REPORT OF THE ASSEMBLY CLERKS OFFICE (A) ADMISSION OF PAPERS The Clerks met with Presbytery Clerks as the Business Committee of the Assembly on Wednesday 20th April 2016. The Committee examined all papers due to come before the Assembly as reported below, with the exception of letters (b) and (c) which arrived subsequent to the Committee s meeting and have been found by the Clerks to be in order. In addition the Committee gave consideration to a number of practical arrangements for the Assembly. 1. Commissions and Elders Certificates: All Presbytery commissions were to hand and in good order. A number of elders certificates were still ouitstanding but were expected in advance of the Assembly opeing. 2. Petitions: (a) Petition from the Northern Presbytery. The Petition seeks the appointment of an assessor elder. The relevant extract was to hand and found to be in order. (b) Petition from the Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross. The Petition seeks the appointment of an assessor elder. The relevant extract was to hand and found to be in order. (c) Petition from Rev. David G. Parker. The Petition requested that he be retained on the Register of Ministers without Charge Eligible for Call and was supported by an extract from the said Presbytery which was found to be in order. (d) Petition from Rev. Robert M. Walker. The Petition seeks a seat in the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll and was supported by an extract from the said Presbytery which was found to be in order. (e) Petition from Rev. Major Colin F. Macleod. The Petition seeks to have his name transferred from the Roll of Resigned Ministers to the Register of Ministers without Charge Eligible for Call and was supported by an extract from the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth which was found to be in order. 3. Letters (a) (b) (c) Orthodox Presbyterian Church Free Church in Southern Africa Presbyterian Church of Australia PROPOSED DELIVERANCE 1. The General Assembly receive and adopt the report of the Committee and thank the Committee. 2. The General Assembly receive the papers listed in 2 and 3 above into the Assembly. (B) PETITIONS 1. FROM THE NORTHERN PRESBYTERY: ASSESSOR ELDER Monday 23rd May 2016, the Petition of the Northern Presbytery humbly shows that: 1. Whereas the manpower situation in the Northern Presbytery means that the available elders sometimes have to be appointed as assessors to two other congregations besides their own; 2. Whereas the last General Assembly appointed Mr Norman Macleod, elder within the bounds of the Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross, as a General Assessor to the Northern Presbytery;
3. Whereas Mr Macleod has reason to travel to the Assynt area at regular intervals and has been of great assistance to Presbytery as an assessor elder to the Free Church congregation there; 4. Whereas Mr Macleod has been approached and has indicated his willingness to continue to serve as a General Assessor to the Northern Presbytery; Wherefore may it please the General Assembly to reappoint Mr Norman Macleod, elder in Knockbain Free Church, to be General Assessor to the Northern Presbytery, the terms of the appointment to be until the next General Assembly. Or do as the Assembly in its wisdom deems best. And your Petitioners will ever pray. John Forbes, Clerk 2. FROM THE PRESBYTERY OF SKYE AND WESTER ROSS: ASSESSOR ELDER Monday 23rd May 2016, the Petition of the Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross humbly shows that: 1. Whereas the manpower situation in the Southern part of Skye is not as strong as is desirable for the present. 2. Whereas Mr. Callum MacDonald, has been involved already in the finances of two of the Congregations within the Presbytery. Wherefore the Free Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross petition the General Assembly to appoint Mr. Callum MacDonald, Elder, Urquhart and Resolis an assessor to the Free Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross until such time as the Presbytery feels the necessity of such an assessor to be at an end. Or to do otherwise as in their wisdom may seem best and your Petitioners will ever pray. John H. Maclean, Clerk 3. FROM REV. DAVID G. PARKER: REGISTER Monday 23rd May 2016, the Petition of the Rev. David G. Parker humbly shows that 1. Whereas the Petitioner had his name on the Register of Ministers without charge Available for Call since May 2012; 2. Whereas the Petitioner wishes his name to be retained on this register; 3. Whereas in accordance with Act XXX IV 2012 your Petitioner has addressed his Petition through the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll; 4. Whereas the Presbytery are supportive of your Petitioner's application. Wherefore it is humbly requested that the General Assembly take these premises into their considerations and grant that your Petitioner be retained on the Register of Ministers Available for Call. Or do otherwise as in their wisdom they may deem best. And your Petitioner will ever pray. Rev. David G. Parker. 4. FROM REV ROBERT M. WALKER: SEAT IN PRESBYTERY
