PRES LY B B SED Y S V T M N IR E E E E R S D N I A S R S N A A L C H A U R E R N C E H G • • IN D IR E L A N GENERAL ASSEMBLY of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1999 ORDER OF BUSINESS Notes: Business commences at 9.30 a.m. each morning. Luncheon adjournment at 1.00 p.m. each day. The figures printed in brackets are page references to the Annual Reports. References to the Minutes of Assembly are given in full. NOTES ii MONDAY, JUNE 7 Within Church House 7.00 p.m.— Divine Service Constitution of Assembly Memorial Roll Election of Moderator TUESDAY, JUNE 8 Within May Street Church 9.30 a.m.— Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (Intermission 15 minutes) Within Church House 11.00 a.m.— 1. BUSINESS BOARD: Report and Resolutions (85-94). Arrangements Committee. 2. Memorial of Railway Street Kirk Session (94). 3. Reports of Synods and Presbyteries (76-84). (11.30) 4. Reception of Corresponding Members and Delegates. Church of Scotland: Right Rev. John B. Cairns (Moderator), Prof. Herbert A. Kerrigan Q.C., Rev. Scott J. Brown, R.N., Mrs. Ann McCarter. United Reformed Church: Mrs. Wilma Frew (Moderator), Rev. Peter Brain. Presbyterian Church of Wales: Rev. W. I. Cynwil Williams (Moderator). Church of Ireland: Rt. Rev. J. E. Moore, Dr. P. H. C. Trimble. Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. iii NOTES iv The Methodist Church in Ireland: Rev. Dr. Norman W. Taggart, Rev. Roy Cooper, Miss Jill McVitty, Mrs. Mollie Nesbitt. Presbyterian Church of E.A.: Rev. Patrick Rukenya Eglise Reformee de France: Irish Council of Churches: Dr. David Stevens. 5. UNION COMMISSION: Report and Resolutions (57-74). Personnel/Planning Committee 6. Overtures anent Pars. 128(1), 193, 274(5), Appendix 5A of the Code (74-75). 7. Committee on Memorial of Tyrone Presbytery: Report and Resolutions (278-285). Lapsed Business. 2.00 p.m.— 8. NOMINATION BOARD: Report and Resolutions (106-123). 9. BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS: Report and Resolutions (95-105). Communications Administration, Media, Public Worship, Church Architecture, Historical Society Committees. (3.30) Intermission (15 minutes). 10. BOARD OF EDUCATION: Report and Resolutions (216-229). Church Education, State Education, University Education Committees. 11. Committee on Memorial of Dublin & Munster Presbytery: Report and Resolutions (286-287). Lapsed Business. (6.30) Close of Business. Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. v NOTES vi WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9 9.30 a.m.— 12. Memorial of the Foyle Presbytery (55). 13. GENERAL BOARD: Report and Resolutions (5-42). Church and Government, Moderator’s Advisory, Forces’, Chaplains’, Doctrine, Peace and Peacemaking Committees. (10.45) Intermission (15 minutes). GENERAL BOARD (Continued). Overtures (Various) (42-46). Lapsed Business. 12.15 p.m.— Worship. 2.00 p.m.— N.B. The Alternative Method will be used for the presentation of items marked *. For details see the Report of the Business Board (p. 85 par. 4). 14.* BOARD OF SOCIAL WITNESS: Report and Resolutions (183-195). Alcohol and Drug Education, War Memorial Hostel, Kinghan Mission, Presbyterian Residential Trust, Social Issues and Resources Committees. 15.* YOUTH BOARD: Report and Resolutions (207- 215). Youth Events, Youth Training and Resources, Youth Home Mission, Youth Overseas, Youth Centres, Committees. (3.45) Intermission (15 minutes). Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. vii NOTES viii 16.* INTER-CHURCH RELATIONS BOARD: Report and Resolutions (124-141). Irish Church Relations, World Church Relations, World Development, Race Relations Committees. Lapsed Business. (6.30) Close of Business. Meeting of the General Synod of Ulster. 7.45 p.m.— Evening Rally. THURSDAY, JUNE 10 9.30 a.m.— 17. TRUSTEES: Report and Resolutions (274-276). 18. Appointment of Trustee (277). 19. COMMISSION ON TRUSTS: Report and Resolutions (240). 20. UNITED APPEAL BOARD: Report and Resolutions (257-262). (10.45) Intermission (15 minutes). 21. PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION: Report and Resolutions (177-182). 22. OVERSEAS BOARD: Report and Resolutions (142-166). Lapsed Business. 12.15 p.m.— Worship Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. ix NOTES x 2.00 p.m.— In Private 23. Committee on Reception of Ministers and Licentiates: Report and Resolutions (239). 24. Recognised Ministries Committee: Report and Resolutions (46-48). 25. Appeal of Mr. Clarke Scott and Mrs. Shirley Scott (55). 26. Appeal of Mr. Meredith Dunwoody (55). 27. JUDICIAL COMMISSION: Report and Resolutions (49-53). 28. Overtures on the Books anent Pars. 95(d), 163, 165(5) of the Code (53-54). 29. Overtures anent Pars 9, 30(1), 205(4) of the Code (54). 30. Overture anent Par. 132(4) of the Code (54-55). 