The General Assembly, seeking to revise and update the Consolidating Act of Edinburgh Theological Seminary, enact and ordain the following:
A. WHO WE ARE
- History
As the Free Church of Scotland is in continuous descent from the Free Church of 1843, so is Edinburgh Theological Seminary heir to the theology, principles, and traditions of the Disruption Church and of the Colleges instituted in her early years. Prior to 2014, Edinburgh Theological Seminary was known as the Free Church College and the Seminary Board was known as the College Board.
2. The Seminary
Edinburgh Theological Seminary (hereafter ‘the Seminary’) is a non-residential Seminary, Reformed, Evangelical and Presbyterian. Its aim is to produce a fully equipped ministry, prepared in all the disciplines of the Reformed tradition. It is the successor of the Free Church of Scotland College.
3. Accountability
The Seminary is not an independent body corporate: it is under the exclusive control of, and is responsible to, the Free Church of Scotland acting through its General Assembly and Boards and Committees appointed by that Assembly.
4. Doctrine
Doctrinally, the Seminary is committed to an unswerving loyalty to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments which are the Word of God, and an unqualified subscription to the Westminster Confession of Faith.
5. Academic Standards
Academically, it is committed to the Disruption policy of maintaining the highest possible standards, comparable to that of universities, in its curriculum, teaching, research, administration and assessments. The seminary will adhere to the UK Quality Code for Higher Education or its equivalent.
6. Validation
The Seminary is authorised to have its degrees validated by the University of Glasgow provided that the Seminary Board is satisfied that the agreement between the Seminary and the University of Glasgow safeguards the Confessional position of the Seminary, the sole jurisdiction of the Senate over course content and the rights of the General Assembly.
B. THE PRINCIPAL
1.The Principal is the Chief Executive of ETS. He is accountable to the General Assembly through the ETS Board.
2.Remit. The Principal is expected to carry out the following duties:
2.1. To provide leadership for the strategic development of ETS.
2.2. To Chair the Senate and ensure that the Senate fulfils its remit.
2.3. To assist the Seminary Board in recruiting staff of appropriate talent, competence, and Christian standing who best meet ETS objectives.
2.4. To organise ETS staff, departments, and structures for the optimal delivery of ETS objectives.
2.5. To manage the academic and non-academic staff and ensure the satisfactory performance of their duties.
2.6. To participate in the teaching and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
2.7. To deal with all human resources issues including disputes, complaints, and grievances within the prescribed legislation.
2.8. To establish and maintain good internal communications, both formal and informal, with the General Assembly, its Boards and Committees, Presbyteries and Congregations.
2.9. To establish and maintain relations with external individuals, institutions, external constituencies and accreditation bodies.
2.10. To liaise as required with the Seminary Board and Senate, and secure for both bodies the reports and information, which they require to fulfil their remits and accreditation bodies.
2.11. To ensure the financial viability of the institution and support the Seminary Board in this task.
2.12. To oversee and directly support efforts to raise funding and major gifts for the ETS from private donors, charitable organisations and other sympathetic individuals and institutions.
2.13. To produce, in collaboration with the Seminary Board, a strategic plan and deliver on its outputs.
2.14. To implement ETS policies as these are approved by the Seminary Board and Senate.
3. The Authority of the Principal
3.1. Authority. The Principal as Chief Executive carries the prime burden of ensuring the success of the institution as a whole and must have authority commensurate with the accountability described above.
3.2. Uncertainty. Any uncertainty or dispute over the extent of the Principal’s authority shall be brought to the attention of the Chairman of the ETS Board, who will resolve the matter in conjunction with the Assembly Clerk.
4. Appointment of the Principal
4.1. The Resignation of the Principal. A Principal who is due to retire, or who intends to resign from his duties, shall intimate this fact, whenever possible, to the Seminary Board by 1st May of the year which precedes his final year in office. The Board will devise a succession plan as soon as practically possible.
4.2. Nominations for the New Principal. The Seminary Board shall write to Presbyteries informing them of the impending vacancy in the office of Principal, drawing attention to the Remit of the Principal and the following requirements and asking for two nominations:
4.2.1 All suitable candidates must subscribe to the whole doctrine contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith and be ordained ministers in the Free Church of Scotland.
