Talk:Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)
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[edit] Disputed Statistics 1
"The Free Church of Scotland endured a major division in 1900 and and a minor division in 2000."
In fact, the proportion of ministers adhering to the minority was much GREATER in 2000 than in 1900.
Fair point
[edit] Editorial Bias 1
"Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) represents a body which was involved on the minority side in this second schism. "
The term "schism" is, when used in an ecclesiastical sense, emotive, as "schism" is deemed a sin while "division" is neutral.
Reference to dicitonary.com makes no reference to sin being a part of a schism. Schism is a descriptive word. It is defined as follows:
1. division or disunion, esp. into mutually opposed parties. 2. the parties so formed. 3. Ecclesiastical. a. a formal division within, or separation from, a church or religious body over some doctrinal difference. b. the state of a sect or body formed by such division. c. the offense of causing or seeking to cause such a division.
"Over a period from the late 1980s to 2000 there was a small number " The number was considerable
The ultimate percentage who left the Free Church of Scotland was 8%. 8% is bigger than 7%, but notwithstanding 92% remained loyal to the Free Church cause. In this context 8% is a small number.
"both within and outwith the Free Church of Scotland had regard to gossip"
"gossip" is emotive. The term "reports" would be neutral
Again dictionary.com provides a number of definitions of Gossip, which includes the verb - to talk idly, esp. about the affairs of others; go about tattling. This acturately summarises the position.
"to the manner in which allegations, both moral and spiritual, against a Minister of the Gospel."
Misleading -- the principal function of the individual concerned was a theological professor in the Free Church College.
No explanation is given of why this statement is misleading. Professors of the Free Church college are ordained ministers of Free Church of Scotland. They present what they understand to be the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"In January 2000 more than twenty ministers(many of whom were retired)"
It is true that many of the ministers were retired, but here it is not germane to the issue. There is no indication that the retired men made up a greater proportion of those in the minority than those among the majority. It appears to be used here to denigrate the minority.
The statement is accurate, as confirmed by the objector. "who had expressed disquiet, refused to adhere to their ordination vows to accept a decision of the General Assembly"
Biased point of view -- their ordination vows bound them only to accept decisions of General Assembly made in accordance with the constitution of the Church which the decisions in question were not.
Ordination vows are taken by all office bearers in the Free Church of Scotland to adhere to the decisions of the Church courts, though through conscience they may dissent. Reference: Free Church Practice aka The blue book
"Disregarding Scriptural principles, they sought to sue brothers in Christ in the Scottish Courts."
The majority had first taken action against one of the minority ministers in Inverness Sheriff Court. The majority have since taken action against Free Church Continuing office-bearers in the Court of Session (8th March 2007).
The objector accepts that the statement is correct, and offers no criticism of the accuracy.
[edit] Disputed Statistics 2
"They are less than 20% of the ministerial strength of the pre-2000 Free Church of Scotland "
This is out of accordance with the figures in the Yearbook of the Free Church of Scotland and the Yearbook of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), both of which list the ministers of each denomination for independent verification. They show the minority to be OVER 20% of the pre-2000 Free Church of Scotland.
The objection is meaningless, and fails to compare like with like.
[edit] Missing Information
"The denomination has been refused full membership of the International Conference of Reformed Churches due to their court action."
This is correct. But the ICRC have still to consider their response to legal action by the larger body against the smaller. Appin 20:14, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
The objector accepts that the statement is correct.
