News & Events

Rev. Alistair Montgomery, one time minister of Scalpay and Back Free Church, passed away at the Western Isles hospital in Stornoway on 17th January. He was 82. Mr Montgomery, originally from the town of Stornoway, married Chrissie Maclean from Shawbost in 1967, a short time after being inducted to Scalpay Free Church, his first charge. Ten years later, they moved to Back, where he was minister until his retirement in 1994. As well as being a gentle, self effacing and mostly serious person, Mr Montgomery was friendly, warm, approachable, and often humorous in company. He enjoyed a remarkably fruitful ministry in both Scalpay and Back. He will be greatly missed. We extend our sincere sympathies to his widow, Chrissie.

John Macleod has written a longer piece, which can be found here:
Hebrides News

Greyfriars Free Church, Balloan Road, Inverness

Friday 30th March - Sunday 1st April 2012

£20 for the weekend (please note: attendees are responsible for organising their own accommodation)
£10 for day visitors (whole day or part of)
Children under 16 free (must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)

3 main talks from Jim Turrent on Christ’s person, Christ’s purpose and Christ’s prize.

2 talks from Iain MacAskill looking at social ministry, and how Paul used houses and halls to share the good news of Jesus.

Foreign Missions Focus by Neil and Rachel Rae.

Seminars by David Meredith, Gavino Fioretti, Angus MacRae, ATB McGowan, Jonathan Fraser and John Ferguson.

Discussion times, prayer and praise.

Please note: Whilst day visitors are welcome (subject to capacity), booking is essential to take advantage of the inclusive meals on Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes.

For more information and booking form, please go to: http://www.fcossc.wordpress.com

At the Harris Hotel, Tarbert, Isle of Harris on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 20th, 21st and 22nd April 2012.

Speakers:

Rev. Dr I. D. Campbell, Point Free Church
Topic - ‘And Their Eyes Were Opened’, studies in Genesis 3 and Luke 24

Rev. Ian Hamilton, Cambridge Presbyterian Church
Topic - ‘Communion With God: The Christian’s Highest Privilege, A Trinitarian Perspective and Its Ultimate Consummation’

Missionary Focus

Cost: £135 (discounted rates for students)

Application in writing with £10 non-returnable booking fee per person.

Booking Secretary - for Hotel Residents only:
Miss Donna Macleod, Lower Bayble, Isle of Lewis, HS2 0QA
Tel: 01851 870 261
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Booking Secretary - for Day Visitors for meals/buffets:
Miss Marion Macleod
Tel: 01851 870 654
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

In the February/March 2012 issue of Free:

Does where you live affect your ability to be a Christian? What difficulties do you face - and benefits do you gain - simply because of location? Kicking off an occasional series about Christians living in diverse places across the globe, Free talks to Kim and Michael from Las Vegas, and asks them: ‘What’s it like being a Christian in Sin City?’

Tirzah Jones is the Director of Youth Ministries for Day One. Free asks her about her faith, her youth work, her job and - of course - her name!

Ruth Nicolson hates feet, and once got into a sticky situation involving her tongue and a freezer… But, on the plus side, she has the answer to all the country’s economic problems and possesses an amazing hidden talent! Intrigued? Find out more as Free puts Ruth On The Spot!

When your friends don’t understand; when it feels like there’s just you; when you’re not like the rest of the crowd… Free hears from two girls who know how hard it is to be a Christian when you’re the Odd One Out!

You’d love to come to the 2012 Free Church Youth Conference, but you’ve never been before and you don’t know what happens there. Well, Free can sort that! Alex MacQueen’s Youth Conference Survival Guide in a Nutshell will tell you all you need to know - and then some!

Catriona MacArthur has come a long way since she first arrived in Japan. Read The Adventures of CatMac for the very last time, as Catriona looks back on her Japanese escapades and thinks ahead to adventures still to come…

Elsewhere in the magazine, we ask why the world is so crazy about Valentine’s Day, when every day should be a ‘Valentine’s Day’, and Dayspring MacLeod explains why you really don’t have to let guilt rule your life… You’ll also find all the usual features - like Sneaky Peek, Cool Ramblings, Spaghetti Blog and more - in the latest issue of Free!

If you want to make sure you receive a regular copy of Free, simply send a cheque for £12.00*, made payable to ‘Free Church of Scotland’, to: Free Church of Scotland, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS. Alternatively, you can contact the Free Church Offices on 0131 226 5286 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .

(* £9 per annum, plus £3 post & package. £18 for overseas subscriptions.)

Comms_Officer_Advert_060112.pdf

2012 Camp Brochure

Every Summer, around 400 young people, from 10 to 18 years, go to Free Church Youth Camps and they have an altogether brilliant week! Camps offer a wide variety of activities, including pony trekking, watersports, football, visits to theme parks and much, much more.

All our camps are run by volunteer teams from Free Churches, and there is time set aside each day for worship and Bible study.
Check out our new website for more details and dates for Camp 2012:  http://www.freechurchyouthcamps.org

For more information about the camps, contact the Camps Administrator on 0131 226 5286 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

The Free Church bookshop has now introduced an online bookshop, where a selection of books can be bought. The link is here:
Free Church E Books

FCYC Hoodies - Great Reductions!

We have hoodies in these sizes: 9-11, 11-13, Small and Medium, and in these colours: Red, Lime Green, Royal Blue and Hot Pink.

Not many left, but they MUST go!!

£10 for kids’ sizes and £12 for adults’ sizes + £2 (p&p).

They’re great for this weather and would make excellent gifts.

Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your order or for more details.

Rev. Dr Howard Stone narrowly escaped paralysis or worse last week, when he accidentally came off his motorcycle while on his way to conduct a church service in Wick. He was flown to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where he was fitted with a “Halo Vest” because of a fractured bone in his neck. Howard has been the Free Church Minister in Castletown, Caithness, for the past 18 years and has been a motorcycle enthusiast for decades. (Perhaps, having recently become a grandfather, he may have to reassess the risks!) We are thankful that he was spared further injury and pray for a speedy recovery. The vest stays on for three months.

Over 220 people welcomed Rev. Duncan Macleod as the new minister to Dornoch Free Church on Saturday 26th November. Ministers and friends gathered together from all over Scotland for this special occasion.

Duncan and his wife, Morag, have moved from their congregation in Perth, and previously he was Minister in Helmsdale.

The service was led by Northern Presbytery Moderator, Rev. Iain MacAskill, with Rev. Ronnie Morrison addressing the new minister and the congregation being addressed by Rev. Eric Paterson.

Following the service, a reception was held at the Dornoch Academy, where a number of speeches were made. Speakers included Rev. John MacPherson, who was Minister in Dornoch during the 1980s, and Finlay MacSween, Session Clerk from the Perth congregation.

During the presentations, Rev. Eric Paterson (Golspie) was thanked for his support during the vacancy period of the past 2 years.

The reception finished with the singing of the closing verses of Psalm 72 and prayer by the newly inducted Rev. Duncan Macleod.

Our prayers are with Duncan and Morag as they seek to serve the Lord in this new ministry.

The Free Church Bookshop has moved into new premises at 16 North Bank Street, Edinburgh.

Why not come & visit us!

11.11.11 marked a special day for Dumfries Free Church as the Rev. Calum M. Smith was inducted, following a very long vacancy. It was a day of anticipation and excitement as the congregation of Dumfries prepared for the evening, knowing by the end of the night they would have a new pastor to shepherd them. 
The induction service was preached by the Rev. Kenny Boyd, with Rev. Angus Howat addressing the new minister and the congregation being addressed by Rev. Willie Mackay. The singing was led by Angus Graham from Barvas and Rev. Alec Stewart, Maryburgh.
Around 150 friends and family from the four corners of Scotland gathered for the reception, which was held in St. George’s Hall. Presentations were made to Calum Murdo and the family, and also to the Interim Moderator, Rev. Mackay, and his wife. Speeches were made by the Rev. Colin Macleod (Leith FC), Rev. Calum Macleod (Shawbost) and Rory Stott (final year student at the FC College).
A wonderful, warm spirit of fellowship was present throughout the evening, which closed with the singing of Psalm 133 and prayer by the newly inducted Rev. Calum Smith.
We pray that God would bless Calum & Johan in their new ministry.

(submitted by Kirsteen Stott and Mairi Macaulay)

Calum Murdo is from Shawbost, Isle of Lewis. After leaving school, he studied Engineering in Stornoway and Glasgow, and was in the Merchant Navy for 8 years, sailing to many different parts of the world. He still loves the sea and goes fishing whenever he can. Latterly, he spent a couple of years working with the Stornoway Port Authority, before being led to the ministry. Prior to beginning his studies at the Free Church College, he completed a degree course in Rural Development studies through the UHI in Stornoway.

He is married to Johan, who is from Barvas, and they have 3 children: Joni (6), Marissa (4) and Danny (20mths). Johan worked in Gaelic Development and, in particular, the preparation of Gaelic educational resources prior to being a mum. She has been able to continue with this occasionally, as time allows.

In 2010, many areas of Pakistan suffered their worst flooding in decades. At that time, we were able to send a total of £18,000 through Tearfund and Blythswood Care to help the relief effort.

In August, many communities in the Sindh province of Pakistan were, once again, suffering severe floods, with thousands of villages in the Mirpurkhas and Sadin area inundated by the flooding. Thousands were made homeless and had lost their land. Tearfund’s Country Representative for Pakistan reported that: “Houses have been knocked down and crops ruined again. People are, once again, running to safety.”

In response, we have been able to send £5,000 from the Free Church Disaster & Relief Fund to Tearfund, who have a partner organisation working in the areas affected.

Statement Issued by the Free Church of Scotland Commission of Assembly
Wednesday 5th October 2011

At its meeting on 5th October 2011, the Commission of Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland agreed to issue the following statement on the proposal to introduce same sex marriages in Scotland.

The Commission of Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, (5th October 2011), wishes to express its deep dismay over the Scottish Government’s current proposals to introduce same sex marriage in Scotland. Its opposition does not arise out of any kind of homophobia, but a concern that 1) the timeless definition of marriage as the voluntary union of one man and one woman would be changed irreversibly and 2) the timeless institution of marriage would be permanently undermined if the government effectively changes its meaning to include same sex couples.

In this respect, the Free Church Commission wishes also to applaud the courage of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow and support their clear statements in opposition to same sex marriage.

Rev. Dr Iain D. Campbell is to be the Moderator of the General Assembly in 2012.

Last night, the announcement was made by the October Commission, which met in Edinburgh.

Dr Campbell, who is currently minister of Point Free Church, is a native of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. He attended Stornoway Primary School and the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway, before studying at the University of Glasgow and the Free Church College, Edinburgh.

After ordination, Dr Campbell served as pastor of Snizort Free Church, Isle of Skye, from 1988-95, and Back Free Church, from 1995-2009. Since 2009, he has been Minister of Point Free Church on the Isle of Lewis. He is also an Honorary Chaplain with the Western Isles Health Board.

Dr Campbell has served the church in various capacities, as Editor of The Instructor from 1990-96 and Editor of The Monthly Record from 1996-2000. He has also been a member of the College Board, serving as its convener from 2007-11. He is currently Convener of the Church’s Communications Committee.

In addition to his Free Church work, Dr Campbell has preached and lectured in various parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States of America and South Korea. He is the author of several publications, and has contributed to several academic journals and books. He was Review Editor of the Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology from 2003-2009 and has lectured as Adjunct Professor of Church History with Westminster Theological Seminary.

Dr Campbell (or Iain D., as he is affectionately known) is married to Anne, a teacher of children with special needs, and they have three grown up children, Iain, Stephen and Emily.

We warmly congratulate him and wish him well in his role as Moderator.

Please click on the link below to view the provisional Camps Programme for 2012:

FCYC 2012

WOMEN’S DAY CONFERENCE 2011

‘No Gift Too Small’

Glasgow City Free Church, Saturday 26th November 2011, 10am - 3.30pm

For full details of how to book, please click on the link below:

Women’s Conference Booking Form

The induction of Rev. Duncan Macleod to Dornoch Free Church will take place on Saturday 26th November at 2pm.

All welcome!

Get your 2011 FCYC hoodie by filling in this order form:

Hoodies_2011_Order_Form.pdf

Calling all 10-18 year olds .... the 2011 Big Free Rally will be held at Smithton Culloden Free Church, Inverness, on 1st October. For full details of this year’s exciting programme, click the link below!!!

BFR_Flyer_A4_FINAL_2011.pdf

Click on the link below to download the latest newsletter from Dumisani:

Dumisani News

Rev. Angus Lamont is to leave London Free Church and become minister at the Union Church, Lima, Peru. Angus, who is married to Anita, a native Peruvian, spent several years in Chiclayo, Peru, as a church planter, before returning to Scotland in the 90s. He was inducted to the London Free Church congregation two years ago, but is now returning to Lima. Though Angus is a fluent Spanish speaker, the Union Church, situated near Miraflores on the Lima coast, is an English-speaking church, and largely serves the US and other English speaking communities.

Dornoch Free Church in Sutherland is to get a new minister, Rev. Duncan Macleod. Duncan has been minister at Perth Free Church since 1996, after leaving Hemsdale, his first charge, where he had been since 1983. Last night (23rd August) at the Edinburgh and Perth Presbytery, he accepted the unanimous call from the Dornoch congregation, which has been vacant since Rev. Angus Lamont left to go to London in 2009.

Duncan comes from Carloway on the Isle of Lewis and initially studied teaching in Aberdeen. He spent 3 years in Uist teaching Gaelic, before entering the Free Church College in 1980. He is married to Morag from Scalpay, and they have three grown up children, Rachel, Donald and Katy.

The induction is expected to be sometime in November.

An appeal, lodged by the Free Church (continuing), claiming that the church and manse at Broadford in the Isle of Skye were owned by them, has been thrown out by three judges at the Court of Session. The judges unanimously concluded that the FCC had no basis to claim ownership of the property because they had left the Free Church. The Free Church of Scotland is relieved and thankful that this judgement has been made so decisively, and hopes that the ruling spells an end to the matter.

One of the judges, Lord Drummond Young, suggested at the end of his judgement, the possibility of coming to an arrangement to share property. The Free Church has always been open to discussion of reasonable arrangements for the joint use of properties, where that is possible and practical. Indeed, sharing of property already takes place in some areas. However, today’s judgement has made clear that hitherto disputed buildings belong to the Free Church of Scotland. We earnestly hope that we can now put this issue behind us and move on to better things.

You can find the Court of Session judgement here: Court of Session Appeal Ruling

The Western Isles Presbytery recently appointed Ian Murdo Macleod as their Evangelism Coordinator. He will work with various congregations in Lewis and Harris to set up and train in evangelistic programs, such as Christianity Explored. A pilot project run by Mr Macleod last year convinced the Presbytery of the importance of an ongoing, long-term venture, which will hopefully see outreach groups established, designed to welcome anyone who wants to discover the Christian faith.

Ian Murdo, who lives in Tong, just outside Stornoway, is a Deacon in the Stornoway Free Church congregation and is married to Chrisell. They have four boys.

Mr Macleod will be formally commissioned at a special Presbytery service on 25th August in the MA Macleod Hall, Stornoway, at 7:30pm. Everyone is welcome.

Newly qualified Rev. Alec Stewart has accepted a call from the congregation of Maryburgh and Killearnan to be their minister. Alec comes from Kyle of Lochalsh. Prior to studying at the Free Church College he worked in various different jobs: baker, factory worker, forklift driver, joiner, bricklayer and carpet fitter to name a few.  However, latterly, he worked at Duirinish Lodge, responsible for looking after the grounds. 

Alec is married to Florica and they have three children: Anna Maria (9), David (7) and Daniel (9 months). Florica is from Romania, where she studied and worked as a social worker. During their time at the Free Churgh College, Florica worked as a social worker and translator.

The induction is expected to be on Friday 16th September at 7:00pm at Maryburgh Free Church.
(subject to his sucessful completion of trials for ordination).

As we have heard from news reports, some ten million people in East Africa are facing severe hunger as some areas experience the worst drought in 60 years destroying crops and livestock.

Robert Schofield, Tearfund’s Disaster Management Director, says, ‘Tearfund has local partners responding in the region. For more than 20 years, we have helped local churches to build the resilience of their communities to become food secure. We need to act now to help families who are in desperate need today.  One of Tearfund’s partners is involved in emergency relief efforts in Kenya, and - with your support - we plan to do the same in Somalia and Ethiopia, as well as helping communities in the long term’.

As an initial response, £5,000 is being sent from the Free Church Disaster & Relief Fund to Tearfund to assist with relief efforts.

We are grateful to congregations who send contributions to this fund on a regular basis, in order that we have the means to respond to disasters when they occur.

Further news and information about the response to the crisis in East Africa can be found at http://www.tearfund.org.

Positively Presbyterian will be held at Carronvale House, Larbert, on 29th - 31st August 2011. This conference is open to all, but would especially benefit those in church leadership. Please click on the link below to see the Programme:

Positively Presbyterian 2011

We would encourage you to send your booking in early.

Overtures

1) From Western Isles
2) From Edinburgh Presbytery

With regard to office bearers who have difficulty with the form of sung praise agreed upon last November which gives liberty to congregations to choose hymns if they wish, there is a composite motion before the Assembly to give opportunity to office-bearers to intimate their own personal conviction with regard to sung praise and thus clear their conscience.

A second motion has been circulated (proposed by Mr D. Jack), which delineates when ‘purity of worship’ should be observed.

Ruling from Chair is that the two motions should be set against each other.
Q. Rev. Dr Ian D. Campbell - Doesn’t Mr Jack’s motion involve the repeal of the findings of the Plenary Assembly?
A. Donald Jack - Yes

(1) Western Isles Presbytery Overture (presented by Rev. Dr Ian D. Campbell)
This overture is not intended to overturn the finality or authority of the Plenary Assembly. The overture is not intended to obviate the conscience issue or the possibility for dissent. Nor is it intended to provide continued agitation. The crave of this overture is simply the logical outcome of the Act of 2010, which was carefully framed to allow relief of conscience, namely that no minister would be required to conduct a service of worship which contents he considered unbiblical. The overture recognises the following: not all the office-bearers (real or potential) were present at the Plenary Assembly to register a dissent. This is not to create a 2-tier office - every office-bearer is bound to obey the Higher Court. This overture is recognising the Biblical Principles regarding Conscience and for mutual respect.

Q. Daniel Sladek - Why is it necessary to state our position on worship?
A. Iain D. Campbell - It is not obligatory to do so, but it is charitable and gives an opportunity, if necessary, to state one’s own position.

2) Overture from Edinburgh and Perth Presbytery (Alex MacDonald)
Overture removed and motion of Western Isles Presbytery supported. *Applause*

Dr Campbell moves the motion of the Western Isles Presbytery. Motion seconded.

Donald Jack moves his motion. The issue is the question of ordination vows. This motion is attempting to be fair to everyone. The object of this motion is that if you want to adhere to the psalms-only position, you can do it, but if you want to do other, it allows for that also. The motion is trying to put clothes on ‘the purity of worship as presently practised in this church’. If a congregation wishes to use hymns and musical instruments, then it can have another service on the Lord’s Day, which isn’t covered by ‘the purity of worship as presently practised in this church’. Mr Jack explains that his motive is the unity of the Church.

Q. Duncan Peters - If hymns are used, is the service ‘public worship’?
A. Donald Jack - It’s up to the congregation what they call their services.

Dr Campbell pleads to Mr Jack to withdraw his motion.
Mr Jack is not willing.

Q. Dr Iain D. Campbell - Will the passing of your motion involve dismissing the motion of the Western Isles Presbytery?
A. Donald Jack - No intention of doing so.

Dr Campbell pleads with Mr Jack to withdraw his motion.
Mr Jack not willing to.

Speakers
Rev. Donald MacDonald - The ordination vows are very important to me and should be to us all. The motion by Dr Campbell affects the meaning of the vows and formula. Dr Campbell’s motion is pick and mix, creating a mythical unity. Part of the speech of the Lord Chancellor from 1900 read, suggesting that Dr Campbell’s motion is an impediment to true Christian unity.

Rev. W. Underhay - Worship includes more than the singing of psalms - it includes all aspects. We have to agree there are some things we may differ on. Someone once said to a young Spurgeon, “whatever your doctrine is, I agree with it”. Dr Campbell’s motion doesn’t satisfy because it can be extended to the doctrine of the Trinity. Couldn’t a footnote be put in connection with the formula, detailing what worship is and that it is the singing of psalms? The Church should not divide over the question of psalms and hymns.

