Contents

1. Assembly Office-Bearers and Procedure Committee

2. Index of Presbyteries

3. Roll of Commissioners

4. Order of Business

5. Information on Questions, Comments, Motions and Voting

6. Proposed Committees and Tellers

7. Presbytery Overtures

8. Supplementary Reports

9. Standing Orders

10. Other Information

NOTES

1. The General Assembly stand:-

(a) when The Lord High Commissioner or the Moderator enters the Hall before the constitution of any Session;

(b) when His Majesty’s Commission to The Lord High Commissioner and His Majesty’s Letter to the General Assembly are read;

(c) when The Lord High Commissioner addresses the General Assembly, or the Moderator addresses The Lord High Commissioner; and

(d) when a distinguished visitor is brought into the Hall to address the General Assembly.

2. The General Assembly do not stand when The Lord High Commissioner retires from the Hall.

IN PERSON COMMISSIONERS’ TRAVELLING EXPENSES
AND SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES

In person commissioners may claim up to £100 per night for accommodation and up to
£20 per day for out-of-pocket expenses. When commissioners are staying with family or
friends, a one-off allowance of up to £80 may be claimed towards a token gift for hosts.

Expense Claim Forms will be received in the Assembly Office
or can be emailed to: commissionerexpenses@churchofscotland.org.uk
within 21 days of the close of the General Assembly

Voting Handsets must be returned to the Assembly Office or handed
in with Expense Claim Forms as above in order for claims to be processed.

Expenses may only be claimed by Commissioners who have recorded their
attendance at a minimum of 13 out of 17 sessions of the Assembly.

Expenses will not be paid to those attending online.

TRAINING FOR ONLINE ATTENDANCE

If you are attending the Assembly online please ensure you sign up for the one of the training events, on which information will be emailed to you separately.

CONTACT US

In the first instance please email: pcoffice@churchofscotland.org.uk with any queries.

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

Hosted by Church Departments and other organisations, a variety of informative and inspirational General Assembly Fringe Events have been arranged to complement the main business of the Assembly. Details can be found on:
https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/general-assembly/general-assembly-2024/fringe-events-2024/

In addition, the Martin Hall will be open each day of the Assembly, offering an exhibition of resources, as well as the CrossReach Heart for Art Gallery, showcasing a selection of the Artists’ masterpieces.

The Cornerstone Bookshop is also available, located on the Rainy Hall stage.

Commissioners’ Boxes are no longer being used in a move to more digital communications.

1. Assembly Office-Bearers and Procedure Committee

ASSEMBLY OFFICE-BEARERS

Title

Name

No.

Moderator

Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton

536

Moderator-Designate

Rev Dr Shaw Paterson

540

Chaplains

Rev Robert Allan

534

Rev Robert Hamilton

537

Principal Clerk

Rev Fiona Smith

541

Depute Clerk

Ms Christine Paterson

539

Procurator

Mr Jonathan Brodie KC

535

Law Agent

Miss Mary Macleod

538

Precentor

Rev Colin Renwick

Chief Steward

Mr Alexander F Gemmill

Depute Steward

Mr Simon Bolam

Assembly Officer

Mr William Mearns

Depute Assembly Officer

Mrs Karen McKay

PROCEDURE COMMITTEE

Title

Name

No.

