News & Events

The Positively Presbyterian Conference will be held again this year at Carronvale House in Larbert from 30th August - 1st September.

The following speakers are due to address the event -

Rev. Martin Downes on: Is heresy a real issue today?

Rev. Nigel Anderson on: Dietrich Bonhoeffer - a courageous leader?

Rev. Dr Fergus MacDonald on: Contemporary management techniques - bane or blessing?

Rev. Peter Grainger on: The leader as a preacher.

Rev. Kenny Stewart on: Rev. Dr Alexander Whyte - a model or a warning?

Agnes Brough on: Women in leadership - a complementarian perspective.

If you wish to book, please email Deuan Jones at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). The Conference Fee will be £100, payable at the start of the Conference. Day visitors are also welcome.

Special Conference and Plenary Assembly to discuss Free Church Worship - 23rd / 24th August

A special conference has been arranged by the Free Church Board of Trustees, in which there will be full engagement, debate and discussion over the question of form of worship. The Conference, which was agreed at this year’s General Assembly, will take place at Dingwall Free Church, on the 23rd and 24th August. The Conference is designed to be a forum at which there can be Biblical discussion over the question of worship and unity in a harmonious and prayerful environment.

An invitation to the Conference is given to all elders with a seat on a Kirk Session, as well as all ministers with a seat on Presbytery, but they must make a prior booking by filling in the forms which have been sent to Session Clerks. Any elder not having access to a form should contact the Free Church Offices. Forms must be returned to the Offices by 2 August.

The ultimate aim of the Conference is to bring a proposal (or proposals) to a special plenary Assembly, which will hopefully come to a decision on the question of sung praise. The Assembly, which will be composed of all ministers with a seat in presbytery, together with an equal number of elders, will take place in Edinburgh on 18th and 19th November.

More information will be given via presbyteries nearer the time.

FCYC 50th Anniversary Hoodies are now available to order!

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

All sizes catered for.

£20.00 each (including delivery).

Be the first to get one!

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

Hoodies Order Form

PLEASE NOTE: Orders for hoodies can be placed at Camps and will be sent out as soon as possible, however we unfortunately cannot guarantee that they will be ready before the Camps begin.

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!

Back Free Church are to have a new minister. At the Western Isles Presbytery on Tuesday 22 June, a unanimous call from the congregation of Back was tabled and, after the usual debate, Rev. Macleod announced his willingness to go. 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. The induction date will be announced shortly.

The Free Church of Scotland currently has 1 vacant unfurnished flat in Edinburgh to let on a Short-Assured lease:

5 (3F2) Iona Street - available immediately
Rent - £400 pcm
Small flat, which would be suitable for a single person or a couple. Accommodation consists of hall, kitchen/diner, bedroom and shower room with separate w/c. Electric central heating.

In the first instance, leases will be available until the end of June 2011. Council tax and utilities are not included in the monthly rent. A deposit of one month’s rent is also required, returnable when the property is vacated, subject to the conditions of lease.

Further details can be obtained by contacting Mrs Sharon Fraser at the Free Church Offices - call 0131 226 5286 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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

Women for Mission - ANNUAL MEETING 2010

This year’s Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday 20th May at 2pm, in the Presbytery Hall at the Free Church Offices, Edinburgh.

Click on the link below to view the poster:

WfM AGM

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

_____________________________________________

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.

              —————————————-

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.

        ———————————————————-

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

Lewis-based charity, The Gambia Partnership, have released a professionally produced DVD of Christian testimonies called The Lord is My Shepherd. Whilst the DVD is a fundraiser for the work in The Gambia, it is hoped that it will be used of the Lord and be a blessing to all who watch it. To view the DVD trailer, please visit: http://www.gedyeates.co.uk/gambia/.

The DVD is available for £10 or £12 (inc. p&p), and can be purchased at the Free Church Bookshop (Edinburgh) and in shops around Lewis, or it can be ordered from:

Andy Cumming
16 Upper Garrabost
Point
Isle of Lewis
HS2 0PN

Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Cheques should be made payable to ‘The Gambia Partnership’.

