Other ways to serve

Thank you for thinking about serving on an Assembly Commission, Council or Committee. We are keen for more people to serve, and trust that the Lord will lead you as you consider this.

General Information

Commissions, Councils and Committees meet 2 or 3 times each year. Service is for a 4-year period which can be renewed for one more 4-year period. You can withdraw at any time. The next appointments to Commissions, etc will be made by the Assembly in June. It is unlikely that everyone who expresses an interest now will be appointed at that time, as appointments are made as vacancies arise. Local ministers and Clerks of Presbyteries will be asked to approve names received.

Information on Assembly Commissions, Councils and Committees

Linkage Commission (LC)

LC is made up only of ministers and elders. LC serves the Church through:

• Determining the provision of ordained ministry in congregations
• Approving additional pastoral personnel and auxiliary ministry posts
• Considering church architecture issues and regulation of manses
• Setting stipends, ministerial allowances and fees

The General Council (GC)

GC is made up of ministers, elders and church members. GC has an overview of the Church’s work between Assemblies. Its areas of responsibility include: 

• Ordering Assembly Business
• Oversight of Finances
• Overseeing the Safeguarding procedures of the Church
• United Appeal
• Doctrine
• Communication within and beyond the Church
• Property
• Management of Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Annual Statistics

Council for Public Affairs (CPA)

CPA identifies:

• Current issues which the Church needs to address, helps to develop its thinking in these areas, and to communicate the Assembly’s views in the public square, especially in the areas of public policy including education, youth, children’s, social and ethical issues.
• Develops relationships with the Westminster and Dublin Governments and Parliaments, and the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, making representations to them on behalf of the Church and responding to consultations from them.
• Develops relationships with civic society, provides nominations to education and other state bodies where the Church is a stakeholder, and works with the press and media office to ensure the Church’s view is heard in the public square.

Council for Training in Ministry (CTM)

CTM oversees:

• Selection and training of ministry students, deaconesses, accredited preachers and auxiliary ministers.
• Ongoing development of ministers, and pastoral care for them and their families.
• Reception of ministers from other Churches into PCI.
• Provision of a conciliation service.

Council for Congregational Life and Witness (CCLW)

CCLW seeks to support the on-going life, mission and witness of congregations in their work with all age groups, through casting vision; assisting in development; offering training; providing and signposting models of good practice and resourcing in key areas including: 

• Worship
• Discipleship, nurture and teaching
• Pastoral care
• Evangelism and outreach in the community, including social outreach
• Co-operative working with others
• Involvement in global mission
• Leadership, including elder training 

The Council also takes specific responsibility for ensuring the strategic development within the PCI of:

• Youth and children’s ministry
• Presbyterian Women and ministry among women generally
• Young adults’ ministry
• Support for the family, marriage and counselling service

CCLW also works to encourage and resource congregations in:

• Building supportive links with local schools
• Supporting Christians in the workplace
• Being proactive in the work of good relations
   

Council for Mission in Ireland (CMI)

CMI deals with:

• Strategic priorities in all-age mission in Ireland
• New church development and church planting
• Home and Irish Mission Deaconesses
• Chaplaincy service in the Forces, Hospitals, Hospices and Prisons
• Chaplaincy service in Universities and Colleges
• Special Projects, including International Meeting Point and South Belfast Friendship House

Council for Global Mission (CGM)

CGM’s areas of responsibility include:

• Strategy for global outreach
• Leadership Development
• Issues of global concern including world development
• Partner church relations
• Call and care of global mission workers
• Managing and financing global mission

Council for Social Witness (CSW)

CSW deals with areas such as:

• Older people and disability services, including residential, nursing, day and respite care, supported housing and care in the community
• Criminal Justice, including the management and professional oversight of Thompson House
• Substance Abuse, including the management and professional oversight of Carlisle House and Gray's Court
• Supporting the ministry of the Kinghan Church (hearing impaired and deaf people)