Convener

Rev Michael Mair

532

Vice-Convener

Rev Sheila Kirk

533

2. Index of Presbyteries

14 Clyde

1 Edinburgh and West Lothian

47 England and the Channel Islands

24 Fife

17 Forth Valley and Clydesdale

16 Glasgow

42 Clèir Eilean Ì: Highlands and Hebrides

48 International Charges

49 Jerusalem

44 Lewis

3 Lothian and Borders

31 North East and the Northern Isles

28 Perth

7 The South West

3. Roll of Commissioners

1. Presbytery of Edinburgh and West Lothian

Minister

1. Rev Ian W Alexander, International Partnership Support Manager*

2. Very Rev Dr Derek Browning, Edinburgh: Morningside

3. Rev Robert Craig, Whitburn: South

4. Very Rev Prof David A S Fergusson, Regius Professor Of Divinity Cambridge University

5. Rev Dr Alexander C Forsyth, Edinburgh: Mayfield Salisbury

6. Rev Dr Urzula Glienecke, University Chaplain Edinburgh

7. Rev James J Griggs, Edinburgh: Corstorphine St Anne’s

8. Rev Kay O Haggarty, Edinburgh: Gracemount l/w Edinburgh: Liberton

9. Rev Nikki J Kirkland, Edinburgh: St Nicholas’ Sighthill

10. Rev Dr Thomas Kisitu, Edinburgh: St Nicholas’ Sighthill

11. Rev Scott Raby, (Fauldhouse: St Andrew’s)

12. Rev Cameron Mackenzie, Edinburgh: Tron Kirk (Gilmerton and Moredun)

13. Rev Ailsa G Maclean, Edinburgh University Chaplain

14. Rev Angus R Mathieson, Presbytery and Partnership Support Manager

15. Rev Dr Ian D Maxwell, Uphall South

16. Rev Cheryl Mckellar-Young, Edinburgh: Fairmilehead

17. Rev Derek B Munn, OLM, Edinburgh: Dalmeny and Queensferry

18. Rev Sheena Orr, Prison Service Chaplain

19. Rev Allison Quilter, Polbeth Harwood l/w West Kirk of Calder*

20. Rev Douglas H Reid, Edinburgh: Gorgie Palmerston Place

21. Rev Samuel A R Torrens, Edinburgh: Slateford Longstone

22. Rev Dr Stewart G Weaver, Edinburgh: Portobello and Joppa

23. Rev Erica Wishart, (Hospital Chaplain Edinburgh)

24. Rev William Wishart, Edinburgh: St Martin’s

Elder

25. Mrs Joanne Baird, Edinburgh: Leith St Andrew’s

26. Mr Alex Brown, Uphall: South

27. Mr Keith Burnett, Whitburn and Burnfield Valley North

28. Mrs Lesley Burt, Edinburgh: Balerno

29. Mr James R Byers, Edinburgh: Corstorphine St Ninian’s

30. Dr Innes Duncan, Torphichen

31. Mr Allan Gordon, Edinburgh: St Michael’s

32. Mr Calum Gubby, Edinburgh: Liberton

33. Dr Hazel Hastie, Presbytery Clerk*

34. Mr John Innes, Edinburgh: Pilrig St Paul’s

35. Mr William Johnston, Edinburgh: St Margaret’s

36. Dr Gemma King, Edinburgh: Colinton

37. Mr Douglas Leiper, Broxburn

38. Dr Kenneth MacKenzie, Linlithgow: St Michael’s*

39. Mr Calum Martin, Edinburgh: St Catherine’s Argyle

40. Dr Heather McHaffie, Edinburgh: Wardie

41. Ms Morag Mylne, Edinburgh: Portobello and Joppa

42. Mrs Paula Roots, Edinburgh: Kirkliston

43. Mrs Anne N Rutherford, Edinburgh: Leith South

44. Dr John Sharp, Edinburgh: Juniper Green

45. Mr Robin M Stimpson, Edinburgh: Morningside*

46. Mrs Lorna Tweedie, Edinburgh: Holy Trinity

47. Ms Miriam J Weibye, Edinburgh: Canongate

48. Mrs Julia Yarker, Edinburgh: Craigmillar Park

Deacon

49. Miss Morag Crawford DCS, Dunfermline: St Andrew’s Erskine

50. Mrs Pauline Robertson DCS, Edinburgh: Mayfield Salisbury

3. Presbytery of Lothian & Borders

Minister

51. Rev Robin N Allison, Cockenzie and Port Seton: Chalmers Memorial

52. Rev Graham D Astles, Penicuik: North

53. Rev Geoff T Berry, Army Chaplain

54. Rev Lynn Brady, Channelkirk and Lauder (Interim Minister)

55. Rev Derek Brown, (Lead Healthcare Chaplain, NHS Highlands and Islands)

56. Very Rev Susan Brown, Greenlaw

57. Rev Hayley Cohen, Musselburgh: Northesk

58. Rev Andrew B Dick, (Musselburgh: St Michael’s Inveresk)

59. Rev Marion E Dodd, (Kelso: Old and Sprouston)

60. Rev Andrew Don, Dalkeith: St John’s and Newton

61. Rev Dr Neil J Dougall, North Berwick: St Andrew Blackadder*

62. Rev Graham L Duffin, Loanhead and Bilston

63. Rev Maureen Duncan, (Lochend and New Abbey)

64. Rev Fraser Edwards, Innerleithen, Traquair and Walkerburn

65. Rev Dr Suzanne Fletcher, Dunglass

66. Rev Aftab Gohar, Peebles: Old and Stobo and Drumelzier

67. Rev Anikó Schütz Bradwell, Lammermuir Parish

68. Very Rev Colin Sinclair, (Edinburgh: Palmerston Place)

69. Rev Norman A Smith, Presbytery Clerk

Elder

70. Mr John Adamson, Cockpen and Carrington l/w Lasswade and Roewell

71. Mrs Chrissy Black, Belhaven and Spott

72. Mr Robert D Burgon, North Berwick: Abbey

73. Mrs Janice Cossigny, Gordon: St Michaels

74. Mrs Ishbel M Dorward, Eyemouth

75. Mrs Thelma Ellison, Dalkeith: St Nicholas Buccleugh

76. Mrs Frances Heafield, Selkirk and Ashkirk*

77. Mrs Marianne Karsgaard, Coldingham and St Abbs

78. Mrs Mary McElroy, Carlops

79. Mrs Abigail Morrison, Longniddry*

80. Mrs Susan Stewart, Cheviot Churches

81. Mrs Grace Sutherland, Channelkirk and Lauder

82. Mrs Carol Trotter, Greenlaw

83. Mr Robert G Turnbull, Earlston

84. Mrs Mary Jane Wilkins, Bonnyrigg

85. Mr William Windram, Selkirk and Ashkirk

86. Mr David Wight, Galashiels

Deacon

87. Mrs Marilynn Steele DCS, (Edinburgh: Granton)

7. Presbytery of The South West

Minister

88. Rev Wes C Brandon, Border Kirk

89. Rev Hugh T Brown, (Depute Clerk)

90. Rev David S Cameron, Kilmarnock: New Laigh Kirk

91. Rev Pamela J Clancy, Chaplain – Barlinnie Prison

92. Rev Alexander I Currie, Glasserton and Isle of Whithorn l/w Whithorn: St Ninian’s Priory

93. Rev Adri La Grange, Beith

94. Rev Dr Alwyn Landman, Coylton L/w Drongan: The Schaw Kirk

95. Rev George K Lind, (Stewarton: St Columba’s)

96. Rev Edward D Lyons, Penninghame

97. Rev Alison J McBrier, Caldwell l/w Dunlop

98. Rev Neil A McNaught, Alloway and Fisherton

99. Rev Gavin A Niven, Stewarton: John Knox

100. Rev Stephen Ogston, Luce Valley and Inch

101. Rev Stanley Okeke, Ayr: St Andrew’s

102. Rev Valerie J Ott, Gatehouse and Borgue l/w Tarff and Twynholm

103. Rev John W Paterson, Old Cumnock: Old l/w Lugar*

104. Rev Gary J Peacock, Irongray, Lochrutton and Terregles*

105. Rev John G Pickles, Annan: St Andrew’s and St Bryde’s

106. Rev John A Urquhart, Kilmaurs: St Maur’s Glencairn

107. Rev Johannes Wildner, Dumfries: Maxwelltown West

108. Rev Fiona A Wilson, Dalbeattie and Kirkgunzeon l/w Urr

109.

110.

Elder

111. Mr Peter Anderson, Stewarton: John Knox

112. Mrs Gwen Corson, Gatehouse and Borgue

113. Mrs Helen Crawford, Penninghame

114. Mr William K Duncan, Alloway and Fisherton

115. Mr James Gray, Kilmaurs: St Maur’s Glencairn

116. Mrs Fiona Harrison, Border Kirk

117. Mrs Jane Johnston, Kilmarnock: Kay Park

118. Mrs Gillian Lynn, Stoneykirk

119. Mr Gordon MacDonald, Prestwick: Kingcase

120. Mr William Mackay, Dalry: Trinity

121. Mrs Elisabeth Manson, Castle Douglas

122. Mr Robert Marr, Annan: St Andrew’s and St Bryde’s

123. Mr Stewart McKean, Urr

124. Mr Ian Murphy, Drongan: The Schaw Kirk*

125. Mr Brian Murray, West Kilbride

126. Mrs Christine Murray, Presbytery Clerk

127. Mrs Deirdre Murray, West Kilbride

128. Mrs Margery Paterson, Old Cumnock: Old l/w Lugar

129. Mrs Joyce Pringle, Prestwick: Kingcase

130. Mr Robert Solley, Tarff and Twynholm*

131. Mr Ian Steven, Prestwick: Kingcase

132. Mrs Lilly Stevenson, Old Cumnock: Old*

133. Mrs Katrona Templeton, Ayrshire Mission to the Deaf

Deacon

134. Mrs Isobel Beck DCS, (Kilwinning: Abbey)

14. Presbytery of Clyde

Minister

135. Rev Dougie Adam, Renfrew: North (Associate Minister)

136. Rev Gordon Armstrong, Paisley: Oakshaw Trinity

137. Rev Mark Boshoff, Dumbarton Riverside Linkage (Associate Minister)

138. Rev William Boyle, Port Glasgow: New

139. Rev Mhairi Breingan, OLM*

140. Rev David Burt, Gourock: Old Gourock and Ashton l/w Greenock: St Ninian’s*

141. Rev Gray Fletcher, Elderslie Kirk

142. Rev Pamela Gordon, Barrhead: Bourock

143. Rev Kenneth Gray, Bridge of Weir: Freeland

144. Rev Dr Alan J Hamilton, Bearsden: Killermont

145. Rev Karen Harbison, Greenock: Westburn

146. Rev David Hood, Paisley: South

147. Rev Margaret McArthur, Cardross

148. Rev Christine M Murdoch, Craigrownie l/w Garelochhead l/w Rosneath: St Modan’s

Elder

149. Mr Derek Bisset, Paisley: North

150. Miss Jennifer Boag, Greenock: Westburn

151. Mr Alistair Burrow, Bearsden: New Kilpatrick

152. Mrs Christine Cavanagh, Bearsden: Killermont

153. Mr Andrew Grant, Paisley: St Mark’s Oldhall

154. Mr Robert M Kinloch, Lomond*

155. Mr John Kitson, Paisley: Abbey

156. Ms Anne McGregor, Kilmacolm: Old

157. Mrs Elizabeth Stewart, Dalmuir: Barclay

158. Mr John Stewart, Paisley: Oakshaw Trinity

159. Mrs Mary Sweetland, Lomond

160. Mr Dennis Taylor, Bridge Of Weir: St Machars Ranfurly

161. Dr Ian Trushell, Kilbarchan

162. Mrs Maureen Walker, Cardross

16. Presbytery of Glasgow

Minister

163. Rev Dr S Grant Barclay, Presbytery Clerk

164. Rev Richard Cameron, Glasgow: Scotstoun

165. Rev Brian Casey, Glasgow: Carnwadric

166. Rev Stuart J Crawford, Newton Mearns

167. Rev Ian F Galloway, (Gorbals)

194. Rev James Gemmell, Rutherglen: Old

168. Rev Karen E Hendry, Glasgow: Yoker*

169. Rev Alasdair R MacMillan, Glasgow: Cathcart Trinity*

170. Rev Stuart C Matthews, Glasgow: Maryhill Ruchill

171. Rev Hilary N McDougall, Depute Presbytery Clerk

172. Rev (James) Andrew McIntyre, Glasgow: Partick Victoria Park

173. Rev Mark McKeown, Moodiesburn

174. Rev Monica Michelin-Salomon, Glasgow: Causeway (Tollcross)

175. Rev W Louis T Reddick, Glasgow: Shettleston New

176. Rev Christopher J Rowe, Glasgow: Colston Milton

177. Rev Robert M Silver, Glasgow: Croftfoot

178. Rev Bruce H Sinclair, Glasgow: Jordanhill*

179. Rev Timothy Sinclair, Glasgow: Partick Trinity

180. Rev Jim R Teasdale, Glasgow: Eastwood

181. Rev Ben Thorp, Glasgow: Sandyford Henderson Memorial

182. Rev Neil Watson, Rutherglen: Stonelaw

183. Rev William T S Wilson, Burnside Blairbeth

184. Rev Dr Philip Wright, Kirkintilloch: St Columba’s Hillhead

185. Rev Dr Douglas C Gay, Senior Lecturer, University of Glasgow

186. Rev Fiona M E Crawford, Assistant Minister, Glasgow: Barlanark Greyfriars

187. Rev David G Slater, Gartcosh l/w Glenboig

216.

Elder

188. Mr Norman Mackenzie, Maxwell Mearns Castle

189. Mr Graeme D I Barrie, Glasgow: Easterhouse

190. Mr Ralph P Boettcher, Glasgow: Merrylea

191. Mrs Christina Brownlie, Glasgow: Cardonald

192. Mrs Pamela Caskie, Glasgow: St Christopher’s Priesthill and Nitshill

193. Mrs Liz Dalling, Cumbernauld: Old*

195. Miss K Irene Kay, Rutherglen: Old

196. Mr George J Kelly, Campsie

197. Mr John Bradley, Glasgow: Wellington

198. Mrs Elspeth McCallum, Glasgow: Partick Trinity

199. Mr Isaac McCleary, Glasgow: Moodiesburn

200. Mrs Isabel McDerment, Glasgow: Scotstoun

201. Mr Duncan C McGhie, Glasgow: Newlands South

202. Mr James McVean, Glasgow: Milton Of Campsie*

203. Mr John S Montgomery, Netherlee and Stamperland

204. Mrs Irene Munro, Newton Mearns

205. Dr Garry K Osbourne, Glasgow: Sandyford Henderson Memorial

206. Mr William Pollock, Glasgow: St Andrew’s West

207. Mr David W H Smith, Rutherglen: West and Wardlawhill

208. Mrs Janice Teasdale, Glasgow: Pollokshields

209. Ms Edith Watt, Glasgow: Bridgeton St Francis in the East

210. Mr William Izzard, Glasgow: Castlemilk

211. Miss Lynne Semple, Kirkintilloch: St Columba’s Hillhead

212. Mr Iain Young, Maxwell Mearns Castle

213. Ms Fiona MacDougall, Glasgow: Castlemilk

214. Mr Gordon J MacFarlane, Glasgow: Clincarthill

215.

