At the same time that the Church of Scotland was meeting the Free Church of Scotland was also holding their General Assembly in Edinburgh across the street. 

The best analysis of the Assembly I have found is by the Rev. David Strain, a Free Church minister in London.  He has posted on his blog “Life Towards God” both his comments as well as the text of the moderator’s message urging greater ecumenical unity.  The moderator’s message is also available from the Free Church web site.

This assembly also receives the Lord High Commissioner, and Thursday morning HRH Prince Andrew addressed that body and they in turn assured him that they were still loyal subjects of the crown.

One of the noteworthy events of this GA was the exchange with the GA of the Church of Scotland.  On Wednesday, the Rev. William Brown, convener of the Church of Scotland Ecumenical Relations Committee was invited to address the Free Church GA.  The favor was returned on Friday when three members of the Free Church were welcomed by the Church of Scotland GA.  These included the Free Church GA Moderator Rev. John Ross and the convener of the Ecumenical Relations committee the Rev. Iver Martin.  The Rev. Martin addressed the Kirk GA.  There are articles about this exchange from both the Free Church and the Church of Scotland.  The two churches approved a Joint Statement which can be found in the report of the Ecumenical Relations Committee.  It is Appendix II beginning on page 20.  The statement looks at the Biblical and Confessional basis that they hold in common and then discusses the implications and applications of that for the two churches and their relationship, including a commitment to cooperate and a framework for discussion.