The General Assembly



The General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland was convened on 18th May and the Rev. D.K. Macleod was elected Moderator. What happened? What did the Church decide? Have the problems been solved? Strangely the media seemed to be largely silent during the Assembly week, although reporters were present. One commissioner has already given his account of events in a local newspaper. The next issue of the Monthly Record will probably describe the proceedings in detail. In this brief report we concentrate on those matters in which we believe our readership will be most interested.

Assistant Clerk of Assembly
This vacancy was brought about by the sad departure of Professor Hugh Cartwright. The only name moved was that of the Rev. Angus Howat (Campbeltown, Tarbert & Islay), and so he was appointed to this post.

Assembly Arrangements & Ecumenical Relations
A Supplementary Report dealt with a letter sent to the General Assembly from the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland, followed by a letter from a Dutch Church, regarding statements by Professor Donald Macleod which had caused disquiet. Principal Clement Graham had consulted with Professor Macleod and the Committee, by a majority, accepted Principal Graham's record of the Professor's explanations. This had been sent as a response to the Churches concerned. After discussion as to the propriety of this procedure and after Professor Macleod affirmed the uniqueness of Christ, this action was accepted by the Assembly.

Finance, Law & Advisory
Despite the recent concerns over Internet links from the Free Church web-site to pornographic material, concerns which were voiced again during debate, the Assembly was told that the advantages of an Internet site outweighed the disadvantages and it agreed to support this initiative.

Youth
Much of the Report and debate involved the Church's magazines. The Instructor should cover its costs this year while the subsidy to Free would need to be continued. The Youth Committee requested permission to promote Free among other churches. An Amendment was moved asking that the magazine emphasise our distinctive principles and historical and doctrinal testimony but the Assembly voted only to give priority to the "ethos"? of a Free Church readership. An Addendum wanted the Monthly Record to be less intellectual and controversial and more devotional and pastoral, but this was rejected.

Public Questions, Religion & Morals
The Report commended the devolved Scottish Parliarnent to our prayers and recommended the establishment of a Standing Sub-committee of the Public Questions Committee reflecting a "variety of political opinion" to safeguard the Church's interests. A detailed Amendment desired to restate to our political leaders the biblical principle of the national recognition and support of the Christian religion (a principle which is embedded in the constitutions of our Church and nation) and that there be worship in the Parliament, Protestant in form. This Amendment was narrowly defeated.
A second Amendment queried the section in the Report which spoke of "asking forgiveness for the wrong of homophobia". The Amendment wished to affirm that while we have no hatred of homosexuals we do hate their practices. This was accepted.
An Addendum which expressed concern over calls for an enquiry into the legalising of the use of cannabis and another which disapproved of the use of the Alpha Course as a method of evangelism, were presented. The Convener agreed that the first subject be included in the Committee's work for the coming year and that the second be inserted in the Report following modification.

