The General Assembly remind Deacons’ Courts (and Finance Committees in Congregations where such exist in place of Deacons’ Courts) that it is the duty of Office-bearers to encourage individual contributions by Members and Adherents to the Sustentation Fund and that, when such have been made and entrusted to Deacons’ Courts (or Finance Committees), these Courts (or Committees) are acting unfaithfully if they retain any part of these moneys for any local purpose instead of transmitting the same, at once, to the General Treasurer.
The General Assembly recognise that, although the arrangements for Ministerial supply are made, and the cost thereof defrayed, by the General Assembly’s Committee on Supply, there must fall upon Deacons’ Courts (or Finance Committees) certain local expenses incidental to the supply. These local expenses should usually be borne by the ordinary funds of the Congregation. When Deacons’ Courts (or Finance Committees) shall conceive that there is necessity for applying to the Sustentation Fund Committee for assistance towards the meeting of these local charges, the Committee (regard being had to the contributions made by the Congregations to the Sustentation Fund and to the expenses borne by the Supply Committee) are authorised to give such grant as shall appear to them to be proper. When it shall appear to the Sustentation Fund Committee that the cost of supplying any Congregation is excessive in relation to the contributions to the Sustentation Fund (as revealed by detailed statistics of cost and contributions of Vacant Charges to be supplied annually by the Supply etc. Committee to the Sustentation Fund Committee), the Sustentation Fund Committee shall draw the attention of the Congregation to the matter, through the Deacons’ Court (or Finance Committee), and, in conference with the Supply Committee, shall take steps to adjust the relation between cost and contribution so that the burden on Central Funds shall be reduced. Act VI. 1890 is hereby repealed.