Synod Reply to the APCs
TOWARDS the end of May the General Assembly of the Associated Presbyterian Churches of Canada and Scotland addressed a letter to our Synod in which it was proposed that a meeting should be arranged to discuss the future of church properties. In making this proposal, the APCs acknowledged that there remained “deeply held differences of principle between the two churches”.
The following reply was sent to the APCs and it was agreed that it be printed in The Free Presbyterian Magazine:
Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
Clerk: Rev John MacLeod MA
11 July 1995
Mr David K Laing
Assembly Clerk
Associated Presbyterian Churches of Canada and Scotland
Dear Mr Laing
Your letter dated 19th May, 1995, was drawn to the attention of the Synod when it met in May and I am now instructed to address this reply to you.
As far as Church properties are concerned, the Synod has already made its position clear: the churches and manses in question were built or bought with money and resources provided by the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland and were intended to be used in maintaining the public means of grace within its bounds. It was on that understanding that ministers, on being inducted to these congregations, were given the use of these buildings. It was surely only to be expected that when ministers left the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland to form another religious body common honesty would dictate that they should vacate properties which could not be put to their intended use while being occupied by such ministers.
On the subject of the differences between the two bodies, which you refer to, but do not specify, the Synod is of the opinion that the gulf in doctrine and practice between the two bodies is so wide that no useful purpose would be served in arranging such a meeting.
The Synod has placed this matter in the hands of the Lord who knows the hearts of all men. It would be good if His voice was heard in the courts of the consciences of the ministers referred to above.
On behalf of the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland,
Yours sincerely,
(Rev) John MacLeod
Clerk
Eastern Europe Fund
AT the meeting of Synod it was agreed that donations to the Eastern Europe Fund should be sent direct to the General Treasurer, Mr R.A. Campbell, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LE, and not to Rev. D.A. Ross, as Mr Ross has found the present method of sending direct to him to be too consuming of his time.
Standing Collections:
THE Synod agreed that the following be the Standing Collections:
the Foreign Mission Fund to be taken in March and August;
the General Building Fund in April;
the Home Mission Fund in May;
the College and Library Fund in June;
the Dominions and Overseas Fund in September;
the Book Room Fund in October,
and the Publications Fund in November.
African mission work
WE are thankful to report that the Rev. John Goldby returned safely from Kenya on 9th August after a very busy five weeks of preaching, teaching and other work at our Sengera Mission.
The Clerk of the Foreign Mission Committee, the Rev James R. Tallach, is presently visiting Sengera Mission for six weeks, until 6th October.
The Rev. Neil M. Ross has agreed to the request of the Foreign Mission Committee to go to Africa as Church Deputy from 19th September until the end of November. It is expected that he will be in Zimbabwe until 4th October, and then in Kenya for the remaining eight weeks.
Miss Marion Graham, M.A., Headteacher of John Tallach Secondary School in Ingwenya, is due to return to Zimbabwe on 19th September, God willing, after a well-earned furlough.
May the great Head of the church bless the work of those who labour in the word and doctrine” there, and of those who assist them, both permanent staff and temporary helpers.
Acknowledgements of Donations
THE General Treasurer, Mr R.A. Campbell, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LE, wishes to acknowledge with thanks the following donations:
Eastern Europe: Anon., £100.
Foreign Mission Fund: Anon., £100.
Dominions and Overseas Fund: J. & P. Henderson, £905.
Home mission Fund: “Church in his house”, £5.
Sustentation Fund: “Post Assembly 1892”, £2. Anon., £165. “Pre Assembly 1893”, £2, “Before F.P. Church continuing”, £3.00.
The Treasurers of the following Congregations wish to acknowledge the following donations:
Barnoldswick: Anon., £400 where most needed, per collection plate. Anon., £10 for the F.P. Cause. E.K., £40, for use where needed.
Bracadale-Strath: Anon., £100, where most needed, per Rev. G.G.H.