Burghead congregation is rejoicing in the Lord’s goodness! Seven new members were added to the roll at last month’s communion. Literally, there were tears of joy, as a small congregation that had experienced the loss of many faithful stalwarts, including its six elders and two deacons, over the past few years, thanked God for such an encouragement.

Five of the new members transferred their membership from other churches, four from the Church of Scotland. It was a thrill to see two of our own men profess faith in Christ. A number of others join with us on a regular basis. It’s such a joy to see two little children, with Mum and Dad! The dad, trained in youth work, is interested in doing something in Burghead. We have a real burden for the young and have been praying for a number of years that the Lord would send someone. David was very involved in youth work in the church he attended. A retired Church of Scotland minister and his wife worship with us very regularly. He has given supply on a number of occasions; the warmth of his preaching is so much appreciated and the folks love him.

To our God, who truly does the exceeding and abundant in His time, we give all the praise!

Jim & Anne Abernethy

FIRST MINISTER & CHURCHES FOCUS ON COMMON CONCERNS

On Wednesday 4 November 2009, First Minister Alex Salmond met with senior figures from 12 Scottish Churches to discuss some common concerns around Social Cohesion and End of Life issues.
The conversation was open and cordial, while addressing difficult issues and sharing examples of good practice from across the country.
This annual meeting illustrates the increasingly active engagement between Churches and Civic Society in Scotland, both nationally and locally.

Representing the Free Church of Scotland was Rev. Alex MacDonald, Buccleuch Free Church, Edinburgh.

(Photo by Bungie)

Archibald Cook was a fearless minister who deeply impacted the Scottish Highlands in the 19th Century and is the subject of a new book - One of Heaven’s Jewels - published in aid of Bethesda Care Home and Hospice on Lewis. The original Free North church in Inverness was built for this Arran-born preacher, who attracted thousands of hearers at communion services.  A man who blended Lowland and Highland Calvinism, he opposed the clearances and was loved by the ordinary people. He helped evangelise the West Highlands through the vast numbers of West Coast fishermen and herring women who heard him preach at Gaelic services he set up for them during the herring seasons in Wick in the 1820s.  His brother, Finlay, was the first evangelical minister in the Church of Scotland in Cross, in Lewis. The new book, One of Heaven’s Jewels, tells how Archie Cook’s generation lived and worshipped. A warm-hearted mixture of community, social and church history, it describes a man of deep spiritual discernment, whose sermons identified and encouraged the least sign of spiritual life. A man of action, he would tramp through deep snow to keep preaching appointments and backed the people’s struggle to have the right to choose their own minister. The first six chapters describe the revival-era atmosphere in Arran, where he grew up, as well as his three pastorates and the famous struggle by the Daviot people to call him as their minister. Several further chapters describe urban grass-roots evangelism, the 1857-1861 revival movement in the Highlands, the Union controversy, the early Inverness career of the Rev. Duncan Macbeth (now better known for his later Ness ministry), Cook’s friendship with Rev. Jonathan Ranken Anderson, communion seasons and the Separatist movement. The last two chapters discuss the possible influences that his mentor Dr John Love had on Cook’s thought, and Cook’s own emphases.

The paperback sells at £19.99, and all profits will go to the Bethesda Care Home and Hospice in Stornoway. One of Heaven’s Jewels has 27 colour photos, several black and white pictures, 278 pages and reflects a dozen years’ worth of research by island author, Norman Campbell. It can be bought at the Free Church Bookshop, Roddy Smith’s (Stornoway), Borders Inverness, or online at the Bethesda website shop:

You are warmly invited to an informal celebration to mark the re-opening of St. Peter’s Free Church, Dundee, on Saturday 28th November at 3pm.
The preacher will be Rev. Dr Derek Thomas (Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson). There will be coffee and snacks, an opportunity to see the refurbished building, singing, prayer, Bible teaching, and an opportunity to hear of the ongoing work and the Centre for Public Christianity.

