The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has agreed today to establish a new three-person senior leadership team, which will include the appointment of a new Clerk of the General Assembly with revised responsibilities, the Deputy Clerk, and the creation of a new post - Director of Operations.
The decision was taken by the all-Ireland denomination’s Special General Assembly, which met today (18 February), as part of the ongoing process of addressing a range of issues and related matters stemming from failings in the central administration of its safeguarding processes, which the Church announced in November of last year.
In his speech proposing the move, which centred around the appointment of a new Clerk of the General Assembly, the Convener of PCI’s General Council, Very Rev Dr David Bruce, said, “Central to these proposals is the creation of a Senior Leadership Team of three people. A Director of Operations will be responsible for the operational side of running the charity.
Dr Bruce continued,
“This role will include many of the duties of the current Financial Secretary, along with some of the duties associated with the former role of General Secretary. The General Council considers the use of the term ‘General Secretary’ in our governance to be obsolete and that it be set aside.”
Traditionally, previous Clerks of the General Assembly had also been General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The proposal to the Special Assembly also stated that the Clerk, Deputy Clerk and Director of Operations must be either an ordained teaching elder (i.e. a minister) or a ruling PCI elder (i.e. an elder in a congregation).
Dr Bruce added,
“As a Senior Leadership Team, the strong expectation will be that these three postholders work collaboratively along with clarified and intentionally implemented line management arrangements…These roles are executive positions ensuring the delivery of decisions made here. In management parlance, they don’t just do things right, they do the right things – and this is leadership.”
The proposal also said that Senior Leadership Team would be responsible to the General Assembly through the General Council and be line managed by the convener. It was also accepted that a co-convener of the General Council be appointed, who will be a ruling elder if the convener of the Council is a minister. Dr Bruce said that it was “envisaged that a regular pattern of (probably) monthly meetings will be needed, between the General Council Co-Conveners and the Senior Leadership Team through the year.”
Over 400 Ministers and representative elders from each of the Church’s 500-plus congregations attended today’s meeting in Assembly Buildings, central Belfast. It was opened by the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Right Reverend Dr Richard Murray in a service of worship.
Dr Murray preached on Psalm 46, which he called ‘a psalm for times of trouble and hope.’
“Clearly the psalmist was living through times of cataclysmic change and it’s good to remind ourselves that such times have always been faced by God’s people, to a greater or lesser extent. We in PCI are living through such a time when there’s been an ecclesiastical earthquake and when safeguarding has (quite rightly) been moved centre stage.”
Speaking of what had taken place, Dr Murray affirmed those
“who have faithfully and dutifully carried out their safeguarding duties, but others have failed us and, in their wake, we are acutely aware of people who have suffered and been left desolate…” Talking of Psalm 46, Dr Murray said that it would help the Church navigate such a time as this, pointing to verse one which says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Members of Assembly also received updates on safeguarding and progress regarding the General Council task groups that were set up as a result of decisions taken at December’s Special Assembly. They also agreed that the next meeting would be the annual meeting of the General Assembly, which would take place from 9-12 June, and other arrangements concerning the meeting.
General Council The General Council acts on behalf of the General Assembly between its meetings, as and when appropriate. It is the senior Council of the seven councils and commissions that undertake the work of the General Assembly. It co-ordinates the remit of the other Councils and nominations to them, orders the business for the General Assembly and in discussion with others prioritises the work of the General Assembly and Special Assemblies. The Clerk of the General Assembly acts as Secretary to the Council, which is usually chaired by the Moderator. The current convener is the Very Rev Dr David Bruce.
Special General Assembly (December 2025) Recruitment process for the post or posts of Clerk-Designate and General Secretary. A General Assembly resolution was passed on 18 December 2025 by the previous Special General Assembly: “That a General Council Task Group be established to revise the Appointment Process, Job Description and Personnel Specification for the post or posts of Clerk Designate of the General Assembly and General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and that the General Council bring a report on these matters to a Special meeting of the General Assembly on Tuesday 17 February or other date as called by the Moderator of the General Assembly, and that the Task Group comprise:
The Moderator of the General Assembly The Acting Clerk of the General Assembly The Deputy Clerk of the General Assembly Very Rev Dr David Bruce (Convener of the General Council) Rev Albin Rankin (Member of General Council) Mr Hugo Wilson (Convener of the Support Services Committee) Mrs Avril Heenan (General Assembly Structures and Resources Review Panel Rev David McCullagh (Clerk of Newry Presbytery) Rev Andrew Faulkner (Convener of the Council for Training in Ministry) Mrs Sarah Leung (Head of Human Resources)”.
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