The General Assembly

LOCH A TUATH NEWS May 2002

This is General Assembly month. Before Scotland ever had its own Parliament, it had successive General Assemblies, which were about the only public opportunity Scots had to comment on current affairs. I am not suggesting that the Scottish Parliament has rendered the General Assembly unnecessary; nor, in fact, do I think that the Scottish Parliament has really made all that much difference.

The principle of the church meeting "in general assembly" goes back to the New Testament. When a dispute arose among the first followers of Christ over the inclusion of non-Jewish believers in the church, the disciples convened at Jerusalem in order to debate and resolve the issue. I am not sure whether they found it as necessary as we do to appoint a Moderator, or standing committees, or any of the other accoutrements of our current Assemblies, but the example was a good one.

And so it has been that the Presbyterian churches have found it necessary to assemble generally in order to discuss business which affects the whole church. This year's General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland will be presided over by Rev John Maclean, Kilmuir, who assisted at our communion last October. He will be ably assisted by Rev James Maciver, Knock, the Principal Clerk of Assembly.

I realise that this article will be read by members of many different denominations, and by readers of none at all. But the General Assembly is so marked a feature of Scottish life, as well as so important to the life of our own local church at Back, that it is vital that we realise the principles that lie behind it.

First, there is the principle of the Headship of Christ. The Moderator is not the head of the church, or even its official spokesman. His function is to moderate -- to oversee the conduct of business and to ensure that it is done according to church law. But there is only one Head of the Church: that is Jesus himself. His word is final. He is present in a company of ministers and elders just as surely as when any of His people meet. I may not agree with every decision or conclusion of the General Assembly. What will I do then? Start up my own denomination? Not at all -- that is to fracture the body of which Jesus is the Head. No; I have an ultimate court of appeal, because at last every issue rests finally with the Lord.

Second, there is the principle of devolved government. There is an analogy with the Scottish Parliament, which is ultimately accountable to Westminster, although in certain areas authority has been devolved and delegated to Holyrood. Similarly, the church is governed by devolved authority -- Christ has invested the officers of the church, the ruling elders, with authority to conclude on various matters. Like Holyrood, there are areas of personal liberty over which no Assembly has the right to legislate. It would be quite erroneous for the Assembly to decree that I must wear a clerical collar all the time, for example. But in the areas where it has been given authority over the church, its function is vital.

Third, there is the principle of parity of eldership. Although there is a distinction in Scripture between elders who rule and those who teach, all are elders nonetheless. Ministers are presbyters just as elders are. The Roll of Assembly always shows an equal number of elders and ministers. There is no hierarchy of rule as there is in an episcopal system. The effect of this is to ensure that matters are dealt with corporately and not simply by one individual.

Fourth, there is the principle of order. All things, according to the New Testament, are to be done decently and in order. God is not a God of chaos or confusion. That does not mean, of course, that there are not chaotic Assemblies from time to time! But it does mean that the rule of Christ's church is a serious business, and that the King's affairs deserve to be dealt with carefully and considerately.

But let's not forget that our congregations do not exist for our Assemblies, but our Assemblies for our congregations. At last, the reason we meet in general assembly is so that our particular assemblies every Lord's day will be regulated in the light of God's word. Brethren, pray for us.