31. AD HOC COMMISSION: Report and Resolutions (56). Intermission (15 minutes). In Public (4.00) 32. BOARD OF MINISTRY AND PENSIONS: Report and Resolutions (263-269). Central Ministry Fund, Committee on Retirements and Pensions, Retired Ministers’ House Fund. 33. Overture on the Books anent Par. 315(4) of the Code (269). 34. Overtures anent Pars. 221(2), 223, 321(3), 321(5), 321(6) of the Code (269-271). Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. xi NOTES xii Lapsed Business. (6.00) Adjournment. Meeting of Secession Synod at Adjournment. 7.00 p.m.— Lapsed Business, if any. FRIDAY, JUNE 11 9.30 a.m.— 35. HOME BOARD: Report and Resolutions (167- 176). Assignment, Home Mission, Church Extension. 36. SHANKILL ROAD MISSION COMMISSION: Report and Resolutions (272-273). (10.45) Intermission (15 minutes). 37. BOARD OF EVANGELISM AND CHRISTIAN TRAINING: Report and Resolutions (196-206). Evangelism, Irish Mission, Christian Training, Divine Healing, Marriage and Family Committees. 38. MOTIONS ON THE BOOKS (206). 39. BOARD OF STUDIES FOR THE MINISTRY: Report and Resolutions (230-239). Studies, College Management, Magee Fund Scheme, Students’ Bursary Fund Committees. Lapsed Business. (12.15) Worship. 2.00 p.m.— 40. BOARD OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION: Report and Resolutions (214-256). Finance and Staffing, Incidental Fund, Getty Bequest, Assembly Buildings, Statistics Committees. Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. xiii NOTES xiv 41. Overture anent Par 286(7) of the Code (256). 42. Notice of Motion (256). Late Business, if any. Lapsed Business. BUSINESS BOARD, Final Report. CLOSE OF ASSEMBLY. 7.45 p.m.— YOUTH NIGHT Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. xv NOTES xvi BUSINESS BOARD A Guide to Assembly Procedure 1. Members of Assembly consist of all ministers in active duty or retired and some elders, ex officio, together with a representative elder from each established congregation plus other elders commissioned by Presbyteries to correspond with the number of ministers serving in special appointments. Deaconesses, representatives of the Women’s and Youth Movements and some others have now been invited to “sit and deliberate” as associates — i.e., to take part with members freely in debate but without voting. The Assembly quorum is fifty members. 2. While members should bear in mind any opinions or concerns of their Congregations, Kirk Sessions or Presbyteries, neither ministers nor elders attend as “delegates”, obliged to vote as instructed by any of these. The Assembly should be a gathering of fully responsible, free Christian men and women, always open to spiritual guidance and information on a Church-wide basis, not a device for counting up decisions already made elsewhere. 3. The Moderator is chairman of the Assembly, in charge of proceedings, but he should not take sides in debates. Former Moderators may deputise from time to time at his request, should he wish to take part in debate or to withdraw from the House. When the Moderator rises to speak at any point all other members must yield to the Chair. Members should stand when the Moderator enters or leaves at the beginning or end of proceedings. Members may enter or leave at any time during proceedings, but should do so with as little disturbance as possible. It is a courtesy in so doing to give a slight bow to the Chair. 4. With the changing composition of the Assembly the recommended form of address to the House is simply “Moderator” (not “Mr.” Moderator, etc.). Speakers should face towards the House and the microphones, not towards the Moderator. xvii 5. Work for which the Assembly is responsible is generally entrusted to various permanent or temporary (“ad hoc”) committees. These must each present a report to the Assembly. Working Committees concerned with related matters are grouped under a supervising Board. A Commission of Assembly is a committee entrusted with the executive powers of the Assembly, within the terms of its appointment. Members of committees, etc., are appointed by the Assembly on the nomination of various bodies and have a Convener (i.e., executive secretary, in Irish usage) in charge. 6. Reports. While the Assembly is obliged to “receive” the report of each committee, etc., it does not “adopt” or accept responsibility for the contents of any report. Reports carry only the authority of the committee concerned and not of the Assembly. If found too unsatisfactory, the report may be received and referred back. Any matter to which the Assembly is to be committed must be stated in a specific resolution. Resolutions should be kept to conclusions, rather than include arguments in support such as are appropriate to speeches. Similarly, speeches in the Assembly carry the authority only of the speaker. 7. Reports, together with any appended resolutions, are first of all “presented”, usually by a Board or Committee Convener. There is then an opportunity for questions to be asked.