Our own Synod met in Inverness the week before the Assemblies. Rev. A. MacPherson, Stratherrick was appointed Moderator of Synod in succession to Rev. Fraser MacDonald, Portree. Mr MacDonald spoke from Exodus 33:16 at the opening service of the Synod.
As the Synod proceedings will give a detailed account of the work of the Synod we need only mention one or two items of interest. A congregation in Barnoldswick, England was received into the Church and placed under the jurisdiction of the Southern Presbytery. A petition for a review of last Synod’s finding on Ministerial Dress was withdrawn after an explanation was given of what the Synod understood by the term “prescriptive”. The Synod agreed that the Church Magazines should be issued separately again as from the beginning of 1978 (D.V.). On Thursday evening Franco Maggiotto, a converted former Roman Catholic priest addressed the Synod. His proposed Reformation Study Centre has received financial support from the people of the Church. He gave an outline of the situation in Italy and Europe at the present time in relation to Communism and the Roman Catholic Church had brought out clearly the need for a Reformed witness in a country which has never known the benefits of the Reformation. The same evening Rev. Donald Ross, Bulawayo, and Dr James Tallach addressed the Synod and gave a clear picture of the present situation in Rhodesia and particularly on the Mission. The Synod sent a message to our people in Rhodesia in view of the present crisis in that land. Rev. D. Maclean, Glasgow, resigned as Clerk to the Foreign Missions Committee after 25 years service in that capacity. Rev. Alex. Murray was appointed to succeed him. Rev. R. R. Sinclair resigned as Clerk of Synod after 42 years service. Tribute was paid to Mr Sinclair at the close of the Synod, Rev. D. Maclean, Glasgow, was appointed to succeed Mr Sinclair and Rev. A. E. W. Macdonald was appointed as an additional Assistant Clerk. There is reason for thankfulness to the Lord that a considerable measure of harmony marked the proceedings throughout and it is to be hoped that the decisions arrived at throughout the Synod will prove for the good of the Church of God in our midst.