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MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND:

Ministry in the Church of Scotland is a varied and rewarding, if at times stressful calling. The Minister is mainly involved in leading Worship in Word and Sacrament, of the Congregation that he or she is called to. Women have been admitted to ordination to the ministry of word and sacrament since 1968 and have been serving in the Church of Scotland since the 1968. Other ministerial duties involve the conduct of Weddings, Funerals, Baptism, Enquirer's Classes. Chaplaincies to Local Hospitals and Schools, Committees at Presbytery and National Level as well as Moderating the Kirk Session and Chairing the Congregational Board, there are other models of Constitution.

Prior to the Reformation the Minister would have been involved in 7 Sacraments; Baptism, Confirmation, The Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders and Matrimony. This was questioned after the Reformation and in Scotland in 1560 the Mass was abolished as well as the Jurisdiction and Authority of the Pope. In sections 21/23 of the Scots Confession - drawn up by John Knox - (You can read it on the resources page) - the Theology was outlined for Two Sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The main reason being that both were held to have been instituted by Jesus Christ.

The Reformers took a "High View" of the Sacraments because they were instituted by Jesus Christ. "By Baptism we are ingrafted into Christ . . . and in the Supper, rightly used, Christ Jesus is so joined with us that He becomes the very nourishment and food of our souls . . ." all this comes true by Faith. The Church of Scotland - in the Reformed Tradition - holds to this position to this day and Ministers - and others - are permitted to celebrate the Sacraments. (See Act iv 1975 in Cox for a list - This book is out of print and the current book on the Law of the Church of Scotland is "The Constitution and Laws of the Church of Scotland - Edited by Rev J L Weatherhead. Published by the Board of Practice and Procedure. ISBN 0 86153 246 5.

One of the most enjoyable parts of a ministers work is to be involved in the Baptism of infants and adults who may not have been baptised as a child. The following text relates the the current practice in the Church of Scotland.

BAPTISM
The administration of Baptism to infants is governed by Act V 2000 as amended by Act IX 2003. Further detailed information may be found in a document which is a Statement and Exposition of the Doctrine of Baptism. The page reference is 13/8 in the published volume of Reports to the General Assembly of 2003. This is available from The Church of Scotland Website

The Act itself is as follows:
Baptism signifies the action and love of God in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, and is a seal upon the gift of grace and the response of faith.

Baptism shall be administered in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, with water, by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion.

Baptism shall be administered to a person only once.

Baptism may be administered to a person upon profession of faith.

The minister and Kirk Session shall judge whether the person is of sufficient maturity to make personal profession of faith, where necessary in consultation with the parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

Baptism may be administered only after the person has received such instruction in its meaning as the minister and Kirk Session consider necessary, according to such basis of instruction as may be authorised by the General Assembly.

In cases of uncertainty as to whether a person has been baptised or validly baptised, baptism shall be administered conditionally.

Baptism may be administered to a person with learning difficulties who makes an appropriate profession of faith, where the minister and Kirk Session are satisfied that the person shall be nurtured within the life and worship of the Church.

Baptism may be administered to a child:

where at least one parent, or other family member (with parental consent), having been baptised and being on the communion roll of the congregation, will undertake the Christian upbringing of the child;

where at least one parent, or other family member (with parental consent), having been baptised but not on the communion roll of the congregation, satisfies the minister and Kirk Session that he or she is an adherent of the congregation and will undertake the Christian upbringing of the child;

where at least one parent, or other family member (with parental consent), having been baptised, professes the Christian faith, undertakes to ensure that the child grows up in the life and worship of the Church and expresses the desire to seek admission to the communion roll of the congregation;

where the child is under legal guardianship, and the minister and Kirk Session are satisfied that the child shall be nurtured within the life and worship of the congregation;

and, in each of the above cases, only after the parent(s), or other family member, has received such instruction in its meaning as the minister and Kirk Session consider necessary, according to such basis of instruction as may be authorised by the General Assembly.