Deacon

217. Mr Jim E Hamilton DCS, Glasgow: Maryhill Ruchill

218. Mrs Karen M Hamilton DCS, Cambuslang

17. Presbytery of Forth Valley and Clydesdale

Minister

219. Rev Fiona Anderson, OLM, Dalserf

220. Rev Ross Blackman, Hamilton: Old

221. Rev Scott Burton, Brightons*

222. Rev Charlene Condeco, OLM Falkirk: Trinity

223. Rev Michael Fucella, Biggar l/w Black Mount

224. Rev Lorna Fyfe, OLM, Presbytery Moderator

225. Rev Kay Gilchrist, Airdrie: Jackson

226. Rev Joanne C Hood, Hamilton: St John’s*

227. Rev Bryan Kerr, Lanark: Greyfriars

228. Rev Lorna I MacDougall, Overtown

229. Rev Fiona L McKibbin, Uddingston: Old

230. Rev Alison Meikle, Grangemouth: Zetland

231. Rev Andrew J Moore, Bothkennar and Carronshore

232. Rev Fiona Nicolson, Coatbridge: New St Andrew’s

233. Rev Julie Rennick, Presbytery Clerk

234. Rev Keith W Ross, (Congregational Development Officer)

235. Rev Sarah L Ross, East Kilbride: Moncreiff

236. Rev Andrew Sarle, OLM, Falkirk: Bainsford

237. Rev Ecilo Selemani, (Coatbridge: Townhead)

238. Rev George Sneddon, Assistant Minister, East Kilbride: Mossneuk

239. Rev Jillian Storrie, Assistant Minister, Wishaw: Cambusnethan North

240. Rev James Todd, Airth

Elder

241. Mr David S Alexander, Uddingston: Viewpark

242. Miss Lesley Auld, Hamilton: St John’s

243. Mr Keith Black, Biggar

244. Mrs Isabelle Brownlie, Newarthill and Carfin

245. Mrs Valerie Chalmers, Law

246. Mr Ian Conn, Forth: St Paul’s

247. Mrs Ruby Davidson, Strathaven: Trinity

248. Mr Charles Devennie, East Kilbride: Old

249. Mrs Helen Duffy, Coalburn and Lesmahagow

250. Mrs Jean Hardie, Hamilton: Trinity

251. Mr Archie Kerr, Dunipace

252. Mrs Lorna Laughland, Stonehouse: St Ninians

253. Mrs Elizabeth Lawson, Dalserf

254. Mr Malcolm Macintyre, East Kilbride: Moncreiff

255. Mr Andrew Main, Airdrie: Jackson

256. Mrs Diane McCabe, Bo’Ness: Old*

257. Mr Ian W McLean, Polmont: Old

258. Mr Scott M Paget, Lanark: Greyfriars

259. Mr David I Paterson, Holytown

260. Mr Douglas Pennie, Falkirk: Grahamston United LEP

261. Dr Sandra Robb, East Kilbride: Mossneuk

262. Mr David Walker, Airdrie: The New Wellwynd*

Deacon

263. Mrs Lorraine Gilroy DCS, Airdrie: New Monkland

24. Presbytery of Fife

Minister

264. Very Rev Dr Russell Barr, (Edinburgh: Cramond)

265. Rev Dr David Coulter, Presbytery Clerk

266. Rev Elisabeth Cranfield, Methilhill and Denbeath

267. Rev Debbie Dobby, Beath and Cowdenbeath North

268. Rev Dr Conor Fegan, Markinch and Thornton

269. Rev Andrea Fraser, Associate Minister, Forthview

270. Rev Norman M Grant, Cairneyhill l/w Limekilns

271. Very Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Dunfermline: St Margaret’s

272. Rev Alan W D Kimmitt, Glenrothes: St Columba’s

273. Rev Margaret Mateos, Glenrothes: Christ’s Kirk

274. Rev Dr Donald McEwan, Chaplain, University of St Andrews

275. Rev Gillian Paterson, Methil: Wellesley*

276. Rev Brian Porteous, OLM,Templehall and Torbain United*

277. Rev Ewan Ritchie, Associate Minister, Dunfermline Abbey

278. Rev Nigel Robb, (St Andrews Presbytery Clerk)

279. Rev Alec Shuttleworth, Tulliallan and Kincardine

280. Rev David J Smith, Glenrothes St Ninian’s

Elder

281. Mr James Adamson, Dunfermline: St Margaret’s

282. Mrs Ruth Anderson, Glenrothes: Christ’s Kirk

283. Mr John Bain, Cowdenbeath: Trinity

284. Mr George Drummond, Kirkcaldy: Bennochy

285. Mrs Janice Falconer, Dunfermline: North

286. Mr Andrew Gilmour, Largo

287. Mrs Bonnie Hacking, St Monans

288. Mrs Maureen V Jack, St Andrews: St Leonard’s

289. Mr Ian MacAulay, Edenshead

290. Miss Helen M MacKenzie, Kirkcaldy: Linktown*

291. Miss Jenny McLeod, Kirkcaldy: Abbotshall

292. Mr Derek Peters, Cairneyhill

293. Mrs Margaret Rae, Methil: Wellesley

294. Mrs Catriona J Reidpath, Glenrothes: St Margaret’s

295. Mr Jack Shuttleworth, Saline and Blairingone

296. Miss Morag Wilkinson, Inverkeithing

Deacon

297. Mrs Jacqueline Thomson DCS, Buckhaven and Wemyss

28. Presbytery of Perth

Minister

298. Rev Dr Valerie L Allen, Dunblane: Cathedral

299. Rev Fiona C Bullock, Perth: St Matthew’s

300. Very Rev Dr W Martin Fair, Pathways to Ministry Manager

301. Rev Dr John Ferguson, Presbytery Clerk

302. Rev Dr Andrew Gardner, Dunblane: St Blane’s l/w Lecropt

303. Rev Neil M Glover, Aberfeldy

304. Rev Heather Gourlay, OLM

305. Rev Donna M Hays, Siddlaw

306. Rev Dr Alison M Jack, Principal: New College

307. Rev Ruth Kennedy, Sanctuary First Minister and Digital Ministries Advisor

308. Rev Grant R Maclaughlan, Dundee: Logie and St John’s Cross

309. Rev Robert Mallinson, Dundee: Menzieshill

310. Rev Emma McDonald, Pioneer Minister Dundee

311. Rev Gary J McIntyre, Stirling: St Ninians Old*

312. Rev Michael S Goss, Carnoustie: Trinity

313. Rev Graham Nash, Cambusbarron: The Bruce Memorial

314. Rev Mairi Perkins, Ardoch*

315. Rev Alan D Reid, Kinross*

316. Rev Colin C Renwick, Dunblane: Cathedral

317. Rev Carleen J Robertson, Eassie, Nevay and Newtyle

318. Rev Beverley Stevenson, Cleish l/w Fossoway

319. Rev Anne Stewart, Chaplain, Scottish Prison Service

320. Rev Anne Stott, OLM

321. Rev Austin Wicks, Clackmannan l/w Sauchie and Coalsnaughton

322. Rev Allan J Wilson, Dunbarney and Forgandenny

Elder

323. Mr Leslie Asher, Stirling: St Ninians Old

324. Mr Iain Cormack, Comrie

325.

326. Mr David Frame, Pitlochry l/w Blair Atholl and Struan

327. Miss Yvonne M Grant, Dundee: Coldside

328. Mr Daniel Gunn, Dunblane: St Blane’s

329. Mr Ian Hunter, Tullibody: St Serf’s

330. Mrs Christine Johnston, Dundee: Barnhill St Margaret’s

331. Mrs Elizabeth Kidd, Brechin and Farnell*

332. Mr David MacDougall, Dundee: Northeast

333. Mr Gordon McBean, Dundee: Lochee

334. Mrs Heather McDonald, Ardoch l/w Blackford

335. Mr Gordon McFarlane, Kinross

336. Mr Ian McVean, Balfron

337. Mr Tom Morrison, Perth: St Matthew’s

338. Mr David J B Murie, Broughty Ferry Parish Church

339. Mrs Lynn Podger, Monifieth South Angus

340. Mr Timothy J Podger, Monifieth South Angus

341. Mrs Val Rose, Alloa: Ludgate*

342. Mrs Catherine F Ross, Eassie, Nevay and Newtyle

343.

344.

345.

346.

Deacon

347. Ms Patricia M Munro DCS, (Perth: St John’s Kirk l/w Perth St Leonards-in-the-Fields and Trinity)*

348. Mrs Sheila Wallace DCS, (Aberfeldy l/w Dull and Weem l/w Grandtully, Logierait and Strathtay)

31. Presbytery of The North East and the Northern Isles

Minister

349. Rev Jennifer M Adams, Duffus, Spynie and Hopeman

350. Rev David L C Barr, Glenmuick

351. Rev Dr Amy C Bender, Keith: North, Newmill, Boharm and Rothiemay

352. Rev Dr Jacobus Boonzaaier, Buckie North l/w Rathven

353. Rev Alastair J S Bruce, Ellon

354. Rev Stella L Campbell, Kingshill

355. Rev Rhona P Cathcart, Inverurie: West

356. Rev Irene A Charlton, Shetland

357. Rev Duncan C Eddie, Peterculter

358. Rev John Gow, Portsoy

359. Rev Robert A Fowlie, Longside

360. Rev Darren Jalland, Aberdeen: Hillside

361. Rev J Peter N Johnston, Aberdeen: Devana*

362. Rev Fiona Lister, Aberdeen: North

363. Rev David I W Locke, Stronsay: Moncur Memorial*

364. Rev Kenneth I MacKenzie, Braemar and Crathie

365. Rev Dr Marjory A MacLean, South Ronaldsay and Burray

366. Rev Elspeth M McKay, (Presbytery Clerk)

367. Rev Julia M Meason, Kirkwall East linked with Shapinsay

368. Rev Deon F Oelofse, Elgin

369. Rev Amy C Pierce, Banchory-Ternan: East

370. Rev Dr Julia Pizzuto-Pomaco, Peterhead: New

371. Rev Holly Smith, Mid Deeside

372. Rev Douglas F Stevenson, Cullen and Deskford

373. Rev Colin A Strong, Mormond West

374. Rev Sean Swindells, Cruden

Elder

375. Mrs Jenny Abel, Aboyne-Dinnet

376.