It would be helpful if you could let us know if you intend to come so that we can make suitable preparations. Please contact St. Peter’s Free Church, 4 St. Peter Street, Dundee, DD1 4JJ or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

In commemoration and thanksgiving of the 50th Anniversary of Free Church Youth Camps, we would like to hear from any campers, leaders, cooks or parents who have any memories, stories or photos they are happy to share with us and to possibly be included in a historical record - such as a Power Point presentation, tea towel (in the form of the front page of a newspaper) or a booklet.

Please refer to ‘suggested questionnaire’ for guidelines on completion or simply send your story or photos to Mhairi Mackintosh, Smithton-Culloden Free Church, Murray Road, Smithton, Inverness, IV2 7YU (email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)), by 30th November 2009.

£10,000 has been sent from the Free Church Disaster & Relief Fund to Tearfund to assist with relief efforts in South East Asia.  This follows a week of disasters in the area including devastation caused by a typhoon in the Philippines, a tsunami which hit Samoa and Tonga and an earthquake which hit the Indonesia city of Padang.  Tearfund works with partners and local churches to respond to the disasters.  We pray that those affected by these disasters will experience relief and will find hope to rebuild broken lives.

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 this Fund.

The Dumisani News can be downloaded below:

Dumisani_News_Extra.pdf

Ian Murdo Macleod from Tong on the Isle of Lewis has been appointed as a part-time Outreach Worker by the Western Isles Presbytery. Ian graduated from HTC in 2008 with a B.A. in Theological Studies. He worships in Stornoway Free Church and has an interest in personal evangelism. This short-term appointment is for a six-month period and on the basis of a pilot scheme. As part of the pilot scheme, the congregations of Barvas and Lochs have been invited to host Ian for three months respectively. This will help establish whether it is feasible for the Presbytery to develop a long-term appointment of a facilitator, to work in conjuction with some of our smaller, more ill-resourced and needy congregations. Ian will begin working in Barvas at the end of October. He will work closely with the Presbytery’s Strategy Committee and the Kirk Session, and facilitate various evangelistic activities throughout the local community. Amongst other things, Ian will oversee a ten-week Christianity Explored course, beginning on Tuesday 20 October from 8-9pm in the new Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre in Borve, and facilitate an informal Bible Study called Practical Christianity, which will begin in the Barvas church hall on Tuesday 27 October from 7:30-9pm for six weeks. He will also provide support in organising a series of testimony meetings over the winter months - the first being on Sunday 25 October at 8:30pm in the Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre, at which Stan Gowdy will speak.

Calum I. Macleod
Barvas Free Church

The Dumisani Newsletter for September 2009 can be downloaded below:

Dumisani_Newsletter_Sept_09.pdf

The Free Church announced tonight (7th October) that the Moderator of the General Assembly in 2010 will be Rev. David Meredith, minister of Smithton Free Church, Inverness. David is 48 and comes from Paisley, where he initially went to Camphill High School, although his schooling was completed in Portree High School after his family moved to Skye. He studied English and Politics at Strathclyde University before applying for the Free Church ministry, graduating from the Free Church College in 1984. Smithton, which was then a tiny outreach congregation, became his first and only charge and, over David’s 25-year ministry, has become a thriving congregation.

David says he has a desire to bring contemporary applications to ancient truths, and to see vibrancy within a Free Church which is free from parochialism and focussed on the spiritual needs of Scotland. He is married to Nina and they have 4 children.

Saturday 3rd October: Today is Entrance Day for pupils wishing to enrol for Session 2010, which begins in March. Please pray for all the staff involved in interviewing prospective pupils and their parents, and that God would bring those in whom He will do a great work. So far, 64 pupils are enrolled for the entrance evaluations.

The new chaplain in Colegio San Andrés, Pastor Juan José Otero (photo), is making a valued contribution to the spiritual opportunities in the school. He works with systematic pupil interviews; parental interviews, and visits where required; Bible studies; prayer meetings; school assemblies; staff advice; and pupil camps etc. In addition, the areas of Christian ministries by the pupils is being increasingly co-ordinated under his leadership.

