideal for that area. Also, north end of Glasgow. Also, large sections of the Northern presbytery.
We could appoint a team: say, two ministers in three congregations.
This will have to be sent down under Barrier Act, so cant be passed until next Assembly.
This is an urgent situation - that’s why were bringing it to this, instead of next, Assembly.

Churches and ministers.
Congregations must provide full cost of ministry.

There is a petition about S. Uist. Asking the Assembly to extend church extension status for another 5 years. Growth can be slow in some areas.
Petition : Glen Urqhuart and Fort Augustus.

Finance: Cost to Home Missions Board to provide ministry to those who cant afford: 300,000

Fundraising. Meetings have been held - have proved fruitful.
The Convenor then answered questions.
Rev. John Forbes (Bonar and Lairg) - What warrant do you have for treating the appointment of a development officer as a charge?
A. McD - We would regard it as a pastoral role, rather than an administrative one, in line with our missionary practice.

JF: Who will he be pastoring?
A. McD -    Various people.
J. Forbes: Can you re-explain why you brought the proposals forward to 2010?
A. McD -    As I explained, it is a matter of urgency.
JF : Was the Assembly of 2009 aware that this involved constitutional change?
A. McD -    Be careful about saying that this is constitutional change, it is not. The Barrier Act is not just to do with constitutional change.
The Moderator seconded - He spoke about church planting and some of the negative perceptions of that. It is not just the latest gimmick or church repotting. It is about getting the Gospel and the Church into areas where there is none. We need healthy mother churches. Perhaps we have just four congregations on the Scottish mainland that are healthy enough to plant another church. We must develop healthy mothers. The National Church is thinking of closing 1500 out of 3000 church buildings, leaving many areas without a physical church presence. Previous models of church planting in
the Free Church have been very expensive ­buildings, manses, ministers. The new model is very different. Hopefully we will be able to plant
churches all over Scotland. Can you imagine going to the Hawick communions, being at the presbytery of Elgin?
Moving on to Neil MacMillan, he praised his work as a Godly man, a practitioner of church planting in Fife, a wide reader, has the gift of asking hard questions. He appealed to Kirk Sessions to listen to the hard questions. He appealed for support for Neil as one of the young, restless and reformed!
(Rev.) John Forbes - moved an amendment to the effect that the proposals for team ministeries should be put back to the 2011 Assembly because it was such a radical change. He wanted less detail. There were problems with linking even two congregations, often because of personality clashes. What would it be like linking four congregations under a team ministry?  There were other ambiguities?  Who is responsible for the individual souls of the congregation?  Who is their minister?  Who pays expenses?  Who puts the notices on the notice board? Do we think it is right to have ministers who don¹t have one particular congregation?
The amendment was seconded.

(Rev.) John Forbes - moved another amendment. He was conscious that there were murmurings in various quarters in the Church. He was not suggesting that we do not have a development officer. He spoke of the use of the term “Pastor”. In the Scripture, a pastor is someone who looks after a flock and is a preacher. But there is nothing in the job description about preaching. We cannot wink at this. He was proposing that Mr MacMillan not be inducted, but be given a seat on Presbytery.

The amendment was seconded.

Rev. Iain McDonald (Cumbernauld) proposed an amendment of the proposed legislation on team ministeries, which was about the composition of the team ministry council. 
The amendment was seconded.

Dr Bob Akroyd (Buccleuch) - Neil MacMillan and Alex MacDonald are both the right men, in the right place doing the right job. We need to come up with the next 99 church planting models. The Church rises to challenges and responds to vision. He spoke about the South East Gospel partnership in England, in which David Miller of the Cobham Free Church was involved.

Rev. Donald G. MacDonald (Portree) - Spoke of the visit from the HMB to Skye. It had excited him. The presentation was excellent. He mentioned the Hub¹ project. Portree was a hub congregation, despite reservations. But the experience had been a very positive one. He spoke against John Forbes’ amendment re. Neil MacMillan. ­He saw no difference between him and professors in the College or missionaries. He spoke appreciatively of the work of the HMB in Skye and Wester Ross: ­Lochbroom, Coigach, Trotternish, Plockton etc. Good things are happening, but things are still fragile and some congregations are in danger of extinction. The HMB have been very helpful. He was not in favour of blue and yellow coalitions because they tend to go green. But we do need to work with other congregations in other denominations. We are going to have to choose between denominational presence and a Gospel witness. He spoke in favour of team ministry.

David Lipp (Rosskeen) - Spoke about the situation in Northern Presbytery. He worked through the whole presbytery pointing out the number of vacancies.
Spoke in favour of the work that Neil MacMillan was doing and the visit he paid to the Northern Presbytery. He wanted to paint a picture of how dire the situation in the Northern Presbytery was. Our remit is not to close congregations, but to try and minister to them. We have to think out of the box.