Monday 23rd May 2016, the Petition of the Rev. Robert Walker humbly shows that 1. Whereas your Petitioner was previously Minister at Covenant Reformed Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Illinois, USA; 2. Whereas your Petitioner was admitted as a Minister of the Free Church of Scotland by the Commission of Assembly in October 2015; 3. Whereas having a seat on a Presbytery would enhance the ministry of your Petitioner and also be of benefit to a Presbytery; 4. Whereas the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll support your Petitioner's application for a seat on Presbytery; Wherefore it is humbly requested that the General Assembly take these premises into their consideration and grant your Petitioner a seat on the Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll. Or do otherwise as in their wisdom they may deem best. And your Petitioner will ever pray. Robert M Walker 5. FROM REV. MAJOR COLIN F. MACLEOD: TRANSFER Monday 23rd May 2016, the Petition of the Rev. Colin Macleod humbly shows that, 1. Whereas your Petitioner was inducted to the charge of Urray and Strathconnon Free Church in September 2000, and ministered there until resigning his charge in August 2005 in order to take up appointment as Chaplain to Her Majesty s Armed Forces; 2. Whereas your Petitioner s resignation became effective on 25 th September 2005; 3. Whereas your Petitioner, on the instruction of the Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross, was placed on the Roll of Resigned & Retired Ministers in terms of Act XIII, 1990, on 25 th September 2005; 4. Whereas your Petitioner left his charge as a minister of the Church in good standing; 5. Whereas your Petitioner was granted a seat in the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth by the General Assembly according to the terms of Act XXII, Class II, 2010; 6. Whereas your Petitioner now wishes to make himself available for a Call by a congregation of the Free Church of Scotland; 7. Whereas in accordance with Act XXXIV, Class II, 2012, paragraph 2.10, your Petitioner has addressed his Petition to the General Assembly through the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth; 8. Whereas the Presbytery are supportive of your Petitioner s application; Wherefore it is humbly requested that the General Assembly take these premises into their consideration and grant that your Petitioner be transferred from the Roll of Resigned and Retired Ministers to the Register of Ministers without Charge Available for Call. Or do otherwise as in their wisdom they may deem best. And your Petitioner will ever pray. Rev. Colin F. Macleod PROPOSED DELIVERANCE
1. The General Assembly direct that the Petition from the Northern Presbytery be treated as a routine Petition. The General Assembly receive the Petition from the Northern Presbytery and grant its crave. They appoint Mr Norman Macleod, elder at Knockbain, to be General Assessor to the Northern Presbytery, his term of appointment to be until the next General Assembly. 2. The General Assembly direct that the Petition from the Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross be treated as a routine Petition. The General Assembly receive the Petition from Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross and grant its crave. They appoint Mr Callum Macdonald, elder at Urquhart and Resolis, to be General Assessor to the Presbytery of Skye and Wester Ross, his term of appointment to be until the next General Assembly. 3. The General Assembly direct that Petitions 3, 4 and 5 above be taken up at a suitable point in the Assembly s business. The Rev. James Maciver Free Church of Scotland Dear Brother, (C) LETTERS 1. FROM THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from your brothers in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. This letter is to inform churches with which the OPC has ecclesiastical fellowship or corresponding relations that our 83rd General Assembly will meet from June 8-14, 2016, at the Sandy Cove Conference Center in North East, Maryland. The Assembly starts with a worship service at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, and concludes no later than noon on Tuesday, June 14. As a church with which the OPC is in a relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship, we would be pleased to have your church send a fraternal delegate to attend all or part of this Assembly. Fraternal delegates will be given the privilege of the floor with the right to speak on matters before the Assembly, and they will be allowed to visit meetings of our advisory committees. Your