The Presbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is running into trouble twenty years after its formation. In 1973 it broke away from the Presbyterian Church in the United States because of the liberalism of the latter. In 1982, it joined with the Reformed Presbyterian Evangelical Synod. Now concern is being voiced at the direction the Church is taking. At a meeting in March, Dr Morton H. Smith said that deviations from the confessional standards are being tolerated. He advocates full subscription to the Church’s modified version of the Westminster Confession of Faith, but others in the Church wish subscription to be laxer still. Other speakers expressed concern at the toleration of pictures of God, and of the recent appearance of dance and drama in worship. The organisers of the March meeting consider it to be the first step toward revitalising the “Concerned Presbyterians” organisation which existed in the pre-1973 Church and which paved the way for separation.
The American Presbyterian churches have suffered several splits in the twentieth century because of the toleration of liberalism. Although attempts have been made to reform the churches, the proper biblical formula for doing so has yet to be recovered by them. The American chur-
ches have always been ready to modify the Confession and have always had a looser subscription than the Scottish Churches. This introduces a weakness into the present attempts to reform the American churches.
D.M.B.
Church of England Schism
The rift in the Church of England will be eased a little through the Bishop of London declaring that he would allow the ordination of women in his diocese. It should prevent the large defections to the Roman Catholic Church which otherwise might have taken place. An accommodation has been reached by which another bishop within the diocese, who is in favour of the ordination of women, will carry out the ordinations. The scheme has the approval of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Sadly, though the Anglo-Catholics have been rightly opposed to the ordination of women, it is for the wrong reasons. Tradition, we fear, has far greater weight with them than Scripture.
Sabbath Work
Four women who took a case to the High Court for the right to work on the Sabbath lost their case. They tried to allege sex discrimination. The local Kirklees council, backed by the Attorney General said it had a duty to enforce the 1950 Shops Act which bars trading on the Sabbath. B&Q (the company for which the women worked) and the women are to appeal. What folly is in the hearts of men and women when they try to fight against the law of God.
Mission News
Our three African ministers, and the Rev Z. Mazvabo’s wife, Mrs Bettina Mazvabo, with six elders, were all in Scotland. They attended meetings in connection with the Centenary of the Free Presbyterian Church, visited a number of our congregations in the North, and attended the Synod in Inverness. It created much interest in the Church to see so many of our African friends.
A letter sent to Mr Vermeulen by Mr Ephraim Tembo tells of a visit to Mozambique to visit the people in Mozambique who have been interested in maintaining contact with our church since they were in the Refugee Camps in Malawi. Mr Ephraim Tembo with a few of our people, including Mr Phiri, went to meet the Assistant Head of Religious Activities in Tete Province, which is under the Ministry of Justice. To quote
from Mr Tembo’s letter, “I tried to explain every step of our Church. After that they were happy and they said they will allow us to register our Church in Mozambique. Later, he told us that we should meet again on the 19th of April, so that we should meet with the real Head of the Department.
On Friday we went to Moatize for the worship. We started our service at 2 pm and we were in the church for two hours. Mr Phiri preached the Word of God from Isaiah 53, verses 3 to 5. I saw that we have a very big task to teach and preach the true Gospel in Mozambique. I asked the people what other churches teach them about the Word of God, and I was told that they are only being told that a Christian must be happy beating drums in the church, dancing to choruses, and speaking in tongues and that they could practise polygamy without sinning.”
On Sabbath Mr Phiri went over the first three questions of the Shorter Catechism and explained them. He then asked the people questions and some of them tried to answer correctly. He also taught them to keep the Sabbath holy, no buying, no selling, no going to places of recreation or doing any work which should be done on other days.
As Mr Ephraim Tembo says, there is much work to be done in that corner of Mozambique, if it is the Lord’s will to prosper the work there.
At Ingwenya the work in every department has been going on as usual. There have been many visitors to the Mission. Miss Marion Graham hopes to leave for Australia and New Zealand for the first part of her furlough where she will (D.V.) visit relatives and friends. Miss Jessie Coote also hopes to leave for a well-earned holiday in Scotland after an exceptionally busy year in the hospital. All at Mbuma and Ingwenya were highly appreciative of Dr James Tallach’s visit as deputy. J.N.
Church Notes
Church Centenary Commemoration Meeting
As intimated in earlier issues of the Magazine, the Centenary Meeting took place on the 25th May in the Assembly Hall, Edinburgh when over 700 people assembled for the meeting. Rev D. MacLean, Moderator of Synod, preached from the words in Hebrews 13: 7 and 8, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” After the service was concluded, Rev A. MacPherson gave an outline of the events leading up to the passing of the Declaratory Act in 1892 and to the Separation of 1893. Rev D. MacLean then addressed the Meeting giving an over-
view of the Hundred Years. A series of short addresses followed by a number of ministers including Rev E. A. Rayner from Australia and Rev Petros Mzamo from Zimbabwe. As the meeting had been delayed in starting some of these addresses had to be curtailed slightly in order to allow the meeting to close at its scheduled time of 6.30 pm. The meeting was closed with the singing of the last three verses of Psalm 122 and the benediction.
