At the opening meeting of the 1984 Synod of the Church, the retiring Moderator, Rev. John MacDonald, North Tolsta, preached a sermon directed at the main functions of the gospel ministry, from the words in the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians third chapter and the seventh verse: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” The Moderator then opened the Synod with prayer for the Divine blessing and guidance and thereafter the Roll was called. The members present were:
Northern Presbytery — Revs. R. R. Sinclair, A. F. MacKay, D. B. MacLeod, John Ross, John Tallach and D. M. Boyd with Messrs. W. Taylor, D. S. Kelly, W. MacKenzie, R. MacKenzie, K. Robertson, D. Laing, E. Sutherland and W. MacQueen.
Southern Presbytery — Revs. J. A. MacDonald, Donald MacLean, L. MacLeod, A. McPherson, D. J. MacDonald and Angus Morrison, with Messrs. M. I. Matheson, M. Nicolson, J. A. MacLeod, John MacDonald, R. Middleton, M. Shaw, I. Matheson, J. Henderson, D. R. MacSween and W. D. Fraser.
Western Presbytery — Revs. A. Murray, A. MacDonald, J. W. Ross, N. M. Ross and D. A. Ross, with Messrs. James MacKenzie, Anthony McPherson, D. McCuish, E. Ross and J. van Woerden.
Skye Presbytery — Revs. F. MacDonald, D. Nicolson, H. I. MacKinnon, and James Tallach with Messrs. W. M. Byers, J. Campbell, R. Annand and D. McPherson.
Outer Isles Presbytery — Revs. Alex. Morrison, John MacDonald, Duncan MacLean and J. MacLeod, with Messrs. J. Buchanan, R. MacLeod, R. MacCuish, F. Thomson, A. J. Morrison and J. MacAskill.
Zimbabwe Presbytery — Rev. B. B. Dube and Mr James Mpofu.
Australia/New Zealand Presbytery — Rev. E. A. Rayner.
Letters of Apology for absence were read from — Revs. S. F. Tallach, D. M. Campbell, W. MacLean, A. MacKay, D. J. MacAskill and from Messrs. R. M. MacLeod, K. C. MacLeod and J. M. MacLeod. Verbal apologies were made on behalf of: Messrs. R. MacLean, D. E. MacLellan and L. MacKinnon.
Mr Kenneth Gillies was appointed Officer of Court. The business of the Synod now began with Rev. D. J. MacDonald, Convener of the Training of Ministry Committee, intimating that Messrs. George MacAskill and Lloyd Roberts had completed their Divinity Course successfully and were ready to be taken on trials by their respective Presbyteries for licensing as ministers of the gospel.
The Moderator intimated that his term of office had now come to an end and called for the nomination of a new Moderator which nomination was made by Rev. A. Murray who said, “On behalf of the Church Interests’ Committee I would like to propose to you the name of Rev. A. F. MacKay, minister of our Inverness congregation and in doing so it gives me much pleasure. No doubt the fact is, that the time has come again for Mr MacKay to occupy the chair of the Synod, and probably for the third time he will be Moderator. The very matter of his having continued so long is itself not without something to take into account. I am sure he himself would be the first to admit that it is of the grace of God that he has been permitted to do this over these years. He was ordained and inducted in December 1935, so that his ministry is now more than forty eight years in the church, and he has served the church at home and abroad: he has just recently retired as tutor and has been a long time in what is probably the largest congregation of the Church; he has been often to Canada; he has also been to the Mission in Zimbabwe and, just recently, he was able to visit our congregations in Australia and New Zealand, and has an over-all picture of the Church.”
Rev. J. A. MacDonald agreed with Mr Murray as to the suitability of Mr MacKay for the office and Mr MacDonald added ‘I have known Mr MacKay since he was at Glasgow University with me. He gave me the impression that he would be of use to the Church.’
Rev. A. F. MacKay accepted the office and said ‘I would thank Mr Murray and Mr MacDonald for their remarks. When I was approached to take this office I at once agreed because I considered it my duty to do so. Reference was made by the retiring Moderator, in his sermon, to those gracious men who, in the early days of the Church, raised that noble testimony and witness for sound doctrine. When I consider the men who have filled the office since their day to the present time, I accept office with a deep sense of humility. To be appointed Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church I consider a great honour, and I hope I will be able to justify the confidence my brethren have shown. I hope they will pray for me during the few days here and through the months of the term of my Office, that I will be given grace and strength to carry out the duties of Moderator.’
The Clerk of Synod mentioned the losses sustained by death since the Synod last met and committees were appointed to draw up tributes in respect of the deceased members — Rev. Donald Campbell, minister of our Edinburgh Congregation, Mr Alexander MacLennan elder of our Shieldaig Congregation and Mr Finlay Smith elder of our Breasclete Congregation.
With this matter the business of the day ended.
Wednesday, 23rd May
On this day, the first matter brought to the notice of the Synod was the suggestion to send to Lord MacKay a telex message of Congratulation upon his appointment as a Judge. The Synod therefore sent the following message — “Congratulations from the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, with prayerful good wishes that you may enjoy God’s gracious presence and assistance in the new responsibilities which you take up today.”
The LOYAL ADDRESS was then read.