Rev. Prof. Donald Macleod - Weariness with the debate. A 3rd re-run of the debate. An act has been passed bringing closure. Fear also. If we don’t accept Dr Campbell’s motion, we must accept Mr Jack’s. Mr Jack’s motion is Jesuistical Casuistry. Benediction is an irrelevant issue. Is this not public worship? Mr Jack’s motion would plunge the Church into untold confusion.

Vote between two motions: Dr Campbell’s motion carries. To this decision, Rev. Donald MacDonald offers a simple dissent.

Report of the International Missions Board (David MacPherson)
“I never saw anything like this”. These words were issued by someone at a small village meeting at Chhapara, India, on the occasion of the believers there gathering together for a whole night’s prayer and praise. These words remind us of the thrill of mission at home and abroad - where we are, at one level, open-mouthed witnesses of the wonder of God’s Works. These words are repeated often in the work of the IMB. It is thrilling, but there is a cost. A local evangelist in India was arrested, but was then released. Foundation, Strategy, Challenges.

(A) Our Foundation - the Lord’s last command represents our first priority - ‘Go and make disciples ...’ This command is as current and as urgent as when it was first issued. Can we afford foreign mission? Rather, the question is - can we afford not to be passionately and sacrificially involved in foreign mission? From the earliest days, the Free Church, our church, looked outwards. To jettison foreign mission is to cease to be the Free Church of Scotland. Our identity is grounded in mission.

(B) Our Strategy - the IMB, while conscious of its fallibility, does exercise its responsiblities by a strategy-seeking relevance and effectiveness in work. In Peru and South Africa, there has been a shift to becoming trainers of leaders. In Dumisani, we salute Norman and Angela Reid, John and Elizabeth Ross. Please pray for Alistair Wilson and for replacements for the retiring staff. The shift is particulary relevant in South America, with the Lima Evangelical Seminary winning national awards, through leadership of Rev. Donnie Smith. The Columbia Bible Seminary is supported and Rev. Dr and Mrs David Ford are commended. Manuel Reano and his family are commended to the prayers of the Church. Our strategy is not confined to the traditional Free Church fields. But it also moves out into new fields. God is blessing us at home and at abroad!

(C) Our Challenges - first, financial. In 2010, the IMB was required to raise £150,000. We record with gratitude that we were able to raise 90% of this figure. In 2011, we need to raise £200,000. Please participate in this. Secondly, spiritual. The thrill of mission is accompanied by bearing the cost. We must encourage the Lord’s people to give themselves fully to God’s Work and we must model such devotion.

All Free Church missionaries are commended - at home and abroad. Also, the members of our congregations who serve with other missionary organisations across the globe. Also, our partners in mission - other Christian organisations and churches. Also, Rev. Calum Ferguson, the secretary of the IMB and Rev. John MacPherson.

“I have never seen anything like this” - may these be the words on our lips as we engage in mission in Scotland and from Scotland. *Applause*

Deliverance of Report moved by Mr Angus Morrison. The report is an encouragement to the missionaries to hear that people are interested in what they are doing. *Applause*. Report seconded.

Missionary Delegates welcomed to the Assembly

1. David and Olwen Ford - serving in South America, largely in Columbia. Now returned to Scotland.

(David Ford) - Columbia is synonymous with drugs and violence. But it is otherwise. Columbia has a fascinating geography - two ocean fronts and the Caribbean sea. Columbia has a vast biodiversity - 2nd behind Brazil. Columbia is a very beautiful country. Columbia has other records - 2nd in deaths through landmines; 1st in terms of internally displaced peoples. That’s why Columbia is notorious for violence. On 23rd May, 12 tonnes of cocaine were discovered in a shipment of brown sugar. Columbia is also a very religious country.

a. Seminary in Medellín - existed since 1945, lots of graduates in the ministry. They have a five-year program. They come from 12 denominations in Columbia and outside. It is a useful tool.

b. Seminary’s projects - prison ministry, sports ministry, ‘Zero Stress’. A website has been created with access to theological literature in Spanish 6 years ago. Since its creation, in April 2011, 65,000 computers logged onto the website and 20,000 books were downloaded. The demand in Latin America is very high for literature. Three top selections: Calvin’s Institutes Vols. 1 & 2; the Redeemer Church Planting Manual. Hits to the website come from 78 different countries, but by far the most frequent is from Mexico, where the growth of the Evangelical Church is amazing.

David thanks the Church for its support and for his family. *Applause*

(Olwen Ford) - Most of us were brought up in a Christian home. But in Medellín, most were not brought up in Christian homes. But the violence there has had a positive efffect on the Church in Columbia. Some have come to faith through the struggles. One man was a murderer, but was converted and is now a pastor. Another man was a farmer and was displaced by FARC, and is now a pastor working in his old territory. Anna Maria, graduated recently, had been married, but 6 weeks into the marriage, her husband left her to join FARC. She came to the Seminary and is now working as a Bible translator. All our stories are going to have a happy ending, but if you move even a hundred metres outside the Seminary boundary in Columbia, you will meet thousands who live with daily violence, but whose stories don’t have a happy ending.

‘Zero Stress’ was started as a sewing project to give women space. Some of the women have abusive husbands and had no-one to speak to. They are very vulnerable. ‘Zero Stress’ is a safe place for them. They need to be made disciples of Jesus Christ. That verse about going (Matthew 28:19, 20) is interesting - students COME to our cities to learn, BUT you can’t get away from the command to GO. There is no escape, whatever kind of church we are. We aren’t promised health or wealth, the only thing we are promised is His presence and that is surely to be enough for us. *Applause*

(David MacPherson) - We want to praise God. The Assembly sings Psalm 66:1-5.

2. Alistair Wilson from Dumisani through Skype communication. He brings greetings from governors, staff and students of Dumisani. Also, greetings of Free Church of Southern Africa offered. Warm and prayerful good wishes conveyed to us; our prayers are welcome for them. “We are treasures in jars of clay” - the past year has been difficult in Dumisani; the problems are not passed; but we are confident that God will be faithful in providing finance and personnel for the future, so that the Gospel may go forth from Dumisani. Thanks to the IMB given. Dumisani is blessed to have such a complement of skills and gifts among its staff. The prospect of losing Norman and Angela Reid in little less than a month, and the Rosses in 6 months, is daunting. We continue to pray for replacements. Also, Mrs Shelley Lombard (Registrar) has made improvements to governance and finance in the Seminary. Dumisani is in the midst of exams at the moment, but we trust in God’s goodness. Thank you. *Applause*

Rev. Kenneth Cameron leads the General Assembly in prayer for Dumisani, concerning the points raised by Dr Wilson.

3. Mr Mike Moore (CWI) - this is a highlight of his year. The men who founded the Free Church founded missions to the Jews - so we are deeply privileged to have a relationship with the Free Church. Thanks are offered for the prayers and finances of Free Church people. Rev. Alex Cowie serves on the Board of CWI. 3 developments in the work for our encouragement and the stimulation of our prayers:

a. Children’s Illustrated Bible - this was begun by Rev. Baruch Maoz 15 years ago. Rev. David Zadok has now promised that the Old Testament section has now been completed. But wisdom is sought for what to do with the NT - a scholar is required to translate from NT Greek into Modern Hebrew.

b. Outreach to Jewish New Agers - as you look through OT, from times of King Saul, the Jews have been fascinated with the Occult. It has been said that Jews are just like everybody else, just more so. There are many New Age festivals attended by many Jews. And at those festivals, CWI missionaries are being blessed with many Gospel conversations.

c. Orthodox Jewish Outreach - Mike Moore spent two weeks in a Welsh Holiday resort last year, talking to Orthodox Jews who were washing in the sea. They must be treated with respect. On successive days, different questions are asked. Scripture passages are shared. Good contacts were made. Mr Moore will be going back again this summer. Please pray for him. Daily reports will be found about his work in Wales at http://www.cwi.org.uk.

4. Mr Clive and Mrs Ruth Bailey (Colegio San Andrés)
The Baileys have been in Peru for three and a half years. The greetings of the whole staff are passed on. Colegio San Andrés exists to provide high quality standard from a Biblical foundation for Peruvian Youth, with the aim of transformation. One of the most thrilling privileges a Christian can experience in this life is to be involved when God is at work. This is an update of the ways God has been blessing the work at the Colegio.

a. The sustained increase in pupil numbers - we were asked to pray for it and God has blessed us beyond our asking. This has taken us from a situation of financial difficulty to a place of financial profitability. This enables other things to take place: capital projects, building expansion, modernisation of facilities. Thanks to the WFM for last year’s gift, which resourced the modernisation of an out-of-date kitchen and dining room.

b. The employment of Christian staff - this is a key feature of a Christian school. We have 110 staff. We meet once a week for prayer - everyone is present - and the whole school is laid before God; pupils and staff with particular needs are named. There is great freedom.

c. God is at work among the pupils - we are there for the pupils. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Most from nominal RC homes. Some from Evangelical homes. God is at work among young people. Almost 700 pupils enrolled this year. Many have been brought to Christ. The majority of the Senior Year Group profess to be Christians. The peer pressure is on those who are NOT Christians.

d. Christian values permeate the whole curriculum - in practical Christian ministries putting into practice what they hear in daily assemblies and in the content of their different subjects. These subjects are taught from a Biblical perspective.

e. Progress in the ongoing legal case - there are conciliation meetings, with the hope and prayer that these would be successful in reaching a just solution to this longstanding problem.

f. Progress of the process of the transfer of the school to a local board - this was the key element of Mr Bailey’s remit in 2008. In recent decades, the evangelical church has grown enormously. 30 years after his first missionary period in Peru, there have been many changes. Many of the pupils of Colegio San Andrés go on to occupy high positions in Peruvian society and government. We have been running the school directly from Scotland for 94 years. It’s time to transfer the school to a local board. Just yesterday, papers were signed, which will allow the transfer. A new association was formed on 1st February with joint Scottish and Peruvian ownership to oversee the transfer.

These blessings give us great confidence in our God as the school approaches its centenary in 2017. The school is now full. There is a vision for an annexe. 10 million dollars will need to be raised and it is envisaged that it will all come from Peru itself.

Tribute is paid to Scottish helpers at the Colegio - Rosie Fraser, Catriona MacDonald, Rachel Mein, Marie Catherine Martin.

“If I have been able to see further, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants”. That has been true of Colegio San Andrés and its leadership over the years.

Speakers to report…

Marcos Florit.
Log on to websites of SEL and Colegio San Andrés. May not understand, but get a feel for how things are. Both are so key to life of Peru.
I feel so privileged for having been allowed to be involved.

Tim Donachie
Thrilled at what has gone on tonight. Especially CSA (Colegio San Andrés).
We may be living in day of small things, but great to hear of what God is doing.
Please refer to page 134 EEFC. As Chair of EEFC, thank IMB for providing those funds for us. Speaks about camps in Romania and Hungary, where there are English classes and Bible studies. There is opportunity for even congregations to go out there. Commend this work. 

David Miller
Its great to speak about the people who haven’t yet learned of God who is praised. Appreciated the view we had of Dumisani.
Speaks about his involvement in Missions Committee of ICRC. We’re in an encouraging phase at present. We’ve had more face-to-face meetings.
Progress is being made in drawing churches together in coordinating mission work.

One person in particular that I’d like to pay tribute to - Albert Sliep, who is now 90 and Pat, his wife.
Please remember those who have retired.

John A. Mackay
Three letters:
I O U
We owe a debt to each of our missionaries who go out in the name of our church.
I - stands for Interest or Involvement in mission
O - Others - serving with other societies. Like Richard and Barbara Davies serving in Comores. Members in Drumnadrochit. Or Donald Fraser from Kyle. He is with WEC, with his wife.
U - whenever you see anyone not a Christian - think IOU - I have gospel, YOU dont, I owe you the gospel.

Calum Ferguson
I wish we could take all of you to that village in India - remote - had to cross river - village where there were around 200 people. To hear the gospel. Not long ago, there were no Christians - around half of village are now Christian - rest are seekers. Never seen people so rapt with God’s word. There was real hunger. That village is not unique. The work is replicated in several other villages. The Presbyterian Church is now a missionary-sending church. There is still an open door, but some wish to silence the gospel. We need to be praying that the door will remain open.
Also, schools in India. Probably around 1500 attending the schools - few of these from Christian homes. Something to praise God for. These are attending Christian schools because they have best education. We dont know what spiritual result will be in years to come. Despite these encouragements, these schools face financial difficulties. Facing large back-payments. Fees don’t really take in enough. Very serious situation. Would love to help and hope we can, but not sure how we can.
India will soon overtake China as most populated country in world. Next to China, India is largest unreached country in world. How can we help them to reach their people with gospel? 

Thanks to Mission Support Groups and WFM for their support. Also, Daphne Douglas for producing Prayer Notes. And Charlie for mission notes and Frontiers.
Thanks to IMB. Ernest Brown. John MacPherson.

Iain MacAskill
Encourage congregations to start missions prayer meetings.
Thanks to Calum Ferguson.

Ken Cameron
Want to thank God for memory of Ernest Lloyd.
All around us are people from different countries. Joan and I are involved with Friends International. We’ve come to know students from different countries. Their greatest need is loneliness. I urge you to speak to international people. We can foster friendship.

David MacPherson sums up.

END OF TYPED REPORT OF ASSEMBLY

First item is the presentation of a memorial and protest, signed by adherents, members and office-bearers in the Free Church. This memorial is a protest against the decision by the Plenary Assembly to allow for the use of hymns and instruments in congregations who wish to have them…...
....memorial to be presented by Dr MacDonald. Delegates given 5 minutes to read through it.

D.R. MacDonald…..
It is necessary to give background as to how this memorial came about. Following the devisive decision (and there IS serious division among courts), the Western Isles framed an overture to go through BA. The Sy KS, largest session in FC framed a petition…....he is interrupted by Moderator, who challenged his reference to papers not received.
Mr MacDonald proceeds to argue in reference to the Stornoway petition.

It was pointed out that the only competent way was to frame a memorial - this did not require Kirk Session approval. A meeting then arranged with office-bearers to determine what support this memorial would have. It was agreed to proceed with a memorial. It was made available .

There was much opposition to the memorial. Scaremongering. But this was a legitimate way of expressing opinion.
Then he criticises column in WHFP.
Pays tribute to gracious manner in which Garry Gunn presented his memorial.
He quotes critically The Record editorial.

Quotes an article of 1883. Again, Dr Candlish…..quote.
Then Kenneth Macrae quote,.......“history repeats itself - we would not be surprised if there was a new declaratory act….”

Conclude by quoting The Record , in which warning is given against hymns and instruments…..written by Alex MacDonald, the framer of the amendment.

Questions. 
Alex MacDonald…. Para 5 refers to constitution. Is this the correct way to accuse brethren of a grave offence? A: It is an illegal Act.
Is it according to the disciplinary procedure to accuse brethren in this way? A: 
Para 6. Is this not innacurate “according to their own inlinations” - the finding was that praise be according to the Confession?
A: It was never proved that finding of Plenary was according to Word of God.
Para 9 - did not the advert in the newspaper contribute to the division? A: When attempts were made to make available in congregations and they were denied, then we went to press.
Last sentence…“declare that we shall claim all competent redress…” What does it mean? A: The final sentance was inserted to give protection to office-bearers - if disciplinary action was taken, it gave recourse to them to respond to that. Q: Respond? A: In whatever action was deemed necessary. Q: Does that mean redress from the civil courts? A: No mention of civil courts.

David Meredith
1) No mention of civil courts. Does that mean there will be no recourse to civil courts? A: No guarantee.
Are you saying you’re not ruling it out? A: I’m not in a position to give any information about what may or may not take place.
2) You say it was simply made available. Was there door-to-door canvassing? A: There was no door-to-door canvassing. It was made available to office-bearers - no door-to-door canvassing in Stornoway.
3) In papers, there were two components. There was a letter. Can you tell us the genesis of that letter? What’s the connection between the memorial and the letter? A: We’re dealing here with the memorial, not with letters.
Q: Are you saying there’s no connection between the two? A: The memorial stood alone in the press - thats what we are dealing with. 
4) There were signatures of former moderators. What was the connection between these signatures and the memorial? A: These moderators were happy for their names to be appended to it.

Angus Morrison
How did the signatories know that I contradicted my vows? A: Everyone who signed the memorial had the opportunity to determine how they understood it - they deemed that vows had been breached.

Gordon Matheson
What was the procedure behind how this memorial was drafted and how did there come to be various versions of it? A: The first draft should not have come into public domain. The important thing is that the memorial signed by people is the one before you.
Can he give us a breakdown as to how many office-bearers, adherents and members signed it? A: 97 office-bearers. 318 communicants. 341 adherents. Total: 756. Along with 70 young people, who signed the other memorial.

Call for motions…..
1) Angus Howat…that the GA receive it and note its content.
- note the wording. Not necessarily agree with it. It is the means whereby grass roots bring matters of concern.
- it is right that the GA should extend the courtesy of receiving, even though they may not agree with the intemperate way in which it is expressed.

Question….Alex MacDonald
Is it competent to receive this if not competent? A: That’s for the GA to decide.

Motion 2) Move “that we pass from the motion”, Alex MacDonald.
- whilst I agree with extending the right to protest, the terms of the memorial make it incompetent.

Speakers
Donald Jack. I’ve seen this coming. Hence, I dissented yesterday. I’m troubled about this.

Andrew Murchison. I would invite you to seriously consider accepting this memorial. Find it strange that in the discussions yesterday re: BA, great play was made about this being highest court in church and free to do what it considers appropriate. That was heart of last night’s decision. It is inconsistent to have situation where office-bearers and members and adherents, in good conscience, have taken issues, which they find hard, and they’ve brought it to floor of house. Are we not obliged to receive this - is it not Christian duty? We may not like it….but do we doubt whether they’re genuine? I do not. We heard address about the glory of Christ in the unity of the brethren. This means courtesy. If we reject it, are we saying that these people are unimportant? This comes from their hearts. If we don’t doubt that, we should receive it. 

Donald Macdonald (Rev). Words fail me to express the feeling of sheer disappointment and disillusionment over these decisions. I was born into FC - came to faith in FC and have adhered to FC all my life. I had to take a stand because there was division in my home congregation. I have been minister in FC 47 years. I have tried to serve church to best of my ability. But now, I feel that my church has been taken from me. Hijacked! Real feeling of desolation. I speak in support of this memorial. Can I warn our younger brethren - this reminds me of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, asking his advisers, younger and older - he accepted the advice of younger. It is younger element who are behind this innovation. I don’t think the FC is in listening mood to listen. You would be foolish to ignore the volume of opinion that lies behind this memorial. You may disdain the number: 756 - it’s a wonder that we go that many, when ministers told their congregations not to take anything to do with it. When letters of complaint are written to, say the BBC, one letter is deemed to represent 100 people. There is a large body of people unhappy with the change. I would urge you to receive the memorial.

David Meredith
I appreciate Mr Murchison’s thoughts. We have a tale of two memorials. The young people’s memorial was delivered reasonably. This one is different. One is the form. There is lack of clarity - legal thread at the end. I became convinced of a real possibility of a legal element. Concerned about the manner of its communication.
If we say no today, we are not saying we don’t love people. There are changes in our church culture. Can I suggest that one good change - we are now in a new phase, in which this means of debate and polemic has no place in the FC of today. I don’t think the people behind it are unimportant. There is a way of dealing with things. We need more face-to-face conversations. We are largely a united denomination. Even with our 750 brethren. We need to stimulate unity. The day that the memorial was lost was the day it was out into the papers.

Tim Donachie
Unlike Mr Macdonald and the majority of you men, I was not brought up in the FC, nor in psalm-singing congregation. Came from Methodist background, coming into FC in 1966, when I stumbled into Hope St., Glasgow. The singing of psalms was strange. I understood more of why the FC sang psalms. I came to love them and came to see them as the right way of worshipping. My concern if we reject this memorial is the perception that those who signed the memorial of this assembly and the church. Irrespective of what Mr Meredith said about love, the perception they will have is that we have not accepted their memorial, in that the church does not care about them. Despises their concerns. This worries me. Our decision upsets me - and if I find it difficult, how much more for my brethren, who were born and brought up in FC?

William Underhay
Not raised in FC either, but came to appreciate the psalms and have always used them in public worship, although the PEC church used Paraphrases. I am concerned there is a sort of contemptuous attitude towards formula. What is the meaning of present practice? Something should be done by Assembly to say this is practice of church. I am not comfortable to assert and maintain the use of contemporary music etc.
We should respect the feelings of people.