He spoke in support of team ministry. We need to start working together outwith the current boundaries, ­whether Presbytery or otherwise. If we stay as we are, we will be extinct.

Rev. Kenneth Stewart (Dowanvale) - spoke in favour of Mr Forbes’ amendment to delay the team ministeries proposal, on account of it being complex. He was concerned about it possibly ending up more restrictive.

Rev. Donald Morrison (Lochgilphead) - spoke in favour of the team ministry proposal. 

John Ross: J. Forbes’ amendment is rather mean minded. It says to Neil MacMillan that “you can do your work and we will mind it, but we’re not going to put our weight behind it”. The task that the Support Worker does is huge and there will be times when will need to know that the Church is behind him.

John Johnstone: Share the work of Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline. Has been exciting and encouraging. Attendances are going up in Dunfermline. The Church is gaining its own identity also. Fortnightly house groups. Number at these going up. Pray for the youth work. Kingdom Kids. Wants to express appreciation to the Dunfermline Congregation. Kirkcaldy: we now have Community Worker – please pray for her.

Evan Macdonald: We have those within our cong from all continents. Due to work of Finlay and Christine Mackenzie. Pay tribute to the hard work they do. Fundraising: important to realise that the intention is not for people to divert funds, but extra to what is already given. Perhaps there should be fundraising co-ordinator in all congregations.

Iain Macaskill: Spoke in favour of Road to Recovery programs in many areas. Also wanted to mention Chaplaincy in schools. Good opportunities in schools - also football clubs - many openings and opportunities.
Spoke of some who had been converted from alcoholism.

C. Reid (Cobham elder): Thank the Church of support. Church attendance has declined, but still not as small as when they started. Becoming integrated into the community.

Iain Thomson: Supports J. Forbes’ amendment to delay because of its complexity. Does no harm to delay - won’t hinder it. On the other amendment on the Development Officer. We should be thankful for Neil and his gifts. But if he takes a call, we’ve tied ourselves to someone who is ordained.

Andrew Fraser: District ministry. In both congs in which I have served, there have been committed people. In north, these people continue. These people are dedicated and love the Lord. Assynt and Scourie. Assynt youth project.

Dr Alan Macpherson (Ayr): Paragraph 16 Mission to the World. We entered into this with a lot of hope, but paragraph seems to indicate that the initiative has fallen flat.

Colin Morison: Elgin. We got an additional five years. It’s exciting when a neighbour is converted in her seventies. And when people want to know more about the Bible. He was invited to speak about death to 10 year olds. All kinds of questions raised by them. It’s a hard and discouraging work. Wants to thank Alex and Neil - and David Meredith - for their support.

Iver Martin: Spoke about the need for elders to encourage their ministers. There was need to get behind the new financial system. Spoke about the need to get behind decisions made at Assembly. Hope there would be vote for deliverance.

David Jones: Ullapool. Follow on from before. They were sending their minster to conferences. Also described how Ullapool Church had been refurbished with financial help.

Alex MacDonald - Response to speakers and sum up.

Answer to Dr Macpherson: MTW is currently being rejuvenated.
J. Forbes’ amendment re. team ministry: presbytries will again have chance to look at it.
Ian Macdonald’s amendment: some sympathy with it, but confusion in what he’s proposing.

Vote between deliverance and amend to delay team ministries - deliverance carried.
Vote between deliverance and amendment to not induct Neil MacMillan - deliverance carried.
Vote between deliverance and amendment to alter team ministry arrangement - deliverance carried.

Order of Day 4:30pm Delegates

Three delegates from other churches addressed the Assembly:
Rev. Dr William Schweitzer - Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.
Rev. Dr Peter Smith - Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
Rev. Dr Peter J. Wallace - Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Evening Session 6:30pm Youth Report

Rev. Gordon Martin gave the report:
Statistics:
1390 young people attending SS throughout the FC 2008.
Shows decrease on previous years. 2% decline over previous years.
1046 baptised children under 16.
96 baptisms per year.

These figures do not indicate the vast energy that is placed into young people’s activities.

Along with this work, there is unease at youth evangelism. We expect children to come to faith, but we don’t hear of children coming to faith from no background.

Lot of work done upgrading the SS syllabus. Increase in children participating in youth syllabus. Encouraging.
Still less than 50% of SS using it.

Worksheets now produced in attractive format - attractively priced also. CD available with all documents on it.

This year, the September Instructor will be devoted to the project.

Youth Worker training. This is ongoing. Youth Workers should be recognised by the Church.

Evan Macdonald: mover of report:-
50 years of FC Camps! We give thanks to God for them and their ministry. I am the only person present who attended the 1st camp in 1960!
There was once suspicion about camps, but that is now gone. This is an excellent holiday in Christian atmosphere. Our young people have been converted and are seeing role models, as to how to live as Christians.
Payed tribute to Mhairi Mackintosh. The new camps organiser is Laura Macleod.