4.2.2. The Principal is expected to uphold the witness, dignity and prestige of the Seminary without detriment to good relations and also takes note of any actions or proposed actions on the part of others that could either benefit or prejudice the Seminary.
4.3. Interviews for New Principal. The Seminary Board shall appoint an interview panel, the majority of which would be members of the Seminary Board, to identify a suitable list of candidates for interview from the nominations listed above, in addition to any new Seminary Board nominees.
4.3.1. Upon completion of all interviews the interviewing panel will make a recommendation to the Seminary Board. If the Seminary Board agrees with the recommendation, the successful candidate will be informed as soon as possible as to the Board’s decision and asked if he is prepared to accept the appointment. The Board will report their decision and the candidate’s willingness to be appointed to the General Assembly who will have the final decision on whether to make the appointment.
4.4. Appointment of New Principal. In the event of his willingness to take up the appointment, he will be inducted to the position by the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth after following a procedure on the analogy of a call to a pastoral charge.
4.4.1. All parties retaining the right of Appeal or Dissent and Complaint to the General Assembly.
4.4.2. The new Principal will be granted a seat on the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth.
4.5. Remuneration. A full-time Principal will be remunerated at a salary set by the Seminary Board in keeping with its budget constraints. The total remuneration package of a Principal must not be less than that of a Minister in a pastoral charge in the Free Church of Scotland.
4.6. Terms of Appointment. The newly appointed Principal must sign a Terms of Appointment as agreed by the Seminary Board.
4.7. Term of Office. The term of office for a Principal will normally be five years, renewable with the consent of the Principal and the Seminary Board.
4.8. Call to Principal. In the event of a Principal of the Seminary accepting a Call to a pastoral charge, the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth are empowered to release him from his charge. The Presbytery shall immediately inform the Seminary Board of such a Call.
C. FULL-TIME LECTURERS
- Full-time Lecturers
Full-time Lecturers are heads of departments within the Seminary. The number of full-time Lecturers in the Seminary and the subjects attached to them will be determined by the ETS Board.
2. Doctrinal Subscription
All Full-time Lecturers must subscribe to the whole doctrine contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith and must be office-bearers in a church which, to the satisfaction of the Seminary Board, exercises biblical discipline in matters of heresy or immorality.
3. Duties
The duties of the Full-time Lecturers are, in general, to teach their subjects conscientiously and competently in accordance with the requisite standards and with the curriculum approved by the Senate.
3.1. Cooperation. The Full-time Lecturers will co-operate with each other, formally in Senate and informally in the daily life of the Seminary, so as to promote its internal welfare and its external prestige; and by their labours in their chosen fields of study to edify the Church and to defend the faith.
3.2. Programmes of Study. Each Full-time Lecturer shall, at the time of his appointment and at other times as circumstances may require, prepare programmes of studies for his classes within the framework of the Seminary curriculum and in consultation with the Senate and the Seminary Board, the aim of such consultation being to ensure that a proper balance is preserved within the curriculum and to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.
3.3. Annual Update. At the end of each session, he shall supply the Senate and Seminary Board with a record of classwork covered, objectives and achievement in research and any work published by him.
4. Charges
Charges of heresy or immorality against any Full-time Lecturer who is an office-bearer in the Free Church of Scotland shall be dealt with in accordance with the principles and practice of the Free Church in relation to such charges against ministers.
4.1. Consideration. Charges of failure to comply with academic duties shall be considered by the Seminary Board and referred, if necessary, to the General Assembly to whom he is ultimately responsible.
4.2. Non-Free Church Office-bearers. Where a Full-time Lecturer is not an office-bearer in the Free Church of Scotland, they will be subject to the disciplinary and complaints policy approved by the Seminary Board.
5. Entitlement
Each Full-time Lecturer is entitled to adequate accommodation, furniture and equipment for teaching purposes, and to a retiring room with its necessary furnishings.
5.1. Changes. Changes of accommodation or furniture and equipment should not be made without his knowledge and consent.
5.2. Freedom. In the organisation of his own department in his teaching and studies, he enjoys traditional academic freedom within the framework of the Seminary standards and the curriculum.