377. Mr John Anderson, Crimond

378. Prof Yvonne Bain, Fountainhall

379. Mrs Ann M C Bowie, Bellie and Speymouth

380. Mrs Alison M Bruce, Deer

381. Mr Ian Cowie, Buckie: North

382. Mrs Kathryn G Cowie, Buckie: North

383. Mrs Maureen Esson, Cruden

384. Mr Robert M Esson, Cruden*

385. Mrs Sheila M Garson, Shapinsay

386. Ms Irene Finlayson, Banff

387. Mrs Gillian Jamieson, Banchory-Ternan: East

388. Mr Mike Jamieson, Banchory-Ternan: East*

389. Mr Stuart Lynch, Elgin

390. Miss Ursula (Ruth) Mackenzie, Peterhead: New

391. Dr Morag Mitchell, Inverurie: West

392. Mrs Ann R Paterson, Kingshill

393. Mr Matthew Philip, Springfield*

394. Miss Valerie A Taylor, Aberdeen: Torry St Fittick’s

395. Mr Alun Walker, Formartine

396. Lord James Wallace, Kirkwall: St Magnus Cathedral

397. Mrs Susan Zappert, Birse and Feughside

398. Ms Ann Bruce, Ellon

399. Mrs Alison Milne, Strathbogie Drumblade

400.

401.

42. Clèir Eilean Ì: Presbytery of The Highlands and Hebrides

Minister

402. Rev David Carruthers, Dalriada Mid Argyll

403. Rev Bruce Dempsey, Dingwall: St Clements*

404. Rev Janet Easton-Berry, Pentland Parish

405. Rev Sandor Fazakas, Portree

406. Rev Charles Finnie, Alvie and Insh l/w Rothiemurchus and Aviemore

407. Rev Dráusio P Gonçalves, Dingwall: Castle St

408. Rev Stewart Goudie, North West Lochaber*

409. Rev Anthony Jones, Fort Augustus l/w Glengarry

410. Rev Alex MacCallum, Kilmore and Oban l/w Tiree

411. Rev Ishie MacDonald, OLM, Benbecula

412. Rev E Jade MacLean, Acharacle and Ardnamurchan linked with Ardgour, Morvern and Strontian (The Peninsula Churches)

413. Rev Brian MacLeod, Invergordon

414. Rev Iain MacLeod, Assynt, Rosehall and Scourie

415. Rev David Malcolm, Thurso: St Peter’s and St Andrew’s*

416. Rev Ian Manson, Kilmorack and Erchless

417. Rev Dr Rory A R McLeod, Presbytery Clerk

418. Rev Irene Evelyn Munro, OLM, Ferntosh

419. Rev Everisto Musedza, Cowal Kirk

420. Rev Carol Ann Porter, (Alloa Ludgate)

421. Rev Monika Redman, Urray and Kilchrist

422. Rev Steven Sass, Campbeltown l/w Saddell and Carradale l/w Southend

423. Rev David Sim, Fort William: Kilmallie l/w Kilmonivaig

424. Rev Mary J Stobo, Kincardine, Croick and Edderton

425. Rev Dorothy M Wallace, West Lochfyneside: Cumlodden, Inveraray and Lochgair

426.

427.

Elder

428. Mrs Elizabeth A Carmichael, Ardgour, Morven and Strontian

429. Mrs Catherine M Chambers, Ferntosh

430. Mr Alan Shaw Crombie, Dingwall: Castle St

431. Mrs Elizabeth Geddes, Pentland Parish*

432. Mr Ken Hamilton, Assynt and Stoer

433. Mrs Alison Hay, West Lochfyneside

434. Mrs Jessie R MacKenzie, Appin

435. Mrs Fiona MacLean, Urray and Kilchrist

436. Mrs Donna Malcolm, Thurso: St Peter’s and St Andrew’s*

437. Mrs Kim McCarthy, Dornoch Firth Church

438. Mrs Gladys McCulloch, Kincardine, Croick and Edderton

439. Mr Jack Reid, Tain

440. Dr William Leigh Knight, Colonsay and Oronsay*

441. Mrs Elizabeth Speirs, Rothesay: Trinity

442.

443.

444.

445.

446.

447.

448.

449.

450.

451.

452.

453.

44. Presbytery of Lewis

Minister

454. Rev Tommy MacNeil, Stornoway: Martin’s Memorial*

455. Rev Hugh Stewart, Lochs-in-Bernera l/w Uig

Elder

456. Mr Iain MacLeod, Stornoway: Martin’s Memorial*

457.

47. Presbytery of England and the Channel Islands

Minister

458. Rev Carolann Birnie, Jersey: St Columba’s

459. Rev Alistair Cumming, Presbytery Clerk*

460. Rev Scott McCarthy, Corby

461. Rev Canon Prof Paul Middleton, University Lecturer

462. Rev Scott Rennie, London: Crown Court

463. Rev Dr Alan Wright, OLM (London: St Columba’s l/w Newcastle)

Elder

464. Dr Hilary Boyle, Guernsey: St Andrew’s in the Grange

465. Miss Elizabeth Fox, London: St Columba’s

466. Mrs Gillian McLean, Corby

467. Ms Sheila Nicoll, London: St Columba’s

468. Mrs Susan Pym, London: St Columba’s*

469. Mr Ian Russell, London: St Columba’s

48. Presbytery of International Charges

Minister

470. Rev Graham Austin, Rotterdam: Scots International Church*

471. Rev Alistair G Bennett, Bermuda: Christ Church, Warwick

472. Rev James M Brown (Bochum)

Elder

473. Mrs Jill Davidson, Bermuda: Christ Church, Warwick

474. Mr Andreas Decker, Amsterdam: English Reformed Church

475. Mr Robert Kenneth, Lausanne: The Scots Kirk*

49. Presbytery of Jerusalem

Minister

476. Rev Dr D Stewart Gillan, Jerusalem and Tiberias: St Andrew’s*

Elder

477. Ms Heather E Dobson, Jerusalem: St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church*

* denotes membership of the Commission of Assembly 2024-2025

UK ECUMENICAL DELEGATES

Presbyterian Church of Wales

483. Rev T Evan Morgan, Immediate Past Moderator

United Reformed Church

481. Rev Fiona Bennett, Immediate Past Moderator

United Reformed Church (National Synod of Scotland)

486. Rev Lindsey Sanderson, Moderator

Church of England

602. Rt Rev Robert Saner-Haigh. Bishop of Penrit

601. Rev Canon Andrew Norman, Director of Ministry and Mission, Diocese of Leeds

484. Rev Tim Norwood, National Officer for Local Ecumenism

Methodist Church in Scotland

487. Rev Mark Slaney, Chair (Saturday and Tuesday)

485. Rev James Patron-Bell, Ecumenical Officer (Saturday, Monday and Thursday)

Religious Society of Friends – General Meeting for Scotland

489. Mary Woodward, Ecumenical Officer (Saturday, Monday, Wednesday)

482. Susan Mitchell, Assistant Clerk (Tuesday)

Scottish Episcopal Church

488. Rt Rev Andrew Swift, Bishop of Brechin

United Free Church of Scotland

480. Rev Andy Downie, Moderator

Roman Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

479. Most Rev Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh

Salvation Army

478. Major David Cavanagh, Assistant Secretary for Scotland

DELEGATES FROM ECUMENICAL BODIES

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

490. Dr Nicola Brady, General Secretary

World Communion of Reformed Churches

600. Rev Tara Curlewis, Liaison Officer

OVERSEAS DELEGATES

AFRICA

Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Malawi

491. Rev Dr Mwawi Chilongozi, General Secretary, General Synod

494. Rev Anderson Juma, General Secretary, Synod of Blantyre

497. Rev Reuben Msowoya, Synod Moderator, Synod of Livingstonia

ASIA

Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK)

496. Rev Dr Eui Sig Kim, Moderator

Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)