Sunday School Teachers’ Conference - had to be cancelled because of lack of support. Also camps training days! This is disappointing.
The plan is to replace the Conference with a conference next year. This will include parents and elders.

Speakers:

Colin Morison: Camps Supervisor
Tribute to Mhairi Mackintosh. Wish her well and thanked her.
Pay tribute to huge army of volunteers who make it all possible. This was united team, consisting of the whole congregation to which she belonged.
Recollected his own days and the influence that camp had on him.
Now there are still young people professing faith as a result of camp.
Hopes that Camps DVD will be widely used.

Showed Camps DVD to assembly.

Copies of the DVD are available from the Offices.

Jeremy Ross:
Youth Work in Skye and Wester Ross - The further away you are, the most expensive youth work is because of distance to youth facilities. We’re glad that Susan Maclean has been reappointed.
Parents are speaking positvely about Church.

Joe Macphee:
Education - Item 6 in Report. Involved in Christian School in Lewis. Urge Committee to look further at Christian schools. We have much to learn from Australians and Americans about this. Conference at end of month organised by Christian Schools Trust. We need the Holy Spirit in the classroom.

Iain Mackaskill:
Referred to young mum who had recently passed away in Dingwall. And Laura Macleod is from S. Uist!

Presentation of Lyle Orr Awards

   

Iain Thomson (East Kilbride):
There is encouargement in the Youth Report. Thanked Irene Howat for her work in Sunday School materials and Instructor.
Wanted to speak about GUYF, Glasgow United Youth Fellowship. Meet on last Friday every month. Very impressed with calibre and spiritual maturity of young student-age people - coming from churches all over Scotland. This year’s theme has been ‘Engaging’.
Other group is G2 - for secondary school pupils. Started up again after period of having stopped.

Kenny Macleod (Thurso):
Apology! To a little girl belonging to the Tongue congregation, Alana. Her name is not in birthday slot in Instructor.
We now have 9 children attending SS in that area and that is amazing. 
Bob Akroyd:
Spoke to Lyle Orr winners about Rene Stewart, who had marked their presentation. If you serve God, where there is a will, there is a way.

John Murray (Dowanvale):
I married well and hence, don’t show my years!
If anyone had said to me years ago that one day we’d be doing a work in St. Peter’s School across the road, I’d have never believed it. There’s a club with games and Bible. They want to know what we’re going to do with them when they are 12 years old. 

Seoras McGillivray
Story: My wife and I were in a Central Asian country, and she saw a series of Irene Howat’s books translated into the local language.

Brian Kee (Dundee):
Importance of student ministry - for example, debating and learning good theological teaching. Investment in them by teaching sound doctrine. 

Gordon Martin:
Thanks to everyone who contributed.
Christian schools probably will come back on to the agenda.

Report on Personnel Committee

Rev. Duncan Macleod - Convenor.
Reporting on behalf of Norman Cumming, who is unable to be here. His mother is poorly. Asked Assembly to pray for the family and her.
This is second Report of this committee. We now understand our role more fully.
We are still uncertain about our remit. We did what we could.

Stipend.
Committee’s role is to advise on target level. There is still a major tension in affordablilty and final decision rests with Board of Trustees.
Stipend should be 21000 by 2011. Target should be top of unpromoted teacher’s salary. Then absense arrangements for minsiters in pastoral charges.
The long-term period in which minister should be released from charge is reduced from 18 to 15 months. Also payment arrangements will change. Have to balance concern for minister with concern for congregation.
Ministers encouraged to take all holidays. And Sabbatical. Terms of these have been revised.
Manse and long-term accommodation needs. Questionaire issued recently and result is in Report. This issue of housing, in event of unforseen circumstances, remains a concern.
This is being looked at by Finance Sub-committee.
Working conditions of staff. Pension? If stipend increases, then ministers should be able to pay more into pension funds.
Pastoral support - the role of Pastoral Support Committee in presbyteries is crucial.

Questions:
Kenneth Stewart (DV): leave of absense. Can the leave of absense (sabbatical) period be split up? Answer: Yes.

Alasdair Macleod (Ulapool) to move the Report. Heartening to know that there are qualified people to deal with pastoral issues and know about legalities. Move Report.

Speakers: None.

Petition from Rev. Kerry Stewart to be placed on the roll of retired ministers. Presented by Rev. Roddy Rankine.
Agreed.

Petition from Captain Colin Macleod to be given seat on Edinburgh Presbytery. Presented by Rev. Angus MacRae.
Agreed.

Petition from Skye and WR to join the congregations of Lochbroom and Coigach. Presented by Rev. Alasdair Macleod.
Spoke of the important place that David Meredith’s ministry had on the congregation of Coigach via DVD. 
Agreed.

Assembly closed with the Benediction.