Free Church Defence Association
An Overture from the Presbytery of Edinburgh & Perth was moved in these terms:
1. The General Assembly declare that the Free Church Defence Association (so called) is not authorised to use the name "Free Church";
2. 'I'he General Assembly call on the Free Church Defence Association to disband;
3. The General Assembly grant warrant to cite Rev. Maurice Roberts, Chairman of the Free Church Defence Association and Rev. William Macleod, editor of the Free Church Defence Association's magazine Free Church Foundations, to compear personally in this place on Friday 22nd May 1998 at 10. 00 am to appear before the Assembly to answer questions regarding authorship concerning attacks made on the General Assembly, particularly the attack made on the integrity of the General Assembly, the Moderator and the Clerk of Assembly in Issue 3 of the Association's Free Church Foundations under the title "Intimidation", and in the Special Pre-Assembly lssue of Free Church Foundations
4. To facilitate the business of the Assembly when those cited appear, the General Assembly appoint a committee to consider the publications in question and report to the Assembly prior to the appearance of those cited, the committee to consist of the Moderator, Rev Fergus Macdonald, Rev John MacLean, Rev James Maclver, Dr lain Maciver, Mr John Murdo Graham and Mr William Wyllie.
 In presenting the Overture the Rev. A. Macdonald (Buccleuch & Greyfriars) said that he had no private grudge against the FCDA: he was concerned about what had been said regarding the Assembly. Free Concern was set up in an emergency and disbanded after the matter was over. The FCDA had set itself against the Church spreading its disinformation far and wide. Free Church Foundations had been critical of Assembly decisions, and its Moderator and Clerk. The Blue Book gave power to the Assembly to cite individuals.
The Rev. F. Macdonald (Director of the United Bible Societies) said that no-one in the Presbytery denied the validity of the FCDA's aims, but it was seeking to maintain the purity of the Church by methods that were disturbing the peace of the Church. Were we allowing concern for our Subordinate Standard to override the Supreme Standard? The Church was caught up in a theological war being waged in the public square: the FCDA was working to gain support, not to gain its brother.
The Rev. I. Smith (Partick) moved that the Assembly pass from the Edinburgh Overture: the matter should be handled by lower courts first of all. Dr. M. Murchison, in seconding this, questioned the competence of what was being asked and said that Free Concern had done all that the FCDA was doing.
Mr. M. Cameron (Ferintosh) introduced an Amendment to the Overture. He did not wish the citation of specific persons but he wanted the articles deplored and a public apology issued. One commissioner pointed out that if Mr Cameron' s amendment was accepted the General Assembly would be deploring articles that it had not read, and, once again, would be finding men guilty and requiring an apology from them without any opportunity for the men to defend themselves. In voting, thee Edinburgh Overture carried against Mr Cameron's Amendment. Then in a second vote the Assembly supported the Motion to pass from the Edinburgh Overture. A number of commissioners recorded their dissent.

Special Commission and Plenary Assembly
A composite Motion was moved by Mr. J. MacKenzie (Assynt) and accepted by the Assembly unopposed:
The General Assembly receive the Overtures from the Presbytery of Caithness & Sutherland and from the floor of the Assembly and grant their craves to the extent that the General Assembly take their respective premises into consideration and in view of the Biblical injunction to pursue unity in love and the call of the General Assembly to all in the Church to seek reconciliation and peace, and appoint a Special Commission to confer with all parties whom they deem it wise to consult and to do so with all diligence and speed.
They also empower the Special Commission to receive representations in writing from others in the Church but remind them of the embargo imposed by the Deliverance of the 1995 Assembly.
The General Assembly further instruct all Church Courts and Committees to co-operate with the Special Commission in the fulfilment of its remit and require any member of the Church to attend any meeting to which they may be invited by the Special Commission to enable it to mature proposals to promote reconciliation.
The Special Commission will consist of Assembly Clerks and Presbytery Clerks with the Moderator of the General Assembly as the convening Chairman. The General Assembly charge these and all others to pray together, discuss freely and actively seek peace and, while this period of reflection and discussion is taking place, the General Assembly earnestly implores all of our people to refrain from further public utterances and meetings in connection with those issues under consideration.
The General Assembly overture Presbyteries that the terms of Act I, Class 1, 1942 be suspended with respect to the proportion of congregations or chairs determining Assembly representation, so that a Plenary Assembly may be held to which Presbyteries may send as many ministers as Commissioners as there are congregations or professorial chairs within their bounds and a like number of bona fide acting elders, with Presbytery returns to be submitted to the Commission of Assembly in October 1998. The General Assembly empower the Commission of Assembly to call for a Plenary Assembly to be convened not later than the end of December 1998, and, if possible, to meet in lnverness. The aim of the Plenary Assembly shall be to effect an honourable reconciliation between estranged sections of our Church and thus enable us unitedly to prosecute the Great Commission.

College Board
Approval was given to the Board's recommendation that the vacant Chair of Church History and Church Principles be not permanently filled this year.
The main debate centred on the discussions the Board had engaged in with the University of Edinburgh Faculty of Divinity, regarding degree-awarding status for the Free Church College course. The proposal was to continue with these talks for another year and bring a recommendation to the 1999 Assembly. An Amendment was moved which would end the discussions. While not against a degree in principle, the price to pay here was too high; it was not acceptable that someone theologically liberal should have any say whatsoever in the appointment of our Professors. The Board Chairman, Dr. I. MacIver (St. Vincent Street), stressed that no representative of New College would be present in an Assembly making an appointment to a Chair in our College. In a vote the Board's Deliverance carried against the Amendment.

