News & Events

10:00 am: Report of Board of Trustees

Legal Issues: Some movement in FCC relations; Board supports Partick in its claim for its property.

Dr Akroyd asked how the surplus is being spent.

Mr Fraser - money helps to fuel activities of the Church. Rod Morrison addressed Assembly on the matter: surplus carries forward into assets of the Church and reduces deficit of the Church.

Dr Akroyd asked if accounts could be represented in a more accessible way. Mr Morrison replied that they are, at times, difficult to read! Need to be presented in a standard procedure.

Rev. I. Martin asked re. legal action in Peru: what are the difficulties currently experienced? Rod Morrison replied that there are complex insurance issues being dealt with.

Mr Evan Macdonald asked re. increase in remittances: to what extent due to increased fundraising? Rod Morrison - diifficult to tell, probably change in cash flow.

Dr A. MacPherson:  formally moved the Report.  Seconded.

Amendments:  Dr Akroyd :  a) Board to make Financial Reports more understandeable and accessible;
                            b) Board to bring forward fully costed proposals to the 2011 Assembly to increase the Church’s pension contribution from 10% of pensionable salaries to 15% of pensionable salaries.

              Mr Evan Macdonald: Board to produce guidance for contributions on tithing and Report to the next General Assembly.

Mr Jones asked should we be putting so much money into buildings, especially in light of current low stipends for ministers?

Mr Finlayson spoke re. tithing. Current confused perception about tithing, perhaps because ministers cautious about preaching on the subject. Encouraged ministers to preach on tithing.
Dr Akroyd:  financial accounts show prayerful blessing of additional pupils in Colegio San Andrés: figures show Colegio San Andrés as a financially and spiritually viable school.  School has invested in more staff; can Church invest its financial surplus in extra manpower; mission; evangelism; lessons can be learned from the Colegio San Andrés model?

Rev. I. Martin further spoke re. the Colegio San Andrés. Spoke of his recent visit there. Spoke of the value of the School and its impact on Peruvian society. Two concerns raised: 1) perceived lack of communication between Board and Staff of the Colegio.  2) Re. Court Case: to pray for the parents who lost their sons.

Mr Murdo Murchison spoke in response to Trustees giving £800 000 to Dundee Free Church. It is a loan for a supported project, and loan is being paid back timeously and in full.

Rev. Donald G. Macdonald spoke about the situation in Portree. Great blessing seen in past ten years. Spoke of his vision for mission to the community focussed in a building for community access. Expressed thanks for Trustees’ support in current project.

Dr John Ross: commended success of Greyfriars and Stratherrick in negotiated local settlement with FCC. Spoke of myth of 10% tithe: rather New Testament emphasis on proportional giving.

Rev. Alex Cowie thanked Board for its support for Partick Free Church.

Mr James Fraser summed up: a) Accounts - first amendment accepted.

                              b) Pensions - second amendment accepted.

                              c) Loans - Buildings important in gospel witness, especially in areas of strategic growth, such as Dundee.

                              d) Tithing - amendment accepted.

                              e) Surplus - refer to accounts - income decrease noted. Guides to Board are income figures from 2008-2009, showing decrease in income.

                              f) Colegio - astonishing achievements in pupil figures and income. Mr Bailey and staff commended. Board avoiding ‘hard’ look at Court Case; pastoral concerns in case noted. Noted
                                communication concerns and will address them.

Supplementary Report on Worship

Mr James Fraser noted the challenging remit of the Board. A Plenary Conference will be convened, at which opinions will be discussed, but there will be no definitive Report brought to the subsequent Plenary Assembly. Questions asked referred to the format of the Plenary Conference. Board has yet to discuss and plan the format. The composition of the Conference: every minister and an equal number of elders invited, but this is not prescriptive.

Rev. Donald Macdonald moved the Report. Seconded.

Psalmody Report

Members of the Committee will help to offer local training sessions for ‘budding precentors.’ Training Conference being planned for the Western Isles. Booklet of Metrical Psalms for children produced and selection of Psalm portions prepared for local evangelistic events; useful for those whose first language is not English. Thanks to Rev. Charles Douglas, Bookshop, for his support and to Colin Rogerson for his input as Clerk. New Psalms not a stepping stone to hymns! Recommend use throughout Church.

