The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) will come together next week in General Assembly, as it meets in central Belfast for its annual scheduled meeting having met twice since the close of the last year’s Assembly.
Opening on Tuesday 9 June and closing on Friday 12 June, as PCI’s principal decision-making body it brings together active ministers and an elder from each of PCI’s 500-plus congregations from across Ireland. Retired ministers and under 30 representatives - men and women from Aghadowey to Arklow, Cork to Coleraine, and many more places in between, will debate a range of church and public related subjects. This will also include safeguarding.
As Rev Dr David Allen, Acting Clerk of the General Assembly explained, it will be an important week for the Church, “Since the close of our last General Assembly in June 2025 we have seen extraordinary times in the life of our Church, times of our own making, which have led to this third meeting in 12 months, which I think is unprecedented.
"This of course includes the two special meetings of the General Assembly that the Moderator, Dr Murray, called over the Church’s failings in the central administration of our safeguarding processes, which we announced last November. In a statement that was read to congregations that month, I apologised to the Church saying that ‘these failures are inexcusable, and no excuse is being made for them.’ That will always remain the case, and seven months on a good part of the focus of year’s General Assembly will be taken up with developments around safeguarding and other related matters,.”
This year, PCI’s principal decision-making body will meet over four days and an evening, which is longer than usual. The reports on safeguarding are contained in the Report of the General Council, which this year is divided into six sections. These, and other reports contained in what is traditionally known as the ‘Blue Book’, and all information regarding proceedings can be found here on this website on the General Assembly Hub.
As PCI’s senior Council that can act on behalf of the General Assembly between its stated meetings, the General Council’s second report will be debated on the first day (Tuesday afternoon) and includes details of the work of the Safeguarding Development Committee. On Wednesday afternoon members will also have an opportunity to discus the report of the Statutory Investigations Advisory Task Group, and an interim report of the General Assembly Governance, Culture and Integrity Task Group, established by December’s Special Assembly.
The Acting Clerk continued, “As a Presbyterian church with a strong reformed tradition, we are also a democratic church, coming together to prayerfully debate matters and take decisions together. It will be an important time and there will be significant interest, so I would encourage all those who are entitled to attend to do so.
“I would also ask Presbyterians from across our denomination to pray of our deliberations and their outcomes, and if they can to follow proceedings on the livestream, or make use of the public gallery, where members of the public will also be made welcome, as will members of the press.
“Dr Murray will open the Assembly on Tuesday morning, which may actually constitute some kind of record, as this will be the fourth time that he would have done so as Moderator, and the fifth time he would have moderated an Assembly.”
On Wednesday afternoon, in front of invited civic guests, Dr Murray will also lead the Service of Installation for his successor, Rev Dr Richard Kerr, the minister of Templepatrick Presbyterian Church. He will then address the Assembly for the first time as Moderator and chair its remaining sessions, serving as PCI’s principal public representative for the next 12 months.
While there is an annual election for the Moderator, this year the Assembly will be asked to appoint Rev Jonathan Boyd, minister of Killyleagh Presbyterian Church in County Down as Clerk of the General Assembly. The 43-year-old father of four will be the 14th Clerk of since the establishment of PCI in 1840, should he be appointed. He will also be the team lead of the new Senior Leadership Team (SLT) that also comprises the Deputy Clerk, and the new position of Director of Operations.
The SLT was established in the wake of the safeguarding crisis by February’s Special General Assembly. The Clerk and Deputy Clerk will have primary responsibility for supporting and servicing the work of the commissions and councils of the Church, while the Director of Operations will have primary responsibility for supporting and servicing the work of the charity, including regulatory compliance, and safeguarding.
The Assembly will also be asked to appoint Dr Allen to the new post of Assistant Clerk, with specific responsibilities in connection with Reconfiguration of Ministry. The post is not part of the new SLT.
Aside from the business before members, Dr Allen said that, “It is also a time of worship and a time to listen to one another, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ who are coming from our partner churches and organisations from around the world.
“This year we will welcome colleagues from the Middle East, Spain, Hungary, Malawi, and Kenya, a number of whom will take part in Wednesday afternoon’s session known as ‘Listening to the Global Church.’ Over the last decade and more, this session, which is organised by the Council for Global Mission, has become a highlight of the Assembly. It provides an opportunity to hear what God, through the life and witness of the global church, might be saying to us here in Ireland. Our guests can also take part in any of our debates, should they wish to.
In conclusion, Dr Allen said, “Across the Assembly’s 8 sessions and 24 items of business, which take in the reports of our 12 Councils and Commissions, their task groups, committees, panels, and associated resolutions, it will be an important, but busy time. These four days will cover a range business from PCI’s mission at home and overseas, matters affecting the public square, and reform of our central structures and ministry, and of course, safeguarding. It is my prayer, however, that it will be a fruitful time, discussing matters prayerfully, seeking God humbly, and trusting that he will lead us, in his will and his ways.”
Getting to the General Assembly
While there are a number of car parks in the vicinity of Assembly Buildings, bus and rail services operate from the Belfast Grand Central terminus, a short walk from Assembly Buildings and Laganside Bus Station on Marlborough Street, which is a little further away. For timetables see www.translink.co.uk