6. Standards
In his academic work, both in his teaching and in his studies, each Full-time Lecturer is expected to maintain, during his tenure of office, the standards of application and achievement expected of him by the Church which appoints him, and by the students who look to him for instruction.
7. Student Life
The Full-time Lecturers, being the senior members of a theological Seminary, are called to promote, by all suitable means, the spiritual life of the students under their charge.
8. Appointment of Full-time Lecturers
8.1. Resignation of Full-time Lecturer. A Full-time Lecturer who is due to retire, or who intends to resign from his academic duties, shall intimate this fact whenever possible to the Seminary Board not later than 31st December, prior to the end of the academic year.
8.2. Nominations for New Full-time Lecturer. The Seminary Board shall write to Presbyteries informing them of the impending vacancy, drawing attention to the fact that those who are nominated must normally already possess, or be willing to work towards, a degree at postgraduate level in disciplines relevant to their nomination and asking for two nominations.
8.2.1. Members of the Seminary Board may also nominate suitable candidates, giving reasons for their nominations. The Seminary Board may also advertise the position inviting applications.
8.2.2. The Seminary Board will identify a suitable list of candidates and write to them informing them that they have been nominated and asking them to indicate their willingness, in principle, to teach at the Seminary, either on a full-time or part-time basis. If a candidate is willing, he should submit his CV to the Board.
8.3. Process of Appointment for the New Full-time Lecturer. The Seminary Board will intimate the impending vacancy to the Clerk of Senate at the University of Glasgow, inviting the Faculty to nominate a representative to be associated with the Board in making a new appointment.
8.3.1. The names which have been nominated will be interviewed by a panel appointed by the Seminary Board, with the representative from Glasgow University in attendance.
8.3.2. Upon completion of all interviews the interviewing panel will, after ascertaining that each of the candidates are acceptable to the University of Glasgow, make a recommendation to the Seminary Board. If the Seminary Board agrees with the recommendation, the successful candidate will be informed as soon as possible as to the Board’s decision and asked to indicate his willingness to accept the appointment within a timeframe set by the Board.
8.3.3. If the appointment is for a Full-time Lecturer, and where the Full-time Lecturer is already an ordained minister of the Free Church of Scotland, he will be inducted to the position by the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth following a procedure on the analogy of a call to a pastoral charge, all parties retaining the right of Appeal or Dissent and Complaint to the General Assembly.
8.4. Remuneration. A Full-time Lecturer will be remunerated at a salary set by the Seminary Board in keeping with its budget constraints. The total remuneration package of a Full-time Lecturer must not be less than that of a minister in the Free Church of Scotland.
8.5. Terms of Appointment. Each newly appointed Full-time Lecturer must sign Terms of Appointment as agreed by the Seminary Board.
8.6. Term of Office. The term of office will normally be five years for a Full-time Lecturer, renewable with the consent of all parties.
8.6.1. Where the Full-time Lecturer is not an office-bearer in the Free Church of Scotland, the Seminary Board must ensure that his Terms of Appointment include doctrinal subscription showing unqualified acceptance of the whole teaching of the Westminster Confession of Faith.
8.6.2. Where the Full-time Lecturer is not an office-bearer in the Free Church of Scotland, the Seminary Board must ensure that his Terms of Appointment refer to the Disciplinary and Complaints Policy approved by the Seminary Board, including the process to suspend him from his position in the event of him falling short of behavioural or theological standards of morality and orthodoxy, pending appropriate disciplinary procedures.
8.7. Call to Full-time Lecturer. When a Full-time Lecturer, who is a minister of the Free Church of Scotland and inducted to his position at the Seminary, receives a Call to a pastoral charge, the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth have the authority to release him from his charge, serving out his 6 months’ notice first. The Presbytery shall immediately inform the Seminary Board of this fact.
9. Absence from Duty of a Full-time Lecturer or the Principal. Absence from duty will fall into four categories as follows: (1) Leave due to illness; (2) Annual Leave; (3) Compassionate Leave; (4) Special Leave.
9.1. Absence because of Illness. All illness which prevents a Full-time Lecturer from taking a scheduled class shall be reported immediately to the Principal as soon as practicable. The Full-time Lecturer, failing whom the Principal, shall ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place for the conduct of classes and other duties during such illness.
