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  • Writer's pictureDavid Gebbie

The Presbyterian’s Alphabet: B is for Barrier Act

Updated: Sep 27, 2020

The Barrier Act is the name given to an Act of the 1697 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Its full title is “Act IX, Act anent the Method of Passing Acts of Assembly of General Concern to the Church, and for Preventing of Innovations”. Either it or something similar is in force in all the Presbyterian denominations which come out of the Revolution Settlement Church.


It was preceded by similar Acts in 1639 and 1641, the gist of which was that before the General Assembly decides on a matter of general concern to the Church, the matter must be sent down to Synods and Presbyteries for their deliberation so that no innovation in doctrine, worship, or government may be practiced without both the consent of Presbyteries and the permission of the Assembly.


Under the Barrier Act, any proposed legislation deemed to be of such a general concern, or to require innovation in doctrine, worship, or government, must be sent down Presbyteries for their deliberation, the result of which they must send up to the next Assembly. Presbyteries must give either their approval or disapproval; a qualified approval is counted as disapproval. If a majority of Presbyteries approve the legislation, the General Assembly may then vote to enact it. The Assembly is not compelled to enact the legislation; the matter is to be freely debated, giving the commissioners from Presbyteries which did not approve the legislation, or gave qualified approval, opportunity to state their case.


If the legislation is amended, the process must be repeated.


The Barrier Act is not an enabling act, a method for the Church to change its constitution. Its primary function is to stop one vote in one General Assembly from making such a change. The question asked of the church is whether the proposed change is an application of the Scriptural principles expressed in the existing constitution and ethos of the denomination. Its secondary function is to preserve and promote unity and uniformity. It is essentially conservative.


It is a method, for example, to revise the practice of the Church by reapplying Scriptural principles as technology changes. Details of process which ensured equity in the days of the quill and the horse might not ensure equity in the days of the internet and aeroplane.


It might seem surprising that in a system which is caricatured as being very top-down, the General Assembly would enact such a process. It is not so surprising when it is remembered that Presbytery is the radical court of the church and that the members of the General Assembly take their seats by a commission from their Presbyteries.


The Barrier Act is a reminder that changes should be made with consideration and consultation.


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