The Church of Scotland
At the Church of Scotland Assembly, Rev. Hugh Wylie, Hamilton, succeeded Rev. William MacMillan as Moderator. The Lord High Commissioner was Lord MacFarlane of Bearsden. A leading Conservative businessman — he is deputy chairman of United Distillers — he defended wealth creation saying that it was an important and legitimate pursuit.
The Assembly took the radical step of abolishing Synods. It was claimed that they had outlived their usefulness and were duplicating much of the work of the various Presbyteries. In a Church the size of the Church of Scotland one would have expected that the function of a Synod as a review body would have been beneficial in preventing the General Assembly from being clogged down with business, and afford more lengthy consideration of cases coming under review. Their existence since Reformation times did not seem to weigh heavily with the Assembly.
The Kirk’s Board of World Mission and Unity along with the Church and Nation Committee gave in a report of alleged persecution of Roman Catholic bishops and Presbyterian missionaries in Malawi. While critical of alleged human rights violations there, it was urged that aid be continued through non-governmental organisations. President Banda was ordained an elder in the Church of Scotland but he has had no part in Church affairs for many years. The Assembly appealed to him to consider the allegations being made.
The Assembly approved controversial proposals to allow children to take communion. Kirk Sessions were given discretion to admit baptised children to communion. Reports received from Presbyteries showed that 30 Presbyteries were in favour and 18 against. Rev. David Wright, Stornoway, opposed the move stating that the doctrine of baptismal regeneration was implicit in the unnecessary new legislation. He asked whether the intention behind it was to bring the Church of Scotland into line with the practice of the Anglicans and Roman Catholics.
Professor Torrence expressed concern over the way in which posts in Scotland’s divinity faculties were filled. He said: “We have appointed people who do not believe in the deity of Christ; we have appointed people who are humanists or atheists.” He also stated that the last two Professors appointed at St. Andrews were from the Church of England. The situation is indeed serious in the Church of Scotland Colleges if these things are true — and we have no reason to doubt Professor Torrence’s assertions. The question arises, however, whether if the Church of Scotland had the full say in these appointments they would appoint Bible-believing Professors. We fear not.
A minister, Rev. Sandy Nairn, of Auldearn, who was deposed from the ministry for his refusal to baptise infants, had his appeal against the sentence rejected by the General Assembly. One would have expected that Mr Shaw would have realised that his views were unacceptable and that the only course open for him was to leave the Church of Scotland. What is extraordinary about the Assembly is how firm it can be on a matter such as this, and yet that it tolerates within its bounds men whose views on other doctrines are totally at variance with Scripture.
The Joint Commission on Doctrine set up by the Church of Scotland and the R.C. Church had considered the possibility of communion being taken together on ecumenical occasions. Rev. David Levinson appealed to the Roman Catholic hierarchy to grant a dispensation on such occasions. Bishop Conti, the R.C. delegate to the Assembly, said that there were very deep theological principles involved, but promised to take back to his fellow bishops the sentiments expressed. Of course, as Bishop Conti well knows, there are very deep theological principles involved — these all being the creation of the R.C. Church in its heretical and blasphemous doctrine of the Mass.
The Assembly deplored the Government’s intention to introduce a National Lottery. It is unbelievable that the Government would support a lottery at a time when millions of pounds of hard-earned money — and in some cases, no doubt, handed out money — is being spent on gambling. To reduce and eliminate the outlay in this nefarious business would be more appropriate for the Government.
The Church and Nation Committee came under attack for supporting left wing policies. One minister called for the Committee to be suspended indefinitely. He said that anyone looking at the Report could not fail to see a left-of-centre thread running through it. The Committee Chairman accused moderates of conducting an alarmist campaign. However the left wing bias has been noticeable for some time.
The Assembly backed the call for a referendum to determine Scotland’s constitutional future and decide whether Scotland should have its own Parliament. This had been proposed by the Church and Nation Committee. A motion to delay a decision on this matter was defeated by 445 votes to 347. The Assembly also dealt with a number of other political issues.
The Assembly endorsed the aim of bringing the minimum stipend for the Church of Scotland ministers up to the level of the national average wage. The present stipend is just over £13,000 which is £2000 short of the national average wage for Scotland, it was said.
The Free Church of Scotland
The Free Church Moderator of Assembly, Rev. Donald MacDonald, Carloway, Lewis, dealt in his opening address with the subject of education. He said that at present parents had to send their children to schools which were riddled with virulent unbelief in Christianity. He called for the setting up of Church schools. He reminded the Assembly that it was the Church, and not the state, which had pioneered education in Scotland. Church schools were handed over to the State on the understanding that children would continue to be instructed in the Christian faith. That trust in the State had been misplaced and it could not be denied that State education had been taken over by humanism. He went on to state: “Our children, who are the Church’s hope for the future, instead of being nurtured in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord, are being bred in scepticism, agnosticism and atheism.” He reminded the Assembly that the Roman Catholic Church had its own schools maintained at public expense. It was time, therefore, for evangelical churches to demand similar educational provision for their children. The Moderator is right in his assessment of the present educational set-up. It will not be easy however to rectify it as the process has gone on for several decades and ought to have been tackled long ago.
Rev. Angus Smith, Ness, speaking in the Public Questions debate asserted that the Free Church of Scotland was in spiritual decline. He denounced young professing Christians who went to Rock Concerts and to dancing. He pointed out the discrepancy between the disciplinary action taken in the Isle of Lewis and that in other parts of the Church on these matters. So far as dancing is concerned, if the Free Church is to act it will have to begin with office-bearers before it proceeds to deal with members. Mr Smith warned that with the spiritual decline and moves away from Reformed principles the Free Church would finish up in the Church of Scotland again.
A proposal to cut the stipends of ministers whose congregations do not contribute enough to the Sustentation Fund was put forward but not without some opposition. It was finally agreed that the proposals should be discussed at Presbytery level first. The ministers’ stipend was increased to nearly £11,000 which was reckoned to be 72 per cent of the national average wage.
It appears that the Free Church is in communication with the A.P.C. One question which the Free Church is seeking an answer to, but which has not yet been answered satisfactorily, is why they set up another Church. Another question which the A.P.C.’s should try to answer is why they hold on to property belonging to the Free Presbyterian Church when some of their congregations make no pretence of holding fast to Free Presbyterian Church doctrine and practice. They will need to find a better answer than liberty of conscience.