Baptism shall normally be administered during the public worship of the congregation in which the person makes profession of faith, or of which the parent or other family member is on the communion roll, or is an adherent. In exceptional circumstances, baptism may be administered elsewhere (e.g. at home or in hospital). Further, a minister may administer baptism to a person resident outwith the minister's parish, and who is not otherwise connected with the congregation, only with the consent of the minister of the parish in which the person would normally reside, or of the Presbytery.

In all cases, an entry shall be made in the Kirk Session's Baptismal Register and a Certificate of Baptism given by the minister. Where baptism is administered in a chaplaincy context, it shall be recorded in the Baptismal Register there, and, where possible, reported to the minister of the parish in which the person resides.

Baptism shall normally be administered by an ordained minister. In situations of emergency, a minister may, exceptionally, notwithstanding the preceding provisions of the Act, respond to a request for baptism in accordance with his or her pastoral judgement, and baptism may be validly administered by a person who is not ordained, always providing that it is administered in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, with water.

In every occurrence of the latter case, of which a minister or chaplain becomes aware, an entry shall be made in the appropriate Baptismal Register and where possible reported to the Clerk of the Presbytery within which the baptism was administered.

Each Presbytery shall form, or designate, a committee to which reference may be made in cases where there is a dispute as to the interpretation of this Act. Without the consent of the Presbytery, no minister may administer baptism in a case where to his or her knowledge another minister has declined to do so.

The Church of Scotland, as part of the Universal Church, affirms the validity of the sacrament of baptism administered in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, with water, in accordance with the discipline of other members of the Universal Church.

MARRIAGE
History
Prior to 1939, every marriage in Scotland fell into one or other of two classes: regular or irregular. The former was marriage by a minister of religion after due notice of intention had been given; the latter could be effected in one of three ways:
(A) declaration de presenti,
(b) by promise subsequente copula,
(c) by co-habitation with habit and repute.

The Marriage (Scotland) Act of 1939 put an end to (1) and (2) and provided for a new classification of marriage as either religious or civil. Marriage by co-habitation with habit and repute was abolished by the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006.

The law of marriage as it was thus established in 1939 had two important limitations to the celebration of marriage: (a) certain preliminaries had to be observed; and (b) in respect of religious marriage, the service had to be conducted according to the forms of either the Christian or the Jewish faith.

THE MARRIAGE (SCOTLAND) ACT 1977
These two conditions were radically altered by the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977.

Since 1 January 1978, in conformity with the demands of a multi-racial society, the benefits of religious marriage have been extended to adherents of other faiths, the only requirements being the observance of monogamy and the satisfaction of the authorities with the forms of the vows imposed.

Since 1978, the calling of banns has also been discontinued. The couple themselves must each complete a Marriage Notice form and return this to the District Registrar for the area in which they are to be married, irrespective of where they live, at least fifteen days before the ceremony is due to take place. The form details the documents which require to be produced with it.

If everything is in order, the District Registrar will issue, not more than seven days before the date of the ceremony, a Marriage Schedule. This must be in the hands of the minister officiating at the marriage ceremony before the service begins. Under no circumstances must the minister deviate from this rule. To do so is an offence under the Act. Ministers should note the advice given by the Procurator of the Church in 1962, that they should not officiate at any marriage until at least one day after the 16th birthday of the younger party.

THE MARRIAGE (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002
Although there have never been any limitations as to the place where a religious marriage can be celebrated, civil marriage originally could take place only in the Office of a Registrar. The Marriage (Scotland) Act 2002 permits the solemnisation of civil marriages at places approved by Local Authorities. Regulations have been made to specify the kinds of place which may be `approved' with a view to ensuring that the places approved will not compromise the solemnity and dignity of civil marriage and will have no recent or continuing connection with any religion so as to undermine the distinction between religious and civil ceremonies.

PROCLAMATION OF BANNS
Proclamation of banns is no longer required in Scotland; but, in the Church of England, marriage is governed by the provisions of the Marriage Act 1949, which requires that the parties' intention to marry has to have been proclaimed and which provides that in the case of a party residing in Scotland a Certificate of Proclamation given according to the law or custom prevailing in Scotland shall be sufficient for the purpose. In the event that a minister is asked to call banns for a person resident within the registration district where his or her church is situated, the proclamation needs only to be made on one Sunday if the parties are known to the minister. If they are not, it should be made on two Sundays. In all cases, the Minister should, of course, have no reason to believe that there is any impediment to the marriage.