Give thanks for the opportunity for San Andrés pupils to help in mentoring the deaf-mute children in the centre run by SU Peru. Pray that this ministry would bring blessing to the deaf-mute children, whose education in state schools has been very basic, and who often suffer from low self-esteem. Pray for the San Andrés pupils too, as they engage in practical ministry and witness to these children.

Highland Youth Weekend is on the weekend of 2nd - 4th October in Kilravock for anyone in S3 - S6. 

The weekend is £40 including ticket to Big Free Rally and there are last minute places that can be booked by Wednesday 30th September from Susan MacLean .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Rev. Samit Mishra gives this report of the Presbyterian Free Church Youth Retreat, which was held in Lakhnadon Mission School from 26th to 29th September.

Lots of thought and endless effort had been put into the preparation of the event. Prior to the Retreat, nervousness was overpowering us, but as soon as the Retreat commenced, all our anxiety and tiredness turned into a refreshing breeze…because the attendance of youth was crossing the limit we had set before. We expected 80-85 young people - and 90 young people came. Much to our surprise, almost half of the youth came from villages. Among them, many were new to faith and were trying to find opportunity to get rooted in their understanding of Christ and His work.

The theme of this year was taken from Ephesians 5:14 - “Awake…and Christ shall give you light”. In the inauguration session, Mrs P. Kumar and Mrs L. Y. Lal shed some light on the history of the Chhapara and Lakhnadon churches. Thereafter, flowers of different colours were tied together to signify our unity and the beauty of our unity. Then began a series of 10 sessions, each dealing with a particular concern of contemporary youth.

The end arrived much sooner than we hoped. The final day of the Retreat, 29th September, brought a timeless encouragement to all who were involved. During those three days, we all experienced God’s grace in abundance and the result was - before coming to an end, a desire to plan the next retreat was already on discussion.

Finally, we thank our God, who makes impossible things possible. Our vision was enlarged for this year, and God, like the year 2008, helped us achieve our aim. Though the Retreat began with some discouragements, its end brought a great encouragement to continue such happening with another expanded vision. Thanks for your prayer support; your prayer support are a kind of boost for all of us.

There will be a Road 2 Recovery Praise Evening with testimony in Harris Community Hall, Tarbert, on Friday 2 October at 7:30pm. The speakers are Stan Gowdy (R2R, Western Isles) and Kenny Robertson (R2R, Inverness).

We also hope to have a Praise Evening in Carloway Community Hall on Sunday 4 October, after the evening service. The speakers will again be Stan and Kenny.

Kenny Macleod

On Tuesday 29 September 2009, the Western Isles Presbytery welcomed Dr Alasdair Allan MSP for a Question and Answer session.

Formally welcoming Dr Allan to the meeting, the Moderator of Presbytery, Rev. Calum Iain Macleod, Barvas, highlighted the importance to the Free Church of the Establishment Principle; the principle that Church and State are both appointed by Christ, and have a duty of respect and support to one another. In that capacity, he said, it was good to welcome the MSP to the Presbytery meeting.

Dr Allan thanked the Presbytery for the invitation, as well as for their prayerful support of him and his colleagues in the Scottish Parliament. He made himself available for an hour or so, answering questions on a range of issues, including the Assisted Suicide Bill, Employment Discrimination Law, fare prices to the Islands, home insulation schemes, Sunday ferries and the release of the Lockerbie bomber from prison. He also spoke about the working of the Parliament, and the seriousness with which he takes letters and representation from the public.

The Convener of the Presbytery’s Public Questions Committee, Rev. R. J. Campbell, North Tolsta, led in prayer, before the Moderator presented Dr Allan with a book from the Presbytery and conveyed the continued good wishes of the Presbytery to him.  (IDC)

On Friday 18 September, Smithton celebrated 25 years of David Meredith’s ministry, by means of a huge congregational gathering in the church. Elder, Charlie Anderson, said, “It was truly a wonderful night as the congregation joined together for a meal, to listen to great music and song, and to celebrate 25 years of God’s goodness to us.  A lot of organisation and preparation went into the night and we managed to squeeze in around 230 people from the congregation for the meal. A huge effort was made by the ladies and gents alike to transform the hall, and it really looked fantastic for the evening celebrations. During the evening, David was given tickets for the family for a holiday to the USA, as appreciation for all that they have done for the fellowship.”

