Assembly Reports Summary

The General Assembly meets from Monday 18 – Friday 22 May in the Free Church Assembly halls. Amongst other events the Assembly will hear reports given by convenors of the newly revamped committees and the following is a short summary of some of their content:

(I) Board of Trustees

Finance

2008 was a difficult year for the Free Church with remittances falling by around 2%. Signs look even worse for 2009. The new remittance system is due to be introduced in 2010 and it is important that, having agreed it at Assembly level, Deacons’ Courts should make every effort to make it work for the good of the wider Free Church.

Strategy

The church’s Strategy Process has meant the secondment of Rev Neil Macmillan as Mission Development Officer and the establishment of “Hub” congregations. What used to be the Free Church School of Theology is also this Autumn being re-launched as Positively Presbyterian and various moves are being suggested to try and improve our efficiency on several levels.

Worship

Arguably the most far reaching recommendations are those surrounding our form of worship. These follow on from last year’s Assembly which remitted the issue into the hands of the Trustees to generate a method of resolving the differences of opinion on hymns and musical instruments on a biblical basis without threatening the unity of the Free Church.

Lastly, the report recommends that Synods be discontinued.

(II) Home Missions Report

The newly structured Home Missions committee has a huge remit and the size of its report reflects the massive amount of work it has to undertake. The report begins by asking the stark question : are we really facing up to the reality that the Christian Church in Scotland could disintegrate in a generation? It goes on to suggest that the problems challenging the future of the Church are not practical but spiritual. We haven’t been godly enough, we haven’t been biblical enough, we haven’t been spiritual enough. We haven’t prayed as we ought, we haven’t loved as we ought, we haven’t evangelised as we ought.

At the same time the report insists that we need a new mentality….a positive attitude…a spiritual “can do” attitude.

Strategy for the Future

After discussing areas of redevelopment and extension, social responsibility and youth, the Board brings forward proposals for closing ministries where there is clear and obvious decline in finances. Much thought and care has been put into this and the length of the section reflects the great sensitivity and imagination with which the issue is being handled.

(III) Communications

This committee and report concerns all areas of communication ranging from magazines to the bookshop. It also incorporates issues of “Public Questions” and contains a large and informative section on current “Euthanasia” discussions, what it calls the “Resurgence of Religion” and “Family Finance”.

The Free Church is also to launch a new look web site shortly.

(IV) International Missions

The IM report is typically given on the Thursday evening of the Assembly. Highlights of the report this year include new outreach development projects in India, the transfer of the Colegio San Andres to Peruvian local governance and the continued support of ministerial training in Colombia, Peru and South Africa.

Finance of international missions is also going to change from next year onwards. There will be much more interaction and engagement between mission projects and local Scottish congregations. Hopefully this will include a greater commitment to pray for our missions as well as financial and practical support.

(V) College Board

The Free Church College continues to operate to a high standard of academic excellence and provides first class theological training to its students. This years report recommends that a theological magazine be started and also recognises with gratitude the departure of Dr Donald Macdonald who is retiring this year. The report recommends that he be not replaced by a single appointment but that his department be shared out to local ministers with expertise in various areas of pastoral theology and apologetics.

(V) Other Reports

Other reports include Ecumenical Relations, Psalmody, Personnel and Board of Ministry.

You are welcome to attend the Assembly and read the reports in full via the link below:

Click here to download a PDF copy of the Assembly Reports.