COMMITTEE MEETINGS
PLEASE note that the notice, in the last issue, about the March meetings of the Synod Committees was incorrect. The committees will meet in Inverness Free Presbyterian Church as follows, God willing:
Tuesday, 23 March
10.00 am – 11.00 am Magazines Committee
11.00 am – 12.00 pm Training of the Ministry Committee
12.00 pm – 1.00 pm Religion and Morals Committee
2.00 pm – 3.30 pm Welfare of Youth Committee
2.00 pm – 5.00 pm Finance Committee
5.00 pm – 6.00 pm Sabbath Observance Committee
5.00 pm – 6.00 pm Outreach Committee
6.30 pm – 8.00 pm Publications and Bookroom Committee
8.00 pm – 9.00 pm Dominions and Overseas Committee
Rev. John MacLeod, Clerk of Synod
MEETINGS OF PRESBYTERY (D.V.)
WESTERN: At Laide on Tuesday, 1st June, at 6.00 pm.
SKYE: At Portree on Tuesday, 30th March, at 11.00 am.
OUTER ISLES: At Stornoway on Tuesday, 2nd March, at 1.00 pm.
SOUTHERN: At Glasgow on Tuesday, 2nd March, at 3 pm.
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND: At Auckland on Friday, 2nd July, at 2.30 pm.
ZIMBABWE: At Bulawayo on Tuesday, 9th March 1999, at 11.00 am.
EASTERN EUROPE VISITS
ON Monday, 15th February, Mr Alistair MacRae and Mr Edward Ross left for the Ukraine with a truckload of humanitarian aid. At the time of writing this news item, they are still travelling to their destination. This visit is in response to a direct appeal to the Church from the Ukrainian Embassy in London, requesting us to assist victims of the recent extensive flooding in the Carpathian region. Not only were several people drowned, but also 400,000 people were left homeless, and farming communities suffered great losses of livestock. We have also sent 570 Bibles and a considerable quantity of Christian literature. The aid will be delivered to Nagydobrony Orphanage, which is run by the Hungarian Reformed Church, and is about 15 miles into the Ukraine from the Hungarian/Ukrainian border. Many of the flood victims have been assembling there to seek help. The aid will be distributed by the local minister of the Church, whom we have known for several years. We have also sent out a large amount of Reformed literature, kindly donated by a friend in Scotland, to a Theological College in Hungary.
On Thursday, 4th March, the Rev. Neil Ross will leave for Odessa to preach to the group of friends there for two Sabbaths, God willing, and to give some lectures. He will also deal with the printing of the Russian edition of The Mother’s Catechism. This will be our fourth printing of 10,000 copies. To print them in the Ukraine is cheaper, and also more practical since the Ukraine is where they are being distributed mainly. It also eliminates the problems of transporting them from Britain and trying to cope with numerous customs regulations.
May the Lord in His great mercy grant to these labourers, in their different spheres of work, safe travelling. In particular, we prayerfully desire that the Word of the Lord, which we distribute and preach in those parts of the world, “may have free course and be glorified” (1 Thess. 3:1).
Rev. D. A. Ross, Convener, Dominions and Overseas Committee
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND PRESBYTERY RESOLUTION
THE following resolution has been passed by the Presbytery:
“The Australia and New Zealand Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, met in Auckland on the 29th January 1999, note that Mrs. Jenny Shipley, the Prime Minister, was in attendance in Auckland for the strict purpose of viewing the 1998 Gay and Lesbian Hero Parade and thus undoubtedly gave tacit and undesirable approval to a lifestyle that until recently was a criminal offence in this and other Christian nations.
“Whilst the offence has been removed from the New Zealand statute book the criminal nature of homosexual and lesbian conduct has not changed in the opinion of the Supreme Legislator, according to the unalterable moral statutes contained in the ethical directions of the divine Scriptures.
“The Presbytery judge it therefore most inappropriate, and prejudicial to proper standards of decency, that a person of the standing of the Prime Minister should give countenance to a movement and lifestyle that is clearly condemned in the Scriptures, (Rom. 1:26,27; 2 Pet. 2:6-8). The Presbytery therefore resolve to bring this to the attention of the Prime Minister.”
JEWISH AND FOREIGN MISSION FUND
By appointment of Synod, the first of two Special Collections, on behalf of the Jewish and Foreign Mission Fund, is due to be taken in congregations during the month of March, D.V.
R. A. Campbell, General Treasurer
Return to Table of Contents for The Free Presbyterian Magazine – March 1999