Worship Committee Report

It has emerged that a clear understanding of what constitutes public worship is necessary. There is a measure of confusion and a variety of practice throughout the Church, leading to a desire that the Committee would try and establish biblical principles of public worship. The Committee proposes the preparation of a handbook, which would provide a framework for worship in the light of biblical principles. In addition to consultation with presbyteries the Committee would wish to correspond with other Presbyterian and Reformed churches which have given serious thought to these issues. The Committee has in view biblical guidelines, not prescriptive regulations. It recognises that a strict demarcation between public and private, or formal and informal, is not always possible, since Scripture does not provide us with all the information needed. However, it feels that a measure of consensus can be reached. At the same time the Committee recognises that liberty of conscience must be respected and also that legalism needs to be avoided. The prayers of the Church for a profitable outcome are greatly appreciated.

A paper on Women in Public Worship, leading to a series of conclusions, was prepared by Prof D M MacDonald, with the intention of encouraging discussion. The paper was sent to all presbyteries and made available to others within the church via the website. Responses are still being received. It is the intention of the Committee to collate and consider all these responses with a view to presenting its own recommendations to a future General Assembly.

The issue has arisen of whether the teaching of Scripture and the standards of the Free Church allow or encourage the singing in public worship of inspired Scripture other than the Book of Psalms. The Committee is engaged in a study of the practice of the Reformers, the framers of the Westminster Confession and the post-Reformation church in Scotland, in addition to seeking to elucidate the biblical principles involved. It hopes to bring recommendations on the issue to a future General Assembly.