PCI’s Special General Assembly opens today

Speaking about the Special General Assembly, Dr Allen said,

“As we come together as a church family today, we find ourselves in a place of shame and humility as a result of our central safeguarding failings. Because of this, it will be a significant and humbling event.”

“The report of our General Council that will be discussed by the General Assembly, along with its resolutions to be voted on, states that our failings over a 13-year period, ‘has resulted in some people being harmed by actions and inactions in the name of the denomination, and some people being placed at unnecessary risk.’ It also states that ‘[t]his is a shameful position for part of the Church of Jesus Christ to be in.’

“As Dr Murray said in his letter to ministers announcing the General Assembly, it is important that we ‘come together as a family before God to grieve and lament for our failings. At the same time, we also want to be particularly mindful of those who have been harmed as a result of our central failings.’”

“This is why, as a Christian church, it is so important that we begin our General Assembly with worship and prayer before God. As the Moderator said in his letter, we will pray ‘for those who have been hurt by the failings that we have uncovered…[and pray] that God would have mercy upon us in the midst of this storm that has not only shocked us, but shaken and deeply humbled us…’ I believe this is the right posture and the right approach, as we then move into discussion around the practical and policy aspects of what we believe needs to be done to put things right.”

Dr Allen continued,

“In the business that will be before us in the afternoon, proposals will be brought to elevate significantly the position of safeguarding within PCI. This includes a proposal to establish a new Safeguarding Department, along with the effective resourcing of safeguarding centrally, and at an appropriate time, a full, independent external review of safeguarding in PCI.

“This will be in addition to the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland’s section 12 audit process, which is currently being conducted by an independent external assessor. The General Assembly will also be asked to establish a task group that will look at governance, culture and integrity.”

“The role of Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the possible separation of these roles, will be considered by Members of Assembly, as will the role of the incoming Moderator for 2026-2027 and the format of next year’s General Assembly. An update on recent engagement with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland will also form part of our proceedings.”

“I would echo our Moderator’s call for those entitled to attend to make today’s General Assembly a priority and to come to it prayerfully, so that we may seek the face of God together. In all our discussions, we also need to be mindful that PSNI’s criminal investigation, which we have welcomed, support, and will co-operate with fully, is ongoing and mustn’t be compromised by anything that a Member of Assembly might say.”