Ecumenical Relations Report

Since last Assembly two further meetings with representatives of the Church of Scotland Ecumenical Relations Committee have taken place. Rev. Fergus A. J. Macdonald, Rev. Alex J. MacDonald, Rev. James Maciver, Rev. David Robertson and Rev. Kenneth Stewart have represented the Free Church at these sessions, which have been lively and informative. The discussions have continued to explore avenues by which the two churches might relate to one another more closely. It is hoped to bring a joint report to the Assemblies of 2007.

The Committee has continued to monitor the situation regarding the establishment of a Reformed Church in Sweden but no significant developments have taken place since the last Assembly. The ICRC delegates did meet with Rev. David Bergmark of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Sweden and the meeting proved mutually informative about the situation in Sweden. The Committee is again asking the Assembly to reappoint the Special Commission to Sweden, so that they may be able to act without delay to help establish a Reformed Church in Sweden should the circumstances become favourable.

Following what had been reported to the last Assembly, the Committee noted with pleasure that the Presbytery of the Western Isles and the Kyoungki Presbytery in Seoul had entered into a formal arrangement of mutual support. Representatives from the Western Isles Presbytery visited the Kyoungki Presbytery in April 2005 and a similar visit to the Western Isles Presbytery had been undertaken by two representatives of the Kyoungki Presbytery in May 2005. It is hoped that the relationship will be of mutual benefit in the sharing of resources and plans are being made for some young people from the Western Isles to visit Seoul in 2007.

In an informal way the Committee had contact with the Baptist Union through its General Secretary. Under its remit of promoting good relations with other churches the Committee agreed to invite a representative from the Baptist Union to the opening session of the 2006 General Assembly and to the Moderator's reception afterwards and that the representative be formally acknowledged at the reception.

Correspondence with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Bulgaria had been taken up by the Committee after receiving documents setting out the RPCB’s Basis of Faith, initially sent to the International Missions Board. Having examined and approved of the documents, the Committee contacted Rev. Stanislav Alexiev who gave details of the number of people in the church there along with an indication of the areas in which they would value assistance. This has now been passed to the Board for their further consideration. The Committee is keen that Mr Alexiev and his ministry be remembered prayerfully.