Mr Evan Macdonald moved the Report. Seconded.

Rev. Dr Fergus Macdonald stressed the importance of singing all of the Psalms. All of the Psalms are useful; concerned that we sing only fragments of Psalms - we fail to benefit from the Psalm narrative.

Report of the Communications Committee

Rev. Dr Malcolm Maclean: Several tools for communicating: website; magazines; gifted individuals in other spheres. Message is the teachings of the Bible; message applied on a diverse range of issues. Prominent theme of remit of Committee is concern: a) changes in political world, e.g. End of Life Assistance Bill. b) Use of the Bookshop - feasibility of online purchasing being looked at.
Satisfaction in website expressed.
Magazines: sales of Record and Free declining by small percentage. Free - appreciated outwith, as well as within, denomination. Record - suitable articles : please send to the Editor. Appropriate news about congregations / events: please send to Editor.

Addendum: Dr Fergus Macdonald: Committee to mark in 2011 the 400th Anniversary of the King James Version.

Rev. I. Martin spoke on the website: reality of website not quite what initially anticipated, e.g. ease of use. Nevertheless, the new webiste conveys information effectively and attractively; content-managed site. Can now update the website at an instant! Problem is that we don’t now have a Communications Officer (Catherine Pearson thanked for her work), therefore facility not able to be developed as desired. If news from a local congregation to be included on the website, send to Iver Martin the information plus a photograph. Website accessed by people all over the world.
Iver Martin as Media Officer - a ‘no-win’ position! Media Officer has to retain objectivity. Opportunities in media are good - e.g. Moderator’s Address reported in newspapers this week.

Rev. Kenneth Stewart made a plea to the Editor of the Record to show breadth and sensitivity, particularly with respect to the Worship issue.

Rev. Angus Macrae praised our magazines and the website having kept up with the times. Urged more evangelistic materials to be produced and to be readily accessed. Urged local churches to have a website and to be regularly updated.

Dr Maclean accepted addendum.

Report of the Panel of Pastoral Advice

Rev. Alistair Macdonald: Panel being more proactive in care of ministers. However, Panel can only help if it is called on. All serving Free Church ministers contacted by Panel. Rev. W. D. Graham and Mrs E. Graham thanked for their work. Professors will be contacted in due course. Each Presbytery to be encouraged to visit each minister at least once every two years. We are our brother’s keeper.

Moved and seconded.

Order of the Day:
Miss Elaine Duncan - Scottish Bible Society
Rev. John Ross - Associated Presbyterian Churches
Mr Harold Gibson - Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ireland

Adjourn

7:00pm
Report of Disciplinary Procedures. Rev. James Maciver.
The presence of sin is the reason for this. Much of the proposals is not new and the new mechanism is not transgression of former principles.
Must meet the important principle of justice. There must be imartiality and objectivity. We must be SEEN to be doing justly and outside bodies must see this. Church is not immune to civil action. That is why proposals are as they are. Civil legislation is taken into account.
Another principle. Spiritual independence. Committee aware of this. Under headship of Christ, Church claims right to regulate own affairs.
These proposals protect and serve these three criteria.
The present practice does not meet this, eg. same personnel act as judge and jury.
The Committee are going to bring foward a set of names as a preliminary measure, if the proposals are passed.
The Committee will also produce set of guidelines to show how legislation should be implemented.

Questions:
C. Reid (Cobham) : Pg 97 2.1.4 - Probationers not mentioned?
Answer: this is oversight. Probationer should be included.

Angus Macrae: There is no route of appeal? is that correct?
Answer: there is an avenue of appeal. Fresh evidence would require restarting the case.

Has this procedure been okayed by human rights lawyer?
We have consulted.

Subject closed.

7:30pm Lecture by Prof. John McIntosh on the Scottish Reformation.

We will not be reporting this lecture, but will make it available when we get it.

Photos of today’s Assembly: