News & Events

Assembly Reconvened at 6:30pm - Sederunt 3

The Assembly’s evening session opens with worship.

The Convener of the Business Committee suggests changes to the Assembly’s timetable.

Rev. Gordon Martin [Muir of Ord] presents the Home Missions Board report dealing with Youth. Thanks all who are committed to working with young people, as well as parents in the Church.
Hoping to put more resources for youth work on the website.
Speaks on the subject of a survey in the Church to assess the current state of youth work in the Church. Intend to repeat the exercise.
Suggestions from the survey: youth clubs, which are entertainment-based with short epilogues less useful as means of evangelism. Relationships are key.
Evangelistic events are important, challenging young people with gospel. Need to disciple our covenant youth. Not convinced we do that well.
Speaks of lady in his own congregation who runs ‘Prayer Warriors’ - takes young people for Bible study each week, and teaches about prayer and how to pray. These initiatives take commitment.
Would welcome involvement with Strategy Sub-Committee on these issues.
Sunday Schools: Revision of syllabus nearing an end.
Exploration Project: introduced last year. This has produced significant results - increase in people involved in it.
Thanks all involved in checking and marking worksheets.
Special thanks to Irene Howat, Editor of The Instructor and in many projects associated with the young people. Irene has volunteered to stay on for 5 years as Editor [Applause]
Mention of Youth Camps - congratulations to Laura MacAulay, camps organiser, on her recent marriage.
Youth Workers - mention of Church’s Youth Workers. Intend to run Youth Workers’ Conference later in the year.
Successful Youth Conference this year.
Mr Martin moves the Committee’s report.

Rev. Calum I. Macleod [Back] speaks to second the report. Speaks about Youth Work in the Western Isles Presbytery.
Youth Work important in our congregations. In the WI Presbytery, much has been invested in youth work - finance, resources, prayer.
What has been achieved? Alison Macdonald has been Presbytery Youth Worker in the WI Presbytery since 2005. Her work invaluable - threefold financial mechanism: individual contributions, congregational levy, church grant. Post driven by an evangelistic concern for young people, concern to build relationships and co-ordinate the work done throughout congregations, vision of discipling young Christians.
Supported by Presbytery’s Youth Committee, as well as Mairianne Campbell, youth worker in Stornoway congregation. What has been done? Highlights some key activities: successful Presbytery camps, requiring preparation and co-ordination. Activity-based camps, but in 2010, Presbytery Committee organised two camps, with the second being Bible study-based.
Youth worker helped with organising Bible conferences. These have been instrumental in providing biblical exposition.
‘All for Jesus’ - programme of Sunday night meetings to bring Youth Fellowships together for teaching, testimony and discussion. Helpful ministry in providing forum for young people from different areas to mix.
Scripture Union in schools has been important in Western Isles; youth worker has been involved in these groups. Growth of the SU group in the Nicolson Institute.
Local initiatives: Summer mission to Gairloch, joint fellowship meetings between some isolated communities. Work has led to local intitiatives, eg. in own congregation in Back, there has been ‘Back Alive’, as well as new youth clubs.
Young people a great encouragement to us - let us continue to encourage them.
Seconds the report [Applause]

SPEAKERS

Rev. Derek Lamont [St. Columba’s] - speaks about the youth work in St. Columba’s, Edinburgh. Young people from many different backgrounds. Strive to integrate them into life of the congregation. Try to be hospitable and disciple young people. Time of new responsibilities, questions, fears - try to involve young people in city groups; while recognise the importance of young people having their own fellowships, important to have the congregation work together. Older members have served young people well.
Pastorally demanding work. Transient congregation - people come and go. Privilege of company of young people, then they leave to go elsewhere. Value prayers for the work.
Derek and his wife, Catriona, were host and hostess at this year’s Youth Conference - encouraged by young people - united, warm, mature - a real credit to the Church. [Applause]

Rev. Dr Colin Dow [Glasgow City] - speaks about youth work in Glasgow City Free Church. New children appearing in congregation. 40-45 young people in the congregation.
Impress on families the importance of family worship. Responsibility for young people can’t be devolved - we, as parents, are responsibility.
Teach children the Catechism - children are like sponges, soaking in information. Not just memorisation, but meaning.
Moved evening service to 6pm to allow families to attend.
‘First Friday’ - programme for teenagers - many from African / Asian perspective. Thankful to God for growth [Applause]

Mr Angus Morrison [Dowanvale] - Wants to encourage people in Youth Work. Dowanvale runs a community youth club every Monday evening - local young people very enthusiastic about their attendance. One young girl asked one of leaders about being a Christian; told she had been given a Bible, but had to read it secretly at home, and that she and her brother pray for her parents. This very encouraging.
We are not able, but God is [Applause]