Training of the Ministry and Admissions
An Addendum asked the Assembly to instruct the Training of the Ministry Committee to reconsider their decision not to accept the application of a candidate from Skye who had the strong recornmendation of his Kirk Session and Presbytery but had been opposed by the Edinburgh and Perth Presbytery. The Assembly voted not to accept the Addendum.

Purity of Worship
A letter protesting against Professor Donald Macleod's public questioning of our Church's "purity of worship" led to a separate Report from the Training of the Ministry Committee, from which the Convener had dissented. It asked that:
The General Assembly, taking cognizance of the Committee’s concern that Professor Macleod has publicly called into question the present legislation governing the practice of public worship in the Free Church and their belief that this matter is of such importance that the whole question of the principles and practice of public worship should be examined by the Church so that the peace and unity of the Church be maintained and the Church’s worship continue to be to the glory of God, appoint a Special Committee to examine the principles and practice of public worship from Biblical, theological, historical and legislative perspectives and report to next Assembly; the Committee to consist of Professors at the Free Church College and one member from each Presbytery to be appointed by the Assembly.
This was moved by Professor D. MacDonald, who said that our present practice was arguably narrower than it need be.
The Training of the Ministry Comminee's proposal to appoint a Special Committee on public worship was defeated by a Motion from the Rev. J. Gracie (Arran) to pass from it. A number of commissioners recorded their dissent from this finding.
An Overture from the Presbytery of Lewis was presented by the Rev. K. Stewart (Stornoway) as below:
Whereas the Confession of Faith is avowed by all ministers of the Free Church of Scotland to be the confession of their own faith;
Whereas the said Confession requires that all vows be taken without equivocation or mental reservation;
Whereas it is vowed by every minister in the Free Church of Scotland that the worship of this Church is founded upon the Word of God;
Whereas the mode of worship of the Church is clearly legislated in Act V Class 2, 1905, Act I, Class 1, 1910, and Act V; Class 2, 1932;
Whereas according to the aforementioned legislation, all ordinands and ministers pledge themselves to assert, maintain and defend the purity of worship as presently practised in this Church;
Whereas the conducting of a Carol Service in Bon Accord Free Church, Aberdeen in December 1997 cannot be interpreted as conforming to the requirements of the aforesaid Acts and Vows;
Whereas the uniformity of our worship is inextricably linked with the peace and harmony of our Church and is, therefore, of the utmost importance;
Wherefore the Free Presbytery of Lewis humbly overture the General Assembly to consider these premises and to forthrightly reaffirm:
1. The commitment of this Church to purity of worship as presently practised in our Church.
2. The commitment of this Church to evangelism which does not compromise our principles regarding public worship.
3. The duty of presbyteries to be vigilant in requiring conformity on the part of office-bearers and congregations to the purity of worship as presently practised in our Church.
The Rev. K. Stewart wanted to focus on one aspect - uniformity. This was essential to a Presbyterian Church, otherwise we would only be congregationalists bound together by ecclesiastical procedures. He wanted to be able to go into any congregation in the Free Church and be assured that nothing would be imposed upon him that was not warranted in the Word of God. He admitted that there were grey areas but felt that what happened in Aberdeen went beyond the line. He believed that our present troubles had nothing to do with purity of worship. The Overture was not meant to be inquisitorial.
The Rev. J. Maciver (Knock) seconded the Overture. It was not an attempt to hinder evangelism. The primary emphasis in psalm-singing was the praise of God; the communication of truth belongs to preaching.
In voting the Lewis Overture carried overwhelmingly against a Motion from Professor D. MacDonald that the Assembly pass from it.