498. Rev Dr Sungkook Park, Executive Secretary, Partnership & Ecumenical Relations

AUSTRALIA

Uniting Church of Australia

493. Mrs Sharon Hollis, President

EUROPE

Reformed Church in Hungary

499. Rev Szabina Sztojka

Waldensian Church, Italy

500. Rev Jonathan Terino

Swiss Protestant Church

492. Rev Dr Martin Hirzel, Director External Relations

MIDDLE EAST

Synod of the Nile of the Evangelical Church of Egypt

495. Rev Dr Maged Karam, Moderator

CORRESPONDING MEMBERS

Assembly Trustees

505. Mrs Jean Couper

507. Mr Ian Forrester

508. Mr David Harrison

509. Ms Miranda Heggie

510. Rev Barry Hughes

513. Ms Jennifer MacDonald

521. Mr Geoff Miller

522. Mrs Ann Nelson

531. Mr Philip Ziegler

Chief Officer

511. Mr Dave Kendall

Church of Scotland Pension Trustees

516. Miss Lin Macmillan (Monday to Thursday)

518. Miss Jane McLeod (Saturday)

Ecumenical Relations Committee

520. Rev Dr John McPake

530. Mrs Pauline Weibye

Faith Action Programme Leadership Team

504. Mrs Kay Cathcart

General Treasurer

524. Mrs Jenny Simpson

General Trustees

529. Mr Brian Waller

Head of Communications

515. Ms Ruth MacLeod

Head of Human Resources

517. Mrs Elaine McCloghry

Legal Questions Committee

525. Rev Katherine Taylor

Life and Work Editor

519. Mrs Lynne McNeil

Safeguarding Committee

502. Ms Deborah Blackhurst

Scottish Churches’ Parliamentary Officer

503. Mr David Bradwell

Social Care Council

523. Rev Thom Riddell

506. Mrs Viv Dickenson

Stewardship and Finance

526. Mrs Leanne Thompson

The Guild

512. Mrs Rae Lind

Theological Forum

514. Rev Dr Liam Jerrold Fraser

Trustees of the Housing and Loan Fund

501. Mrs Hazel Bett

OVERSEAS STAFF ON LEAVE

528. Mr Keith Waddell, Mission Partner

527. Mrs Ida Waddell, Mission Partner

YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES

Clèir Eilean Ì: Highlands and Hebrides

544. Miss Lizzie Brayshaw

Clyde

543. Miss Martyna Bakon

Edinburgh and West Lothian

551. Miss Jessica Linde

Fife

542. Miss Helen Alexander

550. Mr Fraser Jarvis

558. Mr Alexander Weaver

Glasgow

545. Mr Nicholas Budgen

555. Miss Ruth Potter

Lothian and Borders

549. Miss Stephanie Hartley

556. Miss Abigail Ramage

North East and the Northern Isles

547. Miss Elizabeth Fyvie

552. Miss Christine Meyer

554. Mr John Pizzuto-Pomaco

Perth

546. Ms Lydia Chon

557. Ms Clare Simard

559. Miss Kirstie Wilson

South West

553. Miss Imogen Paterson

4. Order of Business

Saturday 18 May 2024 – Opening Day

Session 1: 10.00 am

1. Constitution of Assembly.

2. Submission of Roll of Commissioners.

3. Election of Moderator and Prayer of Consecration.

4. Commission to the Lord High Commissioner to be read and order given for recording it.

5. His Majesty’s Most Gracious Letter to be read and order given for recording it.

6. Address by the Lord High Commissioner and reply by the Moderator.

7. Address by Retiring Moderator.

8. Appointment of the Committee to Prepare Answer to His Majesty’s Most Gracious Letter.

9. Report of the Standing Committee on Commissions.

10. Submission of the Standing Orders.

11. Appointment of the Procedure Committee.

12. Appointment of Panel of Tellers.

13. Appointment of Committee to prepare a minute on Deceased Ministers, Missionaries and Deacons.

14. Intimation of arrangements for a celebration of Holy Communion on Monday 20 May, at 9.15 am in the Assembly Hall and online.

Circulation Break

Session 2

1. Presentation of Delegates and Visitors.

2. Section 2 of the Report of the Legal Questions Committee regarding proposed changes to Standing Orders.

3. Report of the Assembly Business Committee (Reports 1/1).

4. Report of the Scottish Bible Society and Presentation of Bible to Moderator (Reports 1/5).

Lunch

Session 3: 2.00 pm

1. Report of the Legal Questions Committee (Reports 2/1).

2. Minute of the Commission of Assembly (Reports 3/1).

3. Minute of the Appeal Hearing before the Ministries Appeal Panel (Reports 4/1).

4. Report of the Delegation of the General Assembly (Reports 5/1).

Circulation Break

Session 4

1. Report of the Ecumenical Relations Committee (Reports 6/1).

2. Report of the Chalmers Lectureship Trust (Reports 7/1).

Monday 20 May 2024

9.15 am

The Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Circulation Break

Session 5: 10.30 am

1. Report of the Procedure Committee.

2. Report of the Assembly Trustees (Reports 8/1).

Lunch

Session 6: 2.00 pm

1. Order of the Day – Strathaven Learning Community Choir.

2. Report of the Assembly Trustees contd. (Reports 8/1).

3. Report of the Committee on Overtures and Cases – Returns to Overtures (Reports 9/1).

4. Report of the Theological Forum (Reports 10/1).

Circulation Break

Session 7

1. Report of the Theological Forum contd. (Reports 10/1).

2. Interim Report of the Joint working group from the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team and the Theological Forum on Assisted Dying (Reports 11/1).

3. Report of the Registration of Ministries Committee (Reports 12/1).

4. Report of the Church Hymnary Trustees (Reports 13/1).

Tuesday 21 May 2024

Session 8: 9.15 am

1. Constitution of Assembly.

2. Minutes

3. Report of the Procedure Committee.

4. Report of the Social Care Council (Reports 14/1).

Circulation Break

Session 9

1. Report of the Church of Scotland Guild (Reports 15/1).

2. Report and Supplementary Report of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team (“FAPLT”) (including the Overtures from the Presbytery of Glasgow and the Presbytery of Lothian & Borders) (Reports 16/1 and Order of Proceedings pp. 19, 20 and 23).

Lunch

Session 10: 2.00 pm

1. Order of the Day – CrossReach Makaton Choir.

2. Report of FAPLT contd. (including the Overtures from the Presbytery of Glasgow and the Presbytery of Lothian & Borders) (Reports 16/1 and Order of Proceedings pp. 19 & 20).

Circulation Break

Session 11

1. Supplementary Report of FAPLT (Order of Proceedings p.23).

Wednesday 22 May 2024

Session 12: 9.15 am

1. Constitution of Assembly.

2. Minutes

3. Report of the Procedure Committee.

4. Report of the Committee to draft a reply to His Majesty’s Most Gracious Letter.

5. Report of the Committee on Chaplains to HM Forces (Reports 17/1).

Circulation Break

Session 13

1. Report of the Safeguarding Committee (Reports 18/1).

2. Report of the Iona Community Board (Reports 19/1).

3. Report of the Church of Scotland Pension Trustees (Reports 20/1).

4. Report of the Church of Scotland Investors’ Trust (Reports 21/1).

5. Report of the Ethical Oversight Committee (Reports 22/1).

Lunch

Session 14: 2.00 pm

1. Report and Supplementary Report of the General Trustees (Reports 23/1 and Order of Proceedings p. 28).

Circulation Break

Session 15

1. Report of the Trustees of the Housing and Loan Fund (Reports 24/1).

2. Report of the Church of Scotland Trust (Reports 25/1).

Thursday 23 May 2024

Session 16: 9.15 am

1. Constitution of Assembly.

2. Minutes.

3. Report of the Procedure Committee.

4. Report of the Nomination Committee (Reports 26/1).

5. Report of the Selection Committee if required.

6. Remaindered business if required.

Lunch

Session 17: 2.00 pm

1. Constitution of Assembly.

2. Report anent Deceased Ministers, Missionaries and Deacons.

3. Draft Minutes of Sederunts not yet submitted to be read if required.

4. Report on the Printing of Acts.

5. Protestations called for.

6. Appointment of Committee to Prepare Minutes.

7. Act appointing the Commission of Assembly.

8. Act appointing the next General Assembly to meet in Edinburgh on Saturday 17 May 2025.

9. Presentations to the Moderator.

10. Moderator addresses the General Assembly.

11. The Lord High Commissioner addresses the General Assembly.

12. National Anthem.

13. Dissolution.

THE BENEDICTION

Note

It is hoped that this timetable will be adhered to but items could arise earlier or later than the times specified.

5. Information on Questions, Comments, Motions and Voting

The Standing Orders govern how business is conducted at the General Assembly. They are included further on in this Order of Proceedings; please familiarise yourself with them before the Assembly opens.

Below is a summary of how you can do some key things at the Assembly.

ASKING QUESTIONS

You will see from the Standing Orders that questions are always in order (SO 45). However, the usual time for asking general questions on the Report or on the work of the Committee is immediately after a Convener has presented the Report and moved the deliverance. At this point the Moderator will ask for questions, before moving to section 1 of the proposed deliverance.

Questions which relate to specific sections of proposed deliverance should be asked when the Assembly is considering the relevant section of deliverance.

If you are in-person: If you have a mobile, or portable, device, you can use it to register a “request to speak” on the Assembly Hub as set out in the subsequent paragraph. Alternatively, there will be stations placed in the Hall where you can use your commissioner number to enter a “request to speak”, choosing to ask your question either at the start or against the relevant section(s) of deliverance. Be ready to speak at a microphone in the Hall.

If you are online: To ask a question you should register a “request to speak” on the Assembly Hub, choosing to ask it either at the start or against the appropriate section of deliverance. Details of how to do this through the Hub will be shared at the training events and in a video to be available to you.

You can register your “request to speak” at any time in advance of the debate taking place, or “on the spot”.

MAKING COMMENTS

General comments should be made when section 1 (“Receive the Report”) is being considered; more specific comments should be made when the Assembly is considering the relevant section of deliverance.

If you are in-person: Again, if you have a mobile, or portable, device, you can use it to register a “request to speak” on the Assembly Hub as set out in the subsequent paragraph. Alternatively, there will be stations placed in the Hall where you can use your Commissioner Number to enter a “request to speak” against the relevant section(s) of deliverance. Be ready to speak at a microphone in the Hall.

If you are online: Again, you should register a “request to speak” on the Assembly Hub against the appropriate section of deliverance. Details of how to do this through the Hub will be shared at the training events and in a video to be available to you.

You can register your “request to speak” at any time in advance of the debate taking place, or “on the spot”.

MOVING MOTIONS

At each Assembly various “motions” are considered. These mainly consist of the proposed sections of deliverance appearing in Reports from Standing Committees. However, any Commissioner can move a motion to amend a proposed section of deliverance, offer an alternative section to the one proposed or to add a new section of deliverance. (To remove a section of deliverance, see below).

If you want to do any of these things, you need to submit a “Notice of Motion” to the Clerks. It helps everyone if you can give as much advance notice as possible of your motion. The Clerks may contact you about the text of your proposed motion.

Types of motion

When you prepare a Notice of Motion, you need to decide what sort of motion you want to propose. Options are:-

amendments – adding words to or removing words from a proposed section of deliverance but leaving the basic meaning intact. You can also propose an amendment to another commissioner’s amendment.

counter-motions – proposing an alternative to an existing proposed section of deliverance which, if approved, would be distinctly different from the section proposed by the Standing Committee (i.e. if your counter-motion is accepted by the Assembly it would mean that the originally proposed section falls).

new section of deliverance altogether – adding to the Standing Committee’s work or affirming a priority. Such a motion needs to fall within the relevant Standing Committee’s remit. For a motion which relates to a matter falling within a Committee’s remit but to which no reference is made in the Report, you must give the relevant Convener reasonable notice in writing.

If you simply don’t think that the Assembly should accept a proposed section of deliverance, there is no need to move a motion stating the direct negative. Instead, when the Assembly is considering that section of deliverance, you should speak to explain why you encourage a vote against it.

The Moderator is the final judge of the category into which a motion falls.