What is before the Church in the days that lie ahead, who can tell? Yet one thing is sure — the Lord will maintain His Cause in every age of time and make His Name known to generations yet to come.
Church Deputies to Canada
Rev Petros Mzamo left immediately after the Synod to give three Sabbaths to the Chesley Congregation, holding the Communion on the third Sabbath of June. He went on from there to the U.S.A. to visit his son before returning to Zimbabwe via the U.K.
Rev J.A.T. van Dorp also agreed to visit Chesley on his return journey to New Zealand. He was to be there for the last Sabbath of June and the first Sabbath of July.
We pray that the labours of these ministers may be blessed in Canada and that they may be brought in safety again to their own congregations.
Matron and Nursing Staff Appeal
A Matron and Nursing Staff are required for Sengera Hospital, Kenya. The Foreign Mission Committee would be pleased to hear from suitably qualified staff for the above posts.
(Rev.) James R. Tallach
Visitors from Overseas
Owing to the Church Centenary this year, the Church at home was favoured with visits from all the overseas ministers and a goodly number of elders as well. We trust that this will result in an even closer bond being formed between the Church at home and overseas. In their long travels our visitors have been under the protection of the Most High. We hope that they have returned refreshed to their own places of labour and that the Lord will follow them with a rich blessing. May the Church at home also be blessed abundantly.
Recall from Zimbabwe
As a result of church discipline, Mr Neil Murray has been recalled from the Mission Field in Zimbabwe and is no longer in the employment of the Church.
Centenary Meeting Recordings
Sound recordings and a video were taken at the Centenary Meeting. Anyone wishing audio tapes may obtain them from the Church Bookroom at a cost of £6 per set of three tapes. Those wishing a video recording should let the Bookroom know. The cost will depend on the final total of videos ordered.
Acknowledgement of Donations
The General Treasurer, Mr R. A. Campbell, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LE, wishes to acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:—
Centenary Commemoration Fund: Anon., Glasgow £10; South Side, Glasgow £50; Anon., Uig per M.M. £20; Mrs F.E., Wilts per A.N.M. £10; Friends £30; G.L. £20; Mrs L. MacA. per E.M.M. £100; M. MacL. £100; M.C. £50; M&E £50.
Foreign Mission Fund: Miss J.S.G. £100 for Blind Children; Miss R.W., Canada £5 for Kenya.
Magazines Free Distribution Fund: A Friend, Skye £5; M.C. £20.
The Treasurers of the following Congregations acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:—
Assynt: A Friend, £50 for Congr. Fd.
Beauly: Inverness Postmark £20 for Sust. Fd.
Bracadale-Strath: Anon., £30 for Comm. Exps. per J.C.; B.M., Fernilea £20 per D.J.M.; Friend, Struan £20 per D.G.B., both for Centenary Commemoration.
Fort William: Dingwall Friends £30 for the Cause; Anon., (in plate) £20, where most needed; Anon., £75 (in plate); Anon., £75 (in plate), both for Comm. Exps.
Glasgow (St Jude’s): Anon., £20 for Comm. Exps; M.M. £10 for Bus Fund; In memory of a loving brother £50 for T.B.S.; Anon., £40; R.M. £5, both for Sust. Fd.; Anon. £20 for Foreign Missions; Anon., £50; Anon., £25 both for Centenary Publication; M.B. £10; M.M. £40; C.M. £25; D.R.M. £50; M.M. £50; M.&J.N. £100; I.G. (Deed of Covenant) £750; Anon., £5; £10; £10; £15; £20; £20; £25; £30; £100, all for Centenary Commemoration Fund.
Greenock: E.M. £20 for Congr. Fd per Rev. L.M.
North Harris: R.McL., Cluer £8 per J.M.C.; M.S., Tarbert £5; MacQueen St., £10, all for Bus. Fd., last two by envelope in plate; Friend, Leacklee £10 (in plate); Friend, Stockinish £20; M.A.McK £40 (in plate), last three for Centenary Commemoration Fund; Anon., £100 for Church Funds (envelope in plate).
North Tolsta: Friend of the Cause, Breasclete £10 (in plate); Friend, Stornoway £20; Friend, Stornoway £2, both per D. McK., all for Comm. Exps.; Anon., £20 (in plate) where most needed; Donation £20 with many thanks for the service Mr and Mrs P.A., Kinlochleven; in memory of our loved parents £20 (in plate) for Church Heating; Anon., £20, for Congr. Purposes; Friends £34 for Magazine Free Distribution per D. MacK.; Friend £10 per Rev J. MacLeod; Anon., £5 per D. McK., both for Comm. Exps.; Mrs M. & N.T. £10; Anon., £20 (in plate); Anon., £10 (in plate), all for Centenary Fund.
Raasay: Envelope in plate £100 for Centenary Commemoration; Anon., Inverarish £25 for Car Fund.
Stornoway: Anon., £5 for Comm. Expenses; Anon., £10; Anon., £40; Anon., £20 from Stornoway Congr. Member, all for Centenary Commemoration; Anon., £20 for Book Fund from Stornoway Congr. Member; Anon., £5 for African Hospital Project, all per Church plate.