News & Events

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.