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INTRODUCTION
The General Assembly met in Edinburgh from 19 to 25 May, with the Rt Revd Susan Brown BD DipMin, Chaplain in Ordinary and Minister of Dornoch in the Presbytery of Sutherland, installed as Moderator. Her appointment as Moderator fell on the fiftieth anniversary of Act XXV 1968 permitting the ordination of women to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. This year's Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly was the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry.
Four new Acts of Assembly were passed: the Virtual Attendance at Meetings Act (Act VI 2018), the Parish Ministry Act (Act II 2018), the Ordination of Ministers of Word and Sacrament and Deacons Act (Act I 2018) and the Safeguarding Act (Act XVI 2018). A few legal highlights are also included in what follows.
LEGAL QUESTIONS COMMITTEE
An overture for a new Discipline Act relating to ministries and congregational office-bearers, which replaces four previous Acts, was sent down to presbyteries under the Barrier Act 1697.
An additional motion was included for the debate on conducting same-sex marriages, asking the Assembly to instruct the preparation of legislation for the 2020 Assembly which would only permit individuals, on application, to conduct same-sex marriages and to seek to provide protections for those who would refuse to take part. An early amendment was approved which insisted that an Act be brought forward only if the Legal Questions Committee felt that the legal...