When the members of that denomination
cannot worship in some of the churches ostensibly belonging to the
same denomination because of fundamental differences regarding the
nature of worship. I refer of course to the current situation in the
Free Church of Scotland. Much was made at the time of the vote on
worship last year about the preservation of unity in the face of
major differences, however the upshot is that some members now cannot
worship happily in all Free Churches. And surely that is the whole
point of a denomination – that a member can go to another church
in the same denomination knowing that their beliefs and style of
worship will be very similar to those in his home church. Since that
is no longer the case, would it not be better for the Free Church to
admit it and split amicably?