How to submit a Notice of Motion:

If you are in person: If you are in the Hall with a device enabling you to do so, you can use the Assembly Hub as in the subsequent paragraph. Alternatively you can email a duly completed notice of motion form to the Clerks of Assembly using pcoffice@churchofscotland.org.uk, or you can complete and return to the Clerks at the top table or to the Assembly Office a paper notice of motion form.

If you are online: You should use the Assembly Hub to register a notice of motion in advance in respect of the relevant section(s) of deliverance. Details of how to submit a motion through the Hub will be shared at the training events and in a video to be available to you.

Procedure for taking Notices of Motion:

If you submit a notice of motion, by whatever method, a notification that you wish to speak will automatically be generated.

If you are in person: You should be ready to speak at a station in the Hall.

If you are online: You should be ready to be called to speak by the Moderator.

When the Assembly reaches the appropriate place in the debate for your motion to be moved, the Moderator will call you to speak. The advantage of using the Assembly Hub will be that other Commissioners will be able to see your motion in advance; they will also be able to second your motion using the Assembly Hub. Alternatively, a motion can be seconded by an in person commissioner in the Hall. All motions must be seconded. If no one is willing to second it, your motion falls.

Once your motion has been seconded, the Moderator will ask you to read what you propose (or the Clerks will do this) and the text will be shown on the screens in the Hall and the live feed. The Moderator will then invite you to tell the Assembly why you believe your proposal is the right one. You have up to five minutes to speak.

Seconding can be formal so a seconder does not need to speak in support of a proposal but if they wish to do so, they should also be ready, depending on whether they are in person or online, to speak at a station in the Hall or to register a “request to speak” on the Assembly Hub.

Once you have moved your motion, there will be debate at the end of which you will be asked if you wish to say anything else to convince the Assembly. After that, the Convener presenting the Report will be asked to give their response and then the Assembly will decide on the matter by voting.

VOTING

If you are in person: You will vote using a Bluetooth handset supplied to you at the Hall.

If you are online: You will vote using the Assembly Hub.

Also, at this Assembly, we may use a process for quick approval of certain sections of deliverance rather than taking a formal vote on every occasion. This will involve the Moderator ascertaining the view of the Assembly by asking in person commissioners to stamp their feet or stand and at the same time asking online commissioners to “raise a hand” on Zoom.

6. Proposed Committees and Tellers

Committee to Prepare an Answer to His Majesty’s Most Gracious Letter

Very Rev Sally Foster-Fulton

Very Rev Prof David Fergusson 4

Mr Derek Peters 292

Mrs Lynn Podger 339

Panel of Tellers

Rev Dr Ursula Glienecke 6

Dr Gemma King 22

Mr Robert Burgon 60

Rev Hayley Cohen 61

Rev Alexander Currie 97

Mr Ian Murphy 114

Miss Jennifer Boag 139

Mr John Kitson 154

Rev Alasdair MacMillan 181

Rev Jim Teasdale 203

Mrs Louise Gilroy DCS 236

Mrs Catherine Ross 339

Rev Fiona Lister 362

Mr Matthew Philip 388

Rev Mary Stobo 439

Committee to Prepare Minute on
Deceased Ministers, Missionaries and Deacons

Very Rev Sally Foster-Fulton

Principal Clerk
Depute Clerk

7. Presbytery Overtures

Presbytery of Glasgow

Overture as to The Presbytery Mission Plan Act19

Presbytery of Lothian and Borders

Overture as to The Presbytery Mission Plan Process20

Overture

Overture as to The Presbytery Mission Plan Act

From the Presbytery of Glasgow

Whereas:

1. The Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021) requires each Presbytery to possess an Approved Mission Plan which ‘shall describe how the Church of Scotland’s engagement with Christ’s Mission is to be shaped and resourced in the following five years’ (sec. 2.1.1) and in so doing each Presbytery shall ‘make appropriate use of such ministry posts as may be permitted by the General Assembly so that the number of post holders in each Presbytery conforms to the numbers and timescales set by the General Assembly’ (sec. 2.1.1(iii)).

2. The Act is unclear regarding the point in time at which the number of ministry posts is to be met. No decision of a General Assembly has required adherence to the allocated figures prior to the conclusion of the five-year period described in paragraph 1. Whilst the report of the Faith Nurture Forum to the General Assembly of 2022 indicated that ‘The Forum reiterates the decisions of the General Assembly of 2021, that plans be submitted by 31 December 2022, outlining the configuration of ministries envisaged for the end of December 2025, while recognising that plans will run for five-year terms, with annual reviews, as provided for at section 2.3 of the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII, 2021)’ no instruction either from that or the subsequent Assembly instructed a ‘configuration of ministries envisaged for the end of 2025’.

3. The requirement to have an outline configuration of ministries by 2025 is impossible to achieve in a five-year Plan which was to be approved no later than 31 December 2022 in terms of Act VIII 2021.

4. Act VIII 2021 contains no prohibition on a Presbytery granting permission to call to such charges which conform to an Approved Mission Plan notwithstanding that such permission may cause the Presbytery to exceed, for a period, the allocation of ministries described in paragraph 1 above.

5. There is missional benefit in permitting each charge which conforms to the Approved Mission Plan in a Presbytery which has secured such approval Mission Plan being granted permission to call.

6. There is potential for injustice and a risk to the ongoing life of vacant congregations and their participation in mission if, following adjustment to enable conformity with an Approved Mission Plan, such a conforming vacant charge is not granted permission to call until the number of ministries engaged within the Presbytery falls below the allocation of ministries made by the General Assembly under the Approved Mission Plan.

7. This lack of clarity regarding the interpretation of the Act in this regard may be addressed by this General Assembly.

Therefore:

It is humbly overtured by the Presbytery of Glasgow to the Venerable the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, that the General Assembly should for the sake of clarity determine that all vacant charges which conform to the final position in the Approved Presbytery Mission Plan and which in all other respects qualify for permission to call shall not have such permission withheld by the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team (working through the Presbytery Mission Plan Implementation Group) for the reason only that the number of ministry posts allocated to that Presbytery by the General Assembly has, at that time, been exceeded.

Or to do otherwise as to your Venerable Court may seem good.

Proposed Deliverance

The General Assembly:

1. Receive the Overture.

2. Determine that all vacant charges which conform to the final position in the Approved Presbytery Mission Plan and which in all other respects qualify for permission to call shall not have such permission withheld by the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team (working through the Presbytery Mission Plan Implementation Group) for the reason only that the number of ministry posts allocated to that Presbytery by the General Assembly has, at that time, been exceeded.

Overture

Overture as to The Presbytery Mission Plan Process

From the Presbytery of Lothian & Borders

Whereas:

1.1 The Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021) requires Presbyteries, once final approval of a mission plan is achieved, to engage in annual review and development of said plan no later than twelve months from final approval and every twelve months thereafter with a requirement for both the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team (FAPLT) and the General Trustees (GTs) to give approval to the Presbyteries proposals.

1.2 Where no agreement is reached the proposed plan is referred to the Mission Plan Review Panel who are required to respond with recommendations within one month. It is hoped but not guaranteed the recommendations of the Review Panel will be acceptable to all and matters resolved. Should that not be the case, current provision within the Act is for continued conversations to take place until such time as matters are resolved.

1.3 The net effect of The Presbytery Mission Plan Act is a centralisation of power and locates authority in FAPLT and the GTs over Presbytery and local Congregations. The Presbytery brings its plans to them only when it has been approved by local Congregations and FAPLT and the GTs have ultimate authority to approve or decline. Without their annual agreement plans will not be approved and cannot be implemented.

1.4 This centralisation of power stands against the recent practice and declared statements of the Kirk, repeatedly affirmed.

1.5 Whether that is the Church Without Walls report of 2001, the radical action plan of 2019, the Faith Action Plan of 2020 or the D10 report of 2022, there is an emphasis on the national serving the local with a recognition the sharp end of mission is the congregation and all other levels of our denomination are purposed to support it.

1.5.1 When talking about the relationship between local, regional and national, Church Without Walls writes, “Local church is the focus of action – the place of initiative, questions and vision. Our vision is of local churches discovering their vision of what God is doing and joining in. Regional church is the focus of support – the place of oversight, encouragement and appropriate accountability. The role of Presbytery needs to be radically revisited. Central church is the focus of essential servicing and national role – the place of ensuring equity and fostering links with national and international institutions. The role of the centre needs to be revamped in the light of the new roles of Presbyteries.” At no point in the report does it place final authority over local expressions of mission with anyone other than local parties. Every other area of the church exists to support the local.

1.6 In 2021 The Special Commission on the Effectiveness of the Presbyterian Form of Church Government stated in section 5.3, “It is important that we acknowledge the perceived and real gulf between local, regional and national expressions of the Church of Scotland, caused by a feeling of distance and disengagement leading to cynicism and mistrust in decision making.” For a special commission to recognise and report this reflects a growing awareness that by 2021, the year the Presbytery Mission Plan Act was approved there was a noticeable dissonance between national, regional and local.

1.7 As illustrated above, the General Assembly through its reports committees and commissions, has prioritised the local. The national serves the local as does the regional. To have a situation where national bodies can impose a shape on local church stands against long held principles and we humbly submit is an unintended consequence of the implementation of the Mission Plan Act.

1.8 Having worked with Act VIII 2021 it now seems right to the Presbytery of Lothian & Borders to request a change from annual approval by national bodies to 5 yearly approvals with the right to offer comment in intervening years. This we believe will maintain appropriate oversight whilst allowing local expressions of church to develop as determined primarily by their local missional context and the presbytery not to put much needed energy into a process of annual approvals.

1.9 Further we believe this is in the spirit of what has gone before in prioritising the local rather than the centralisation of power in bodies who have not lived the missional context of each individual community or congregation.

Therefore:

It is humbly overtured by the Presbytery of Lothian & Borders to the Venerable the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, that the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021) (“the Act) should be amended so as to require only comments from FAPLT and the GTs on an annual evaluation and development, with approval from FAPLT and the GTs only being required every five years, and to that end pass an Act amending the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021) as set out in the Appendix to this Overture.