David was inducted to Smithton on 18 September 1984 as first and only minister of the congregation when it consisted of only a handful of people. Since then, God has blessed their ministry together and today it is a vibrant part of God’s church in Scotland.

This weekend (26th - 29th September), the Presbyterian Free Church in Central India are holding the 2nd Annual Youth Retreat at Lakhnadon Mission School. The theme will be ‘Awake…and Christ shall give you light’ (Eph. 5:14) and the main speaker will be Mr Manish Moses.

The Youth Retreat organiser, Rev. Samit Mishra (pictured opposite), says they expect to have 80-90 young people from all the PFC Churches and among them will be at least 35-40 from surrounding villages. There will also be an evening Open Air gospel meeting for three consecutive evenings for the local congregation and other people.

The dates for the Retreat clash with the dates of the Hindu Festival, Dashahra. At this time, Hindus refrain from food and worship the goddess ‘Durga’ continually for nine days. There will be a statue of goddess Durga located, for these nine days, just in front of Lakhnadon Mission High School. Rev. Samit Mishra has asked that we pray that they “may have God’s wisdom and strength as they organise the Retreat at this toughest time of Hindu religious calendar”.

On Saturday 12 September 2009, the congregation of London City Presbyterian Church met together in the headquarters building of London City Mission, just off Tower Bridge, for the induction of Rev. Angus Lamont as minister of the congregation, filling the vacancy created a year previously, when Rev. David Strain accepted the invitation to pastor the Main Street Presbyterian Church in America congregation in Columbus, Mississippi.
The service was conducted by Prof. John McIntosh, Moderator of the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth, who preached on the vision and responsibility of the Church as set out in Ephesians 2 and 3.  After Mr Lamont had satisfactorily responded to the induction vows, he was given the right hand of fellowship by Presbytery members and other ministers present.  After Prof. McIntosh had addressed both the new minister and the congregation, he urged all present to bear in mind the significance of what is declared in the closing psalm, 133.  There is a call to unity in the Church, which God promises will lead to blessing, that blessing being the gift of eternal life.  He challenged the congregation to be united in love, and to expect that unity to lead to conversions and the subsequent growth and strengthening of the church’s fellowship and witness.  The hearty and melodious praise that followed indicated the congregation’s desire that this would indeed be a characteristic of the Ministry newly begun.

After the benediction, greetings were read from friends unable to be present, ranging widely from the United States to Canada to Peru to Scotland.  Further greetings were then conveyed by Dr John Nicholls, Executive Director of London City Mission and a former minister of the congregation, and Rev. John Forbes, Moderator of the Northern Presbytery.  Rev. Iain Clements of the International Presbyterian Church, Rev. Chris Kavanagh of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales, and Mr Dick Haffenden, Session Clerk of the sister Free Church congregation in Cobham, welcomed Mr Lamont to London, encouraging him in the work of the Lord and looking forward to cooperation in the work of the Gospel.
The congregation are grateful to London City Mission for their generous hospitality; to the Dornoch congregation for their unselfish support of the Lamont family when they believed it was right to leave and take up the fresh challenge of London; and to the Lamonts for their willingness to face the difficulties inherent in a city-centre congregation, serving such a widely-scattered population.  Above all, they are grateful to God, who has provided them with a minister of the Word and a pastor of the flock after a vacancy of just over a year.  Their desire is to work together in unity as minister, office-bearers, members and supporting friends to glorify God in their worship, and to reach out with the Gospel to the millions of needy people in the nation’s capital.

John M. MacPherson

The Oswestry Camps in 2010 are a week later than normal due to school holidays. Because these camps are very popular, we thought it best to advertise the dates in advance:

Oswestry Junior - 8 to 16 July
Oswestry Senior - 8 to 16 July
Oswestry Junior OJ1 - 16 to 24 July

Please note that it will not be possible to book for these camps until the 2010 Camp Brochure has been published. These dates are for information purposes only.