Marcos Florit
I was not born into FC. Came to appreciate its testimony and practice. I tried to promote the position of FC in Spain. When I went to Peru, I did same. We produced a psalm book in Spanish. When I was accepted as a minister, I agreed with practice. It was later that I became convinced that the decsion we took at the Plenary was the correct one. Does that mean I have broken my vows? This memorial accuses all those who have supported the Plenary to have broken vows. It’s not that we don’t care or don’t love our brethren - we do. But the content is accusatory. If we recive this memorial - can we stop there? What does the reception of the memorial have to do with yesterday’s decision? By passing from it, we are saying we have heard, we are concerned, BUT - the end of memorial says, “do what we say ....or else!”
Much has been said of the 700 signatories. Have we thought about the opposite? Do we know how many hundreds are joyful for the decision in November?

Moderator: By receiving the memorial, there are no implications about any further action by the Assembly.

Derek Lamont
I was moved and encouraged by Andrew Murchison. Have huge sympathy. But do not support him. I think that the three elements from the memorial, which Alex quoted from at first, should be within the motion. Perception is a double-edged sword. We colour things in the way we want. We don’t communicate well. If we’re making a decision, it should have meat in it. We should give people more than the bare details.

Prof. Donald Macleod
This is not a memorial at all. It does not state facts - it is a long series of accusations against members of Assembly and against Assembly itself - they accuse you of perjury and heresy. I grant the principle that we not contents. Do we want to endorse a document that accuses the Assembly of offenses against the christian faith and vows? This protest divides families. It divided mine.
Does this memorial state facts and feelings? OR protest and accuse? If so, its proponents should institute proceedings against all of you for serious breach of ordination.

Alex MacDonald wants to redraft his motion to state that the Assembly receives the memorial, but expresses concern about the unwise language and veiled threats in the memorial.

Assembly accepts the new motion and it becomes finding. Moderator wants to thank Assembly for their genuine attempt to bring together both sides. Hopes that this decision has shown accommodation. Loud applause.

Reports
Report of Board of Ministry - Fergus Macdonald

(Assembly in a 5-min recess)

Moderator back in the chair, Assembly in a good mood, too good. The Moderator has to call us back to order.

Fergus Macdonald
Highlights the Confession’s heart of worship - the ministry of the Word.
The WCF stresses the reading of Scripture. Reading in public worship is an essential element in itself. Reading has, sadly, been minimised in some quarters.  Important part of our training includes the reading of Scripture.
The Scriptures themselves are means of grace in public worship. Expect the Scriptures to speak to people as they are read.

Highlights the reference in Report to “sound preaching”. One of the many great strengths of the FC College (FCC) is that it prepares preachers. Emphasis on exegesis, language study, to be commended. This encourages preaching of the word OUT of the Word. When we do exegesis, we do so to understand the author’s intention. What did the writer mean? We need to strive to understand the meaning in original context. Board very strongly supports this emphasis.But the WCF goes on to emphasise the “conscionable hearing of the word”. Easy to exegete, but not apply. True proclamation is both exposition and applied explanation.
In postmodern world, many people are moving away from seeing stable meaning in the text itself. We disagree. But there must be a hearing of the word. The “hearing of faith” considered a mark of the church in some place. This cannot be manipulated or taught. But the FCC does seek to impress on students the power of God in this regard. Prayer life of the ministry and therefore, at the heart of our training regime, is vital. Leading others in prayer important. 

Board encouraged by the commitment shown by candidates in recent years. Board to be commended for the spirit of their interviews of candidates and applicants from other denominations. The interview process has led to deep fellowship among members of the Board.

On to the report - Student Finance Scheme ought to be reviewed and will report to 2012 GA on this.
Student Accommodation - flats, ongoing discussion with Board of Trustees.
International Students - government policy making it hard for non-EU students to enter UK institutions, including the FCC. Fergus updated on some specific examples.
Board’s Remit - when the committee structure was redesigned, some items of old ToM remit were missed. Board seeking to tidy this up.

Thanked members of the Board. Mentioned good attendance, except when Christopher (Kiki) MacRae’s motorbike breaks down. Thanks to Clerk - Nigel Anderson. Special tribute to David Lipp, who is coming off the Board. (Applause.)

Question:
Brian Kee - has the Board looked at the Cornhill Training course? A: Not formally.
Has the Board looked at ministry apprenticeships, as a way to access call to ministry, prior to applying as a candidate? A: Not formally, but worth considering.

James Beaton moving the Deliverance.
Paid tribute to Fergus Macdonald’s leadership.

Amendments:
1 - David Meredith - Discontinue proposed probationary placements for Free Church candidates (originally a 2008 Act).
Feels he may be doing the Board a favour in proposing this. Proposals are proving hard to implement. 
1-year probation is in no way adequate. There is no stability in this and, without that settled time, the value is questionable. (CoS give 18 months).
The role of such probationers is not clear. Are they members of Presbytery or not?
There may be more students than places. The Board has a right to exempt students at their discretion and this might be driven by the number of places available.
The proposal is expensive. The trauma of moving a family for 1 year is not worth the benefit.
Probationers finishing college are not the finished product, but you are equipped after two placements and three years’ (at least) training.

Questions
Angus Mackay - Have there been any such placements thus far - has it been tested?  A: No.

2 - Angus Howat - Changing the way references are obtained for candidates.
Seems to be asking for references being seen not only by the Board of Ministry, but also by the Presbytery, prior to interviewing candidates for application.

Debate / Speakers
Dr Ian MacIver - Supporting David Meredith’s amendment. This regulation seemed excellent in principle, but he is right.

Marcos Florit - Had been enthusiastic about such placements, but now sees the impracticality. Supports amendment.

Charlie Douglas - Asked Board to consider the situation of probationers who do not recieve a call after completing FCC course.

Assembly now pauses, as we await the Lord High Commissioner’s visit. 

The Lord High Commmissioner has now left the building. Business is now suspended for lunch.

Back from lunch

(Board of Ministry report & debate continues)
Norman Cumming speaks in support of amendment on scrapping Probationary Placements.

Informal Discussion -
The Assembly agree to have this period of infomal discussion before taking a vote on the amendments

Fergus Macdonald - introduces the informal discussion
Will discuss scripture entrance exams and the Probationary Placement legislation.
Would like to hear from those who originally proposed the Probationary Placements, back in 2008. Fergus spoke of his time as a young minister, working as an assistant. Gave opportunity to see how church goverment works, Kirk Sessions and Deacons Courts.

Derek Lamont - Scripture examination is a Presbytery exam and there are questions about parity across presbyteries. Would be good if there was a uniform exam, rather than be set haphazardly.

Ken Cameron - spoke of experience 2 years as a young minister in Prince Edward Island (under Mr Underhay’s tutilage). These congregations benefited from this arrangement, during vacancies. Would sending young ministers to vacant congregations, or congregations on special arrangements, be helpful?

Murdo Macleod - from a background in education and training, has an interest in asking why we do what we do. Senior ministers saying, “I did this, so you must” is not maybe a good reason. On Scripture exams, the content of exam varies from year to year, depending on who sets the exam. Should we not trust the College to set a defined standard, as part of the process of application being considered? Having the College as part of our structure makes this a more attractive option. This would avoid need for uniform standards across the denomination.

Angus Morrison - The ‘why we do what we do’ maybe springs from our Presbyterian structures and how our committees are held to account. The delays in implementing the Probationary Placement proposals are maybe not a good reason to drop them completely. Post-graduatation training for ministers is helpful, e.g. in learning how church courts work. Needs to be evaluated, having not been at the forefront of the agenda.

Ian MacIver - The Probationary Placement (PP) plans grew out of a survey of recently ordained ministers, seeking their thoughts on areas where the College had not prepared them for ministry. College placements had not provided preparation for chairing meetings of the church courts. PP was suppposed to give green new ministers some experience under more experienced men. Difficulty was older probationers didn’t need this. Married students would be difficult to accommodate. Age discrimination legislation. 

Iain A. Macdonald - Criticism of younger ministers often stems from their lack of experience in these areas. Greyfriars’ expereince for younger ministers recently was helpful, with input from minister and elders.

Calum I. Macleod - Placements beneficial, but coaching and mentoring for younger ministers might be looked at again to make it more useful. 1st Year placement shadowing older men is incredibly good and the 2nd Year placement provides a steep learning curve. Subsequent mentoring might have room for improvement.

Angus Mackay - Has the Committee thought about using retired men as mentoring, using retired ministers in a more involved way during early years of a ministry?

Bill Underhay - Could the College run practical classes on aspects of the ministry, subsequent to theological training, perhaps run by recently retired ministers? Topics like reading, self-discipline, visiting etc.

Calum Macleod - Mentioned legislation on mentoring. The legislation seems to be aimed at helping with problems that arise, rather than proactively helping new ministers grow in their new role. Spoke of helpful input from professionals outside the church giving some training, as they do at in-service training.

Tommy Cook - seeks clarifcation on the different treatment of Free Church students, and non-Free Church / Overseas students coming to the FCC - with particular regard to the Scripture entrance exam.

Donald Macleod - difficulties of running different regimes of admission. A church-required entrance exam for Free Church ministry candidates is something the College might be inclined to provide. FCC provides training in pastoral care. In terms of mentoring, need to be sure that ordained ministers are treated as and are ordained ministers - all presbyteries must remain equal. Elders mentoring new ministers is vital. 

John MacLean - On placements, worthwhile for the congregation and the student. Placements of 6 weeks good, but could they be extended, possibly to 12 weeks? Privilege of congregations being involved in training, and shaping and helping our students in their training for the ministry.

Brian Kee - Rather than a Probationary Placement, why not look at a pre-application apprenticeship?

End of Discussion
Fergus Macdonald replies to points made. Board will consider the points raised. If the Assembly rejects Mr Meredith’s amendment, the Board will probably look again at the legislation anyway.

Voting on Amendments

1 - Meredith - Amendment Carries

2 - Howat - Accepted

Applications for the Ministry

This part of the Assembly’s discussion is routinely taken in private. Service will resume on the next point of business.

The General Assembly was pleased to admit to the Free Church ministry four individuals:
Rev. Thomas J. R. Mackinnon
Rev. Calum Iain Macleod
Rev. Gavino Fioretti
Rev. Rhett A. Crabtree

Each have a number of conditions to meet before they can be eligible for call, but these are in the hands of their respective presbyteries.

Report of the College Board - Dr Iain D. Campbell

His address can be found HERE.

Peter Morrison - Seconding the deliverance
Paid tribute to Dr Campbell as retiring chair of the College Board.
Nominations Committee will move Iver Martin as a Chairman - but this will place a huge burden on one person. Hopes the Communications Committee will take this into consideration in the near future.
The role of academic staff is broad (beyond pure academic role) and is a hinderance to academic excellence. Forthcoming review of the College must take this into consideration.
The aspirations of the College must look beyond just Free Church candidates for the ministry. Opportunities through Saturday course, David Ford’s ongoing work in connection to Latin America, even after his return. Dr John Ross’ return to Scotland. Can the Free Church College utilise these men in delivering distance learning?
Urged prayer for the College.
College’s ability to offer accredited First (Batchelor-level) degrees is a great opportunity. This is dynamite. Can we all covenant to speak to one person and encourage them to study at the FCC?
Get excited about the Free Church College.

Amendments

1 - Angus Mackay - Framework for the Quinquennial (5-yearly) Review of the FC College
A blank sheet of paper is not really a great place to start in conducting a review like this. Addendum will set out some areas that need to be positively addressed, to show our support for the FCC and show areas where we can grow the work of the FCC.

Questions
Iain D. Campbell - Who are the stakeholders referred to? A: The staff and students of the College, as well as the wider church.

Speakers / Debate
Dr Ian MacIver - Seconding the amendment. Was involved in setting up the Board in its present form, following a previous review. Involved in a great many reviews in addition to this. Recalls the stress these reviews caused on the College staff. This addendum is not just a review of the Free Church College, but looks more widely at the denomination’s aims and objectives to guide the College.
The College responds to what people want - the church, Glasgow Uni (the degree-accrediting body) and the requirements of private individuals at under- and post-graduate level. The church needs to guide the College. It is YOUR college.

Dr Colin Dow - Spoke of his feelings several months ago, feeling burnt out in ministry. Jesus doesn’t need better managers and strategists in our pulpits, he needs better preachers. Preaching from the pulpit. In one-to-one settings. “Preaching, preaching preaching.” Quoted Shorter Catechism. Theological reasons for thinking this - we believe in preaching. Practically, we stress about what people think of us, but not of what people think of our preaching. The College taught us to preach. Taught access to languages. It equipped our ministers to preach. We must, therefore, invest in the College. But finally, must invest in this for the sake of our people. Why do people come out to our churches? His own congregation is welcoming, freindly. But it is chiefly through the preaching of the word.

Duncan Macleod (Elder, Detroit) - Testified to the excellent ability of ministers, thanks to the training provided in the FCC. Carrying Christ, we are “princes” - and “priceless items” - thanks to the FCC. Ministers in local congregations ought to consider running theological training locally in their own congregations.

Alasdair Macdonald - appreciated Dr Campbell’s address and desire to get fully behind the College. Loved being at FCC and the church has a right to be proud of the FCC. May the Lord continue to bless it.

ORDER OF THE DAY
- John Roberts - Day One Christian Ministries (better known to many Free Church congregations as “formerly LDOS”)
- John Ross - Associated Presbyterian Churches

BACK TO THE COLLEGE BOARD REPORT
Norman Smith - has had most, if not all, of the Free Church candidates to preach recently. They are of high quality, at all stages of training. Thankful for all staff who contribute to this.

Dr Campbell - replying to the debate:
Thanks speakers. Thinks addendum should go to the vote. This asks for an near impossible task - a review in time for GA 2012. This review is also very wide-ranging - far more wide-ranging than that proposed by the Board. The review is also looking for input from the Assembly itself, which would be difficult given the timescale proposed.

To the vote

Deliverance carries clearly.

The Assembly now moves to take up routine petitions.
1 - Assessor Elders to the Presbytery of Glasgow &c.
2 - Assessor Elder to the Presbytery of Inverness &c.

The Assembly now suspends for dinner.

Order for the evening -

1) Continue with the overtures
2) Personnel Committee
3) Report of Communications
4) Memorials
5) Order of Day

Memorials: The wrong form of the document was passed into the Assembly Arrangements Aommittee - but if the Assembly is willing to accept a motion to the effect that the correct form of the memorial is made available for passing into the Assembly, it will be made available.
Assembly agreed.

Moderator calls for motions with respect to overtures re: Barrier Act.

PLEASE NOTE THAT BA = BARRIER ACT

Motion 1) Alex MacDonald: that the GA receive the overtures, but do not grant their crave. Then he gives explanation. Procedure last year was consistent with BA.
Questions:
Farquhar Renwick: When was the matter before the church? A: I haven’t said anything about this being before the church. Alex reads motion again.
William Underhay: The Presbytery of PEI was not represented at the Plenary Assembly. You said all presbyteries were represented.
John Forbes: Is Mr MacDonald aware that the Northern Presbytery sent less than 100% representation? A: Every Presbytery entitled to send 100%.
Callum Macleod: When was detail of change made known to wider church? A: The 4 options were well known well before Plenary. The matter was debated well before.
Prof. Donald Macleod : point of order : these are debating points and not questions.
Andrew Murchison: asks about 2nd ground of motion.

Motion 2) Murdo Macleod
Move that the GA receive the overtures from ........ and grant their crave. And declare the Plenary to have acted ultra vires and go back through Barrier Act.

Motion 3) Farquhar Renwick
Move that GA declare that the Plenary acted ultra vires and instruct that all sessions suspend decisions to change.  (will add more info)

Alex MacDonald - speaking to his motion….
Was the Plenary a properly constituted Assembly? If not, then everyone was culpable. If it was, then we are all bound to accept it.
What is a Plenary? In most cases, it was wider representation than number of charges. Was this the only Plenary ever? No. The FC founded by 2 Plenaries in 1843.
The expression ultra vires used in this debate. Means acting beyond powers. But the Plenary acted in accordance with remit.
To dispose of is to dispose of. Absolutely.
Also, lot of references are made to the practice and to opinions of Chairman of BoT - but our legislation is not the practice. Legislation is in Acts of Assembly. In this case, in the BA 1697 itself. He then reads it.

1st: The BA is to prevent sudden alteration or innovation. Cannot be said that this was sudden - papers circulated. Everyone had access. Four options thoroughly discussed at presbyteries and conference - if not, it was not fault of Assembly.

2nd : BA deals with BINDING rules. The 2010 decision is not a binding rule. It grants freedom. Parts of it are binding. That the whole of worship should be Biblical etc. The controversial part is the non-binding part.

3. It does not form any part of the constitution. Previous acts did not form parts of constitution.

In addition, the Plenary met the terms of the BA. It was appointed for this reason as the fairest way.
Only the GA at which a piece of legislation is being considered is entitled to pass down through the BA. This was not done. If you didn’t know that, ignorance is no excuse.

Finally: a Plenary Assembly has a unique moral authority. The only way a decision of Plenary can be changed is by another Plenary. Surely?
When it did come to the question of BA at the Plenary, the Clerk gave his advice, BUT it was up to Assembly to decide. The vote was overwhelming. No need to count votes. The mind of the church was clear. We should draw line under this now - it will lead to chaos if we go back on this.

Motion 2) Murdo Macleod - speaks to his motion
I’m clear that the practice is a guide. But the practice will not be at variance with legislation. To that end, I submit that there is more to it than the sudden introduction of anything new. Quote from Practice on the BA:
“It is not permitted to pass proposal into law - only in form of overture to Presbyteries. The if majority have not agreed then GA may pass or transmit. The Assembly has no power to pass it into permanent law.”
The decison to enact the decison of the Plenary was on the basis that the requirments of the BA had already been made. But it is the decision of the Assembly that forms the proposals to Presbyteries. Consultation in this context is insufficient. An approval of presbyteries is required. There must be confirmation of a majority of presbyteries. Has there been this opportunity?  No.

Motion 3) Farquhar Renwick
At one level, this has been before the church. Conference in Dingwall. But nobody had vote. Mr MacDonald is right in saying we don’t have to consult the membership. It is unwise though.
There was opportunity for it to be discssed at session level and 70% Kirk Sessions said no change. We have set that aside. So when was this matter before the church? It can only mean one thing - that it was before presbyteries - it was not discussed at Inverness Presbytery.
Refer to letter from Chair of BoT - there is no way we can say this has been before church.
Why did I not go in with composite motion? It is a fudge. If the Plenary acted ultra vires, nobody has authority to give green light for congregations to carry on. If Plenary acted ultra vires, then we have no authority to carry on. No more fudges. What was done was wrong. Time to put hands up and say we were wrong.

Speakers:

John Forbes: Meaning of “dispose of” - hear a lot of finality of “dispose”, but what if the report involves something of a constitutional change? Can’t argue that “dispose of” means circumvent the BA. It means “engage the process”. If the BA needs to kick in, then that is what the law of the church means. It’s clear that there is a huge grey area over Plenary Assembly. It was a lawful court, but we haven’t explained to ourselves where its bounds are or power is. Or what majority was required to form a decision. Suggestion that have to have another Plenary? Have we changed anything since 1843 Plenary? I’m sure we have and no Plenary. No need for Plenary when there is process of BA. This is my 4th GA, including Plenary. I was encouraged to attend this one. I’ve seen this issue from beginning to end. At my first Assembly, Dr Campbell had a motion to fall from this. But it was the conservatives who argued FOR the Plenary.
It was clear then that there was an issue that needed to be resolved. The church is disturbed about this. There is a perceived lawlessness. In a number of areas - that some want to hammer things through.
These presbyteries are asking you to take their opinion into consideration. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. One more thing. Mr Renwick said this motion is a fudge. We have to recognise the situation as it is. Practice allows for Interim Act. It is not a fudge.

Donald Jack: The 2010 Assembly in May did not act in accordance with the remit from 2009 Assembly. They ought to have instructed the Plenary to have proceeded under BA procedure.
Finding was approved by 50%.

Moderator:

Prof. Donald Macleod.  Support of Alex’s motion.
Key issue is Assemblies’ authority - it is mandates to decided for itself what acts are BAs and what are not. Principles cannot be self-activating. Personnel are self-activating. Act itself cannot demand BA, nor can BA itself. That is up to office bearers themselves. Church government is in hands of officers. Before this decision, there was great deal of prayer and they made decision not to send this down - right or wrong, it was competent for the Assembly and we can’t review this decision - Assembly was authorised to reach the decision and it did so in competent way.
Was it a sudden innovation? It was not sudden and not innovation. Long process. 4 options were sent down two years previously. No details, but the essential principle was that that the Assembly be allowed to decide - that essential principle as a distinct possibilty. Whatever the detail, that core issue was made plain. Was it innovative? Seems to me there is refusal to address this issue honestly. Most acts regarding worship were not BA issues. The issue is this : from the earliest point, it was acccepted that the church could sing song outwith psalter. The church was not exclusive psalmody until recently. In 1647, it sanctioned the use of scripture songs. These were not modernisers. We are not bound to those psalms of David. 1772 (?) were not dealt with under BA because no principle issue.