Or to do otherwise as to your Venerable Court may seem good.

Proposed Deliverance

The General Assembly:

1. Receive the Overture.

2. Instruct that the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021) (“the Act) shall be amended so as to require only comments from FAPLT and the GTs on an annual evaluation and development, with approval from FAPLT and the GTs only being required every five years, and to that end pass an Act amending the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021) as set out in the Appendix to this Overture.

APPENDIX (detailed changes Required to the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021))

[ ] ACT AMENDING THE PRESBYTERY MISSION PLAN ACT (ACT VIII 2021) (AS AMENDED)

Edinburgh, [ ] May 2024, Session [ ]

The General Assembly hereby enact and ordain that the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021), as amended, shall be further amended as follows:

1. Delete the existing definition of “Approved Mission Plan” and substitute:

““Approved Mission Plan” shall mean a Mission Plan that has initially been approved by the Presbytery, FAPLT and the General Trustees and which thereafter has been annually and five-yearly evaluated and developed in accordance with this Act;”

2. Delete the existing section 2.1.2(a) and substitute:

“(a) to be retained beyond the five years from the date of the Approved Mission Plan”.

3. In section 2.2.2, delete “annual” and substitute “five-yearly”.

4. Delete the existing section 2.3.2 and substitute:

“The process of annual evaluation and development of the Mission Plan shall be initiated by the Presbytery, and shall proceed in consultation with FAPLT and the General Trustees but the approval of FAPLT and of the General Trustees to the Mission Plan shall not be required. Once final approval of the Mission Plan following annual evaluation and development is recorded at a meeting of the Presbytery, the Mission Plan shall be re-dated to cover the next five years, becoming the Presbytery’s Approved Mission Plan and an extract minute of the Presbytery’s decision and a copy of the Approved Mission Plan shall be sent to FAPLT and the General Trustees.”

5. Add a new section 2.3.3:

“If a Presbytery fails to carry out an annual evaluation and development of its Mission Plan within a reasonable period of when it was due, a referral may be made by the Principal Clerk to the Presbytery Review Committee.”

6. Add a new section 2.4 headed “FIVE-YEARLY EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MISSION PLAN” and renumber the existing section 2.4 as section 2.5:

“2.4.1 Each Presbytery shall also carry out a process of five-yearly evaluation and development of its Mission Plan so as to maintain in rolling form an accurate, comprehensive and up to date Mission Plan for the shape of church life in the next five years in that Presbytery.

2.4.2 In the year when a five-yearly evaluation and development of a Mission Plan takes place, this process shall replace the annual evaluation and development process set out in section 2.3.

2.4.3 The process of five-yearly evaluation and development of the Mission Plan shall be initiated by the Presbytery, and shall proceed in consultation with FAPLT and the General Trustees. Thereafter approval by the Presbytery, and final approval by FAPLT and General Trustees shall be sought and this process shall follow the procedure set out above at section 2.2, save that the period to achieve final approval of the Plan shall be one month rather than three months. After such five-yearly evaluation and development, final approval and recording of that approval at a meeting of the Presbytery, the Mission Plan shall be re-dated to cover the next five years and that shall become the Presbytery’s Approved Mission Plan.

2.4.4 The first five-yearly evaluation and development of each Mission Plan shall take place five years after a Mission Plan first became an Approved Mission Plan in terms of section 2.2.6, and thereafter a five-yearly evaluation and development shall take place every five years.”

7. In the existing section 2.4.2, to be re-numbered 2.5.2, after “annual” add “or five-yearly”.

8. Delete the existing section 3.1 and substitute:

“Within fourteen days of the date of the Presbytery meeting at which one of the following has been recorded:

(a) the agreement of FAPLT and the General Trustees to the Mission Plan; or

(b) the approval by Presbytery to an annual evaluation and development of the Mission Plan; or

(c) the agreement of FAPLT and the General Trustees to a five-yearly evaluation and development of a Mission Plan;

it shall be open to any twelve or more members of the Presbytery or to any Kirk Session within its bounds to seek a review of the process used by the Presbytery in preparing and approving the Mission Plan (or its annual or five-yearly evaluation or development, as the case may be). This shall be done by sending intimation to the Principal Clerk (who in turn shall inform FAPLT and the General Trustees in the case of a first agreement to a Mission Plan or a five-yearly evaluation and development of a Mission Plan).”

9. Delete the existing section 4.1 and substitute:

“After achieving the final approval of FAPLT and the General Trustees to the Mission Plan (or the approval by Presbytery to an annual evaluation and development of the Mission Plan, or of FAPLT and the General Trustees to a five-yearly evaluation and development of a Mission Plan, as the case may be), and when there are no outstanding requests for review to be heard by the Mission Plan Review Panel, the Presbytery shall proceed to implement the Approved Mission Plan.”

10. In the fifth sentence of section 7(5), after “normal annual” add “and five-yearly”.

11. In section A2.(b) of the Schedule, delete “2.3” and substitute “2.4” and delete “annual” and substitute “five-yearly”.

12. In section A2.(c) of the Schedule, after “annual” add “or five-yearly”.

8. Supplementary Reports

Supplementary Report of the of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team (“FAPLT”)…………………23

Supplementary Report of the General Trustees28

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT OF THE FAITH ACTION PROGRAMME LEADERSHIP TEAM – MAY 2024

Proposed Deliverance

The General Assembly:

1. Receive the Report.

apprenticeship Route

2. Approve the direction of travel offered by the Apprenticeship Route (Context based Education and Training for the Church of Scotland Family of Ministries) towards the rethinking of Initial Ministerial Education.

3. Approve the introduction of a two-year foundational programme to provide a general qualification for ministry, equivalent to a Certificate level education of 120 credits (Section 1.4.2).

4. Approve the framework of the initial two-year foundational programme followed by one, two or three years of further training, as the normal route for ordination to Full Time Ministry of Word and Sacrament and the Diaconate, subject to legislation being brought to the General Assembly of 2025 (Section 1.4.4.)

5. Approve the minimum educational requirement for ordination to Full-Time Ministry of Word and Sacrament and the Diaconate to be a Diploma in theology (240 credits), subject to legislation being brought to the General Assembly of 2025 (Section 1.4.4.4).

6. Note that every encouragement will be given to Candidates for Full-Time Ministry of Word and Sacrament to achieve the completion of a Degree in theology (360 credits) through their initial training or during their first five years in ministry (Section 1.4.4.4.)

7. Instruct the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team to bring such legislation to the General Assembly of 2025, to replace the Selection and Training for Full-Time Ministry Act (Act X 2004) and the Deacons Act (Act VIII 2010) (Section 1.4.4.2).

8. Instruct the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team to explore with the Registration of Ministries Committee, the principle of introducing compulsory continuing professional development for those ordained to Full-Time Ministry of Word and Sacrament, and those ordained to the Diaconate, noting that Readers and OLM are already required to undertake such, post their Initial Ministerial Education (Section 1.5.3.2).

9. Instruct the Assembly Trustees to work with the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team to provide a budget to fund the new programme of Initial Ministerial Education (Section 1.5).

Report

1. THE “APPRENTICESHIP ROUTE” – CONTEXT-BASED EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND FAMILY OF MINISTRIES

1.1 Summary of the proposals

This Report proposes a radical change to the Initial Ministerial Training (IME) pathway for those entering into the recognised (sometimes called national) ministries of the Church of Scotland. The model recommends a two-year Apprenticeship Route (AR) programme which fully incorporates practical training and academic study while being rooted in theological reflection and personal formation in an apprenticeship model. After the initial two-year period, those training would be assessed with the expectation of continuing training which would depend on the individual, their skills, experiences and their calling. This would allow those called to Full-time Word and Sacrament (FTWAS) and the Diaconate to be equipped, encouraged and exercised for future Christ-centred service.

1.2 Background – Why a new way of training?

1.2.1 It has long been recognised that the Church of Scotland needs to reshape our patterns of IME. The Ministers of the Gospel Report to the General Assembly of 2000, initiated this journey by affirming the place of ministry of word and sacrament and the ministry of the whole people of God. Whilst commending the integration of the person and practice of ministry in Christ himself, the Report recognised for the first time the need for the ‘formation’ of our ordained ministers.

1.2.2 Focusing not only on the need to train our ministers ‘to do’ but ‘to be’, led to the approval at the General Assembly of 2019 of the Formation Framework. Eight different areas of formation were identified. This followed the recommendations brought through the Blake Stevenson Report (January 2019) and gives focus to the formation of the inner relationship of a minister with Christ, working outwardly to the development of the skills and aptitudes required for ministry.

1.2.3 Following this trend in theological education of other denominations, our context and delivery of IME requires to be reframed. With five current Academic Providers (Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Highland Theological College and St Andrews) servicing a decreasing pool of candidates, each Academic Provider provides a different course. This is supplemented by a Church programme of additional requirements, with placements, conferences and a Ministries Training Network (MTN) covering a number of areas outwith the academic curricula.

1.2.4 To this must be added the perspective of a changing Church within a changing Scotland. While the Ministers of the Gospel Report highlighted areas requiring attention, our society has changed. With increasing secularisation and marginalisation of the Church, we live with a strong missional desire and need to share the gospel message. This requires to be reflected in our ministry training.

1.2.5 As the Church seeks through its Presbytery Mission Plans to meet these needs, our congregations require that our ministers and deacons are trained for this new context. Further, following the Theological Forum Report to the General Assembly of 2023, The Calling of the Church, the place of ‘call’ of every member is reaffirmed. The integration therefore, of training pathways for those who are ‘sent’ beyond their own congregation, whilst opening opportunities to ensure those who continue to ‘abide’ within their home congregations, becomes a crucial part of our future missional effort. The recently launched Church of Scotland Learning programme will help equip our membership for this task, and a review of our IME provision is now urgent.

