Music to ears of Free Kirk modernisers

After two days of debate, the Free Church of Scotland overturned a century of tradition yesterday to allow music and song in its services.

About 200 ministers and elders voted by the narrowest of margins to allow some 100 congregations in Scotland and five in North America to use "instruments and other items of praise". Until now, only unaccompanied psalms have been allowed.

The vote - which went against the recommendations of the church's own board of trustees not to change existing practice - saw tangled but mostly good-natured argument on issues such as whether singing is sinful, the significance of harps in Heaven and detailed Biblical references. Other topics included football terrace chanting and the lyrics of Amazing Grace.

"The Times They Are a-Changing," said one minister, quoting modern bard Bob Dylan. But others insisted that Jesus and his disciples sang psalms unaccompanied.

"If it was good enough for him, then why is it not good enough for us?" said one minister.

The twists and turns at the sometimes impassioned plenary session of ministers and elders in Edinburgh - the first in more than 150 years - were reported in live updates on the church's website.

A church board of trustees had recommended maintaining the status quo, with traditionalists warning it could damage the unity of the church, which consists of more than 100 congregations in Scotland.

But an amendment by Edinburgh Minister Alex Macdonald to "allow instruments and other items of praise", in other words instruments and songs, was carried by a show of hands by 98 votes to 84. The amendment was for "liberty", according to one supporter, Rev Neil Macmillan.

"Our warrant for singing the name of Jesus is found in Philippians 2," he said. "We need to move forward in unity to make Christ known."

The haunting sound of psalm-singing has been a hallmark of the Free Church, which was formed when 450 ministers walked out the Church of Scotland in the 19th century demanding more local say over church appointments.

David Robertson, editor of the monthly publication Free Church's Record and the minister of St Peter's Free Church in Dundee, said the result would allow hymns or contemporary songs that are "in accordance with biblical teaching".

The previous rules had been in place since the 1900s.

"I think what really helped was that there were a couple of ministers from Lewis who spoke in favour of change, and one said that even if they didn't change, the rest of the church should be allowed to.

"It's up to local Kirk sessions who will do it. It's the elders who have to decide. But they now have permission to, whereas before they haven't."