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SPECIAL
CONSTITUTIONAL FEATURES OF THE UNITED FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
Statement
agreed by General Assembly Offices. All offices of the Church are open to
any member in full communion. Women are therefore eligible for
ordination to the ministry and the eldership, and ruling elders
may be appointed as Interim Moderators of vacant congregations or
as Moderators of Presbyteries or the General Assembly. Status of
Elders. A high
ecclesiastical status is given to our ruling elders. The
spiritual functions of the eldership are emphasised, and the Kirk
Session (Ministers and Elders as one body) is responsible not
only for administration but for the spiritual supervision of the
congregation and its worship. In the ordination of Ministers the
ordination is carried out by the whole Presbytery, ministers and
elders of the Presbytery participating not only in the prayer of
ordination offered by the Moderator but in the laying on of hands
upon the ordinand. Ordination. The United Free Church of Scotland uses
the term "Ordination" for the solemn setting apart of
the teaching elder (minister), the ruling elder and, where the
office is retained, the deacon. Nevertheless the Church
recognises a distinction in function between the office of
ministry and that of the eldership, based upon the call, the
training and the Church's setting apart of the minister for the
special ministry of the Word and Sacraments. The elder is not
excluded from participation in the work of teaching, but it is
considered advisable in the interests of good order that in all
ordinary situations a minister should preside at the
administration of the Sacraments. RELATION
TO OTHER CHURCHES
The United Free Church of
Scotland seeks to cherish a spirit of brotherhood towards all the
faithful followers of Christ. Members of other Churches are
welcomed to communion and ministers of other Churches may, on
invitation, administer the Sacraments. The Church recognises the
ordination of ministers of all denominations provided that the
ordination has been carried out by an. authority representing a
recognised branch of the Universal Church. This Church has been a member
of the World Council of Churches, the British Council of
Churches, and Action Together of Churches in Scotland, since
their inception; and it seeks to cooperate with other Churches in
the furtherance of the Gospel and the service of mankind. THE
CHURCH'S FAITH
The United Free Church of
Scotland, with all the Churches of the Reformation, acknowledges
as its Supreme Standard the Word of God contained in the
Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. The Church holds as its
Subordinate Standard the Westminster Confession of Faith; by its
Declaratory Acts (United Presbyterian Synod, 1879, Free Church
Assembly, 1892) it recognises liberty of judgment on points of
doctrine which do not enter into the substance of the faith; and
it claims the right, as duty may require, to interpret, add to,
modify, or change her Subordinate Standards, under the promised
guidance of the Holy Spirit, and with a sense of direct
responsibility to her Lord. The Church approves the
emphasis of the Declaratory Acts on the love of God for all
mankind, the free offer of salvation to all, the obligation of
the Universal Church to make known the Gospel throughout the
world, and the renunciation of coercion, persecution and
intolerance in matters of religion. MISSION
AND WITNESS Accordingly, this Church
accepts the obligation to witness to the truth of the Gospel and
to serve men in the name of Christ. with regard alike to their
spiritual and material welfare, both in the homeland and
overseas.
©
United Free Church of Scotland 2000 |