Gairloch: C.G., £5; E.M., Kinlochbervie, £30; Friend, Skye, £30; Anon, Lewis, £20; E.W., £50; Anon., £20; Anon., £5; Lewis Friend, £10; all for congregational funds per Rev. A.E.W. MacDonald. Anon., £150 for congregational funds per J.M.
Laide: Anon., Laide, £10 for Eastern Europe Mission. Residents, Isle View Home, £12.41 for Eastern Europe Mission, per Rev. D.A.R. Mrs B, Bethesda, £50 for travelling expenses to Eastern Europe, and £5 for Bibles for Eastern Europe, both per Rev. D.J.M. Anon., £30 for Eastern Europe Mission; Friend, Skye, £300 for Eastern Europe Mission, both per Rev. D.A.R. Friend Laide, £10 for Eastern Europe Mission. Friend, Skye, £300 for Foreign Mission Fund, per Rev. D.A.R. Anon., Ayr, £350; Friend, Isle View Home £20; Friend, Laide £50; P.J., £50; Friend, Applecross, £10, all for Eastern Europe Mission per Rev. D.A.R. Residents, Isle View Home, £11.15 for Eastern Europe Fund per N.H.R. Friend, Lochcarron, £10 for Bibles for Eastern Europe; Friend, Edinburgh, £40 for Eastern Europe Mission, both per Rev. D.A.R. Residents, Isle View Home, £14 for Eastern Europe Mission per H. Gunn. Friends, £100 for Expenses for Italian Mission; Friend Aultbea, £20 plus £20 for church funds; these three per Rev. D.A.R.
Larne: A friend, £30, where most needed. “Glasgow”, £30 for communion expenses. Envelope in plate, £20 for Congregational Fund. Skye friends, £20 for Congregational Fund.
Lochcarron: Anon., £20, Anon., £70; A.M. £40; Anon., £28; all for the Eastern Europe Fund and per E.R. Friend, Carnoustie, £40, where most needed, per C.M.
North Harris: Friend, Kyles, £20 for petrol. Friend, Kyles, £20 for Home Mission; both per Rev. R. MacLeod. R.M.L., Cluer, £4 for Bus Fund per J.M.L. “In memory of a late sister”, £100 for church funds. Friends, £20 for petrol; both in collection plate. A Friend, Kyles, £20 for petrol per Rev. R. MacLeod. North Harris friends, £350 for church and manse precinct, per J.F.M. Anon., £10 for Bus Fund and £10 for loop system, per envelope in collection plate. Anon., £100 for church funds, envelope in plate.
North Uist: P.McD., £100 for where most needed. Anon., £25 for Congregational Fund.
Perth and Dundee: M.M. £10 for Congregational Fund per envelope in plate. M.McL., £10 for Congregational Fund per Rev. A. McP. Mrs A. Tocher £100 for Congregational Fund and £100 for Church Magazine, per A. MacP.
Portree: Friend, £20 for Sustentation Fund per F.M. Friend, £10 for petrol per F.M. Friend, £20 for Sustentation Fund; Friend, £20 where needed; these last two per S.Y.M.
Raasay: Anon., Inverarish, £30 for communion expenses per Treasurer. Interested, £50 for where most needed, per envelope in collection plate. M.Duncan, £2 for Congregational Fund per Rev. J.R. Tallach. Mrs Matthew, £20 for communion expenses per Mrs Tallach.
Shieldaig: Anon., £10; Anon., £15; both for communion expenses. Miss C. Finlayson, Allt a Chuirn, Lochcarron, £10.50 towards communion expenses. Anon., £100 for Sustentation Fund. In grateful memory of a loving husband and father, £100 for Sustentation Fund. Uig, Isle of Lewis: All the following are per envelopes in collection plate: Anon., £200; Anon., £80; both for congregational purposes. Anon., £20; Anon., £15; Anon., £10; these three for communion expenses.