The General Assembly
2008


Real time tracker postings archive: Session IV
Saturday 16 May

9.30am
The Assembly was constituted in prayer.

9.50am
The minutes from sessions one to three were approved. 

9.55am
Very Rev John Cairns asked for the Retiring Moderator's speech from Thursday to be made available. 

9.58am
Rev Angus Morrison, convener, presented the report of the Mission and Discipleship Council. 

10.15am
Mr Chris Hoskins conveyed thanks to the Council on behalf of a school in Malawi. 

10.17am
Rev David Cameron commended the Future Focus resource to the Assembly. 

10.21am
Sections 1 - 7 of the deliverance were agreed by the Assembly. 

10.22am
Mr Jack Stuart moved an addendum to add a new section 8 and renumber: 
Congratulate the Council on its work to promote Gaelic in the Church and instruct the Council, in collaboration with the Ministries Council, to develop a strategy for encouraging the use of the Scots language in the Kirk. 

10.28am
The Assembly voted against the addendum. 

10.32am
Very Rev John Cairns asked if published version of the mission statement is correct. 

10.33am
Sections 8 to 17 of the deliverance were agreed by the Assembly. 

10.35am
Rev Sarah Ross asked if the Rural Group could meet with local parishes. 

10.36am
Sections 18 to 30 of the deliverance were agreed by the Assembly. 

10.39am
Rev Janet Mathieson asked about the new children's ministry network, and who was invited to join the group. 

10.45am
Rev Catherine Collins asked about the cost of the use of Godly Play for young people. 

10.46am
Rev Colin Hope marked appreciation of the Starters for Sunday resources. 

10.49am
A video about the Childrens' Assembly was shown. 

10.55am
Rev Bill Hewitt recognised the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and asked him to address the Assembly. 

10.56am
The Prime Minister talked about his childhood experiences, when his father was a minister, and the contribution of the Church of Scotland to social events and issues here and abroad. He expressed his belief in opportunities for everyone. He highlighted the shared moral views of all the world's religions, and the importance of communication across borders through technology in creating a global community and movement which can fight for justice everywhere.

11.13am
The Moderator thanked the Prime Minister for his address. 

11.18am
The Assembly resumed its business. Representatives of the Childrens' Assembly performed a song, and asked questions about the involvement of children in the Church. 

11.32am
Rev Janet Mathieson moved an addendum to add a new section 34:
Instruct the Council to produce materials to support systematic and continuing Christian Education within church children's groups, including Sunday schools, and to take the necessary steps to reorder current priorities within children's work to achieve this. 

Mr Shields proposed these amendments to the addendum:
- 'to consider the need for material' This was agreed.
- remove 'to take' . This was agreed. 
Miss Hannah Pickles asked that Sunday Schools to be changed to 'young church'. This was agreed.

11.50am
The Assembly voted for the addendum from Rev Mathieson as amended. 

11.51am
Rev Gordon Savage asked if materials would be available about joining the Church. 

11.53am
Rev Hugh Conkey asked for clarification on how Kirk Sessions should participate in the Education strategy. 

11.54am
Mr Chris Hoskins moved an amendment to add a new section 38 regarding Youth representatives. This was agreed. 

11.59am 
Sections 31 to 40 of the deliverance were agreed. 

12.05pm
Professor John Hume reported on Church Art and Architecture. The Moderator thanked him. 

12.07pm
Mr George Penrose, chairman, presented the report of the Church Hymnary Trustees. 

12.11pm
Rev Bryan Kerr asked about having material in a powerpoint format that could be used in worship. 

12.13pm
Rev Alastair Gray asked about having a midifile format for music, and having material from local presbytery choirs. 

12.16pm
Rev Graeme Muckart asked about bringing together the different versions of hymnbooks. 

12.18pm
Sections 41 - 44 of the deliverance were agreed. 

12.22pm
The Assembly agreed the deliverance as a whole. 

12.23pm
The Assembly was adjourned until Monday at 9.30am.