What about the Constitution? Was this Act a constitutional revolution? The constitution is implied in Formula, Confession, Claim Declaration and Protest, and the 1843 protest at Disruption. These three documents are implicitly constitutional. Other Acts are regulations. In actual fact, the Constitution is essentially the Confession of Faith. We own it as our own personal confession of faith. This Act in 2010 did not affect the confession. I’m concerned about reference to worship being revolutionised. We have only amended our songs. Not modified our form / order of service or marriage or Lord’s Supper, services etc. Our worship has not been significantly modified - which any Assembly is entitled to do. 1851 Act a clear distinction between Confession and other mere regulations. The 1910 Act was protested against by Lochcarron Presbytery as not necessary. The Assembly authorised to finalise this discussion - left to it. It acted within its power - whether rightly is another thing - we have no right to review its decision.
There are consciences on both sides of this house. It does matter that the church has moved into the age of New Covenant - the church has been persuaded along these lines. The church must now put this matter to rest - to add will only cause more disquiet. Whatever feedback from BA is, we would still be debating it.
Finally, what about the people about whom we’ve heard? The people have got over it! 

ORDER OF DAY

Dr Fergus Macdonald - Former Director UBS.
Address on Authorised Version.

Return to Debate on Barrier Act.

William Mackay: Burden is on me. The decision of Plenary Assembly without any specification of nature of songs or instruments is position contrary to vows in FC during past century, which specify uniformity. They refer to exclusive use of unnacompanied psalms. 1910 reaffirms legislation, and 1932.
We have all made that solemn pledge before a congregation. The psalms of David at time of Reformation are the songs of the church. In 17th century directory of worship, there is section on singing of psalms.
Mr Mackay’s point is to prove that the Plenary decision is such a departure from Scottish and Reformed practice to warrant going down through BA.
At Plenary, after vote taken, there was move to go down under BA, the Plenary was persuaded by one person, who said he had taken legal counsel and the advice of the Clerk was overruled.

Rev. Donald Macdonald: Support Farquhar Renwick’s motion. As far as suddenness is concerned, surely it was the decision of the Plenary itself that was relevant and that WAS sudden. Innovative? Calls into question Prof. Macleod’s suggestion that church in Scotland being always open to other songs than psalms. Quotes McCrie. Paraphrases? Weren’t introduced till 1781 and never authorised by Assembly. They were permitted and Committee permitted this in church use. Prof. Finlayson’s article 1951 re: hymns.
Was this ultra vires? My belief is that it was. I go further though. In 2009, it endorsed the view that the matter be conducted and discussed in free and open manner. This was ultra vires, since it implicitly endorsed the suspension of formula. It required consent and BA - Assembly failed to implement BA procedure.

John A. Mackay: Encourage the brethren how to vote. Don’t know legal points of church law. I’m a conservative. It may surprise you to know how I voted in November. I came with open mind. I was quite prepared to accept the decision as mind of the Assembly. The FCS was never a psalms-only church. My grandfather taught me that. Also my father. What the decision did was allow feedom to congregations who wished to have different way of worshipping. My heart bleeds for this church. Not just on this issue. There will be further division. We’ve had more than enough of that. Lawyers in Jesus’ time were looking at narrow issue. Jesus’ law is love for God and love for one another. I’m bothered if these debates get in the way of our Saviour. This issue sems to have taken up most of our presbytery time, as if most important issue in world - should not be issue to fall out over. Plea - it’s not what I want, or you - it’s what Jesus wants!

Neil D. M. MacLeod: I hope I’m slow to speak. I’ve listened. Ultra vires - there’s no clarity in ecclesiastical law. J. Forbes is unclear about the Plenary - if that is the case, you can’t have ultra vires.
Refers to Fergus Macdonald’s article. This overtures to recind would result in Kirk Sessions having to think through which Assembly they would adhere to.  Mr Cowie wisely said you can’t go back. We can’t go from this position. The attempts constitute a restrospective apllucation of the Barrier Act. Mr Macdonald wants to go back even further. Does anyone want to go back even further? 1932?

Right of Reply

Murdo Macleod:
Certain things are required in terms of our practice. Nobody can counter that.
I suggested in relation to the fact that the decision of Plenary to enact it into standing law was based on the fact or view that the requirements of the legislation had been met.
Has there been confirmation to the GA that the proposal meets the criteria set down as approval by majority of Presbyteries? It was not countered. Hence, no case has been made that the enacting of the decision stood up to the tests I suggested. Hence, the non-compliance of these tests still stands.

Farquhar Renwick: Refuting the following…
Prof. Macleod: consultation. We consulted sessions - set that aside. Presbyteries? My presbytery.
The church should address the issue honestly. Well, let’s do that. It has not been before Inverness Presbytery.
Mr Mackay said it always comes before Presbytery. I did not initiate this. I don’t want my motives questioned.
Have our people got over it? My people haven’t. The Jerusalem council arrived at a unanimous decision. We should try and do the same.
Can we honestly say we have fulfilled the criteria of BA? No.

VOTING….....

First Procedure: Murdo Macleod’s Motion against Farquhar Renwick

Declare that Murdo Macleod’s Motion Carried

Second Vote:
Murdo Macleod’s motion versus Alex MacDonald’s motion.

Declare that Alex MacDonald’s motion carried. (The vote was very decisive).
(This means that the decision of the Plenary is deemed not to be ultra vires and that the issue will not go down through the Barrier Act.)
The exact finding will appear later.

There are 11 dissents recorded.
Report of Personnel Committee - Murdo Murray
Stipend. Recommendation is for 22k as of January 2012. Committee is the conscience of church. We are not bound by financial state of church - but what is right for ministers. They should have adequate provision. We need men who can give full-time commitment and don’t have to be concerned about finance.

Pensions: We are conscious that the 10% we out in is not adequate. We should focus on stipend - that gives ministers choice about how much they contribute.
Expenses: 30 pence per mile. This is minimum.

Half our ministers have no housing provision in event of unforseen circumstances. Should be safety net.
Want to acknowledge the work done by Norman Cumming.

Questions. None.

Moved and seconded.
Speakers.

Gordon Matheson.
Pays tribute to Murdo’s leadership.

END OF PERSONNEL REPORT

Report of Communications Committee Report.

Roddie Rankin.

Address is found HERE.

Questions? None

Report moved by Murdo Macleod
Seconded by:

Colin Macleod

The Future:
1) Lamentation. Suicide - Rev. Robert Macleod and also reference to End of Life Bill. Both of these highlight for us how, for so many, their future is “I shall not live, but die”. Paper on suicide makes for sad reading. Scots have highest suicide rate in UK. The myths Robert highlights help us as ministers understand suicide and have an answer to those contemplating it.
Then there is the End of Life Bill. Margo Macdonald. Seeking the individual’s right to end life. Pray for Margo Macdonald and others who are likeminded.

2) Education. See Murdo Macleod’s paper on sex education. Pg 84. We’re concerned about what our young people are taught in schools.We are, however, reminded in Murdo’s report about how robust these guidelines
are. How do we influence what our children are taught? Their future depends on you and me.

3) Communication. The vehicles: The Record and the Bookshop. Committee is recommending Dr Maclean as sole nominee as editor. Circulation of all paper publications: magazines, newspapers, are down. We live in a changed world - the web has taken over. Bookshop - plans to develop it. Great space - great location. We’re very excited about this. Pay tribute to Roddie as Vice-Convenor and Jim Morrison.

Speakers:

Donald Jack
I’m looking to the past, as well as future. I’m in conjunction with Mrs Nicolson in looking at FC annals.

Charles Douglas
Thanks Committee. Keep thinking about leaving. But this new venture (new café/bookshop) needs prayer - any new ideas, please pass them on. Please use Bookshop.

Roddie Rankin - Reply.

Motion to appoint Dr Malcolm Maclean as editor of The Record. Murdo Macleod moves. Seconded. No other motion.

Dr Maclean appointed as Editor of The Record.

END OF COMMUNICATIONS REPORT

Presentation of Young Peoples’ Memorial - Gary Gunn
I wasn’t involved in drawing up this memorial.
It represents around 70 young people. You all know about it.
Want to say one thing. Why do the young people who signed this feel this way? Not tradition or preference.
They do believe from their own understanding of scripture that the psalms are the songbook of the church.
I know many of them personally. They see a chasm between spiritual songs written by men and psalms as scripture.
The psalms are the design of God for the worship of his church.
It’s only signed by 70 young people - small segment. Felt burdened to do it. May seem small number, but don’t alienate 70 - that could be 70 families in the future.
I think of Jacob taking family of 70 into Egypt. The young people are not troublemakers - faithful intelligent people, who want to hold to previous position of church. From these 70, we got Aaron, Joshua etc. from insignificant number.

Questions? None.
Motions? That the GA receive the memorial. No further motions.

The GA received their memorial. 

END OF DAY

Assembly begins with presentation by Lynn Paterson of Tearfund. Focus on Uganda and recent troubles. Tragic stories of real people having lost loved ones.

Report of Board of Trustees - James Fraser.

You can find his address HERE

Questions…..
Dr Iain D Campbell. Legal action in Peru. Can we have update - financial implcations?
A: we wish to avoid legal action and are trying to pursue a process of discussion. We cant talk numbers.

Report moved and seconded.

Three amendments

1) Re Bonar Bridge. Pg 19 petition. Wants to change deliverance to : proceeds of sale to held in behoof of the congregation - ie congregation to have access to funds.

2) Identical in principle to 1) - this time in resepct of Kilwinning. Dr Ian Maciver.

3) Angus Howat. Asking BoT to combine the Nominations Committee with the Assembly Arrangements Committee.
Speakers.

Charles Douglas.
re pg 12 - pension fund. wanted to draw attention of asembly to work of pension committee - commends their work.
Also pg 17 = 16 North Bank St - plans to change it into a cafe/bookshop. asks prayer for this new venture.

Peter Morrison.
Strategy Committee. Refers to survey of Presbyteries. Report went down to Presbyteries. There is frustration at how presbyteries handle their business. constitues a serious hindrance to work of church. This is golden opp to redress matters.
Highlight two things from deliversance.
Quinquennial vistations: Presbyteries listen to reports and do nothing. These visits are key tool.
Assembly deliverance items to sessions. We JUST note them. Not good. We should take decisions of Assys seriously. NB the word INSTRUCT. 

The superior court. ie General Assembly. Significant progress has been made.
However we had to admit defeat on the respresentation of elders of working age. We must keep this discussion going.

We have to pay attention to find interface between “process” and “intended outcomes.” One request: keep discussions open.
Finally : commend work of strategy committee

Donald Jack. speaks of grants available to congregations who have major repairs. There are varous bodies who give grants to charities. wanted to know if the BoT can themselves apply for grants whilst giving grants to individual congregations. THinks there should be ATMs in every congregation.

Callum Iain Macleod.
- re b4 - guidance for contributors. Wants to highlight the helful leaflet on “giving” - published recently. Thanks to Bob Akroyd for creating it.

Clive Bailey
Thanks the convenor for his kind words about Colegio in LIma. The increase in finances of the scholl is not just down to me but staff - 110 of them who have contributed to the well being of school. One in particular : Maria Rodrigues - shes at the coal face of financial turn around and I record my thanks to her. She took finan cial decisions which we would find painful. For example it was the practice of parents to defer as long as possible what they paid. This led to debt of alarming proportion. The decision was taken not to allow children to retun to school if in debt. I feared that a lot of children would not return BUT only two did not return. We have now shrunk debt to less than 1 %. Thank you for your support.

James Beaton
- speaks about Dr Maciver’s amendment.

Colin Macdonald
Draw attention to Compliance section. Thanks Muriel Macleod.
Points to legislation on vulnerable adults. Message must get over to church about what it required. We must ask co-ordinators to share this around with elders etc. Have to make risk assesment as to who applies in first and second year.
Training is huge problem. Not going ahead at present but we ve arrangement with CoS.
Another area: how we deal with ex offenders in congregations. we have made up pack for that. Call Muriel if problem. There is procedure.
We are all responsible for protection of vulnerable in congregations.

Colin Dow
Our Deacons Court was going to be petitioning the GA to pull back proceeds of a sale from Trustees BUT not any more. Our minds changed by letter from Rod who assured us that the Trustees are investing money wisely. 

Angus M Macleod
Remittances of congregations. Lots of congregations which are not self sustaining and cannot afford their ministries. We should take seriosuly leaflet on tithing. We currently contribute 5% of our incomes. If we were tithing, we would create more than £5 mil. Our defecit would be cleared overnight.
pg 27 law and advice. Buildings held by FCC. eg Scalpay where we worship in draughty building because FCC have taken ours over. They also froze 80,000 assets and offered to pay us the amount plus 20k if we would hand over the title deeds of the building. Calls for a composite demand for return of all buildings from FCC - for all buildings.

Murdo Murchison
Pays tribute to work of Rod Morrison. An unsung hero.
A few years ago I wasnt convinced about the selling of the flats. But now Ive come round to see how difficult it is to keep them.
Im concerned about taking money from secular trusts who have a humanist agenda.
Real challenges lie ahead financially for the church.
Speaks about a fellowship meeting they started in their house 5 years ago. You might be able to do similar thing. Once every month. supper at 8:30 after church. then singing followed by speaker (a variety) giving testimony. then questions. we get around 35-50 attending.

David Lipp
re amendment of Dr Ian Maciver. How many large sums of money are there in congregtional accounts which are doing nothing?

James Fraser - replies and sums up
- is happy to accept all amendments.
Comments on two themes:
1) Income. Glad that leaflet has gone down well. Would be great if tithing became reality.
2) Capital. we do not give grants. we give loans. Access to money is available according to the relevant Assembly Acts.
Im also please with continuing to centrally hold fulds.

Close.

DIscussion Session. Item for discsion is starred on page 11. Finance overview.

Afternoon Session

The following debate concerns the decision taken last November at the Plenary Assembly which allows congregations to use hymns and musical instruments if their sessions so wish.
There are several overtures asking the Assembly to send the decision down through the Barrier Act so that Presbyteries can discuss and approve or otherwise.

There are five overtures.
1) Synod of N America
2) Western Isles
3) Glasgow
4) Kirk Session of Lochs Free Church
5) Kirk Session of KNockbain Free Church

(BA = Barrier Act)

1) Synod of N America. 
Rev KD Macleod.My heart is heavy. I disagreed with Novembers plenary. And the way it was done. Importance of the Barrier Act. It is safety net. Not designed to slow things up. Specifically it recognises that the Assy does not have lordly binding powers. It is possible that as Assy can be influenced powerfully by gifted men. After Nov we empowered ourselves to do away with the Barrier Act. The BA reaches more respresentation with the feedback coming to the next Assy as a stronger opinion of the church. It doesnt take it all away from the Assy - it is then better equipped to take decision.
The setting of the presbytery is more free for men to ask questions.
Youre saying that this is not an issue. But when it is a matter that threatens you it then becomes an issue. IE we have set a precident. I plead with you - do not get rid of the safety net.

Questions?
Marcus Florit. Are you aware that 25% of the presbyteries have a tiny number of congregations? I cant help that.

David Lipp: Plenary had all ministers and equal number of elders. why then speak about representation? A: more elders are in presbytery.

Gordon Matheson: are you aware that the 1910 act is the only act in our history under BA? Yes
did you vote for a motion which would have repealed the 1910 Act? Yes.

End of Quesions

2) Western Isles. Callum Macleod.
1) The appointement of 2010 P Assy - there is a notable silence with regard to BA. How do we interpret this silence. BA is default position. Was also reflected in the advice given by clerk. Letter from Board of Trustees stated clearly that there would be BA. Quotes from letter.  IE this was our understanding when we established Pl Assy. There was to be no debiation from establshed procedure.
2) Terms of BA is sudden alteration. Was the decision of Nov a sudden alteration - yes. The possibility of change was there but details and natire of change was not known until 16th Nov - 2 days before Pl ssy convened. Change is sudden - hence should be BA. Can the decision be considered as a binding rule? Every officebearer asked to assert maintain…. - touches matters constitutional. Should hence have been sent to Presbt under BA. Was the decison a major alteration? The decision has virtually wiped the slate clean. Quotes Kennedy Cameron. Change is sweeping.
The mind of the church. Quotes the BA itself. All ministers and ruling elders are entitled to judge for themselves. A plenary Assy comes far short of the BA. A large number have not had the opportunity to judge for themselves. This is a plea to restore ecclesiastical order in order for peace and harmony.

Questions….
David Meredith. Would you say that your suggestion - that all ministers within a presbytery have a say - is a radical departure? A: I’m only quoting from the practice.
Q: But you were saying that presbyteries should consist of every elder? A: No. Only that every elder should have right to judge.
Q: Can you show us the constitutional documents? A: I believe that the BA is part of constitution. Q: Didn’t answer the question. What are constitutional docs?
Donald Macdonald (Retired) comes forward and states what constitutional docs are. But can’t remember source of info.

3) Presbytery of Glasgow. Alex Cowie.
Speaks to paragraphs 2 and 3.
This overture is not perfect, but seeks to correct wrong procedure. We all owe to church our agreed procedures.
Hope we will achieve workable procedure.
Plenary Assemby met “as appointed”. This happened because the GA decided it should. But it went down under BA. The BA was basis of the Plenary Assembly. Thereafter, the GA of 2009 said the matter was to be decided at the 2010 November Plenary Assembly.
Did the Plenary Assembly have power to make the change? Big may mean better, but did it have power to put into effect a change like this?
The usual standing orders governing a GA were to be the basis governing the Plenary Assembly. I know of no legislation which altered that finding.
I think the BA is the simple route. Plenary only applies to the number of representatives. Not to its powers to do what it likes. The BA is used regularly to prevent innovation and securing harmony.
There is no suggestion of the BA being used to bring us back to the pre-Plenary situation.

Questions:
Daniel Sladek: I was always under the impression that because the Plenary Assembly was called under BA, what was the point in havng a Plenary, if its decisions were to go down under BA?
A: To be more representative.

Question: Would this not take us back to pre-Plenary? A: That would not be realistic.
Colin MacDonald: Did the previous GA not ask the Plenary to dispose of? Does not that means what it says? A: This is exactly where the problem came from. These words were taken as full authority.

Colin Dow: Is there a higher court in church than GA? And if it is the highest court, how can it be said to have acted ultra vires? A: The Plenary took to itself authority it was not given.

Norman Smith: Can the Chair and Principal Clerk give us their interpretation of what was done?  A: The decision lies with the Assembly.

4)  Lochs Session. Murdo Macleod.
Don’t want to repeat what has been said. There are many who could live better with the decision if there was confidence in the decision. They are looking for clarity. Not just about the decision, but about the enactment. If we go back to 2010 GA, I understand that it instructed two things: 1. The BoT produce a report and 2. the Plenary be appointed “to dispose” of it. This happened, and Plenary Assembly met and decided not in favour of the BoT, but counter motion. Hence, the point is competence to “enact” this motion. The decision was taken on the basis that BA HAD BEEN fulfilled. But there is a process of referral in getting approval. Consultation involves bodies with right to be consulted. This is not consultation - this is requirement for approval. Presbyteries have right to receive the proposal in form of overture. Presbyteries deferred debating the matter until such time as this proposal came to them. It didn’t come. In my view, this has not passed the required tests. Many of our people are not clear - hence, I can do no other but support motion that the decision was ultra vires. Organisations which try to bypass legislations always stumble.

No Questions.

ORDER OF DAY

Delegates:

Mr Ian Gordon (Chief Executive of Bethany Chritian Trust)

Rev. Gareth Burke (Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ireland)

Rev. Prof. A. le Dries du Plooy (Reformed Churches in S. Africa)

Return to Previous Issue…
4) Petition from Knockbain Free Church - Farquhar Renwick
When the Plenary Assembly was discussed at Inverness Presbytery, I had questions: is it able to override the BA? The answer was NO. There wasn’t an option. We were reinforced by the fact that there was only one issue. The standing orders were same. Can only agree to submit same in form of overture. We were told by Chair of BoT that if Plenary resolved to change, then it would come down through BA.
We as a Presbytery made a decsion (before Plenary) that we would not discuss this major issue because it would be discussed when it came back to presbyteries under BA.
We acted on basis of what chair of BoT said - we unanimously agreed. A great deal has been made of spirit of Plenary. But my position is : I decided not to say anything - I agree that I miscalculated. But I bit my tongue because I told myself there was the cushion of the BA. Was this right? It was wrong to say it has to come back down and then for the Plenary to say no. I hear people say there was no sudden innovation. If it had come down to BA, we would have had year to reflect. We have had people leave our denomination. I would have thought that we of all denominations should have been meticulous? How does the person know what the minister believes with respect to worship? - Only in his vows. Their meaning has been changed. We have broken covenant.
We have to decide important matter: whether it’s going to put seal of approval on something fundamentally wrong. I trust this will not happen.

