At the Free Church Assembly, Principal Cameron was made Moderator. In his address he dealt with the challenge of non-Christian faiths and ideologies to the Christian Church in a pluralistic society. He stressed the uniqueness of Christ and Christianity.
A special commission appointed to report on the state of the Free Church itself saw the population influx to certain parts of the Highlands as a challenge and opportunity that they should not shirk. Concern was felt at the decline in congregations and the increasing financial burden on the people in order to maintain ministries. The Commission’s view was that though Highland depopulation has been halted this is not reflected in the numbers attending Free Churches even where there are stable or growing communities. The state of finance in the Free Church is brought out by an assessment that has been made, which indicates that Free Church congregations will have to at least double their contributions in the next five years to keep pace with inflation.
Rev. Fergus MacDonald in giving the report on public questions etc. stated that the greatest need of our nation at this hour is to discover what it means to fear God. The fear required is that awe of God’s being, of deep respect for God’s authority, of obedience to His commandments. It is this, he said, which we have lost in our religious consciousness today. Mr Ferrier in presenting the report of the Training of the Ministry Committee said that there was unbelievable ignorance among people today of true religion, and that people have been conditioned to accept views and opinions contrary to the truth through the powerful means of the media. Now was the time for the Church to proclaim the positive message given to her.
By the casting vote of the retiring Moderator, the Rev. Donald Macleod, Partick Highland, Glasgow, was appointed Editor of the Free Church Record. An attempt was made to discontinue the office of Principal in the College. This was defeated and Prof. James MacIntosh was appointed to succeed Principal Cameron in September. Rev. A. Boyd, Brora, was appointed Professor of New Testament.
The Queen visited the Assembly and gave a short address. The Moderator of the Church of Scotland asked to be allowed to make an official visit but this was not agreed to. He did pay an unofficial visit but by then deliberations had ended. Afterwards he said that it was a terrible scandal that there were not more friendly relations among all the Christian Churches in Scotland. The Moderator seems to forget that it is a departure from the truth that has occasioned the divisions and that it is a return to the truth that will heal them.