Mr Clive Bailey [Peru] - encouraged by report’s emphasis on outreach to unchurched young people. But relatively few will be reached by these means. Passionate about Christian education. The Free Church runs a Christian school in Peru; Home Missions Board DVD spoke of Christian schools in India and Israel; Moderator spoke of the glory of Christ seen in the community. Must ask - are we willing to be proactive in Scotland? Christian education was a passion of the Reformation church in Scotland, of the post-Disruption church up to 1872, when State assumed responsibility for education for all children in land. Christian education was passion of the early twentieth century Free Church when sent John Mackay to Peru. Want to encourage Youth Committee to go further. Education always used to appear on agenda of Youth Committee’s report. Can we do it in Scotland? Time is right; should be proactive. Take advantage of Government legislation, which allows establishment of faith schools. Not just cater for our own, but should take long-term view and aim for transformation of land through Christian education. Co-operate with other Christian agencies in this. Should want to do this for Christian good of Scotland.
Urge Committee to look into ways of establishing Christian education [ Applause]

Rev. Gordon Matheson [Sleat] - work in Skye and Wester Ross - Susan Maclean is Presbytery Youth Worker. Thanks Assembly for support of Youth Worker. Her work developed through Session plans for young people. Sparse population an advantage - children know one another well - bring friends to activities they enthuse about. [Applause]

ORDER OF THE DAY - Presentation of Lyle Orr award winners.

Rev. Gordon Martin presents the winners to the Moderator:
Moderator (Rev. David Meredith) addresses the prize-winners, and presents them with their certificates and prizes.

The Lyle Orr winners are presented to the Moderator:

The prizewinners being entertained by David Meredith.

Infant Grade - Neil Campbell, Aberdeen
Junior Grade - Mairead MacSween, Perth
Bible Class Grade - William MacSween, Perth

Rev. John MacPherson asked to engage in prayer for the young people.

Youth report debate continues.

Rev. Farquhar Renwick [Knockbain] - tells of his work in local schools - regular RE classes over nearly 25 years of ministry. Realises that his access is at discretion of headteacher. One local headteacher denied him access to teach RE as an isolated subject. Shared situation with prayer meeting. Returned to speak with headteacher, who granted access - encouraged to pray about the situation. Also encouraged by responses of young people in school. [Applause]

Rev. John MacLean [Kilmuir] - there are approximately 700 pupils in Primary Schools in Skye; nearly every child every week will hear message of the gospel while doors are open. Should count this as great privilege and opportunity. Pray that God would bless these opportunities.[Applause]

Rev. James Beaton [Oban] - speaks about schools’ chaplaincy - ministers in rural settings sometimes have opportunities that city ministers do not have. Interdenominational work in Oban - H2O (Hope to Oban) - no ministers directly involved on management board. Full-time Christian Youth Workers involved in work in Oban High School - encouraged by this. [Applause]

Rev. Christopher MacRae [Kilmallie] - Speaks of a youth worker in Kilmallie, who has developed a youth programme focussing on the gospel story of Jesus. Encouraged by questions from young people - God gives us opportunities to preach the gospel. Encouraged by headteacher, who has been attending church. Advice to make ourselves available and God will do the rest [Applause]

Rev. Gordon Martin concludes debate.
Thanks Moderator for presentation of prizes. Thanks all who spoke. Importance of prayer.

REPORT OF THE PSALMODY COMMITTEE

Rev. Finlay Mackenzie [Glasgow] speaks to the Report.
Work of the Committee went on as normal throughout the year. Promotion of the singing of the metrical Psalms.
Resources available: Double CD - Tutor CD - is in the course of preparation.
Manual for Precentors also available.
Sing Psalms editions - Words only, with Sing Psalms and Scottish Psalter - sales of combined edition doing well. Booklet on Gaelic precenting.
Committee working on two new publications - collection of psalms for children’s use - short excerpts of psalms suitable for children to sing. Hope this will be taken up by Sunday School classes.
Collection of Psalms for use on special occasions - designed for use at camps, meetings with other denominations.
Enthused by organisation of regional praise workshops - these designed not just for precentors, but for whole congregations. First, in Smithton in June 2009; St. Columba’s in 2010; planned workshop in Brora this month.
Illness of Evan Macdonald a cause of regret - receiving appropriate treatment.
Psalmody Committee hoping to run a workshop in the Western Isles.

Rev. John MacPherson moves the deliverance
Rev. Dr Colin Dow seconds the deliverance

REPORT OF THE STUDY PANEL

Presented by Professor Emeritus Donald M. MacDonald

His address is found here.

Seconded by Alex MacDonald. His address is here - Alex MacDonald.

No speakers.

Report of the Committee on Praise. Prof. Donald MacDonald.
Address found HERE.

Donald Jack raises a point of order - Should we deal with this report just now or await outcome of petitions? Moderator - deal with it now.

Report moved and seconded

PETITIONS

From Northern Presbytery - petition on the union of Thurso, Tongue, Farr, Strathy and Halladale

Presented by Rev. Howard Stone [Castletown]. Small, scattered communities - congregations made up of faithful people. Petition requesting a formalising and regularisation of difficult situation.
Assembly agreed to unite these parishes under the ministry of Rev. Kenneth Macleod, who will be the minister of the new charge of Thurso and North Coast Free Church.

From Presbytery of Skye: setting up of a Team Ministry

Presented by Rev. John H. MacLean [Kilmuir]: 12 charges in Presbytery, but less than half able to sustain full time ministry. Concept of Team Ministry an answer to situation. Petition asks that Commission of Assembly be authorised to take up and dispose of report from Home Missions Board regarding Team Ministry in Skye. Assembly agrees to this.

Assembly finishes 9.10pm