Petition of Mr. John MacPherson and Others
This Petition referred to female members of the Free Church in good standing who had made complaints against a Church Professor but had never had these heard by any Church court. They had been injured by repeated public accusations of lying. They had a right of being heard in their own defence and indeed a positive duty under the ninth commandment to vindicate their own good name. The future peace of the Church depended upon a just resolution of these persisting complaints. It was requested that the Assembly direct that these complaints be remitted to the appropriate Church courts for examination.
The Assembly Clerk said that if any member of the Church feels that there is a fama against him then he should go to the Kirk Session of the one thought to be spreading the fama. If the person is not known then he should go to his own Kirk Session. The Rev. A. Murray (Rogart & Eddrachillis), in moving the Petition, said that this was impractical because there were various individuals throughout the Church making complaints. The Rev. F. Macdonald (UBS) moved that the Appeal be dismissed. Upon a vote the Assembly dismissed the Appeal.

Dissent and Complaint of the Rev. John Macleod
The Rev. J. Macleod (Duthil-Dores) had complained against a decision of the Inverness Presbytery not to pursue a Complaint regarding the handling of a letter from the Presbytery to the Finance, Law & Advisory Committee. Although the Assembly dismissed the Complaint, the Rev. J Macleod was given verbal answers, by the Convener of that Committee, to the effect that Professor Macleod was not above the law of the Church.

Petition of the Rev. Maurice Roberts and Others
A Petition was presented by the Rev. M. Roberts (Inverness Greyfriars) in the following terms:
Whereas the General Assembly of 1997 passed a statement of disapproval of certain actions by three respected men, viz the Rev. Professor H.M. Cartwright, Rev. A. Smith and Dr M. Murchison, under the title of a censure, contrary to the customary and proper usage of the term censure which is recognised in Free Church of Scotland practice and procedure as being a form of church disicipline; and
whereas the General Assembly applied to the said Rev. Professor H.M. Cartwright, Rev. A. Smith and Dr M. Murchison, an actual ecclesiastical punishment for conduct deemed censurable; and whereas in the action referred to, taken against the said Rev Professor H.M Cartwright. Rev A. Smith and Dr M. Murchison, no properly recognised process of church law was fol1owed in that the Form of Process was not adhered to, the said Form of Process having spelled out since its adoption by Act of Assembly in 1707 the principles and practice of the Church in matters of discipline in order to ensure that accused persons be dealt with in accordance with Scriptural principles of justice and equity; and
whereas no formal charges were brought against these men, no proper citation to appear was issued, no opportunity was afforded the accused to defend themselves, and two of those punished were not present at the relevant diet of Assembly; and
whereas the Actions of Assembly referred to are in breach of fundamental Scriptural principles of equity and justice; and
whereas the integrity of the Church's discipline needs to be guarded; and
whereas the Actions of Assembly referred to have left Rev. Professor H.M. Cartwright, Rev. A. Smith and Dr M. Murchison injured in their reputation but without proper remedy;
Wherefore we, the undersigned ministers and elders of the Free Church of Scotland petition the General Assembly to rescind the finding of censure against the said Rev. Professor H.M. Cartwright, Rev. A. Smith and Dr M. Murchison.
In presenting the Petition, the Rev. M Roberts said that the procedure followed last year which led to a "censure" had no place in church law and had left the men materially disadvantaged. It had been argued that the "censure" was only a rebuke, but in the media it was represented as a censure; rescinding it would do much good.
The Rev. A. Murray (Rogart & Eddrachillis) who moved the petition was concerned that what took place in 1997 was quick justice, which is very often rough justice. The Rev. W. Scott (Dumfries) in seconding said that in the professional world people were given a proper, detailed code of discipline and this was always followed.
The Rev. F. Macdonald (UBS) moved that the finding of 1997 be reaffirmed. The Assembly Clerk was asked what rescinding the "censure" would say about the finding of 1997. He replied that it would be as if it never happened. Before voting it was noticed that any commissioners who had signed the Petition should be at the Bar of the Assembly and so unable to vote. The Motion to rescind the "censure" nevertheless carried. A number of men dissented from this.

Other Matters
The Overture from the Presbytery of Lochcarron regarding the reorganisation of the College and Offices, and the Overture from the Presbytery of Skye regarding the Confession of Faith were withdrawn during the Assembly as it was recognised that there was not sufficient time to deal with them at this Assembly.


Any comments or questions please E-Mail me or Rev William Macleod the editor.

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