In answer to the reference from the Northern Presbytery to the Synod: the Synod, May 1969, declares as follows:—
“The practice of preaching in the open air is a scriptural one and has long been in use in Scotland and the Synod has no objection whatsoever to this practice being carried on. The Synod recognises that in this day there is a great need for the Gospel among the people of this land, multitudes of whom are ignorant of the letter of the Word of God and never enter any place of worship and that the commission of Christ to His Church is “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”.
The present reference is concerned with the propriety of students who are still in training engaging in the work of preaching in the open air during their student course. At this stage they
do not have the full training which the Church considers a necessary prerequisite to the grant of a licence to preach the gospel. In consequence the work of preaching, particularly before an unsympathetic audience exposes them to danger from Arminianism and similar insidious errors of the heart and therefore the Synod feels that if students are to engage in this work they have great need to implore the Holy Spirit to protect them from these and all other dangers and to enable them to declare Gospel truths in a simple manner not relying on their own wisdom but on Divine guidance and taking unto them the whole armour of God that they may be able to withstand in the evil day. If students wish to undertake this work of preaching in the open air in this spirit and observe the worship and practice of the Church the Synod considers that no objection should be offered.
The Synod further considers it necessary strongly to emphasise that the primary task to which students under training should devote their attention is the study which the Church has prescribed for them. No student should allow preaching in the open air or any other activity to interfere with the proper and diligent prosecution of his studies. The students have a solemn responsibility to use fully the opportunity for study which the Lord has given them. If a tutor advises any student that he is failing to devote proper time to his studies it is the student’s duty to give respectful heed to his tutor’s advice in the spirit of the gospel and to endeavour to correct his conduct accordingly. If a student fails to heed his tutor’s advice and the tutor feels it necessary the matter should be reported to the Presbytery with jurisdiction over the student so that it may be dealt with.
The Synod remits the matter back to the Presbytery to be disposed of in accordance with this declaration of the Synod’s attitude to the questions raised.”