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 1998 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 1 Within Church House 7.00 p.m.— Divine Service Constitution of Assembly Memorial Roll Election of Moderator TUESDAY, JUNE 2 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 (73-81). Arrangements Committee 2. Memorial of the Rev. N. J. Linkens (79). 3. Memorial of the Presbytery of Donegal (80). 4. Mission Assembly (1997) Committee: Report and Resolutions (265-268). 5. Reports of Synods and Presbyteries (63-72). (11.30) 6. Reception of Corresponding Members and Delegates. Church of Scotland: Right Rev. Prof. Alan Main, Rev. Gillian MacLean, Rev. Donald Fraser. Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. iii NOTES iv United Reformed Church: Rev. David Jenkins, Mrs. Rosemary Johnston. Presbyterian Church of Wales: Rev. Harri Owain Jones. Church of Ireland: Right Rev. H. C. Millar, Mr. D. G. Cruise. The Methodist Church in Ireland: Rev. Kenneth Best, Rev. W. B. Fletcher, Mrs. Kathleen Hassard, Mrs. Nan Frame. Irish Council of Churches: Dr. David Stevens. Other Delegates and Visitors: Presbyterian Church of East Africa: Right Rev. Dr. Jesee Kamau. Église Réformée de France: Rev. Raphael Picon. Presbyterian Church of Sudan: Rev. John Gatluok Chol. Reformed Church in Romania: Right Rev. Dr. Kalman Csiha. Church of North India: Dr. V. S. Lall. (12.15) 7. UNION COMMISSION: Report and Resolutions (45-62). Personnel/Planning, City Area Committees 8. Tyrone Memorial Committee: Report and Resolutions (269-270). Lapsed Business. 2.00 p.m.— 9. NOMINATION BOARD: Report and Resolutions (94-97). 10. BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS: Report and Resolutions (82-93). Communications Administration, Media, Public Worship, Church Architecture, Historical Society Committees. (3.30) 11. BOARD OF EVANGELISM AND CHRISTIAN TRAINING: Report and Resolutions (173-183). Evangelism, Irish Mission, Christian Training, Divine Healing, Christian Marriage Committees. Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. v NOTES vi (4.00) Intermission (15 minutes). 12. HOME BOARD: Report and Resolutions (146- 158). Assignment, Home Mission, Church Extension Committees. 13. Overtures anent Pars 280(1), 304(1) and (3), 305(2), 306(2), 307(1) and (5) of the Code (158). 14. Overture anent Par 305(1) of the Code (158). Lapsed Business. (6.30) Close of Business. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 9.30 a.m.— 15. GENERAL BOARD: Report and Resolutions (5- 37). Church and Government, Moderator’s Advisory, Forces’, Chaplains’, Doctrine, Peace and Peacemaking, College and Training Review Committees. (10.45) Intermission (15 minutes). GENERAL BOARD (Continued) Lapsed Business. 12.15 p.m.— Worship. 2.00 p.m.— 16. PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION: Report and Resolution (159-162). Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. vii NOTES viii 17. OVERSEAS BOARD: Report and Resolutions (126-145). (3.30) Intermission (15 minutes). 18. INTER-CHURCH RELATIONS BOARD: Report and Resolutions (98-125). Irish Church Relations, World Church Relations, World Development, Race Relations Committees. (4.30) 19. BOARD OF EDUCATION: Report and Resolutions (193-205). Church Education, State Education, University Education Committees. 20. Overture anent Par. 284(2)(e) of the Code (205). 21. BOARD OF STUDIES FOR THE MINISTRY: Report and Resolutions (206-213). Studies, College Management, Magee Fund Scheme, Students’ Bursary Fund Committees. Lapsed Business. (6.30) Close of Business. Meeting of the General Synod of Ulster. 7.45 p.m.— Evening Rally. Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. ix NOTES x THURSDAY, JUNE 4 9.30 a.m.— 22. TRUSTEES: Report and Resolutions (248-251). 23. Appointment of Trustee (251). 24. COMMISSION ON TRUSTS: Report and Resolutions (215). 25. UNITED APPEAL BOARD: Report and Resolutions (231-236). (10.45) Intermission (15 minutes). (11.00) 26. Strategy for Mission Committee: Report and Resolutions (252-263). 27. Notice of Motion (264). Lapsed Business. 12.15 p.m.— Worship 2.00 p.m.— In Private 28. Committee on Reception of Ministers and Licentiates: Report and Resolutions (214). 29. JUDICIAL COMMISSION: Report and Resolutions (41-43). 30. Appeal of Joseph A. G. McDonald (43). 31. Reference by Presbytery of Foyle (43). 32. Overture on the Books anent Par. 137 of the Code (43). Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. xi NOTES xii 33. Overtures anent Pars. 95(d), 163, 165(5) of the Code (44). 34. Recognised Ministries Committee: Report and Resolutions (37-40). Intermission (15 minutes). In Public (4.00) 35. BOARD OF MINISTRY AND PENSIONS: Report and Resolutions (237-242). Central Ministry Fund, Committee on Retirements and Pensions, Retired Ministers’ House Fund. 36. Overtures on the Books anent Pars. 313(1), 315(3), 316(1)(a) of the Code (242-243). 37. Overture anent Par. 315(4) of the Code (243). 38. Memorial of Dublin and Munster Presbytery (243). Lapsed Business. (6.00) Adjournment. Meeting of Secession Synod at Adjournment. 7.00 p.m.— Lapsed Business if any. FRIDAY, JUNE 5 9.30 a.m.— 39. BOARD OF SOCIAL WITNESS: Report and Resolutions (163-172). Alcohol and Drug Education, War Memorial Hostel, Kinghan Mission, Social Witness Centres, Presbyterian Residential Trust, Social Issues and Resources Committees. Times in brackets may be anticipated but should not be passed. xiii NOTES xiv 40. SHANKILL ROAD MISSION COMMISSION: Report and Resolutions (245-247). (10.45) Intermission (15 minutes). (11.00) 41. YOUTH BOARD: Report and Resolutions (184- 192). Youth Events, Youth Training and Resources, Youth Home Mission, Youth Overseas, Youth Centres, Committees. Lapsed Business. (12.15) Worship. 2.00 p.m.— 42. BOARD OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION: Report and Resolutions (216-230). Finance and Staffing, Incidental Fund, Getty Bequest, Assembly Buildings, Statistics Committees. 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.