There is a form available on the Church of Scotland Website and for more information @ The Church of Scotland Website

MARRIAGE OF FOREIGNERS
Marriages in Scotland of foreigners, or of foreigners with British subjects, are, if they satisfy the requirements of Scots Law, valid within the United Kingdom and the various British overseas territories; but they will not necessarily be valid in the country to which the foreigner belongs. This will be so only if the requirements of the law of his or her country have also been complied with. It is therefore most important that, before the marriage, steps should be taken to obtain from the Consul, or other diplomatic representative of the country concerned, a satisfactory assurance that the marriage will be accepted as valid in the country concerned.

REMARRIAGE OF DIVORCED PERSONS
By virtue of Act XXVI 1959, a minister of the Church of Scotland may lawfully solemnise the marriage of a person whose former marriage has been dissolved by divorce and whose former spouse is still alive. The minister, however, must carefully adhere to the requirements of the Act which, as slightly altered in 1985, are briefly as follows:
A) The minister should not accede as a matter of routine to a request to solemnise such a marriage. To enable a decision to be made, he or she should take all reasonable steps to obtain relevant information, which should normally include the following:

Adequate information concerning the life and character of the parties. The Act enjoins the greatest caution in cases where no pastoral relationship exists between the minister and either or both of the parties concerned.

The grounds and circumstances of the divorce case.

Facts bearing upon the future well-being of any children concerned.

Whether any other minister has declined to solemnise the proposed marriage.

The denomination to which the parties belong. The Act enjoins that special care should be taken where one or more parties belong to a denomination whose discipline in this matter may differ from that of the Church of Scotland.

B) The minister should consider whether there is danger of scandal arising if he or she should solemnise the remarriage, at the same time taking into careful consideration before refusing to do so the moral and spiritual effect of a refusal on the parties concerned.

C) As a determinative factor, the minister should do all he or she can to be assured that there has been sincere repentance where guilt has existed on the part of any divorced person seeking remarriage. He or she should also give instruction, where needed, in the nature and requirements of a Christian marriage.

D) A minister is not required to solemnise a remarriage against his or her conscience. Every Presbytery is required to appoint certain individuals with one of whom ministers in doubt as to the correct course of action may consult if they so desire. The final decision, however, rests with the minister who has been asked to officiate.

for further information on the Code of conduct of Marriage visit The Church of Scotland Website

THE LORD'S SUPPER
The Lord's Supper or Communion (Eucharist) in the Church of Scotland is usually celebrated Four times a year, but often Congregations will have smaller communions on a monthly basis or set informal communions, decided by the Kirk Session in agreement with the Minister.

An further important part of the Ministers role is to prepare people to confirm the vows taken on their behalf at Baptism, so leading to their acceptance into the Church and full communion.

The Communion is dispensed by the Minister and he is assisted by the Kirk Session. The Kirk Session determines the number of times that Communion is to be held as well as the time and season.

The Communion Table in the Church of Scotland is open to all who Love the Lord and an invitation to that effect is usually given prior to a Communion Service. Indeed the act that affirms Children at Communion states this. "the Lord's Table is open to any baptised person who Loves the Lord and responds in faith to the invitation to "Take, eat".

In some Congregations the Common Cup is still used, usually with Port wine, while in the majority of Congregation individual glasses and unfermented wine are used. The use of suitable wine is left to the conscience and judgement of each Minister.

There is permissive legislation within the Church of Scotland which permits the participation of Children at Communion. This is at the discretion of the Kirk Session, where they are satisfied that baptised children are being nurtured within the life and worship of the Church and love the Lord and respond in faith to the invitation, "Take, eat. There is a pastoral responsibility of oversight of such children in conjunction with the parents and the Minister.

CONDUCT OF FUNERALS - WILLS - VACANCY PROCEDURES
Further information on these topics can be found in the year book or @ The Church of Scotland Website