fraternal delegate will also be asked to address the General Assembly briefly to bring the greetings of your church. If you will inform me of the name, address, and email address of your representative(s), I will see to it that they receive registration instructions and agenda materials. The easiest means of contact will be by email to statedclerk@opc.org. Fraternal delegates will be our guests and we will provide them with lodging and meals during the Assembly. Transportation to and from the Assembly will be the responsibility of your church. If your delegation is arriving by air, the airport from which free shuttle transport to the Sandy Cove Conference Center will be provided is the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). We look forward to hearing from you with respect to your delegate(s). If you are unable to send someone, we would be happy to receive a letter of greeting. May the Lord richly bless the work of your church for Christ s kingdom. Sincerely in Christ, Ross W. Graham, Stated Clerk Rev David Meredith Chief of Ecumenical Relations sub-committee Free Church of Scotland Dear Sir, 2. FROM THE FREE CHURCH IN SOUTHERN AFRICA Your email Dated 15 th of April is acknowledged with profound appreciation. Kindly be assured that I will place it before the General Assembly in May 2016. As the Free Church in Southern Africa we take a lot of comfort in being assured that we are your Church s valued partners. We have never doubted that anyway.
We note awe that your Congregation is growing with members from other churches especially from the Church of Scotland. God s Grace is sufficient for us all! It is our prayerful wish that His Providence see you through all those attendant challenges. We shall, also, remember to pray for your successful and achieving General Assembly in May 2016. We are keeping in mind your invitation to Scotland and will ponder over it from time to time. With Christian Regards. Toyo Mnqaba (Elder) Clerk of Assembly 3. FROM THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA Rev David Meredith Convener of Ecumenical Relations Committee Dear David, Greetings from a moving-into-autumn Australia with all the changes of colour and weather. At our General Assembly of Australia standing committee meetings in early February 2016, this decision was minuted: "that the Relations With Other Churches committee encourage the convener on behalf of the RWOC committee to continue to engage in developing fraternal relationships with the Free Church of Scotland." So, in that regard we press on enthusiastically. Thank you for your part in making John Wilson's visit to Scotland and the FCS so enjoyable. I am presently corresponding with your moderator Rev David Robertson re: an opportunity to address the GA of New South Wales immediately following the GA's communion service on Tuesday 5th July; a dinner arranged by our Gospel, Society and Culture committee of the GA NSW, at which time David will address the gathering; other ministry to theological students; pulpit ministries, if he so desires. We look forward to his further responses to these suggestions. And while he is in Australia, I look forward to arranging a visit with him. Further to that, I had a good and valuable time with your incoming moderator Dr John Nicholls while we together attended the Board Meeting of the WRF in Jakarta in March. We discussed the possibility of him attending our GA Australia in September, a discussion in progress. He, as moderator of the FCS will be issued with an invitation to attend, before too long. So, our "engagement" continues to grow, and we pray that this will be mutually beneficial. Yours sincerely in Christ, Robert Benn Convener of the GAA Committee on Relationships With Other Churches. PROPOSED DELIVERANCE
1. The General Assembly receive the letter from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and thank them for their greetings which they reciprocate. They regret that the Free Church of Scotland is unable to send a delegate to their forthcoming General Assembly and instruct the Principal Clerk to arrange for a letter of greetings to be sent to the Stated Clerk to the OPC Assembly. 2. The General Assembly are pleased to receive the letter from the Free Church in Southern Africa and thank them for the greetings which they reciprocate. 3. The General Assembly receive the letter from the Presbyterian Church of Australia and thank them for the greetings which they reciprocate. They welcome the continuing dialogue towards closer relations with the Free Church of Scotland and direct the Ecumenical Relations Committee to maintain communication with the PCA Committee on Relationships With Other Churches and to report on developments accordingly. They thank the PCA for the cordial invitations extended to Rev David A. Robertson and to Rev John Nicholls as specified in their letter.