1. The General Assembly, seeking to revise and update its legislation regarding the Church’s ecumenical relations, re-constitute the Ecumenical Relations Committee as the Interchurch Relations Committee and enact as follows:
A. GENERAL
1. The Church
The visible church of Christ is ‘catholic or universal under the Gospel (not confined to one nation as before under the law) and consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, along with their children, and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ’ (WCOF 25:2).
2. The Unity of the Church
We recognise the unity of the church as grounded in the truth of the apostolic gospel as it is given in the Word of God (John 17; Ephesians 4).
2.1. This unity is attained by growing in spiritual maturity. This maturity is the result of mutual, loving admonition and joint submission to the Word of God.
2.2. The unity of the church is manifested by speaking and acting the truth in love.
2.3. Each member is essential to the church as the body of Christ, and the growth of the body depends on the active participation of each individual part.
2.4. The church is visible and manifested through the world in larger or smaller assemblies. The unity of the church is, therefore, to be sought at the level of the local church and in regional, national, and international assemblies.
3. The Purity of the Church
The catholic (universal) Church is the one body of Christ. The purity of the church is its commitment to the teaching and practice of the doctrine of the Gospel, the administration of the Gospel ordinances, the public worship of God consistent with the Word of God, and the practice of church discipline.
3.1. This commitment to the Gospel is found in varying degrees across the world. In the words of the WCOF, ‘This catholic Church has been sometimes more, sometimes less visible. And particular Churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them’ (WCOF 25:4).
4. The Mandate
The Free Church of Scotland recognises the scriptural mandate (Ephesians 4) to express the unity of the church in terms of our relationship with other churches.
4.1. The Church will seek, through its ecumenical relations activity, and by entering fellowship with other churches, to express and promote the unity of the faith. This fellowship will be consistent with biblical unity and truth as a visible demonstration of the unity of the church both to the church and to the world.
4.2. The Church recognises its responsibility to the maturity and unity of the whole church as the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:15). It is committed to call all churches, including our own, to faithfulness, for the purpose of seeking unity of the whole church.
4.3. The principle that the unity of Christ’s church must be manifested as fully as possible renders our cooperation with churches with a lesser commitment (qualified subscription) to the WCOF both desirable and even obligatory. As members of the body of Christ with us we have a twofold responsibility to them: (1) to express our common membership in Christ and our family love for them in every way we can; and (2) to instruct and learn from one another to the end that we may supply to each other what each is lacking in love, faith, knowledge, and obedience.
5. The Basis of Unity
5.1. The basis of the Church’s Interchurch relationships will be the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, as summarised in the Westminster Standards (Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechism) and confessed in the three forms of unity – the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort.
5.2. The Church, in its cooperation with other churches, will not sacrifice or compromise its distinctiveness. The Church will always maintain and uphold its faithfulness to the doctrine of the Gospel, its subscription to the WCOF, and its Presbyterian form of church government.
5.3. Our ecumenical vision requires a balance between our duty (1) to endeavour to effect the unity of the true body of Christ; and (2) to do so without compromising the doctrines of the Gospel.
B. THE COMMITTEE
1. The Purpose
1.1. The general purpose of Interchurch Relations is to promote, foster, and develop relations with other denominations and likeminded believers in seeking the propagation of the gospel and the advancement of Christ’s kingdom in Scotland and beyond. The Committee will carry out its remit as defined by this Act and as the General Assembly may appoint.
1.2. The purpose of the Committee will be:
1.2.1. To express and promote the unity of faith the member churches have in Christ.
1.2.2. To encourage the fullest ecclesiastical fellowship between member churches.
1.2.3. To facilitate and promote cooperation among the member churches in such areas as missions, theological education, and ministries of mercy.
1.2.4. To study the common problems and issues that confront the member churches.
1.2.5. To present a reformed testimony to the world.
2. The Membership
2.1. The Committee will have a total of eight members comprising the Mission Director, the Mission Board Chairman, the Principal Clerk, Assistant Clerk Representative, the Moderator, the Principal of Edinburgh Theological Seminary, and two Elders, appointed for a four-year term.
2.2. The Convener will be appointed by the General Assembly and the Principal Clerk will be Clerk to the Committee, ex officio.
- INTERCHURCH CHURCH RELATIONS
The Committee’s remit and activities regarding categories of relationship with other churches and organisations shall be exercised as follows:
- Mutual Eligibility.
Mutual Eligibility is a relationship which involves the mutual exchange of Ministers in the due process of calling Ministers for the filling of ministerial and other vacancies in the respective denomination.