9.1.1. Absence because of illness will be managed according to the same scheme applying to Ministers under Act 21, Class 2, 2023 – Ministers’ Absences due to Ill-health with the Principal taking the role assigned to the Presbytery Clerk and the Seminary Board functioning in the place of the Presbytery.
9.1.2. Where there is a need to release the Full-time Lecturer from his post due to long term illness, this shall be reported to the General Assembly or its Commission by the Board.
9.2. General provisions. All discussions on personnel matters should be held in camera, and any papers distributed should be returned to the Clerk by the close of the meeting. The Clerk should proceed to shred all documentation, other than papers retained for the purposes of the minutes. All discussions on personnel matters should be treated as strictly confidential.
9.3. Annual Leave Entitlement. Full-time Lecturers are entitled to annual leave according to the same principles that apply to ministers under Section 2 of Act 22, Class 2, 2023 on Leave of Absence for Ministers.
9.3.1. The holiday entitlement is for seven weeks annual leave.
9.3.2. There is no additional entitlement for public holidays.
9.3.3. Annual leave may not be taken during teaching term time. Also, a Full-time Lecturer shall arrange his annual leave in such a way that it does not impede his examination and other Seminary commitments.
9.3.4. No holiday period shall exceed 28 successive days without the Full-time Lecturer informing the Senate of his proposed arrangements and obtaining their consent.
9.3.5. All holiday entitlement shall be taken up before 31st December or extended to 28th February of the following year with the agreement of the Senate.
9.4. Compassionate leave. Compassionate leave may be granted by the Senate following the same principles applicable to ministers under Section 4 of Act 22, Class 2, 2023 – Leave of Absence for Ministers.
9.4.1. In a case involving Special Circumstances the Senate must consult with the Chairman of the Seminary Board in order to extend the period of compassionate leave.
9.5. Special Leave. A Full-time Lecturer may be granted special leave, outwith teaching term time, by the Senate, at the specific request of a department of the Church. This will be dealt with in accordance with the principles set out in Section 6 of Act 22, Class 2, 2023 – Leave of Absence for Ministers.
9.5.1. A Full-time Lecturer’s primary responsibility is to the Seminary, and this should be recognised by all who seek his services for other work in the Church. Every effort should, therefore, be made so that disturbance to the work of the Seminary is kept to a minimum.
9.5.2. Interchange has always played an important and useful role in the academic world and, while it is to be encouraged, primary consideration must be given to the work of the Seminary.
9.5.3. A Full-time Lecturer may not, without the permission of the Senate and the concurrence of the Seminary Board, undertake any engagements during teaching term time which would preclude him from his responsibilities in the Seminary.
10. Continuous Professional Development
The Seminary Board should take steps to ensure that all Full-time Lecturers undertake continued professional development programmes.
11. Designation of Professor
The Seminary Board has the authority to confer the academic designation of Professor on a Full-time Lecturer or lecturer who substantially meets the following criteria: ‘The lecturer has published three monographs (or fifteen academic articles or equivalent); has shown academic leadership within the Seminary and outside (involvement in learned bodies, speaking at academic conferences, leading an international research project); has experience of teaching at Postgraduate level; is asked by others to write references for book proposals, research proposals; has done PhD examining, or has been an external examiner in more than one institution.’
D. CENTRE FOR MISSION
1. General
The Centre for Mission is a department of Edinburgh Theological Seminary with a Full-time lecturer in Mission Studies who will be appointed in the same way as a Course Organiser and be subject to the same terms of appointment.
2. Remit
The remit of the ETS Centre for Mission be as follows:
2.1. To promote serious engagement with mission studies, and reflective participation in mission practice, among ETS staff and students by means of formal academic courses and other mission-focused events.
2.2. To engage in, and foster, constructive interaction with students, mission agencies, and serving missionaries (local and global) so as to ensure effective training for those preparing for, or engaged in, various forms of mission service.
2.3. To encourage serving missionaries (local and global) by providing opportunities for theological development and biblical research in topics of relevant interest.
2.4. To provide education in mission studies to the wider Church.
E. OTHER LECTURERS
1.It will be the responsibility of the Seminary Board to oversee and determine the appointment of lecturing staff at the Seminary.
2.Full-time Lecturers may plan to utilise part-time or guest lecturers in the delivery of their courses.