Questions:
D. Meredith. Give background to your statements about the Inverness Presbytery. A: The reality is that we have never discussed worship at Inverness. 

Moderator: It is not helpful to refer to specific people who make motions - just their decisions.

Farquhar: Wanted to ask the Moderator about his advice in November. Moderator repeated his advice, but also said that the Plenary should decide.

Walter Matheson: wants to quote from BoT report to Plenary, which said that it was up to Plenary to decide the matter of BA. Farquhar said that he was unaware that this issue may not come down via BA.

Break for Dinner…

To resume again at 6:30pm.

Moderator opens sederunt by reading 1 Thes 4.

Please see separate update for Wednesday Evening Report.

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

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.

Greenock Free Church are having their annual ‘Psalms for a Summer Evening’ concert on Friday 10th June at 7.30pm.

This year’s speaker will be Rev. Kenneth Cameron and refreshments will be provided afterwards in the St. John’s Hall.

All welcome!

Kilmallie Free Church, Caol, Fort William – 50th Anniversary
24th – 26th June 2011
‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever’. Hebrews 13:8

You are invited to join friends and family at Kilmallie Free Church on the weekend of 24th – 26th June 2011 to celebrate our 50th anniversary.

On Friday 24th June at 7.30 pm, Professor Donald Macleod will return to Kilmallie to preach. He is regarded as one of Scotland’s leading theologians, and has published numerous books and articles.

On Saturday 25th June at 7 pm, we will be taking a cruise on the Souter’s Lass around Loch Linnhe and our minister will lead a service on board.
(NB: Spaces for this event will be restricted, so please give your name to reserve a ticket: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 01397 708710.)

On Sunday 26th June at 11 am and 6.30 pm, Rev. Derek Lamont, Edinburgh, will be a guest preacher for our Sunday school prize-giving family service, and then an evening communion service. Derek’s late father, Rev. Donald Lamont, was a previous minister in Kilmallie.

Click on the link below to download the ICRC Newsletter for April 2011:

ICRC Newsletter

The revised Assembly Programme is found HERE.

The People’s Theologian. Writings in Honour of Donald Macleod.
Edited by Iain D. Campbell and Malcolm Maclean

Contributions by Martin Cameron, Iain D. Campbell, Mary Ferguson, Richard B. Gaffin Jr., David George, Michael W. Honeycutt, Fergus Macdonald, Alex J. MacDonald, Donald M. MacDonald, Malcolm Maclean, Alasdair I. Macleod, Donna Macleod, John Macleod, David Meredith, Guy Richard, Changwon Shu,
Derek W. H. Thomas, Carl R. Trueman, Rowland S. Ward and Brian Wilson.

Donald Macleod’s guiding star has always been and remains ‘What says the Scripture?’ There is no tradition or practice that cannot be re-examined in the light of Scripture. He has constantly reminded us of the great Reformation principle - our authority is ‘Scripture Alone’.

What is most important is that, like his Master, people hear Donald Macleod gladly. He makes little concession in his lecturing or preaching to ignorance of Biblical truth, and he makes no apology for theological language. Nevertheless, because he makes doctrine come alive, people are drawn in, people of all different backgrounds as they yield to the Spirit speaking through this man, feeling his eyes are seeing far-off things which he is helping them to glimpse. They are drawn into a new world of exciting vistas of undreamed-of theological truth, and are raised by high oratory to a new level of understanding of their God and Saviour. Truly, he is the people’s theologian.

Donald Macleod has recently retired as the Principal of the Free Church of Scotland College, Edinburgh.

Regarded as one of Britain’s most prominent theologians, he is able to explain complex thoughts with simplicity and clarity, and has written extensively on a wide range of issues.

“Donald Macleod is the people’s theologian. He combines a profound grasp of the language of Scripture and the history of Christian doctrine with a penetrating understanding of the dilemmas of life at the beginning of the third millennium. Through it all shines his adoration of Jesus Christ and his deep sympathy with people.He never loses sight for a moment that he is addressing people - people who are hurting, or confused or ill-informed or tempted. This is theology straight from the heart of a great preacher of the gospel.” From the introduction by Alex J. MacDonald, Buccleuch and Greyfriars Free Church of Scotland, Edinburgh

The People’s Theologian is now available at £14.99, but will be on offer during May for £12.99, including postage:
Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to order a copy.

College Marks Retirement of Prof. Donald Macleod

Last Friday (coincidentally Friday the 13th), a large audience packed into the Presbytery Hall on the Mound in Edinburgh for the closing service of the Free Church College. The larger than usual crowd was due to the fact that a presentation was to be made to Professor Donald Macleod on the occasion of his retirement from the Chair of Systematic Theology, which he had held since 1978.

Rev. Dr Iain D. Campbell, representing the College Board, presented Professor Macleod with a cheque on behalf of the whole Church, and paid tribute to the debt he and other former students, and indeed the wider church, owed to Donald Macleod. He then went on to introduce and present Prof. Macleod with a festschrift: “The People’s Theologian” - a collection of writings in his honour, edited by Dr Campbell and Dr Malcolm Maclean. Contributors to the volume include friends, past students and fellow theologians, and the subjects range from the life and writings of Donald Macleod to various areas of theology to more personal recollections and appreciations. The book is available from the Free Church Bookshop.

Thereafter, William Mackenzie, Managing Director of Christian Focus Publications, made a surprise appearance to present Donald with a Japanese version of Donald’s book, ‘Priorities for the Church’.
Whilst Prof. Macleod is expected to continue lecturing in his subject for an additional year, last Friday’s event officially marked the end of a significant and unique era in the history of the Free Church College. 

From Left: William Mackenzie (Christian Focus), Prof. Donald Macleod, Dr Malcolm Maclean (Editor, “The People’s Theologian”) and Dr Iain D. Campbell (Chair, College Board)

Rev. Alistair Beaton Ferguson passed away, aged 73, on Tuesday 7th April 2011, at his home in Skye, after a short illness. After his conversion, Mr Ferguson felt called to the ministry and studied at Glasgow University, and then the Free Church College. He worked as Scottish Secretary of the Sudan United Mission prior to completing his studies. He was inducted to the congregation of Acharacle and Strontian in 1976, remaining there until 1981. He then moved to Poolewe and Aultbea, where he ministered until retiring on health grounds in 1996 to the Isle of Skye. He was married to Mairi for almost 44 years and had 3 children, Mairi, Gordon and Shona. They also had 2 grandchildren: Joseph and Anna. He is survived by an older brother, Donald and sister, Dolina. We remember Alistair with great affection and thank the Lord for his life and ministry. We extend our deepest sympathies to all the family.

For the past eighteen years, Teaching and Training (TnT) Ministries has been resourcing and equipping
people to teach the Bible to children more faithfully, more creatively and more effectively.
This year, we’ll be in Scotland and are providing two terrific opportunities for you to be trained in children’s ministry.

Edinburgh - Saturday 14 May
Venue: Charlotte Chapel, 204 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4AZ

Glasgow - Saturday 21 May
Venue: St George’s-Tron Church Hall, 25 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 1HW

Full details here: REAL Childrens Ministry Conferences

Click on the link below to download the latest newsletter from Dumisani (March 2011):

Dumisani News

The Free Church has sent £5,000 from its Disaster & Relief Fund to OMF to assist with the relief effort in Japan, following last week’s earthquake and tsunami. Further information and items for specific prayer can be found on the OMF website at: http://www.omf.org/omf/japan.

Regular donations to the Disaster & Relief Fund ensure that we are able to respond in a timely fashion when disasters occur.

Please pray for a reconciliation meeting taking place on 3rd March (Thursday) in Lima. Representatives from the Free Church of Scotland will meet with parents of one of the boys from Colegio San Andrés who died while on a trip to Scotland. Pray for wisdom, grace and sensitivity in reaching a settlement in this long-running legal case. If the conciliation process is not successful, the next court date will be 23rd March. Please pray for the families affected, for the School and for Donnie Smith, the Free Church of Scotland’s representative in Peru.

In March, two visitors from our sister church, the Presbyterian Free Church of Central India, will be visiting the Reformed Churches (Liberated) of the Netherlands. They will follow this with one week in Scotland. The visitors are Rev. Samit Mishra, Minister of the Chhapara congregation, and Mr Pradeep Kumar, a teacher in the Chhapara School and a son of the late Rev. Prakash Kumar. This will provide us with a unique opportunity to hear first-hand of the progress of the Lord’s work in India and the following programme of meetings has been arranged:

Sunday 3rd April - 11am, St. Peter’s Free Church, Dundee
                                  - 8pm, Buccleuch Free Church, Edinburgh

Monday 4th April - Belfast

Tuesday 5th April - 7.30pm, Smithton-Culloden Free Church, Inverness

Wednesday 6th April - 7.30pm, Stornoway. (MA Macleod Memorial Hall)

Thursday 7th April - 7.30pm, Portree

Friday 8th April - 7.30pm, Rosskeen

Sunday 10th April - 11am, Glasgow City (Samit) & Govanhill (Pradeep)

Several people have requested that we publish the minutes of last November’s Plenary Assembly. You can find them here:

Plenary Assembly Minutes November 2010

EDINBURGH AND PERTH PRESBYTERY GAELIC SERVICES 2011

13th February     Mr Alasdair MacAulay, student, at St Columba Free Church, Edinburgh
10th April         Professor Donald Macleod,  at St Columba Free Church, Edinburgh
12th June         Mr John Murray, Dowanvale, at St Columba Free Church, Edinburgh
4th September     Rev Duncan Macleod at Perth Free Church
11th December     Professsor Donald Macleod at St Columba Free Church ,Edinburgh

Bithidh na seirbheisean aig trì uairean feasgar agus bithidh iad air am frithealadh a-rèir an t`òrdugh thradaiseanta, le Preseantair air ceann na seinn, a` cur a-mach na loidhne anns an t-seann nòs.
The services will be at 3pm and will be conducted according to the traditional Gaelic order. The praise will be led by a Precentor, who will give out the line in the old style.
Tuileadh fiosrachaidh / Further information
Contact Rev Duncan Macleod on 01738 626515
or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Deagh-bheatha do na h`uile / All welcome

The Free Church Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross met on Tuesday 14th December 2010. On the Agenda was the recent decision of the Plenary Assembly concerning worship. The Presbytery noted the harmonious atmosphere at the Plenary Assembly. Although members in the Presbytery held different views on the matter, they are committed to accept the findings of the Plenary Assembly. Speaking on behalf of the Presbytery, the Moderator, Rev. Donnie G MacDonald, said “we just want to get on with the work of telling people about Christ.”

Donald Macleod, Professor of Systematic Theology and recently retired as Principal of the Free Church College, has written the following answer to some of the questions which have arisen in the aftermath of the decision of the recent Plenary Assembly, to allow congregations to extend their form of worship. To read it, please click here:

The Plenary Assembly Decision and the Barrier Act

Tearfund has produced a video to mark the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.  Further information and a link to the video can be found by following this link http://www.tearfund.org/ready.

Due to strike action taken by court workers, the court case scheduled to be heard in Lima on 1st December has been postponed and is now unlikely to take place before April 2011.

Thank you for your prayers for the San Andrés community. Please continue to pray that a just and equitable settlement may soon be reached.

On Friday evening, 5th November, about 90 people sat down to a wonderful meal prepared by the ladies of the congregation. They included at least 55 friends, from as far afield as Stornoway and Southampton, who have had connections with Cumbernauld in the past, and returned to share memories with friends old and new. 
The evening was ably chaired by the Minister, Rev. Iain McDonald, who had invited several people from the past to bring a message to the gathering. Rev. Ken Cameron asked a blessing on the proceedings. Mrs Grace Veals (Stornoway) recalled some hilarious incidents from her time in Campaigners in Cumbernauld; Mr Ian MacDonald (Kilmuir) spoke of the fellowship experienced in the congregation and the challenges of outreach, while Mr Cameron MacIver (Govanhill) spoke of his growing up in the congregation when his father was Minister here. 
Greetings were also relayed by video from Clive and Ruth Bailey (Lima), who had been in the congregation in the ‘80s, and the Fords (Medellín), who had close ties with Cumbernauld when in Coatbridge. Some of the young people present described the current Youth Work.
Finally, Rev. Iain McDonald spoke of the challenges and opportunities facing the congregation, and invited the prayers of God’s people as we continued to reach out to the community with the Good News of the Gospel.
Bringing an enjoyable evening of fellowship to a conclusion, Colin MacDonald thanked everyone for coming and those who had worked so hard to make the evening a success, after which Rev. Dr Fergus Macdonald, the first minister of Cumbernauld, prayed and pronounced the Benediction.

The Deacons’ Court take this opportunity to thank all who contributed so generously and sacrificially to the Re-roofing Project – almost £15,000 of the £60,000 loan has already been repaid.

Free Church of Scotland Decides to Allow for the Singing of Hymns and the Use of Musical Instruments in its Congregations

The Free Church of Scotland, at a special Plenary Assembly, which took place on 18th and 19th November, decided to give liberty to its congregations to sing hymns and use instruments, if individual Kirk Sessions so choose. The special Assembly, which consisted of all its ministers with an equal number of elders, met in Edinburgh and debated over whether to overturn the 100 year old prohibition, which has identified the Free Church as a psalm-singing church.

The debate over its form of worship has lasted for the last five years, since the Moderator at that time, Rev. Donald Smith questioned the prohibition of musical instruments in its services. 

The main motion which came from the Church’s Board of Trustees sought to retain the “status quo”, which is the ”avoidance of uninspired materials of praise and musical instruments”, but give more flexibility in understanding as to what is meant by that. But this motion was opposed by Rev. Alex MacDonald, who proposed that the Free Church give liberty to individual congregations to sing scriptural hymns, as well as psalms, if their elders so chose.

The debate, which lasted Thursday evening and most of Friday, was harmonious throughout. Rev. MacDonald’s motion carried by a majority of 98 to 84.

A statement intended for Free Church congregations regarding its decision (including the exact finding of Assembly) on sung praise can be found by clicking this link:
FC_Statement.pdf

(We apologise for earlier editions, which did not have the last paragraph.)

Alex MacDonald’s Amendment - continued.

Seconder: Rev. Neil MacMillan.
Our warrant for singing the name of Jesus is found in Philippians 2.
We are witnessing about the Gospel in Scotland a story which is not complete. Next chapter has to be written. Need to move forward in unity to make Christ known - so that the lost are brought in. This is great task.
Alex highlighted that the report should have backed one form of worship or should have said that the biblical evidence is weak, hence we should have liberty.

This is where voice of Church is heard - not is an inexact sounding of session opinion.

There are few of us who believe it is sinful to sing hymns and use MIs. The fact that the deliverance wants to take away Act 1910 confirms this.
If worship in other churches is acceptable to God, how can it be unacceptable in our church? Board says we can permit this or forbid it.

Many of us love to quote from hymns. I can speak a hymn, but if I ask you to sing it, it is unacceptable.

Report does not provide logical basis for unity. Ambiguity.
Mr Iain K. implied psalms plus.
Rev. J. Maciver implied psalms only.

This ambiguity will make thing worse. There will be churches, which by limiting acts of public worship, will bring about change, but uncontrolled. The deliverance will undermine out discipline, worship and unity.

Vows: some of us felt we can vow to practice, which can change. Others feel they can’t change. The amendment does not forbid you to maintain your vows.

If you intend to vote for the deliverance for any other reason than scriptural conviction, you have no right to bind me and refuse me the right to worship in a way in which I believe is scriptural.

Instruments: are not typical or symbolic. It is a musical instrument! We are directed in the psalms to USE them as an accompaniment to what we are singing. They are used at time of temple, after temple and in Heaven. It is not aberogated in NT.

We love the FC and its theology. Nobody is seeking doctrinal change. We want to be in the FC. We must do what God wants. God wants unity, gospel mission, the heartfelt conscientious praise of his people. How can we stay together and write the next chapter of our gospel history?

END

Donald Jack - Amendment
The problem here is 1932 to be read out at inductions. What I’m trying to do is give an opportunity to everyone on both sides. The GA recognises there is lack of clarity, so I want to make clear what public worship is : call to worship and benediction. This allows both opinions to live with the legislation. This leaves the question open for anyone to conduct service in another church.

My difficulty is : what hymns are we going to have?
Onward Christian soldiers has the line: “we are not divided” ! ( - Laughter)
Amazing Grace says: “how precious did that grace appear - the hour I first believed.” This is subjective - can everyone say that?

The amendment opens the way for those who hold both positions. But we hold the tenet that we are a psalm-singing church. I’m trying not to introduce innovations, but ONLY in public worship.

(He then tried to quote from Lady Paton, but was forbidden to do so because not relevant.)

Questions
1) Would he not welcome folks who would come if there was music and hymns? This is first time that I’ve been told that our worship is not acceptable.
2) Question about the wording of his amendment.
3) Are you aware that there is a problem with folks who do not stay with the FC because of worship? Yes. There are also those who come and like the psalms.
4) Are the psalms not subjective? Yes.

END

Amendment - Dr Fergus Macdonald
Wants to make some technical changes regarding numbers - wants to retain Para 8 in deliverance.

We acknowledge that we face impt challenging situation.
Some of the best minds have considered this.
Some think that the NT sang hymns, while others are opposite. Why is it that having studied this, we have not come to consensus?
Answer: NT is ambiguous - requires to be interpreted. This is not saying worship is unimportant.
Differing conclusion indicate that the Lord has given us a meausre of flexibility in worship.
I am not suggesing that we can worship any way we want. Reg princ is valid. But within the basic para, enster there is a basic degree of diversity. We should do this by following the apostolic model in dealing with difference. Meat offered to idols. Today, diet is not an issue and it’s easy for us to dismiss passages like these as irrelevant. But this was big issue and was undoubtedly an issue relevant, not least because the food was to do with worship. Meat rendered folks unfit to worship. These pauline passages are relevant to worship. Food disputes are conflicts of conscience.

Paul’s solution was to bear with one another - and the strong give way to the weak. This amendment does that. It is the middle way.

He then argued for the use of musical instruments from the silence of the NT.

Questions:
1) Do you agree that Alex’s proposal - a blend of psalms and hymns - would create the blend where everyone would see that their conscience was being considered?
2) Item 6 -  does that exclude hymns? Yes
3) Is he saying that only authorised material should be sung? Not necessarily.
4) How does Paul’s theology of the weaker brother apply to this issue - but this is not an issue over strength? I can’t decide who’s strong/weak.
5) Is it not strange that for 8 centuries the Church did not use instruments and there is silence? The NT is silent on many aspects, including praise. Mandate has not been withdrawn.
6) Why is there not any accompanying report giving biblical evidence? There is no report on either side.
7) Is not use of instruments in category of weak and beggarly elements? No.
8) Why are you not allowing doctrinal song? To allow for give and take.

Gordon Matheson - seconder.

1) We are disunited - on this issue. Luke 11: a kingdom divided etc…we don’t need to look far to see a kingdom laid to waste. I urge that we find a way forward. There is an opportunity for compromise.
2) We are diverse, eg. : in application of baptism, in some baptising infants of believers and others have wider interpretation. We allow for diversity. EG version of scripture. So we should allow for diversity in instruments.
3) We are dilligent shepherds - of a denomination - if we get this wrong today, we run risk of irrational decisions.

Bible evidence for instruments: I Chronicles 16, David appoints priests AND musicians to accompany the praise.
Silence of history? It is for 8 centuries. But before Luther, Church was silent on justification by faith.
We allow for flexibility on frequency of communion. We should, hence, allow for the use of instruments.

This is compromise. Like Acts 15 and Romans. This is a sensitive way forward.