2. Ecclesiastical Fellowship (Fraternal Relations)
2.1. The Relationship. Ecclesiastical Fellowship is a mutually recognised relationship in which the churches involved are Reformed in their confessional standards, church order, worship, and discipline but where there are such differences that union or mutual eligibility are not possible at this time. It is desirable, but not essential, that the churches are members of the International Conference of Reformed Churches.
2.2. Implementation. This relationship is implemented where possible and desirable by:
2.2.1. The exchange of fraternal delegates at major Assemblies on a regular basis.
2.2.2. Joint action in areas of common responsibility.
2.2.3, Consultation, exhortation, and cooperation, on all matters of mutual interest in promoting Christian unity and advancing the work of the Gospel at home and abroad.
2.2.4. Consultation on issues of joint concern, particularly before instituting changes in polity, doctrine, or practice that might alter the basis of the fellowship.
2.2.5. The exercise of mutual concern and admonition with a view to promoting Christian unity.
2.2.6. Agreement to respect the procedures of discipline and pastoral concern of one another.
3. Corresponding Relations
3.1. The Relationship. Corresponding Relations is that relationship in which mutual contact with another denomination, which has an unqualified subscription to the Reformed faith, but with which we do not have Ecclesiastical Fellowship. The relationship is undertaken in order to become better acquainted with one another with a view towards entering Ecclesiastical Fellowship at some time in the future.
3.2. The Implementation. The relationship is implemented where possible and desirable by:
3.2.1. Exchange of official representatives at major assemblies.
3.2.2. Joint action in areas of common responsibility.
3.2.3. Consultation on issues of joint concern, particularly before instituting changes in polity, doctrine, or practice that might alter the basis of the relation.
4. Ecumenical Contact
4.1. The Relationship. Ecumenical Contact is a relationship of mutual contact with other denominations with which we have common ground regarding the Gospel, but with whom we differ regarding subscription to the WCOF and the historic confessions in A.5.1. above. This mutual contact is established and maintained in fulfilment of our stated responsibility to call all churches, including our own, to faithfulness for the purpose of seeking the unity of the whole church (see Paragraph A.4.2 above).
4.2. The Implementation. This relationship will be maintained by:
4.2.1. Meetings from time to time to discuss areas of common mission interest such as church planting, church development, and missionary activities overseas.
4.2.2. Meetings to consider areas of theological education and the development of discipleship.
4.2.3. Sharing resources and experience of developments in Gospel mission and theological education.
5. Gospel Partnership
5.1. Gospel Partnership is a relationship with Christian organisations who are Reformed and evangelical but with whom we may disagree on secondary matters.
5.2. This relationship will be established on the basis of our biblical mandate in the Great Commission and in our desire to advance the work of the Gospel at home and abroad.
5.3. There will be a particular focus on co-operation in the local context, at home and abroad, and meetings will take place, and updates received from time to time as required.
D. GENERAL
1. Forming Relationships. It will be the responsibility of the Committee to make decisions to enter, adjust, or withdraw from fellowship with other denominations and gospel partners. The Committee will report to the General Assembly on all such changes.
2. Resources. The undertaking of a bilateral relationship of either Ecclesiastical Fellowship or Corresponding Relations with other denominations carries with it a commitment of substantial resources, in both time and expense, for its implementation. The exchange of officials and delegates at General Assemblies and Synods of such denominations inevitably incur significant costs to the Church. Good stewardship of limited resources is required when the Committee engage in such relationships.
2.1. Budgetary Provision. The Board of Trustees will make appropriate budgetary provision to enable the Committee to maintain meaningful interchurch relations with other churches and denominations. The budgetary provision will be reviewed annually and revised as required in consultation with the Committee.
3. Review. The Committee will review its relationship with other denominations and gospel partners annually to ascertain whether the desired substantial contact is being (or given the limited resources, is able to be) maintained. If there has been no active relationship or meaningful correspondence for five years, the Committee will consider terminating the relationship and reporting on the same to the General Assembly.
4. Annual Review. The Committee will seek that balance between promoting biblical unity on the one hand and protecting the interests and ethos of the Free Church on the other in its ecumenical activities. The Committee will receive updates on developments, on an annual basis, from all the denominations and organisations with which it is engaged. This will assist the Committee in carrying out an annual review of its activities on which a report will be brought to the General Assembly.
5. Repeals.
The General Assembly hereby repeal Act 8, Class 2, 2017.