The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) will hold a second Special General Assembly today, 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.
Ministers and a representative elder from each of the all-Ireland denomination’s 500-plus congregations are entitled to attend today’s meeting, which will meet in Assembly in Assembly Buildings, central Belfast. Members of Assembly will receive an update 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.
Speaking about the business before the meeting, the Convener of PCI’s General Council, Very Rev Dr David Bruce, said, “As we move forward from November’s announcement of our central safeguarding failures, and decisions taken at our December Special General Assembly, it is important that we update the Church on what has been done in the intervening weeks, and this will be part of my report. I will also update Members of Assembly with regards to progress on specific areas of work that the General Council has been asked to undertake, the majority of which will be reported to June’s General Assembly.
“Alongside the update on progress, there are two principal items of business before today’s meeting. When the Moderator, Dr Murray, called this Special Assembly he said that it would consider the ceremonial and reporting aspects of our General Assembly in June and the ‘urgent matter of approving the appointment process of a new Clerk of the General Assembly’, and these will be discussed.
“While there won’t be, at this stage, items of business regarding safeguarding, or other reports from the various task groups established by December’s Special Assembly, the business before us today is more than simple ‘housekeeping’. The role of Clerk of the General Assembly, for example, is an historic position within our denomination, to which we are proposing, significant changes.
“In all that we do, we remain deeply mindful of those who have been hurt or harmed as a result of our failings. As I said at December’s Special Assembly, our starting point was and remains a profound concern for those who have been harmed, or impacted by our institutional failings, which I described as “shameful”. It is also important that we also recognise during our discussions the ongoing criminal investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.”
Initial time table
The Moderator, Dr Murray, will open the Special General Assembly, God willing, at 11 am and will lead a time of worship. Stated business of the day will begin at 12 noon and after a break for lunch will recommence at 2pm. You can find more details, including the reports and resolutions that will be discussed, by clicking here.