DEBATE

Rev. William Mackay: some personal thoughts. The timing of this is inappropriate. Sing Psalms has only just come out and it seems odd that we should open up this
also so soon after the split of 2000 and court case - this is also inappropriate. The FC case is that the doctrine and worship has not changed. This is difficult to maintain if we change. This discussion should not continue until constitutional case has been cleared up. My vows are same today as they were when taken. Hector Cameron set out points clearly. These views represent views which came from leaders of reformation - scripture alone the basis of worship. Calvin and Psalms. Church of Scotland followed same approach. Book of Discipline. (Expands on Knox etc…) In Westminister directory for worship, it is the “singing of psalms.” Assuming they were the sung worship of Church in Scotland. And never mention of musical accompaniment. There are ony 22 verses about instruments in the psalms out of 2400 - very small. Not all references are about accompaniment. In NT, the book of Psalms is most quoted book : gives examples. Do we really think that the psalms do not talk about the Saviour? His suffering and the cross. No hymn writer speaks authoritively about him. This does not mean that we should not use poetic gift to praise.

Rev. K. D. Macleod (Livonia)
I am older than I look, and so I want to say that Christ’s authority is from top down. We represent him, not the other way around. Our duties come down from Christ. We have connection with him through our conscience. We should not represent our people - we should vote with understanding that we are goverened by Christ, through our conscience? We are polarised - through discernment on both sides. Unity is not going to be easy. Let’s be honest. Both sides have a position of conscience. We have a formal process that will deal with everyone’s conscience through barrier act.

Murdo Murchison
When the Trustees vote on Deliverance, I dissented.
Going back 40 years to attending after-church fellowship and hearing about the power of the blood etc - gives examples of hymns and how they helped him.
Felt transported to a different level. Tremendous experience. Wants to support Alex MacDonald, but for sake of unity, will vote for Deliverance.

Allan Macleod (Toronto)
I’ve found myself in strange places. Manchester Airport. Wed of Rangers and MU game. Reminded me of my time on terraces, when I sang acapella. Never thought I would see day that we’d be gathered as a plenary assembly to discuss this. My experience of thin end of wedge argument is that you can split two pieces of metal by tapping a little piece of metal into the wedge and there will eventually be an explosion. We are now becoming so tolerant that we’re going to become the broad church - with unscriptural views. Unity is the lowest common denominator. Is this the road we’re going down?
Good design in engineering is simple. Jesus and his disciples sang psalms unaccompanied. If it was good enough for him, then why is it not good enough for us? 

Derek Lamont
Disappointed with Board’s report. Focus on Kirk Sessions’ choice is unclear.
An appeal to my brothers, whom I regard as my closest friends, who take exclusive psalmody position. Agree that the book of Psalms is the book of praise. I sympathise, but disagree with is. Please reconsider your intention of voting for Deliverance. You’d be agreeing to do something you dont believe in, if you’re an exclusive psalmist. Be honest with your conscience and your heart.

Alasdair Macdonald
I hear a constant criticism that I try to please everybody. I always try and please the majority. There are opposing views, which claim to be biblical. Every argument has a counter. I suspect that every commissioner will be searching our hearts. In our congregation, we have 4 retired ministers from a hymn-singing church. Last week, we had a prayer meeting and asked them what they felt. They said they missed hymn-singing, but said they respected our position. Unity needs wisdom, grace and self-denial. Are we going to risk the disunity of the Church when our Sessions have stated their case?

Roddie Rankine
What is the unity option? We should not be too sure.
Scripture is NOT definitive, therefore we should give liberty. I can not assert, maintain and defend what I do not believe. We do not know what Paul means by Psalms, hymns and spirtual songs.
Report is fatally flawed in defining public worship. I’ve tried to find some light in this in scripture, but can’t find any definition as per Board.

Malcolm MacLean
I was converted in a hymn-singing church and discovered, eventually, that the Church took its theology from its hymns.
We have no command to sing anything other than psalms.

Iver Martin
Should not give weight to Sessions.
How far do we push the distinctive?
Concern for the Reformed Faith in Scotland.
This can only be achieved by consolidation with other like-minded people.
Alex’s motion gives freedom to Sessions. But it allows Sessions to do otherwise.

Iain Maciver
There is no wedge.

Peter Morrison
In favour of Alex’s amendment. We have to look to gospel partnerships. We don’t have people.
We should not hold out carrots - we’re not changing to attract people. But must make it easier to have people from elsewhere.
Surely the NT is bursting with the praise of Christ.
We prayed this morning in the name of Christ - let’s take the next logical step.
If we vote for keeping the peace alone, it’s like Elastoplast - doesn’t last.

Craig Murray
Is congregation’s theology dictated by our praise? That is one of my concerns about the Deliverance.

Iain Beaton
In OT, this was rule: see that you do everything according to pattern on mountain. That’s the way it remained. Until David, who did not.
When God incarnate came into the temple, he never criticised the form.

James Fraser
I am against the report. It is unfair to say that the report is not founded on scripture.
The Church’s position is flawed:
1)
2) It is not a unity option - the Church has patched over the fact that it is not united.
3) Designation of public worship is nonsense. Unconscienciously invented to deal with our disunity.
There is total ambiguity in relation to the vows. I uphold the worship which the Church has legislated for. But others understand differently. Not satisfactory. Again, because we’re not in agreement.

Problem is simple: there are two views. Everyone agrees that this disagreement is sincere. Two things:
1) Which way would help us to be sola scriptura? The amendment.
2) Opportunity to practice what they believe. More of a unity option.

George Coghill
Problem with vows, which was answered in part by Alex. But still in position of having taken a vow, and yet my heart tells me to vote otherwise. Real difficulty.
What about the distinction between praise, preaching and praise?
Lots of hymns do not mention name of Jesus and are incomprehensible.

Kenneth Stewart
For deliverance. Not pleased with report. Shows disagreement.
Scriptural case should have been presented and could still be.
Addenda: Callum Macleod’s : we should revert to the default mode.
Rod Finlayson: he is closing an obvious loophole that should be a concern to everyone. He roots worship in the confession. Reminds us that worship is not about time and place, but about acts performed in a certain spirit. Demarcation between when we are worshipping and not - is important.
The Biblical case: References have been made to AI Macleod’s paper. He was wrong in key point. The news song is not a new covenant song, but a new order of song. Harps in Heaven are irrelevant. There is incense, palm branches and white robes. Book is symbolic.
The Church’s praise has always been inspired. Every single psalm is inspired. Every author is a prophet. The canon of psalmody closed just before the coming of Jesus - hence, they are the praisebook of the covenant king.

David Robertson
I asked two years ago and asked for scriptural evidence for our position, but apart from Kenneth Stewart, I have been disappointed.
We twist scripture to an extraordinary length in the way we want. We must allow scripture to interpret scripture.

Who decides what is fundamental to worship and what is circumstance? Conscience does not decide what is wrong and right. We also have difficulty with history. The early Church probably did not use instruments, but they used hymns. There is no thin edge of the wedge. The OPC have been a hymn-singing church, but they have not gone liberal. Report is meaningless in its definition of public worship. We can make what we want of it. If you vote for the report, do so for scripture and not for anything else. Vows do not prohibit us from changing things in church. 
Please do not let tradition stand in our way. Scotland needs the Free Church. Real unity is centred on Christ.

Dr Iain D. Campbell
The view I hold is that I want to remain in the same church as the previous two speakers. I agree with Mr Stewart’s arguments. I have argued this before - always taken the view that the sufficiency of scripture means the sufficiency of the psalms.
Now I need to ask which position safeguards my position on worship. Alex’s! It safeguards my position insisting on singing psalms. 
BUT I need to ask what to do with my brethren who have come to another conclusion.
What am I going to say to our young people - we’re educating them in the theology of the reformed faith, but they drift away to other churches. I want to keep them! Alex’s amendment in opening up honestly is a means to that end. We need to fill our pulpits and take more people - but we need to keep our people!

Dr Donald MacDonald
Support of Alex’s amendment. But want to address those who are afraid of downgrade. There were those who disagreed with the change in 1870, who did not leave the Church.
Some suggest that this change to downgrade. Our adherence to the confession must remain solid. If the amendment carries, we must make sure we adhere to proper procedure.
Hopes that Callum Macloed’s addendum does not carry - infers policing. Appeal to accepting this amendment.

Chris Smart
There is problem coming home to roost. All kinds of problems have arisen because of our position on worship, which have prevented further unity between churches. We had a South African church-plant in London, who had to leave us because of our worship. (He then lists examples of various places where form of worship has prevented growth and unity. Need critical mass.) Please see that some are struggling. Today, we can cut the cord and let the burden fall off us. 

Chris Redmond - Dowanvale.
There is lack of scripture and confusion. I sing Jesus with my understanding when I sing the psalms. Going to support the Deliverance as lesser of two evils. We are accommodating two different views of scriptures, but God is not divided. Are we Reformed? Not if we are subjective and interpret scripture subjectively.
My vows speaks of current worship. The pragmatic arguments? We are too accommodating to people, rather than the Word.

Iain K. Macleod
Sums up
Assembly to vote on addenda. But ask Assembly to reject D. Jack’s addendum.
Gives summary of the argument behind the Deliverance and argues against the amendments.

VOTE is now being taken…...we will let you know when a result comes in. Expected in 30 minutes.

Vote will be by show of hands and not card.

The result is that Alex MacDonald’s amendment carried.

Vote was 98 to 84.

We are reporting live from the Free Church Plenary Assembly in Edinburgh on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th November. Report is found below:
(Please hit the reload button every 15 mins for updates.)

Thursday 18th November evening

6:00pm Assembly begins.

Psalm 122

Moderator opens Assembly by giving a 10-minute talk on John 16
Three marks of the Spirit-filled Church
Pslam 119: 33

Papers are being given out
Discussion about voting procedure
Vote is taken on a change in standing orders re: voting.

Report of Board of Trustees - Mr Iain K. Macleod
We all love psalms and agree that we should sing them.
We agree indeed on a vast amount.
On this issue, our temperaments and tastes are irrelevant. We have all come to our views, not because we follow our temperaments.
The report: we propose that we don’t change present practice. The Board believes this is the unity option and best option.
Board does not believe there is any point in repeating the arguments in one paper.

We took into acocunt the impact that change or no change would have on FC. No one has produced a case that has convinced everyone.
Impossible for us all to get what we want. There we must find a way forward. Of 95 UK sessions, 13 did not express preference. (57 for option A and 25 for D
IE. 70% favour option A). These figures could be misleading, but that is as we have them. This assembly may not reflect the Church as whole.

Gives some stats about sizes of presbyteries.

We hope that there will not be hint of separation!! But overblown rhetoric might cause disunity. We have to be careful what we say. So much binds us.
Can’t put it off any longer. Board feels that A) is unity option.

Good cases have been made, but Board was not convinced.

Our form of worship has been broadly same for many years. Onus of proof for change not discharged
Option is is the scriptural option.
Strong historical views are that instruments were not used in NT
Argument that option A is forcing option on everyone : the essence of the permissive is protest of the oppression of the minority. But argument proves too much.
If Assembly gives permission, but Kirk Sessions are divided on matter, what about that minority? What if session unanimous, but cong is not?

Has been hinted that change will save us from decline: that has not been shown.
Ordination promises are easy to understand.
Change of the sort desired would have difficulties with barrier act.
Option A is flexible and generous, and accommodates much of what D) wants.

Alasdair I.‘s paper has been much admired and rightly so. He calls “huge step forward” his preference 3 - ths is what deliverance recommends.
We do tolerate more than the psalms, although lots assume psalms only. Vows do not explicitly state psalms. Those who coined the phrase “uninspired materials of praise” knew what they were doing.

Option A) means that current promises are wide enough to allow more than psalms in public worship. Other scriptural passages can be used! Current position is flexible and generous.
Deliv does not give option D people what they want, but this is unifying approach.

Again, reference to Alasdair I.‘s paper: where he says that musical instruments are the less important issue. We agree.

History: it was a long time before ch allowed MI in worship. 8th century. If the NT had avoided instruments in worship, it is understanable that the Church afterwards would avoid it. However, if the NT Church HAD used MI in worship, it is inconceivable that Church should want to avoid them.

Public worship? The 1910 and 1932 Acts make clear that we are speaking about public worship - this allows flexibility. If a minister organises outreach etc, that in his view do not amount to PW, then why criticise the minister for doing that?

1910 Act is product of a time of tension and hence, language is unhelpful. So we are abolishing it. We are also abolishing 1932, which appeared to give too much attention to form of worship.
Disruption allowed what was formally authorised. The amendment of 1905 retains the use of this phrase:
Summary: can we sing Worthy is the Lamb? - yes! Please accept this unity proposal. It would be wonderful if we could now commit the same resources to outreach in our church.

END

Questions.
1)Where did the figure of 70% of sessions come from? Answer - this was the deduction the Board made from session returns.
2) Do we have returns from presbyteries? No
3) Why be flexible with materials of praise, but not instruments? This is historical position.
4) What evidence can you present that the exortation in psalms to use instruments have been rescinded?  Mr Maciver will deal with that in seconding.
5) What impact will the report have on the wider unity of the Church in Scotland? If that means we can provide a home for disaffected folks, we can’t be certain.
6) Why has the Chairman of Board not presented report to Assembly? We thank James Fraser for his work. He did not feel he could present the report with normal enthusiasm.
7) Why does the report not have the scriptural base for the deliverance? We didn’t feel it would serve a good purpose to commission another report.
8) Report defines public worship and then builds on that. Is there scriptural reason for that definition? The origin of the phrase goes back to 1781. Crept into Church. Used by men in 1910. Not sure if I would point to definition, but perhaps should go by definition in Confession. But can’t point to test in scripture.
9) Are we saying that God started to distinguish worship in 1781? No. Definition should be helpful.

Deliverance is moved.

Seconder: Rev. James Maciver -

No intention of delving into papers, but pay tribute to those who wrote the papers. Applause!

The basic question at issue: divine authority. What are we authorised to use? What has God authorised? We find answers in scriptures, but there are differences in opinion. How does Church act when there are differences? Not by personal preference. We need to give way to others, even when we think we’re right. Sessions, Presbyteries and majority of BoT stated their preferences. I trust that the integrity of our elders that they would not deal with these matters lightly.

The key issue is transition between OT and NT: are instru an inherent part of OT ritual or are the injunctions to be taken literally? The maj of Board and Sessions are not persuaded.
The call for intruments in NT is unconvincing.

Materials of Praise: James gives several arguments, which have been stated in the papers.
The psalms are full of the person of Jesus - not just from pre-incarnation, but post-incarnational perspective!
Confessional: ch 21:5 - the word “psalms” meant psalms (but perhaps some other paraphrases).
History: again - reference to historical events and figures, and issues relating to instruments.

All of us want to do what is right in the eyes of God: all the Board and the ruling officers of the Church have stated they believe the current practice is right. So should we.

Addendum
Dr Donald MacDonald.
This does not seek to expand the category of materials of praise in FC, but improve on its contents. Disruption allowed singing of paraphrases. They were never rescinded.
But these are not satisfactory or accurate. This addendum wants to modernise and improve them. We should also use materials based on NT, where we have the full revelation of Christ.
There are also materials in OT which could be used. There is a function, also, where materials can be used for edification.
We need not be bound by our strict tradition of metrical form. Psalmody Committee has lots of experience in constructing the new psalms.

Questions:
1) Where does a paraphrase end and a hymn start? A para adds a lot to what is there in scripture, but it is also possible to accurately put scripture to metre.
2) Is the Committee willing? Yes.

Seconder: Rev. John MacPherson. I need say very little. This is an uncontroversial addendum - everyone should accept it. Only inspired scripture. Would enrich our worship.
1. Addend useful because many have agreed that what is important is that it should be inspired scripture. Here is something that can be done. 
2. When is a hymn a paraphrase? We do not see what is being produced here as paraphrases, which are portions of praise which follows loosely the scripture. We are talking about an accurate reflection.

END

Addendum:
Rev. Callum Macleod
This does not add anything to the report, but it is necessary. 3 main reasons:
1) Unity of the Church, which is threatened by ongoing issue.
2) Need for closure.
3) Need for connectivity. Link between 1905 and now.

Questions:
1) What impact will this have on freedom of FC ministers to participate in other denominations? None whatsoever
2) Do you believe that ministers and elders can hold views contrary to agreed practice? It is - as a matter of personal conscience.
3) If in 20 years’ time every minister changes their position, could they change the position of the Church? If there was clear biblical mandate.
4) What happens to someone who can’t maintain etc? Not for me to say.
5) Is there precident to seek closure on such matters? Possibly in 1999, in respect of FCDA.

Addendum
Mr Roderick Finlayson

Purpose for ADDENDUM IS : the wording in pt 4 is open to misinterpretation in separating public worship from other meetings. So I’ve tried to define this in terms of Confession of Faith. We live at a time when there is much confusion on many things. Impt to be as specific as poss in definitions. The men at Confession did good job at writing very clearly. The directory for public worship also defines specifically for us what should be included in worship and it is wrong to depart from it. Our reformed heritage teaches us that worship is defined in terms of the acts which we perform. Not just stating that we are meeting for worship. Hence I move.

Alex MacDonald suggested that this should be an amendment and not an addendum. Much discussion of what category it falls within.

We are sorry - our internet connection was lost.

Amendment - Rev. Alex MacDonald
Alex MacDonald, speaking for his amendment, said that he had kept his vows over many years and had advocated the singing of psalms. Indeed, he still did. But in recent years, he had changed his view on the place of hymns. His amendment did not come out of any emotional consideration or that he played guitar, but purely scriptural grounds. He had serious misgivings about not being able to sing the name of Jesus. He also wondered about why our church allowed diversity in other things, such as Baptism, but not in this matter. He was disappointed that the report did not give scriptural direction as was expected and in the absence of clear scriptural mandate, he felt that liberty should be given to those who were convicted that we should sing material other than the psalms. He said that the report sought to please both sides, which was unsatisfactory.

He then spoke about vows and said that vows did not prevent questioning them in the light of scripture, which was our supreme rule. He then rehearsed the historical arguments, before challenging the Assembly that this was a major historial moment and to consider carefully which way they would vote.

The main thrust of Alex’s motion is that in the absence of clear biblical direction, liberty should be given.

He was then asked a number of questions, mostly of a practical nature.

The proceedings were brought to a close at 10:00pm.

(Editor’s note: Despite the potentially contentious nature of the issue, there was a good, harmonious atmosphere at the Assembly, which we hope and pray will continue throughout.)

Proceedings begin again at 10:00am on Friday 19th November.

On 1st December, the long-awaited Civil Case commences in Lima, Peru. A legal action has been raised in the civil courts against the Free Church of Scotland, the Colegio San Andrés and the former Headmaster, Donald Macaulay. The case deals with the events surrounding the tragic deaths of two pupils of Colegio San Andrés, Gianmarco Peschiera and Carlos Gonzales, on a school trip to Scotland on 31st July 2006.

Over these years, many in Scotland have been praying for the families affected, as well as the wider Colegio San Andrés family. The School now asks the Church in Scotland for earnest and sustained prayer. As the case approaches, there is great tension and anxiety within the School, and the whole San Andrés community would appreciate a sense of solidarity with the praying people of the Free Church of Scotland.

Please pray for a just, swift and decisive resolution of this case. Pray for the two families affected; pray for Donnie Macaulay and his family; and pray for the teachers, parents and pupils of Colegio San Andrés. Pray that God would be pleased to continue to bless the School into its second century of service.

A special “plenary” assembly of the Free Church of Scotland will take place this week on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th November, to debate and decide on the form of sung praise in the denomination. Since 1900, the Free Church has only sung “inspired materials of praise” (usually interpreted to mean psalms) and has avoided the use of musical instruments in public worship. Over the past 5 years, however, an increased number of Free Church ministers have questioned whether this position is necessarily the only one which is prescribed in the Scriptures. The question was first discussed by a worship committee, but in 2008, the Assembly delegated the issue to the Board of Trustees to work out a way ahead. The Trustees commissioned several theological papers written from both perspectives, distributed them to all ministers and elders, and then organised a conference, which took place earlier this year in Dingwall. The matter is now to be decided at this assembly, which is comprised of each minister who has a seat in presbyteries, along with a corresponding elder.

The Board of Trustees report (which can be found here: Report on Worship) makes several recommendations, but essentially amounts to Free Church worship staying as it is. However, it is expected that the report will be challenged by Rev. Alex MacDonald, minister of Buccleuch Free Church, Edinburgh, who will ask for congregations to be given liberty to sing what their elders wish, as long as it corresponds with the Scriptures and the theology of the Westminster Confession of Faith. There is no suggestion of congregations being forced to change from psalms to hymns. All of the proposed amendments and addenda can be found here:

Amendment_(Alex_J_MacDonald)
Addendum_(Callum_Macleod)
Addendum_(Donald_M_MacDonald)
Amendment_(Donald_Jack)
Amendment_(Fergus_Macdonald)pdf

This is the first time that a plenary assembly has taken place since 1843 and the total number of Commissioners is expected to be in the region of 200. The Commissioners will fill the lower auditorium of the assembly hall, but the public will be able to watch and listen from the gallery. 