3.Part-Time Lecturers
3.1.All Part-time Lecturers must be communicant members under the pastoral discipline of a Reformed Church, shall give unqualified subscription to the Westminster Confession of Faith, and shall be in full sympathy with the doctrinal position of the Free Church.
3.2. A Part-time Lecturer’s appointment will be approved by the Seminary Board.
3.3. A Part-time Lecturer will be remunerated by way of honoraria at a level set by the Seminary Board.
4. Guest Lecturers
4.1. A Guest Lecturer will deliver no more than three lectures in any one academic year.
4.2. A Full-time Lecturer will have the authority to appoint a Guest Lecturer.
4.3 A Guest Lecturer will be remunerated by way of honoraria at a level set by the Seminary Board.
5. Modular Lecturers in Practical Theology
5.1. Within the Practical Theology department, practitioners can be called upon to deliver particular modules.
5.2. A Modular Lecturer in Practical Theology must subscribe to one of the reformed confessional standards or the Doctrinal Statement of Affinity to which the Free Church of Scotland belongs.
5.3. A Modular Lecturer in Practical Theology will be nominated by the Practical Theology Full-time Lecturer and approved by the Senate and the Seminary Board.
5.4. A Modular Lecturer in Practical Theology will be remunerated by way of honoraria at a level set by the Seminary Board.
6. Temporary Replacement Lecturers
A Temporary Replacement Lecturer is willing to provide cover in the case of the absence of a Full-time Lecturer in an emergency or due to sick leave. The Principal is empowered to make arrangements for temporary replacement lecturers and will report to the Senate and the Board.
F. THE SENATE
1. The Senate
The Senate is the Seminary’s senior academic authority and is authorised to oversee the academic governance of the Seminary through its remit, membership and terms of reference as set out below.
2. Remit
The remit of the Senate is to oversee the academic activity of ETS; to uphold its academic standards, quality and programmes; to approve its academic policies; and to advise the Seminary Board on the academic and strategic direction of the institution.
3. Membership
3.1. The membership of the Senate shall comprise the Principal (Chairman), the Full-time Lecturers, up to three additional members, appointed by the joint agreement of the Senate and of the Seminary Board, the President (or a nominee of the President) of the Students’ Representative Council, the Chair of the ETS Board or his nominee, two external advisers from the Church community as determined by the joint agreement of the Senate and Seminary Board.
3.2. The External Members and Advisers will be appointed for three years in the first instance and may be appointed for a further three-year period. Beyond this they shall not be appointed for a further period without a break of at least one year.
3.3. The External Members should subscribe to the whole doctrine of the Westminster Confession of Faith.
3.4. A majority of the Senate will normally be ordained Ministers of the Free Church of Scotland.
4. Powers
The powers of the Senate shall be as follows:
4.1. The Senate may formulate standing orders for the transaction of its business with a view to ensuring collegiality and equality on the principle that all members have one vote. Advisers to Senate have no vote.
4.2. The Senate may appoint groups and sub-committees as it determines necessary for the fulfilment of its remit.
4.3. It may access such papers and documents within ETS as it deems expedient for the transaction of its business. These can include reports from the Principal other staff and staff groups.
4.4. The Senate shall appoint the ETS Secretary to procure agenda, papers and reports and ensure that actions arising from meetings are communicated as necessary.
4.5. The Senate shall regulate student discipline and execute an appellate function in the case of disharmony between members of teaching staff and one or more of their students. In matters of discipline relating to private students the Senate’s decision shall be final.
4.6. The Senate shall meet at least three times a year and may determine such number of meetings as it deems expedient.
5. Terms of Reference
Subject to the requirements of the Board of Ministry of the Free Church of Scotland, of validation and accrediting bodies, the Senate’s Terms of References shall include:
5.1. Approving and directing the Academic Strategy of ETS.
5.2. Advising and participating in the production of ETS’s Vision, Mission Values and Strategic Plan.
5.3. Securing appropriate arrangements for assuring quality and standards of provision.
5.4. Ensuring that student experience enables successful outcomes.
5.5. Approving and regulating schemes of study and schemes of assessment leading to all awards.
5.6. Appointing external examiners and determining their conditions of service.
5.7. Approving and regulating a pedagogic framework for teaching and learning and setting up a coherent assessment framework across all departments.
