Acts of the General Assembly
Acts of the General Assembly are formal decisions which become part of Church law and help govern the life, structure and work of the Church of Scotland.
This section provides access to legislative Acts from 1931 onwards, with newer Acts updated following the end of each General Assembly in May.
Legislative Acts: 1931 to 2026
- All Acts Of The General Assembly 1931 To 2026
- 2026 Act 4: Selection & Training for National Ministry of Word and Sacrament *Applies to Candidates accepted from 1 9 26
- 2025 Act 16: Safeguarding Act
- 2025 Act 11: Call, Election & Appointment of Ministers of Word & Sacrament Act
- 2025 Act 10: Admission & Readmission of Ministers Act
- 2025 Act 04: Communion Rolls & Adherents’ Rolls Act
- 2025 Act 01 Presbytery Review Act
- 2024 Act 5: The Church of Scotland General Trustees (Properties, Funds and Endowments) Act
- 2023 Act 6: Church Courts Act
- 2023 Act 3: Ministries for Deaf Congregations Act
- 2022 Act 6: Solemnisation of Same Sex Marriages Act
- 2021 Act 8: Presbytery Mission Plan Act
- 2019 Act 6: Income Protection and Ill Health Act
- 2019 Act 5: Transfer between Ministries Act
- 2019 Act 1: Discipline Act
- 2018 Act 2: Parish Ministry Act
- 2018 Act 1: Ordination of Ministers of Word and Sacrament and Deacons Act
- 2017 Act 2: Registration of Ministries Act
- 2016 Act 2: The International Presbytery Act
- 2015 Act 5: Presbytery Mission Initiatives
- 2015 Act 1: Ministers and Deacons in Same Sex Civil Partnerships and Same Sex Marriages Act
- 2014 Act 6: Alternative Dispute Resolution Processes
- 2014 Act 1: Appeals Act
- 2012 Act 11: Local Ecumenical Partnerships
- 2012 Act 10: Co-operation among Presbyteries
- 2011 Act 9: Ordained Local Ministry Act
- 2010 Act 8: Deacons Act
- 2010 Act 5: Declaratory Act anent the Third Article Declaratory of the Constitution of the Church of Scotland in Matters Spiritual
- 2007 Act 6: Ministries Appeal Panel
- 2004 Act 6: Kirk Session Meetings
- 2004 Act 5: Intimation of Appeals Act
- 2004 Act 10: Selection And Training For Full Time Ministry Act *applies To Candidates Accepted For Training Before 1 9 26
- 2003 Act 13 : Auxiliary Ministry (from 1 January 2018)
- 2002 Act 6: Co-operation between Presbyteries
- 2001 Act 5: Presbytery Assessors Act
- 2001 Act 4: Ministers & Deacons in Public Office Act (from 1 January 2018)
- 2000 Act 5: Sacraments Consolidating Act
- 1999 Act 4: Congregational Vows at Induction Act
- 1998 Act 9: National Lottery Act
- 1997 Act 6: Commission of Assembly Act
- 1996 Act 12: Vows of Church Membership
- 1994 Act 3: Congregational meetings - accounts
- 1994 Act 2: Model Deeds of Constitution
- 1992 Act 17: Readership Act
- 1989 Act 5: Church finance
- 1988 Act 1: Congregations in unsatisfactory state
- 1986 Act 5: Westminster Confession - declaratory act
- 1979 Act 8: Presbytery of Jerusalem
- 1978 Act 3: Proclamation of banns
- 1977 Act 1: Recognition of Marriage Services Act
- 1970 Act 1: Women readers
- 1968 Act 25: Admission of women to ministry
- 1966 Act 28: Admission of women to eldership
- 1964 Act 19: Congregational constitutions
- 1959 Act 27: Ministers and the civil power
- 1959 Act 26: Remarriage of divorced persons
- 1952 Act 8: Kirk Sessions in units of HM Forces
- 1935 Act 8: Office of Deacon
- 1933 Act 26: Proceeds of sale
- 1932 Act 18: Congregational meetings
- 1932 Act 10: Election and Admission of Elders and Deacons
- 1931 Act 20: Death of a minister
- 1931 Act 16: Precentor or organist