The first meeting will be on Thursday 18th from 6pm to 10pm.
The second meeting will be on Friday 19th from 9am to 5pm (or earlier, if the Assembly concludes before then).

The issue of sung praise is one over which there are strong feelings. Please pray that there will be harmony amongst Commissioners, and that the Assembly’s debate and decision will be led by the Holy Spirit for the well-being of the Gospel in Scotland.

We will be posting live reports from the Plenary Assembly on this website from Thursday evening until its conclusion on Friday. You can keep up to date by following the appropriate instructions.

The Free Church Board of Trustees have published their report with recommendations to come before the Plenary Assembly in Edinburgh on 18th and 19th November. The report recommends the following:
- The rescinding of the 1932 Act, which requires our form of worship to be read out at inductions
- The rescinding of the 1910 Act, which requires that ministers speak against “innovations”
- The affirmation of our current practice, which is to avoid the use of uninspired materials of praise, as well as musical instruments.
- The adjustment of the 1905 Act to stipulate that the form of worship in the Free Church of 1843 was as above.
- That public worship occurs when a Kirk Session or superior court calls for worship.

You can read the whole report here: 
Board_of_Trustees_(Report_on_Worship)_Nov10.pdf

Mustard Seed Cafe

Sleat & Strath Free Church is committed to replanting a church in Broadford after a ten-year absence. The latest step in that process is starting a free community lunch, called the Mustard Seed Cafe. 

Jesus illustrated the Kingdom of God, likening it to a mustard seed – a small, insignificant seed that grows to become a great tree, where the birds of the air find shelter.  Through the Mustard Seed Cafe, we hope to do just that: provide, in the first instance, a warm, friendly place for people to meet up. We hope to serve the real needs of people, providing them with a hot meal. We also hope the lunch will give us opportunities to build relationships with people in our community. 

Please pray for this work – it is the first outward step towards re-establishing the Free Church in the second most populous part of the Isle of Skye. In the coming weeks, we will be starting Christianity Explored and plan to shortly resume Sunday Services in the area.

If you are in the Broadford area, stop in for a free lunch at the Broadford Village Hall, 12:00-2:00pm on Wednesdays 3rd, 10th and 24th November; and 8th, 22nd December. 

Donations in support of this and other outreach aspects of our work (as opposed to the upkeep of a preaching ministry) can be forwarded to Mr Harry Saunders, ‘Brookside’, Old Kyle Farm Road, Kyleakin.

You can get more info from the following websites

the PDF - http://sleatandstrath.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/mustard-seed-cafe-a4-copy.pdf
our own page - http://sleatandstrath.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/the-mustard-seed-cafe/
our site - http://sleatandstrath.wordpress.com/

Sleat & Strath Free Church is a registered as a Scottish Charity, No. SC034148.

FCC Appeal

Latest - Tuesday 2nd November

Submissions concluded today (Tuesday 2nd November). The Court agreed to accept an amendment by counsel representing the Free Church to include both sets of trustees as parties in the action before the court. This results in a slight delay before the judges will conclude the hearing and then consider their judgement for a period of time. The delay is caused by the fact that the trustees have to be officially notified that they are parties in the action. This should be all concluded before 17th November.

By doing this, the Free Church conceded payment of the expenses of that part of the case taken up with debate on the matters of “title to sue” and “all parties not called”. This should be a minor part of the overall expenses.

On the major points of principle at stake, Gerry Moynihan summed up today for the Free Church. He argued persuasively from the principles established by previous cases that where, as in this case, a split had taken place, but neither party had departed from fundamental principles, the crucial question was whether one party had left the body they had both belonged to before the split. He brought the attention of the Court to the fact that the FCC acknowledged that, after the split, they had “reconstituted themselves”. This reconstitution was sufficient to prove that they left the Free Church, and therefore forfeited their right to the property.

In reply, James McNeill for the FCC argued that on the grounds of both adherence to fundamental principles and possession his clients have title to the property. Lord Bonomy pointed out that adherence to principle is a necessary condition, but not a sufficient condition for the right of possession and Lord Osborne mentioned the opinion of a judge in a previous case that “seceders secede at their peril”.

We will now have to wait several months for the decision of the Court.

Friday 29th October

FCC Appeal
The hearing is now going to go into a second week, beginning on Tuesday. Mr Moynihan has nearly completed his submission and Mr McNeill for the FCC will reply.
The issue of all parties not being called has received a higher profile. This relates to whether the trustees (both Free Church and FCC) ought to have been named as parties in the case. It is hoped that this matter will be resolved on Tuesday.
On the main substantial issue (whether the FCC left the Free Church of Scotland and set up a separate organisation), some progress has been made, but some of the facts are disputed between the parties, so it is possible, though not desirable, that the case might have to go to proof (evidence heard on matters of fact). The present hearing is dealing with principles of law and both sides hoped that the case could be settled on that basis.

Thursday 28th October

FCC Appeal
It looks as though the hearing may finish tomorrow (Friday), which is shorter than scheduled. Gerry Moynihan QC, for the Free Church, started his presentation this afternoon (Thursday).
The arguments seem to have narrowed down to a technicality over whether all parties were called, and the major issue of what was the legal significance of the FCC leaving the Free Church and setting up a new organisation.
The appeal is being heard by Lord Osborne, Lord Bonomy and Lord Drummond Young.

Tuesday 26th October

The Free Church Continuing’s appeal against Lord Uist’s decision in the Broadford case began in the Court of Session today (Tuesday 26th October).

Lord Uist, in July 2009, found in favour of the Free Church of Scotland in an action to declare who are the rightful owners of the congregational property in Broadford in the Isle of Skye.

The FCC appealed against this decision and the appeal is now being heard before three judges in the Inner House of the Court of Session. The hearing will last 6 days.

Today, counsel for the FCC, James McNeill QC, began his three-day presentation. He outlined both the Free Church’s and the FCC’s arguments in the case. He said the Free Church’s position was that because the FCC had left the Free Church to set up a new organisation, it had forfeited any right to the property of the Free Church. By contrast, the FCC’s case was that issues concerning Church property were decided by the Courts in terms of who adhered to the fundamental principles of the Church and, in this case, as the FCC had not departed from those fundamental principles, they did not forfeit a right to the property. The rest of his presentation was taken up with a detailed examination of case law.

It is expected that counsel for the Free Church, Gerry Moynihan QC, will begin his presentation on Friday. Junior counsel for the Free Church is Ruth Charteris.

Please remember the counsel and judges in prayer, and ask God that he would use this hearing to bring an end to the uncertainty about church property in a way that would glorify His name.

Following the devastating floods in Pakistan, over 21 million people have been left homeless or have lost their entire belongings and livelihood.

As an initial response, the Free Church Disaster and Relief Fund send £10,000 to Tearfund in August. We have now been able to send a further £8,000 - this time, through Blythswood Care (http://www.blythswood.org). £3,000 of this has come from Women for Mission and has been allocated to Blythswood’s Buckets of Love campaign.

In acknowledging this donation, James Campbell from Blythswood Care reports that their partner in Pakistan is “working hard with his team to distribute food, shelter and other supplies, together with seeds for planting new crops, to families that they have identified in great need. It makes such a difference when we can support trustworthy individuals on the ground who are making a real impact”.

Blythswood Care pass on their gratitude to all who have raised funds for this appeal.

A new series of the spiritual series ‘Alleluia!’ returns to BBC ALBA on Sunday 17th October at 7.30pm, with a repeat on Monday at 11.30pm.

Each week, well-known Gaelic singers, such as Cathy Ann MacPhee, Kathleen MacInnes, James Graham and Kristine Kennedy, perform a selection of Psalms and hymns with the presenter, Iain MacKinnon, giving some insight into the background of the works featured. Every programme includes a personal story where people with faith explain the role their beliefs have in their lives. Also in the programme, Mairi MacInnes gives a reading from the book of Proverbs.

In the first episode, Sineag MacIntrye and Norrie MacIver sing Psalm 130, Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association sing ‘Come on Down to the River to Pray’. Alasdair MacAulay tells the story of his faith and Mairi MacInnes reads from Proverbs.

In Gaelic, with English subtitles.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/creideamh/

Available in black, red, pink, blue and purple.

All sizes catered for.

£20.00 each (including delivery).

Only a few weeks left to order!

Please click on the link below to download the order form:

Hoodies Order Form

You can listen here to the feedback sessions from the recent conference in Dingwall on worship practice.

Dingwall Introductory Address.mp3
Dingwall Session 1 Jason Curtis.mp3
Dingwall Session 2.mp3
Dingwall Session 3.mp3
Dingwall Session 4 Intro.mp3
Dingwall Session 4 Feedback.mp3
Dingwall Session 5 Feedback.mp3

Cumbernauld Free Church is to celebrate its 40th anniversary by staging a special event on Friday 5th November. The congregation are inviting those who have had association with them over these years to join them in celebration and thanksgiving to God for his help and blessing. 
Full details are found here. Cumbernauld 40th

A special committee heard this week why a proposal currently being processed through the Scottish Parliament seeking to legalise “assistance” to terminally ill patients who wish to end their lives should not be made law. Prof. Donald Macdonald, who himself was a medical practitioner and surgeon, before being appointed Professor of Practical Theology at the Free Church College, joined other religious leaders at a round table discussion at Holyrood on Tuesday (21st Sept). Dr Macdonald has written a comprehensive paper on the issue, carefully setting out the case against the bill, which can be found by clicking here and scrolling to page 4: Communications Committee

A DVD illustrating 50 Years of Free Church Camps was commissioned earlier this year and it’s now available for you to buy for £7 (inclusive of postage and packing).

You can order your copy by email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or by writing to Laura MacLeod, FCYC, Free Church of Scotland Offices, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS or by phoning 0131 226 5286. Please make cheques payable to “Free Church of Scotland” and write “DVD” on the back of it.

Scottish Charity Number: SC01295

Campaigners Scotland has recently appointed a new Development Officer - please click on the link below to view the full press release:

Campaigners Scotland

Please click on the link below to see the Free Church Youth Camps Report for 2010:

Camps Report

Report on Worship Conference

The Plenary Conference on worship this week revealed that there is more unity in the Free Church than perhaps previously thought. Over two hundred ministers and elders from each Presbytery attended the day and a half event, which met for honest and open discussion over the issue of form of worship. The Free Church sings unaccompanied “inspired materials of praise”. This is historically understood to be psalms and, in some congregations, paraphrases. However, questions have been raised in recent years about whether this position is too restrictive in the light of NT silence. Similar questions are being asked about the Church’s position over its “avoidance“ of musical instruments, with some ministers and elders wishing to introduce musical accompaniment.

The Conference, which was organised by the Board of Trustees under the leadership of James Fraser, was held in Dingwall Free Church, with a huge marquee having been set up alongside to provide food to the 200 plus delegates. It began on Monday evening, with opening worship led by the current moderator, Rev. David Meredith and a lecture by Dr Jason Curtis, Director of Rutherford House, who spoke on the subject: Church Unity in a Time of Conflict. Deliberately avoiding the precise dispute, he warned against confusing “truth” with “identity” and reminded the Conference that where there was conflict amongst Christians, there had to be “death” to one’s will in order to accommodate the will of the other in love.

Tuesday began again with a devotional led by David Meredith, before hearing two presentations: Dr Malcolm Maclean presented the case for retaining the status quo by stressing first that our current position was Biblical – there was no express command to sing hymns in the New Testament. Our position was also Confessional, in that we observe the regulative principle as defined in it. The opposite case (to allow for Hymns) was brought by Rev. Alasdair I. Macleod, who said that every era in Bible history was characterised by “the New Song”. He went on to say that our songs should reflect New Testament Trinitarian theology and not be restricted to old pre-incarnation praise.

The rest of the day was given over to widespread discussion facilitated by Julie Farrar, in small groups, over a variety of various attendant issues, which included maintaining unity, vows taken by office-bearers, and the distinction between formal and informal worship. The final session focussed on possible ways forward. Whilst the Conference made no decision (it did not have the authority to do so), there was an opportunity to suggest areas upon which the Board might want to concentrate in its attempt to bring concrete proposals to the forthcoming Plenary Assembly, which will meet in November and which will hopefully decide upon the issue.

The Conference was a risky venture. Many delegates feared that it may have exposed, and indeed exacerbated, division. It turned out, however, to be the opposite, providing a forum for discussion and fellowship. The November Assembly will now have to make some kind of decision, which will hopefully bring this to a conclusion (at least for the time being.) We continue to pray that God will keep us together. If this week is anything to go by, there is every indication that He will.

A capacity crowd packed the large Back Free Church building on Tuesday 10th August for the induction of Rev. Calum Iain Macleod. Rev. Kenny Macleod of Carloway, who conducted the service, focussed on Christ’s preaching good news to the poor, before the formalities, which saw Calum Iain installed formally into the congregation. After the service, there was a massive reception catering for around 500 people in the Coll Community Centre. The Back Free Church congregation, situated 8km north of Stornoway in the Island of Lewis, has been vacant since Dr Iain D. Campbell left to be minister of Point Free Church a year ago. Calum Iain was brought up in Scalpay and was inducted to Barvas Free Church 7 years ago, after training at the Free Church College, Edinburgh. He is married to Murdina, from Skye, and they have three girls, Anne Marie, Rachel Kate and Eilidh.

As we have heard from news reports, hundreds of thousands of people in Pakistan have been devastated by the worst floods in the country’s history. The death toll already stands at 1400 and a further 2.5 million people are affected. Through their Pakistan partner, SSEWA-Pak, Tearfund is responding by distributing food and other essential items to the most vulnerable families.

As an initial response, £10,000 has been sent from the Free Church Disaster & Relief Fund to Tearfund, to assist with relief efforts. We pray for the millions affected by these floods; that they will experience God’s love, comfort and hope around them today.

We are grateful to congregations who send contributions to this fund on a regular basis, in order that we have the means to respond to disasters when they occur. We are also grateful to Women for Mission, who are regular and generous supporters of the Fund.

Further information and specific items for prayer can be found at http://www.tearfund.org/News/Pakistan+flood/.

Monday 6th September - ‘Jesus and his Neighbours’, Rev. David Johnston (Bangor, Northern Ireland)

Tuesday 7th September - ‘Jesus and the Dregs of Society’, Rev. David Johnston (Bangor, Northern Ireland)

Wednesday 8th September - ‘Jesus’ Transfiguration - Its Relevance to Discipleship’, Rev. Jeff Wright (South Glasgow Baptist Church)

Thursday 9th September - ‘John the Baptist’s Ministry of Repentance’, Rev. Kenneth Stewart (Dowanvale - Glasgow)

Friday 10th September - ‘John the Baptist as Witness’, Rev. Kenneth Stewart (Dowanvale - Glasgow)

Meetings will take place each evening at 7:30pm in Ayr Free Church. Afterwards, there will be tea/coffee and a bookstall in the hall.

Come along and bring a friend!

At the 2010 General Assembly, following a presentation by Tearfund on the reconstruction efforts in Haiti, the Free Church of Scotland pledged a further £5000 with immediate effect from its Disaster Relief Fund. Tearfund expressed that their goal is not to restore Haiti to its condition pre-earthquake, but to bring real improvement to the quality of life for Haitians.

Please continue to pray for the Haitian church, the Haitian people and organisations like Tearfund, which seek to bring help and comfort in the name of Jesus.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10

Click here to read the Report: ASSEMBLY MISSIONS NIGHT 2010

The Dumisani Newsletter for May 2010 can be downloaded below:

Dumisani News

10:15am: Board of Ministry Report - Dr Fergus Macdonald - Convenor

The preaching of word is primary feature of Church. Hence, role of committee is at nerve centre of Church. All of us have responsibility to pray for professors and students, that they be anointed by the Holy Spirit.
This ministry is not just output, but outcomes. God’s word makes an impact. Ephesians: Christ gave apostles prophets etc - to equip saints for work of ministry for building-up of body of Christ. AV is often criticised for having a comma here. Our task is to facilitate. This ministry is also pastoral. We are to be pastors. In the Museum of Scotland, 3rd floor, there is a section about Church. There is plaque which came from Nicolson St. Church - the first associate congregation in Edinburgh; and when the city took the church over, they rescued 2 plaques. One summed up work of ministry: “Rev. George Johnstone, minister of word of life - going in and out among his people in kindness and, by the purity of his life and charity of his heart, adorning the doctrine of God and Saviour.”

The Board of Ministry has excellent dynamic and fellowship. We’ve had several interviews and I’ve been encouraged by the way in which Board has interacted. Students in training are mentioned on pg 79.  At the pre-college stage, we have 2 others. Colin Ross still to complete some aspects of college module, but this will happen shortly. One student will start a 4-year course this year.

The Board has also been given responsibility to establish the in-service training program. Thanks to Macdonald Hotels. This course has been found to be helpful. The focus is on practical aspects of ministry, especially now that the Positively Presbyterian Conference has been started. The PP Conference was held in Sept - much appreciated. Commend it to elders, as well as ministers. Module in Church Planting has been developed by Neil MacMillan. Also, Board given the task of producing handbook on role of elders and deacons. Some of you have benefitted from student placements. This is helpful for students to get in situ training, AND to congregations.

Pay tribute to clerk, Rev. K. Macleod. He is now leaving as clerk and was earlier delivered from a serious accident, and we are thankful for that. Nigel Anderson is to succeed Kenneth Macleod.
Finally, please pray for work of the Board and for those who are training.

Question: David Jones. What does it cost for student to live as student?
Answer: Kenneth Macleod will speak to this.

Q: Kent Compton: MTW. What’s the current regulation about calling ministers from other colleges or denominations?
A: If the person concerned is a probationer - already licensed or ordained, he would apply to be minister under defined process. We do require they do some work in FC College. There is an arrangement in place, with respect to MTW workers. But if they want to apply for ministry, they have to go through process.

Dr Macdonald moved report.
David Lipp seconded:
Accommodation. We’re grateful for the wording in the report: it’s better to retain as many church flats as necessary for students. When flats are sold, money disappears. We should retain flats.
Student hardship.  Especially those with families. Need good housing etc. Students can’t have part-time job.
College: we need to value our college. Should guard and be jealous of it. Its teaching.

No amendments.

Speakers:

Rev. Kenneth Macleod - outgoing clerk.
Thanks Dr Macdonald for his kind remarks. Privilege being clerk to Committee. Pleasure working with them.
Item 9 in deliverance. Student finance. We have in place student finance scheme. This was administerd through presbytery levy and now through admin levy in financial system. Try to support students 8000 pa. We top up student loan. This figure has not being changed in last 10 years. Students should not be struggling financially. Don’t want them to be driving top cars, but nor want them to be poor.
Item 10 is personal. Personally indebted to Ann Macleod. We should remember her in prayer.

Prof. J. A. Macleod: Really impressed by the students coming before Committtee - their conduct is moving. 

Iain Macaskill: if there is an influx of colleagues from Kirk, we should be ready - especially the Board.

Bob Akroyd: Echo Iain Macaskill’s remarks. Also, Kent Compton’s question. We often see willingness of MTW men to come and willingness to become ministers. How can we make way easier for them? But we must ask people with skills, point blank, if they have considered ministry. I am here because someone asked me directly. So few of our people are making use of our resources.

Angus Macrae: We should try to make use more of ICC and HTI. For some candidates, a part-time training might be more appropriate for, say, family or health reasons. We’re not flexible enough. Please look at crafting a course for the individual and according to his needs. This flexibility should also apply to graduates -  eg. Colin Ross. The longer I’m in ministry, the more I appreciate the training I got.

Jeremy Ross: It’s not impossible to work part-time and be a student. Perhaps working in congs under the 70% threshold.

END of Report

College Board - Dr I. D. Campbell
There is overlap between our work and BoM. We remember the college in prayer. Joy to work alongside the Principal for the support and advancement of the College. Pay tribute to the full-time and part-time staff.
There has been strong degree of colegiality. Again, we remember Ann Macleod. Her illness has been matter of prayer for past decade. Outwardly, we would be hard pressed to know that there was anything wrong with her. Assembly join with me in expressing gratitude for her.

We are encouraged by the fact that our college sends students all over the world. The College is just one option for private students and there is new advertising campaign. Capturing the spirit of reformation as radical counter-culture. ‘The 1560 Initiative’. The single most important method of encouraging interest in College is personal contact. If we have opportunities, then be prepared to tell people.

