01 Jul GS 2019 art 18

GS 2019 Article 18 – FCC (Free Church of Scotland (Continuing))

1.   Material

• 1.1    Report of the Committee on Relations for Churches Abroad (CRCA) regarding the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (FCC) (8.2.2.1)

2.   Observations

• 2.1    GS 2016 (Art. 45) decided concerning the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing):
  • [4.1]    To continue Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) with the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (FCC) under the adopted rules;
  • [4.2]    To mandate the Committee on Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA):
    • [4.2.1]    To continue personal contact with the FCC whenever that is feasible (e.g., at meetings of the International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC), mutual presence at assemblies of sister-churches, and to send a delegation to their assemblies at least once every three years.
    • [4.2.2]    To encourage the congregations to seek out and strengthen ties with local FCC congregations in North America.
• 2.2    There is an FCC mission post in Smith Falls, Ontario, in the vicinity of the Ottawa-Jubilee CanRC.
• 2.3    The CRCA reports that they have visited the General Assembly of the FCC (GA-FCC) in May, 2017, and reviewed the materials for this GA. On the basis of that review and visit, they conclude that “the FCC desires to be a faithful church of Jesus Christ.”
• 2.4    There is no report concerning the GAs of 2016 or 2018.
• 2.5    The CRCA recommends to continue the relationship with the FCC.

3.   Considerations

• 3.1    The committee is positive about the faithfulness of the FCC. However, for Synod to be able to evaluate the CRCA’s assessment, it would have been helpful to receive more information. For example, there is no information concerning the GAs of 2016 and 2018.

4.   Recommendations

That Synod decide:

• 4.1    To continue the relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship (EF) with the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (FCC) under the adopted rules;
• 4.2    To mandate the Committee on Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA):
  • 4.2.1    To continue personal contact with the FCC whenever that is feasible (e.g., at meetings of the International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC), and mutual presence at assemblies of sister churches;
  • 4.2.2    To encourage the congregations to seek out and strengthen ties with local FCC congregations in North America;
  • 4.2.3    To send a delegation to their assemblies at least once every three years;
  • 4.2.4    To submit its report to the churches 6 months prior to the convening of the next general synod.

ADOPTED