Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)
Encyclopedia
The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (Scottish Gaelic: An Eaglais Shaor Leantainneach) is a Scottish
Presbyterian denomination which was formed in January 2000. It claims to be the true continuation of the Free Church of Scotland
, hence its name.
in June 1999 for refusing to withdraw his claim that General Assembly in May of that year was characterised by "gross and irremediable wickedness and hypocrisy". In August 1999, the FCDA's magazine, Free Church Foundations, referred to "the evil of Mr Roberts' suspension." A deadline was set for 30 November 1999 for the FCDA to disband, which it did not. Libels were drawn up against 22 ministers who refused to comply, and in a hearing by the Commission of Assembly on 19-20 January 2000 those libels were declared to be relevant. The 22 ministers were suspended, and they responded by leaving the commission. On 20 January 2000 the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) was formed when those ministers and a number of others adopted a "Declaration of Reconstitution of the historic Free Church of Scotland."
Johnston McKay suggests that although on the surface the split was about Donald Macleod, in reality it was about theology, with the FCDA "composed of people who adhere much more firmly to the Westminster Confession of Faith
."
as to ownership of the central funds and properties of the Church. When the appeal was sent to the Outer House
of the Court of Session, Lady Paton dismissed their action without granting absolvitor. In March 2007 the Free Church of Scotland proceeded to take legal action at Broadford
, on the island of Skye
, seeking to reclaim the church manse
. The Free Church (Continuing) lost the action at first instance on the decision of Lord Uist, and also lost their appeal to the Inner House
of the Court of Session
.
The FCC expressed its intention to appeal both the above decisions, but in 2009, the International Conference of Reformed Churches
noted that the FCC had "withdrawn its appeal of the civil matter that was pending."
and of Affinity
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Presbyterian denomination which was formed in January 2000. It claims to be the true continuation of the Free Church of Scotland
Free Church of Scotland (post 1900)
Free Church of Scotland is that part of the original Free Church of Scotland that remained outside of the union with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1900...
, hence its name.
Formation
In 1996, Professor Donald Macleod, principal of the Free Church College in Edinburgh was acquitted of charges of sexual assault when a sheriff ruled there had been a conspiracy against him. An organisation called the Free Church Defence Association believed that "it was wrong not to put Professor Macleod on trial in the General Assembly and that the majority has therefore departed from the principle that allegations of misconduct must be investigated not by a Committee of the General Assembly but by the whole General Assembly." The FCDA's chairman, Rev Maurice Roberts, was suspended for contumacyContumacy
Contumacy is a stubborn refusal to obey authority or, particularly in law, the wilful contempt of the order or summons of a court The term is derived from the Latin word contumacia, meaning firmness or stubbornness....
in June 1999 for refusing to withdraw his claim that General Assembly in May of that year was characterised by "gross and irremediable wickedness and hypocrisy". In August 1999, the FCDA's magazine, Free Church Foundations, referred to "the evil of Mr Roberts' suspension." A deadline was set for 30 November 1999 for the FCDA to disband, which it did not. Libels were drawn up against 22 ministers who refused to comply, and in a hearing by the Commission of Assembly on 19-20 January 2000 those libels were declared to be relevant. The 22 ministers were suspended, and they responded by leaving the commission. On 20 January 2000 the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) was formed when those ministers and a number of others adopted a "Declaration of Reconstitution of the historic Free Church of Scotland."
Johnston McKay suggests that although on the surface the split was about Donald Macleod, in reality it was about theology, with the FCDA "composed of people who adhere much more firmly to the Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
."
Legal issues
Following their departure, FCC sought a declarator from the Court of SessionCourt of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
as to ownership of the central funds and properties of the Church. When the appeal was sent to the Outer House
Outer House
The Outer House is one of the two parts of the Scottish Court of Session, which is the supreme civil court in Scotland. It is a court of first instance, although some statutory appeals are remitted to it by the other more senior part, the Inner House...
of the Court of Session, Lady Paton dismissed their action without granting absolvitor. In March 2007 the Free Church of Scotland proceeded to take legal action at Broadford
Broadford, Skye
Broadford , together with nearby Harrapool, is the second-largest settlement on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, lying on the SW corner of Broadford Bay, on the A87 between Portree and the Skye Bridge....
, on the island of Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
, seeking to reclaim the church manse
Manse
A manse is a house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of a Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist or United Church...
. The Free Church (Continuing) lost the action at first instance on the decision of Lord Uist, and also lost their appeal to the Inner House
Inner House
The Inner House is the senior part of the Court of Session, the supreme civil court in Scotland; the Outer House forms the junior part of the Court of Session. It is a court of appeal and a court of first instance...
of the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
.
The FCC expressed its intention to appeal both the above decisions, but in 2009, the International Conference of Reformed Churches
International Conference of Reformed Churches
The International Conference of Reformed Churches is a federation of Reformed or Calvinist churches across the world. Its theology is more conservative than the larger World Alliance of Reformed Churches and Reformed Ecumenical Council and is similar to that of the World Reformed Fellowship.-...
noted that the FCC had "withdrawn its appeal of the civil matter that was pending."
Recognition
The denomination is a member of the International Conference of Reformed ChurchesInternational Conference of Reformed Churches
The International Conference of Reformed Churches is a federation of Reformed or Calvinist churches across the world. Its theology is more conservative than the larger World Alliance of Reformed Churches and Reformed Ecumenical Council and is similar to that of the World Reformed Fellowship.-...
and of Affinity
Affinity (Christian organisation)
Affinity describes itself as "a growing network of many hundreds of Bible-centred churches and Christian agencies throughout Britain and Ireland". It was founded in 1953 as the British Evangelical Council and in 1981 numbered over 2,000 churches. The organization stagnated in the 1980s following...
.