The Principal’s Report recommends the transfer of Apologetics to Systemic Theology department. Some would say that this is not a day to be dropping Apologetics. We are not dropping it, but transferring it.
Please support the College. Encourage participation in part-time courses.

Want to speak about Principle and Principal!
The Principle. (of having a theological college) - I’ve been trying to assess views. Some voices suggest the College is not good value for money and we could be using other facilities. I hope not. We may be suffering from an image problem. But if we are not producing affectionate, skilled etc preachers, we might as well close. College is one of our greatest resources.

The Principal: Donald Macleod is now retiring as Principal. Express the Church’s gratitude to him for his achievements over the past 10 years. (Loud applause!)

Nominations. Returns from Presbyteries. J. L. Mackay highest number. A. I. Macleod and D. Meredith have now withdrawn.

The College is not a large institution, but nor was the Apostles’ school. 
I want an exciting college in an exciting church. I am convinced it can be.

Questions:
1) Kenneth Stewart: Has the Board considered leaving Apologetics permanently in the dept of ST?
Answer: this will have to be looked at and will be reviewed after three years.
Is there any pressure for Glasgow University to “take over” ?
Answer: I’m amazed at how little pressure there is.

Moving: Prof. J. A. Macleod. College Website
1) I want people to realise that we prepare preachers.
2) The College trains people who want to specialise in God-given strengths. 2 postgraduate courses: MTh. and MTh. (taught). Glasgow Uni speak very highly of the College.
3) We offer personal relationships in guidance and advice. We are small and personal.

Pay tribute to Joan MacLennan and Christina MacIver.

Seconder: Iain Mackinnon (Back FC). Echo Dr Campbell’s comments. Report says College Board is interface. This is important statement. The responsibility that lies on Assembly in making directives is very apparent.
How do you network and deliver? Very important that you link with like-minded individuals. Report says we simulate the situations we will find ourselves in. Must not have zeal without knowledge. 

Speakers:
Dr F. Macdonald. The whole Church needs to supoort the College and interact with it. Huge value in having our own college. Danger in College drifting apart from Church. There is perception that Church ostracising College. Also, that College is operating autonomously. These are wrong. We have enormous potential to invest in the world Church. We can lose our college, not only though universities, but by outsourcing our theological education.

Donald Morrison (Lochgilphead) : I was not ready to begin preaching ministry when I left Aberdeen University—until I went to our college. The course is weak, however, on counselling. Like pregnancy counselling. Care for Scotland run courses from Christian perspective and we should look to these or the like.

Rod Finlayson (Toronto) : I’ve had the privilege of sitting under three men trained in FCC - they’ve been trained to present the word in passionate way. This has influenced areas outside Scotland. There are seminaries in USA, but there’s something different about the FCC. We need more preachers steeped in the confession and word of God.

Dr Campbell summed up.

Apointment of College Principal.
To be a card vote. Two names left in: Prof. J. L. Mackay & Dr I. D. Campbell.
But must be moved and seconded.
Questions.
Additional names may be nominated.

James Maciver: move the name of Prof. J. L. Mackay. Seconded.
John Ross: move the name of Dr I. D. Campbell. Seconded.

Discussion about the two candidates:

In favour of J. L. Mackay: the senior candidate and he is on hand. Dr Campbell is off-site. Both men have excellent qualities. This is hard decision. He possibly might retire in 4-5 years and that will enable the Board to review the role of Principal. He can fulfil a pastoral role, if he is in situ.

In favour of I. D. Campbell: has shown already today his ability to raise the profile of the College. If he is appointed, we still retain the excellent professorial skills of J. L. Mackay as lecturer. Dr Campbell is a great ambassador. It’s time for Church to consider the different option of a promoter. A bridge builder.

Other comments: the role is undefined. No job description. It’s time to consider a fundamental change of role. College is very substantial investment. We’ve failed to market the College. We want both of them!  The Board was remiss in not elaborating in what the role was, so that we could have been helped in the choice. In secular universities, there is the role of principal who does act as ambassador. There is another role: secretary to the university who is an administrator.

RESULT:

The Assembly’s nomination of the new College Principal is: Prof. J. L. Mackay

The Assembly agreed to make the nomination unanimous.

2:00pm

The clerk has informed the Assembly that Prof. J. L. Mackay has accepted the position of Principal of the Free College.

There is now an order of the day with Tearfund giving a presentation.
Their presentation described the events of Haiti and Tearfund’s response. 

Visit of Lord High Commissioner.  2:45pm

Report of Study Panel - Dr D. Macdonald
We are making progress towards a final report. Panel was strengthened by addition of 2 new members. Our remit to study marriage divorce and remarriage becomes ever more important as marriage comes under attack. We must teach Biblical principles to all age groups and provide good models of marriage to young people.

We are concentrating on two areas:
Marriage and divorce
Preparation for marriage

Dr David Instone Brewer: We are studying the concept of accommodation. This concept can be dangerous, unless rightly understood and wisely applied. We may be tempted to think that God will overlook our faults, especially if they are due to pressures of society. The emphasis in the NT is on holiness - there should be zero tolerance to sin and endeavour to confirm to image of Christ. God commands all men to repent. When sin does occur, then answer is repentance and forgivenensss, and not accommodation. Accommodation is used within context of the law.

In area of preparation for marrage - such should be in background of regular teaching ministry. Young people, especially, can learn; should see good models of marriage. Panel has decided to produce a new document building on previous insights on marriage and taking in questions received from ministers who have experienced problems.

END. No speaker.

Report of the Committee on the Potential Role of Deacons. Dr D. Macdonald.
Remit to examine, in light of scripture, the role of deacons, as result of 2007 Assembly.
They raised that not enough elders and much of committee work was diaconal.
Could deacons serve.

But committees are appointed by and answerable to GA - hence, can deacons legitimately serve?

Biblical teaching on deacons. Historical development on diaconate.

Excursus: we tried to ascertain the number of office bearers in FC. The 2008 reports were incomplete. Some counted assessor elders - led to double counting. Emailed presbytery clerks - reponses from 5 of them, and so figures reported are approx. 420 elders throughout whole Church - this should be a sufficient number. Some presbyteries have greater numbers of elders than others.
Plea: please carefully fill in annual schedules. Suggest that a committee set up collation of schedules.

Are deacons qualified to serve on higher courts? I’m of the persuasion that they should not. If they have gifts to serve in this capacity, they should be elders.  But nothing in NT says that deacons rule. This is for elders.
Committees are responsible to Assembly and have responsibility to rule. Deacons have responsibility to serve. Emphasis in NT is on gifts. Hence, if some are gifted in elders functions, they should be appointed such.

Questions:
Donald A. Macdonald. question on para 5.3.5. What about where someone has gifts, but number on Kirk session is high enough? How can they be elected elders?
Answer: that’s up to the Kirk Session.

Mover of report: Evan Macdonald. Thanks to Dr Macdonald.

END of report

End of sederunt.

Please see Missions Report under Missions News.

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:

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.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Laura Macleod to the post of Camps Administrator. Laura is due to take up her new role on 7th June.  She fills the vacancy left by the departure of Mhairi MacKintosh after almost seven years of dedicated service to the work of camps. Mhairi will be missed by all in the Church Offices and we wish her all the best for the future. Upon taking up her new role, Laura will be based in the Church Offices in Edinburgh.

Laura hails originally from South Uist, but is now based in Glasgow and is a member in Glasgow City Free Church. Laura’s professional background is in television, where she has worked as an Assistant Producer for a number of years, with particular focus on Gaelic programming. We believe that Laura’s organisational and creative skills, coupled with her passion for the ministry of camps, will be invaluable as we continue to share the good news of Jesus Christ through camps.

The Free Church has submitted a thorough argument against the proposed End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament. This submission can be viewed here:
End of Life Assistance Bill Submission

AWAY DAY 2010 - ‘Living for God’s Glory’

Saturday 25th September at The Aviemore Conference Centre

10am - 5pm

Speakers: Ann Benton & Karina MacLeod

Cost (including food): £30/£25 for students

Something for everyone - we look forward to seeing you there!

Please click on the link below to download the Booking Form:

WfM Away Day

Staff and students at the SEL (Lima Evangelical Seminary) took the day off on Tuesday (30th March) to celebrate Dr Donald Smith’s 60th birthday. Donnie, who was brought up in the Drumchapel Free Church congregation, went as a Free Church missionary to Peru in 1977, ministering first in the Cajamarca region, before moving to Lima, where he has taught Church History at the SEL for 23 years. He was Moderator of the Free Church General Assembly in 2006. Donald is married to Julia, a native Peruvian and they have two children, Alex (30) and Catriona (28), who travelled to Lima last week for the occasion. We congratulate him and continue to pray for his work at the Seminary.
     

The following tribute to the late Rev. Angus Macleod was read at a meeting of the Western Isles Presbytery on 4th May: Tribute to Rev Angus Macleod

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David Robertson’s book on Robert Murray McCheyne, Awakening, is once again available.

For more information, please click on the Bookshop link at the bottom of the page.

Thanks to the generosity throughout the Free Church of Scotland, a further £5,000 from the Disaster & Relief Fund has been sent to support the work of the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Port-au-Prince (STEP). As the evangelical community in Haiti has grown, so has the need for more advanced studies. To that end, STEP was established in 1981 to provide a higher level of theological training. To find out more about STEP, see their website: http://www.stephaiti.com.

The following email to Manuel Reano - one of our missionaries in Colombia - from Dr Jean Dorlus, the Dean of STEP, gives a sense of the scale of the challenge facing the Christian community, as well as prayer points for Haiti:

“Thank you very much indeed for your prayers and all efforts to keep us in the minds of the people. Let me give you a quick update.

I will update you soon.
In Christ, Dr Jean Dorlus”

Over 290 delegates attended the inaugural meeting of ACCEP (La Asociación de Colegios Evangélicos del Perú) from 11th - 13th February 2010. The Association has a vision to support and develop Christian education in Peru; setting common standards; providing training and resources; and representing the Christian educational community at governement level. It succeeds a previous association, which existed until the 1990s.

Colegio San Andrés brought together representatives from Christian schools in Peru at the end of last year, with a vision for the further development of Christian education. Such was the enthusiasm that a steering committee was formed that same day, leading to the first conference held recently, with representatives attending from all over the country, far exceeding our modest expectations.

Give thanks for the growth of Christian schools throughout the whole of Peru and pray for the role the new Association will have in their further development. Pray, too, that the nation will be transformed through the teaching of God’s revealed Word.

The attached letter has been received from Tearfund to express thanks for the donation of £10,000 made by the Church, in response to the recent earthquake in Haiti.

Tearfund_Letter.pdf

Further information regarding the relief effort and specific points for prayer can be found on the Tearfund website at: http://www.tearfund.org/News/Haiti+earthquake/.

The Annie Soper Christian School in Moyobamba, Peru, are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Arturo Solis as our new headmaster. Arturo has previously served the School as Head of Science and Deputy Headmaster. We are grateful for the prayers of God’s people on behalf of the School, as we look to the start of a new academic year. In particular, we would ask that intercession be made on behalf of the new headmaster, his staff, and for a healthy intake of new and returning pupils.

David MacPherson

Death of Rev. K. J. Nicolson

Rev. Kenneth J. Nicolson, who passed away last Monday (Jan. 25th), was the oldest minister in the Free Church, having lived to the age of 98. He was born in a family of nine in Gravir on the 13th of September 1911, and had four brothers and four sisters. (He was named after a brother, Kenneth, who died at the age of 14).  He first attended Gravir Primary School (which is now a museum), before moving on to the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway, and Edinburgh University, graduating with an MA degree.  After studying at the Free Church College, he was ordained and inducted in 1944 to Portree Free Church in Skye, and remained there for 13 years. In 1947, he married Rhoda Mackenzie (a nurse) from Crossbost (Lochs). He then accepted a call to Barvas Free Church in 1957, where he remained for 22 years, retiring in 1979 to Crossbost. In 1976, whilst he was minister in Barvas, he was elected to be Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland General Assembly.

Mr Nicolson continued to preach the Gospel up until his 90th year, until he was physically unable to continue. He had a commanding, yet unintimidating, presence in the pulpit, a versatile command of the English and Gaelic language, a distinctive voice, and deliberate, clear manner of communication. He composed spiritual poetry over the years, some of which has been published lately in his writings on the Garyvard Revival. It is hoped that his family in the future will be able to compile his works fully in print. He is mentioned several times in recent publication, Glory in the Glen.

Mr Nicolson is survived by his wife, Rhoda, daughter, Peggy, son, Ruaraidh, and four grandchildren, to whom we extend our sincere and prayerful sympathies.

The third Conference of European Reformed Churches has been arranged to take place from 16th - 19th March 2010 at the Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, with the theme of ‘ROUTE’ (Reaching Out Unitedly To Europe), focussing on cooperation between reformed churches in evangelism and theological education. The main speaker will be Richard Pratt (http://www.thirdmill.org).

Attendance is open to any who wish to attend. The cost of attendance is as follows:

Whole conference (including accommodation on site and all meals) - £340
Day visitor (including evening dinner) - £110 per day
Day visitor (excluding evening dinner) - £90 per day

Volunteers are also being sought to help with the transport of delegates, particularly to and from the Conference Centre and Edinburgh Airport, before and after the Conference. If you have a car and are willing to help in this way, especially on the 15th (afternoon and evening, for delegates arriving early), 16th (morning) and 19th (morning through to lunchtime), please enter your details on the form provided and you will be contacted by the Free Church Offices in due course.

Please use the links below:

Registration Form

Programme

Edinburgh Conference Centre Brochure

James Maciver
Clerk to the Organising Committee

Many will remember the tragic events in the summer of 2006, when two pupils from Colegio San Andrés in Lima, along with their host (and driver), died in a road accident near Inverness. The two boys were part of a team of pupils participating in a school trip to Scotland.

It will also be known by many that the parents of one of the boys have raised a court action against the school and its former headmaster, and the Church, to seek damages for their loss. This legal action is ongoing and is being defended by the Church. There is a real desire for a just and swift resolution to be found, and it has been felt that the prayers of God’s people should be specifically sought in this regard.

We would ask that the following matters be the object of specific and concerted prayer:

*  Pray for the families of the boys, as they continue to deal with the grief of the loss suffered.

*  Pray for a just and swift resolution to the ongoing legal process, and wisdom for those responsible for making decisions.

*  Pray for the whole school community, that they might know God’s help and direction in their ongoing service in the school.

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:13-14

International Missions Board
January 2010

Great news from Clive Bailey, Headmaster of Colegio San Andrés: the pupil roll is likely to exceed 600 when classes start on 1st March. This is an increase of almost 75 pupils, following an increase of more than 50 last year.

Pray for God’s blessing upon all the staff, pupils and families connected with the school.

The Home Missions Board and the International Missions Board have cooperated in producing a fundraising leaflet, which is being distributed to congregations and will be used in conjunction with a PowerPoint presentation, which members of the Boards will be taking round congregations in the coming months. See Home Missions section, under ‘Fundraising’.

In response to the recent earthquake in Haiti, the Free Church of Scotland has donated £10,000 to Tearfund’s ‘Haiti Emergency Appeal’.

Thanks, in part, to recent legacy income and to the fundraising efforts of Women for Mission (WFM), our church can make this immediate practical response to this catastrophe, which has been described by former U. S. President, Bill Clinton - now UN Special Envoy to Haiti - as “one of the great humanitarian emergencies in the history of the Americas”.

We encourage congregations and individuals to send donations to our Disaster and Relief Fund at the Free Church Offices. Such donations will allow us to continue to provide financial support to aid agencies, such as Tearfund, when disasters like this occur.

As we support the relief effort financially, may we all pray for those who have been bereaved, injured and rendered homeless. Let us commend them to God, who remains “our ever present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46.1).

The final Gaelic Service for 2009 will be held next Sunday (13th December) at 3pm at Golspie Free Church.

The speaker will be Rev. Donald Morrison of Tain.

These monthly services have been a tremendous success and will continue in the New Year.

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PROGRAMME 2010

The programme of Edinburgh and Perth Gaelic Services 2010 is as follows:

7th Feb.      Mr Alasdair Macaulay at St. Columba’s Free Church, Edinburgh

11th April    Rev. Murdo Macleod at St. Columba’s Free Church, Edinburgh

13th June    Principal Donald Macleod at St. Columba’s Free Church, Edinburgh

5th Sept.      Rev. Duncan Macleod at Perth Free Church

12th Dec.    Rev. Iain Thomson at St. Columba’s Free Church, Edinburgh

All services begin at 3pm.

Bithidh na seirbhisean air am frithealadh a-reir an t’ordugh thraidiseanta, le Preseantair air ceann na seinn, a’ cur a-mach na loidhne anns an t-seann nos.

These services will be conducted according to the traditional Gaelic order. The praise will be led by a Precentor, who will give out the line in the old style.

Tuileadh fiosrachaidh / Further information:
Contact Rev. Duncan Macleod on 01738 626 515 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Deagh-bheatha do na h’uile / All Welcome.

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The following preachers will be preaching in Greyfriars Stratherrick Free Church, Inverness, on the following dates:

Tuesday 26th January -  Rev. A. I. MacDonald (retired, Inverness)

Tuesday 23rd February - Rev. Calum Iain Macleod (Barvas)

Tuesday 30th March   - Rev. Norman MacIver (Tarbert)

Tuesday 27th April - Rev. Neil Shaw (retired, Conon Bridge)

Monday 31st May - Rev. I. D. Campbell (Point)

Principal Donald Macleod is to retire in June 2010 as Principal of the Free Church College in Edinburgh. His intention to step down was announced by Dr Iain D. Campbell, the Chairman of the College Board, this week. Dr Campbell paid tribute to his leadership and said that Donald Macleod “significantly developed the Free Church College as a Reformed centre of theological enquiry, offering a variety of degree courses and holding to the highest academic standards. His tenure of the Principalship has put the whole Church in his debt.”

Principal Macleod is the longest-serving active minister in the Free Church of Scotland. Having been ordained to Kilmallie in 1964, his second and only other charge was Glasgow where he ministered in the then Partick Highland (now Dowanvale) congregation, before being appointed to the chair of Systematic Theology at the Free Church College in 1978. Upon the retirement of Archie Boyd, Professor Macleod was appointed to the position of Principal in 1999.

It was during his time as Principal that the validation arrangement was forged between the Free Church College and Glasgow University, which resulted in BTh and MTh degrees being awarded to the College’s students.
Principal Macleod said this week that it had been a great honour to hold the position of Principal, and paid tribute to the “excellent team” with which he worked and who helped create a happy environment. Whilst stepping down as Principal, he intends to continue to teach Systematic Theology for the time being.

In 2008, Principal Macleod was awarded an honorary doctorate by Westminster Theological Seminary. He is the author of several books, which include The Person of Christ, The Spirit of Promise and A Faith to Live By.

I. Martin 24/11/09

On Friday 13th November, a very large gathering from across Fife and throughout Scotland welcomed a new minister to the charge of Kirkcaldy, Kinglassie and Glenrothes Free Church of Scotland. After sixteen years as their minister, Neil MacMillan took up a full-time post with the Home Missions Board. The vacancy, created on 12th July 2009, was swiftly filled when Rev. John Johnstone, a native of Cumbernauld, accepted a call from the congregation to be their new minister. Since the anticipated crowd was too large for the Kirkcaldy Free Church, the induction was held in the nearby Viewforth Church of Scotland (a big Thank You to the congregation and their minister for their kindness).

The service was conducted by Professor John McIntosh, Moderator of Edinburgh & Perth Presbytery, who preached on Philippians 4:2 & 3, ‘Three Truths About the Church”. After John Johnstone successfully answered all of the required questions, he was ordained and inducted, and presented with the right hand of fellowship from his fellow ministers and presbyters. Alex MacDonald then addressed some advice to the new minister from 1st Corinthians 15, ‘The Things of First Importance’. The retiring Interim Moderator encouraged the congregation from Philippians 1:3-6 to consider “their Partnership in the Gospel”.

Presentations were made by the congregation to John and his wife, Sarah, and much-appreciated gifts were given to their three children, Rachel (5), Samuel (3) and Anna (1). Humorous and warm-hearted speeches were given by Iver Martin (John Johnstone’s father-in-law), Ricky MacDonald, Neil MacMillan and James Eglinton. After Douglas Campbell said the final prayer and grace, the large gathering repaired to Kirkcaldy Free Church for a substantial tea and a time of warm fellowship.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the night such a great success, and we wish the new minister, his family and the whole congregation every encouragement and blessing in this new chapter of ministry in Fife.

Bob Akroyd