Certain war appointit to penn the heids concerning the jurisdictione of the Kirk, and to present the same to the Assemblie.
Anent the jurisdiction of Bishops in their ecclesiasticall functione; the Kirk presently assemblit hes concludit, that the same shall not exceed the jurisdiction of superintendants, whilk heretofore they have had and presently hes, and that they shall be subject to the discipline of the Generall Assemblie, as members thereof, as the superintendants hes been heretofore in all sorts.
That no Superintendants nor Commissioners for kirks planting, haue nor shall giue collatione of benefices, nor admitt ministers, without the assistance of thrie of their qualified ministers of their province, who also shall give their testimonialls to the said Superintendant commissioners, subscryvit with their hands in signe of their consent thereto; and in like manner, that no Bischops giue collatione of any benefice within the bounds of Superintendants within his diocie, without their consent and testimonialls, subscryved with their hands; and that Bischops, within their awne dioces, visite be themselues where no superintendants are, giue no collatione ordinare upon benefices, without consent of three weell qualified ministers, as said is, of superintendants and commissioners to plant kirks.
Sessio 5.
Commissioners war appointit to convein with my Lord Regent’s Grace and Lords of Secret Councill, to conferr and reason upon the heads concerning the policie and jurisdictione of the Kirk, and sic uther heads and articles as shall be proponit be his Grace and Councill to them.
Sessio 7.
As concerning the appointing of syndrie kirks to ane minister; to the end the matter may be plainer, and the mynde of the Kirk knawne to all men herein, the Kirk hes declarit, that howbeit syndrie kirks be appointit to ane man, yet shall the minister make his residence at ane kirk, qwhilk shall be properly appointit to his charge, and he shall be callit principallie the minister of that kirk; and as concerning the rest of the kirks to the qwhilk he is nominat, he shall haue the oversicht and help therein, in sic sort as the Bischop, Superintendant, and Commissioner shall think expedient, and as occasion shall serve from his awne principall charge: The qwhilk on no wayes he may neglect; and this order only to remane qwhill God of his mercie shall thrust out moe labourers unto his harvest.
[THIRTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly, halden and begun at Edinburgh the 7th of August 1574: In the whilk war present, Barrones, Bischops, Superintendants, Commissioners to plant Kirks, Commissioners of Provinces, Townes, Kirks, Universities, and Ministers. Johne Dunkansone, Moderator.