Church Unity Declaration
A joint statement made by the Church of Scotland, the Methodists, the Congregational Union, the United Free Church and the United Reformed Church declared that the five Churches had agreed to mutual recognition of their ministries and members. In signing the agreement the Churches not only recognise one another in this way but also promise to draw closer to each other. They regard it as an important step in the growth in unity of all the Scottish Churches. The Scottish Episcopal Church was not a signatory to this agreement. Lack of episcopal ordination by the other Churches no doubt constitutes a difficulty for the Episcopal Church to recognise each other’s ministries as this statement does. A return to Reformed teaching and practice would be a better course for all these Churches to take than engaging in worthless talks and agreements on Church unity. The great question in regard to these is — united in what?
Ecumenical Consultation
According to a Press Report the Roman Catholic Church, for the first time in Scotland since the Reformation, has agreed to take part in an ecumenical consultation with the Protestant denominations on the fundamentals of the faith. The Inter-Church Process was launched in mid-February with a joint Act of Commitment in Edinburgh at a service in St Cuthbert’s Church. Those who took part included a former Moderator of the Church of Scotland, the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh. Nine denominations and the Salvation Army were included. The process is to cover a period of three years.
In view of the Church Unity declaration already referred to, it would appear as though the Church of Scotland is worthy of the title Mr Facing-Both-Ways seeing that its attitude to Unity is so ambivalent. In view, however, of the progress made in this field by the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, it need not surprise us though the Roman Catholic Church is able to convince these other Churches that the differences between them are not unbridgable.
Church Notes
Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)
Southern: At Glasgow on 1st April at 2 p.m.
Outer Isles: At Stornoway on 22nd April at 12 noon.
Northern: At Dingwall on 22nd April at 2 p.m.
Australia and New Zealand: At Auckland on 30th May at 3.30 p.m.
Inverness Summer Communion
The Inverness Kirk Session has decided that the Summer Communion for 1986 should be held on the fourth Sabbath of June, instead of the fifth (D.V.).
Church Deputy to Australia and New Zealand
Rev. Lachlan MacLeod, Greenock, accompanied by his wife, left this country on 12th March for a period of six months’ service overseas as Church Deputy. He will supply Auckland for a considerable part of his time out there, but will also visit other parts of New Zealand and will spend four weeks in Australia as well (D.V.). We are sure that the prayers of the Lord’s people will follow Mr MacLeod during his tour of duty. The congregations overseas are grateful to the Church at home for releasing ministers for this very needful work. They find these visits an encouragement to them in their isolated situation.