5.8. Ensuring coherent student experience across all departments encompassing both pedagogy, assessments, and pastoral issues.
5.9. Prescribing conditions under which persons may be admitted to the ETS and the regulations under which students shall be permitted to continue their studies in the ETS.
5.10. Regulating the discipline of students and producing such codes of conduct and appropriate structures for this purpose.
5.11. Ensuring and maintaining an appropriate academic support service for libraries and IT.
5.12. Ensuring that appropriate counselling and pastoral arrangements are in place for students and promoting a Christian culture amongst students and staff.
5.13. Advising on student feedback, reviewing feedback data and taking such actions as are deemed necessary.
5.14. Advising the Principal and the ETS Board on reputational and other risks arising out of the academic activities.
5.15. Maintenance and control of Senate finances.
5.16. Advising the Principal and the ETS Board on the effectiveness of the academic programmes and in particular their fitness in respect of candidates for Free Church ministry.
5.17. Advising on external partnerships, linkages and memoranda of understanding.
5.18. Advising on such other matters as the ETS Board and/or the Principal may refer to the Senate.
6. Accountability
The Senate is accountable for the fulfilment of its remit, and reports to the ETS Board. Accountability will normally be exercised through the Chairman who is, ex officio, the Principal of ETS.
G.THE SEMINARY BOARD
1.General Assembly
The Edinburgh Theological Seminary Board is appointed by the General Assembly to oversee the operation of the Seminary.
2. Membership
The membership shall be comprised of ten members including the Principal, one member of the Senate, the Chairman of the Board of Ministry and the President of the Students’ Representative Council, all ex officio. The ordinary membership shall comprise three Elders and three Ministers appointed by the General Assembly for a four-year term renewable for one further term of four years.
2.1. Elders. Elders appointed to the Board shall have suitable qualifications or experience in education, preferably higher education, or in the administration or promotion of education.
2.2. Chairman. The Chairman shall be appointed from the membership of the Board by the General Assembly for a four-year term, renewable for one further term of four years.
2.3. Advisers. The Board may appoint advisers from time to time as deemed expedient.
2.4. Quorum. The quorum shall be three members of the Board.
3. The Remit
The remit of the ETS Board be as follows:
3.1. Finance
3.1.1. To be responsible for the financial function of ETS including fund-raising, financial control and liaison with the Board of Trustees.
3.1.2. To administer the finances of ETS (always excepting income from donations or bequests placed by donors or legatees at the disposal of the Senate).
3.1.3.To administer the College Endowment Fund subject to the following terms and conditions:
3.1.3.1. All donations to the College Endowment Fund shall be added to the capital of the Endowment Fund.
3.1.3.2. At the end of each financial year the ETS Board will, at its discretion, decide on the amount of the Endowment Fund which is to be invested in the Share Pool.
3.1.3.3. The ETS Board may, at its discretion, allocate sums from the College Endowment Fund to cover ETS Board approved Special Projects or any unforeseen items of related expenditure not provided for in the annual budget of the ETS Fund Account.
3.1.3.4. At the discretion of the Board, annual interest on the College Endowment Fund shall either be credited to the Ordinary Revenue of the ETS Fund or be added to the capital held on behalf of the Endowment Fund in the Share Pool.
3.1.3.5. The Board shall engage in appropriate activities to solicit contributions to the College Endowment Fund.
3.1.4. To prepare the ETS Budget and submit it to the Board of Trustees during the annual budgeting cycle.
3.2. Planning
3.2.1. To produce and approve a Strategic Plan for ETS, to revise the plan as required and to maintain a 3 to 5 years planning horizon.
3.2.2. To discuss with the Board of Trustees, in conjunction with the Principal, the funding implications of ETS plans.
3.3. Promotion
3.3.1. To promote the interests of ETS within and outwith the Free Church and to implement a strategy designed to heighten awareness of ETS as a study destination.
3.3.2. To maintain ETS as a centre of Biblical and Reformed teaching and research.
3.4. Property, Facilities and Administration
3.4.1. To maintain and improve the fabric and furnishings of ETS.
3.4.2. To maintain and oversee the provision of a library function and such other academic and student support services including IT, pastoral support, as are required for the effectiveness of ETS.
