December - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

378The Free Presbyterian Magazinecome out of the Church of Rome and warn people against it. It seems equallyclear that Mr Macdonald and Mr MacIver do not greatly value the doctrineof Justification by faith, because, if they did, they would hardly share a platformwith a man who is proclaiming a different and false gospel. We believein putting a charitable construction on people’s actions where possible, butit is difficult to see this ecumenical service as anything but a demonstrationthat those participating have lost sight of the gospel. They urgently need torepent and to look to Christ. “If any man preach any other gospel unto youthan that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Gal 1:9). DWBSIreland’s Vatican EmbassyIreland has stunned the Vatican by announcing the closure of its embassythere. It is a symptom of the changing religious situation in Ireland, whereat one time the Roman Catholic Church had a stranglehold on public life.The country is becoming much more secular, as is evidenced by the reasongiven for the closure: the embassy “yields no economic return”.This decision is one which the United Kingdom would do well to copy.Our embassy to the Vatican yields neither economic or religious benefit; ratherit is dangerous for the nation to support a religious organisation’s pretensionsto be a nation state – pretensions which are shown to be entirely spurious bythe fact that its territory extends to less than a fifth of a square mile.Church InformationRetirement of Rev J A T van DorpAfter many years of faithful service in the Gisborne congregation in NewZealand, Rev Johannes van Dorp tendered his resignation, to the Australiaand New Zealand Presbytery, from the pastoral charge of the congregation.Mr van Dorp cited the burden of old age; he felt the time was opportune dueto the arrival of a new minister in Auckland. With sincere regret, but gratitudeto Mr van Dorp for his many years of faithful service, the Presbyteryaccepted his resignation, and wished him well in his retirement.Mr van Dorp has also retired as Clerk of Presbytery, a position he occupiedfor many years. Several members of the Presbytery acknowledged their indebtednessto Mr van Dorp for his diligent work as Clerk, and a motion tothat effect was placed on record.We wish Mr van Dorp and his wife the Lord’s blessing in their new homein Grafton, Australia, and trust that, as the Lord permits, he may be strengthenedto preach the glorious gospel of Christ.(Rev) G B Macdonald