3.4.3. To ensure an adequate administration function.
3.4.4. To set the starting and closing dates of Seminary sessions, giving due notice of any change in the pattern thereof.
3.5. Relations with the Senate
3.5.1. To ensure that the Senate fulfils and is enabled to fulfil its remit.
3.5.2. To examine all measures of output in respect of standards, quality, assessment, pedagogy and student experience in respect of feedback, student satisfaction and reports from the Principal and from Senate including student attrition statistics.
3.5.3. To take steps as are necessary for the maintenance of institutional excellence.
3.5.4. To adjudicate in staffing disputes and staffing difficulties which the Senate may refer to it.
3.5.5.To support and maintain such relations with other institutions and accrediting bodies as are proposed and approved by the General Assembly and the Senate.
3.6. Staffing
3.6.1. To adjudicate with regard to disciplinary or disputed matters affecting Seminary non-Senate staff, both full-time and part-time.
3.6.2. To recruit and appoint all staff and to determine the terms and conditions of employment of all, other than as determined by an Act of Assembly.
3.6.3. To keep the salaries of the Principal and of all full-time academic staff under regular review and, if necessary, to bring proposals thereanent to the attention of the Assembly.
3.6.4. To formulate staffing contracts and conditions of service.
3.6.5. To review the performance of the Principal on an annual basis.
3.6.6. To receive a report of the operation from the Principal of a review system for academic and non-academic staff.
4. General Assembly
The Seminary Board shall report to the General Assembly annually. Its report shall include a Report from the Principal. The Principal’s report shall include developments in educational strategy, curriculum development, assessment reviews and pedagogical methodology as standing items so that the Assembly is fully apprised as to the teaching practices and curriculum at ETS.
H. THE STUDENTS
1.The Seminary primarily exists for the theological education of students towards ministry and gospel work primarily in the Free Church as well as other churches and organisations.
2. The Senate will also provide facilities in the Seminary for Students and Ministers undertaking a postgraduate course of study.
3. All students must satisfy the Senate that their spiritual and academic qualifications are such as will enable them to benefit from a course in the Seminary, the precise admissions policy is determined by the Senate in collaboration with the University of Glasgow.
4. All the students who enter the Seminary are understood to profess their faith in Christ and obedience to Him. They will participate in the spiritual life of the Seminary.
5. During their attendance at Seminary courses, all students are expected to behave with the decorum worthy of their profession and their aspirations, and to comply with the internal code of conduct prepared by the Senate.
6. Complaints by individual students will be dealt with according to the complaint’s procedure approved by the Senate, which shall be published annually and given to all students.
7. An ETS Students’ Representative Council exists within the Seminary as a recognised body. Its functions are to represent the students in matters affecting their interest as a whole; to afford a recognised means of communication between the students and the Church authorities; and to promote academic unity among the students.
I. SEVEN-YEAR REVIEW
1. Every seven years the General Assembly will appoint a Committee to carry out an Oversight Review (OR) of the Edinburgh Theological Seminary.
1.1.Membership. The membership of the Review Committee shall comprise a Convenor, a representative appointed from the membership of the Board of Trustees, from the Board of Ministry and from the Mission Board, and at least one other Minister or Elder.
1.2. Advisors. The Review Committee will make use of suitable advisers, including the chairmen of the Board of Ministry and the Board of Edinburgh Theological Seminary, as well as a student from Edinburgh Theological Seminary, and a Free Church minister having recently graduated from ETS.
2. The Review Committee will not engage in an assessment of the quality of the academic provision given in ETS or to consider the doctrinal orthodoxy of ETS Staff.
3. The Review Committee will consider the governance, academic strategy, and sustainability of ETS as well as the opinions of the external individuals and organisations who use ETS. Furthermore, the Committee will consider the place of ETS within the wider ministry training structures and strategy of the Church.
4. The Review Committee will also investigate whether recommendations from previous Quinquennial Reviews have been implemented.
5. The Review Committee will produce a report for the General Assembly in which they shall make a judgement as to the fitness of the education and the training provided by ETS and make such recommendations as they see fit for ensuring that the education and training meets the needs of the students and those who send the students to the Seminary.
J. REPEALS
The General Assembly repeal Act 16, Class 2, 2024.