1.2.6 It is against this background that we bring our proposals.

1.3 Our vision for the future

1.3.1 The Faith Action Programme Leadership Team (FAPLT), through the work of the People and Training Programme Group, recognises the need to reshape patterns of IME in ways which support and encourage vocations to the recognised ministries. Broadening training opportunities will help resource the ministry of the whole people of God, not least those seeking entry into these specific areas. We therefore now talk of the ‘Family of Ministries’, where each national ministry of Reader, Deacon, Ordained Local Minister (OLM) and FTWAS has their own function and role. Each brings an offering that complements and supplements that of the others, contributing to the calling of the Church. FAPLT seeks to reimagine the mindset that sometimes sets a hierarchical framework around our national ministries. Formation for each is uniquely focused on what they offer into new and developing ministry contexts, requiring formation to be set in the space of the relationship between theological reflection and ministry practice and ensuring that training is set in the context of church communities and parishes.

1.3.2 It is hoped that a new IME programme will:

Integrate a renewed ‘Culture of Calling’ into the life and being of the Church, where the call of every Christian is to follow Jesus and serve him is recognised, be that in a local or national setting.

Enable people to fully discern their specific role in ministry while undertaking a more generalised form of ministry training.

Offer more flexible and more inclusive routes into education and training. This may include those who do not have a strong background in education, but with strong leadership characteristics and experience of Christian life and ministry; or those who may not wish to study to degree level or who may be looking for a more bespoke mix of courses to equip them in their future ministry.

Bring a more fully integrated formation pathway in accordance with the goals of the Formation Framework.

Offer a salaried route into formation which is more affordable and secure for those who enter it and so increases numbers entering.

Achieve greater integration to enable enhanced capacities for reflective practice and a more integrated mix of character, capacities and competencies.

Allow those in training to benefit from the experience, activity and reflection of a stable context, supported by an experienced mentor, by having extended placements in congregations. Within that, shorter-term placements will help provide new and specialised experiences.

Develop a range of courses where those training for national ministries are learning alongside members and elders, thereby creating a sense of partnership in ministry within local churches.

Allow local churches to share and benefit more fully from those in formation and training.

Encourage a culture of calling, where the whole Church is active in identifying potential Readers, Deacons, OLM and FTWAS, increasing the recruitment to the national ministries.

Maintain high standards of theological education by engaging one provider with multiple hubs in the delivery, co-ordination and assessment of the key components of the formation curriculum.

Look for opportunities for ecumenical partnering.

Create a longer season in which someone can discern to which ministry they are being called, with a greater ease to move to a different ministry.

1.4 The essence of our proposal

Deuteronomy 6 is foundational in terms of how one generation communicates the ‘faith of the fathers’ to the next and verses 6-9 make it clear that a whole life approach is to be employed;

‘These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.’ (New International Version)

This is clearly much more than the imparting of information; but points to formation.

1.4.1 The Apprentice Model

1.4.1.1 There is no greater example of this being worked out than in the way Jesus was with his first disciples – and not just in introducing them to his upside-down kingdom values but in how, from the moment he said to them ‘Come and see,’ he was preparing them for the calling that was, through him, upon their lives.

1.4.1.2 The model that Jesus adopted was in effect, that of master and apprentice. He taught them and showed them. He walked and talked and ate and prayed with them. He was forming them and equipping them. And then, under his authority, He sent them out that they might try for themselves, that they might learn by doing. Three years of intensive ‘on the job’ preparation culminating in: ‘Go and make disciples of all nations…’

1.4.1.3 In consultation the People and Training Programme Group have heard mixed responses to the use of the word ‘Apprentice’. On balance, the Group have decided for the time being to keep this wording as it is felt that it best reflects a program or position in which someone learns a trade by working under a certified expert. As further thinking emerges, the Group are open to using other wording or terms.

1.4.2 The Apprenticeship Route

1.4.2.1 In creating a new way of doing our IME, the Church of Scotland requires to achieve a greater integration of the various strands of theological reflective practice, together with developing ministerial character with practical competencies and capacities.

i. The AR would be through a two-year full-time programme.

ii. It would be open to those with a general sense of call to ministry, with selection overseen by a partnership of the national church, Presbyteries and local congregations.

iii. There would be one main placement with one or more short-term placements depending on the needs and interests of the Apprentice. Each Apprentice would be placed within a cohort to provide a sense of mutual support and community, and for particular pieces of training.

iv. This would be a paid appointment with a contract of employment issued through the FAPLT.

v. There would be a broad-based assessment programme of entry to the AR overseen by the National Assessors, focusing on

– Faith journey and expression

– Leadership potential

– Wellbeing and Resilience

– Sense of Call to ‘ministry’

vi. An Apprentice would be appointed to a specific training placement and with an accredited Supervisor.

vii. There would be a required programme of study, conferences and seminars over the two-year period, leading to the award of a Church of Scotland Certificate in Church Studies. This would be equivalent to 120 credits of nationally awarded degree programme.

viii. Areas of study would focus on the following areas:

Biblical Studies

Systematic Theology

Practical Theology and Theological Reflection

Sacramental Studies and Worship

Church History

Missiology

Pastoral Care and Ethics

ix. The programme for each Apprentice would-be set-in conjunction with guidelines agreed by a future General Assembly. This work would be under the direction of the People and Training Team, with a specific post that would relate and co-ordinate the coursework offered by the Academic Providers with the needs of the Church.

x. The obligation of the Church to the Apprentice, and vice versa would cease at the end of the two-year apprenticeship period.

xi. During this time, as discernment conversations progressed for the Apprentice, they could apply to be considered for FTWAS or the Diaconate following our present assessment processes.

1.4.3 Applying for the Diaconate or FTWAS

1.4.3.1 While some applicants presently apply to the national ministries with a certainty of call to a particular ministry, others do not. At present we do not assess on the broad base of call, only to a specific national ministry e.g. someone presenting as an OLM will be assessed for acceptance to that ministry. They cannot change midway through the process to another form of assessment for different national ministry. They are required to begin the process again.

1.4.3.2 We feel that the AR offers those who wish to explore their sense of call to a life in ministry, a firmer foundation on which to build. It may be to one of our national ministries. There will also be a number of opportunities either through locally employed posts within congregations, or as Mission Development Staff (MDS) employed by the national Church as decided by Presbytery Mission Plans.

1.4.3.3 For those wishing to enter into training for the Diaconate or FTWAS, they will enter into the traditional assessment process for those ministries. At this point, the assessment of their call will be a key element, as well as the skills and capabilities that they have extended through their Apprenticeship period.

1.4.3.4 Being accepted as a Candidate for either of these national ministries will lead to the need for further training before ordination.

1.4.4 Training for our Deacons and FTWAS

1.4.4.1 Having such foundational training as the AR should help to meet the requirements for both the Diaconate and FTWAS. Much will depend on how far the Academic Providers will be able to recognise the credits gained through this Church of Scotland awarded certificate and this is discussed further in the Report.

1.4.4.2 Given the changing needs of the Church, and with that the need for new forms and ways of ministry, FAPLT wish to ensure that our present IME programme is replaced with a training programme that is flexible and more responsive to the changing needs of local congregations and Presbyteries. This will require the replacement of the Selection and Training for Full-Time Ministry Act (Act X 2004) and the Deacons Act (Act VIII 2010).

1.4.4.3 This is not without precedent. Following the Second World War, many returning servicemen took up theology studies, achieving a LTh, a licence rather than a degree in theology. Some continued with their education, completing both B.D. and Ph.D., rooting their theology within the practice of the post-war church.

1.4.4.4 While the FAPLT would wish to encourage all those in our national ministries to ultimately obtain a theology degree, it is proposed that the minimum level of theological education for both the Diaconate and FTWAS be at Diploma level (i.e. 240 credits equivalent of a university degree). This would require a Candidate for the Diaconate or FTWAS to undertake at least one or more years of study to obtain a diploma or degree level of education.

1.4.4.5 Ordination will not be the finishing point of study for our ministers and deacons. Consideration requires to be given to whether those entering through this new route, continue in their ministerial training and learning, throughout their ministry, with a compulsory form of study and development.

1.4.4.6 In some exceptional cases, where someone has already achieved a degree level theological education, it may be possible for them to move towards ordination following the two-year apprenticeship.

1.4.4.7 In other exceptional cases, where someone has already accumulated extensive experience within a congregation or congregations, consideration would be given to allowing them to bypass the apprenticeship stage and move directly into a required three-year BD programme. Further, for those showing particular academic ability, encouragement should be given to pursue their education to Masters or Ph.D. level so that the Church of Scotland retains a depth of theological expertise in the future.

1.4.4.9 Candidates would continue to be financially supported by the Church at the same level as the Apprenticeship Route.

1.4.4.10 – Training for the Readership and OLM

1.4.4.10 The Church of Scotland would retain the certificate as the minimum level of education (i.e. 120 credits equivalent) for both the Readership and OLM. Application and assessment processes would also remain the same.

1.4.5 The Implications for our Academic Providers

1.4.5.1 In a changing world it is not just the Church which is impacted by both global and local influences. In our recent conversations with our Academic Providers since 2019, we are more aware of the business and commercial pressure they are under. FAPLT understands better the striving of those who lecture in our theological faculties to ensure that those in ministry are properly equipped and educated to lead the Church at local, Presbytery and national levels. FAPLT has learned much from them, and has appreciated their patience with us as we have so done.

1.4.5.2 Together, we have realised that we cannot continue with five Academic Providers. While this has been openly acknowledged in our meetings with our Academic Providers, getting to that place will require much more work.

1.4.5.3 Following the recommendations of the Blake Stevenson (2019) Report, we need to give our Candidates a more collegiate experience and help them develop good peer group support as they take up their ministries. The commissioning of new courses will though require further financial investment by the Church to provide these.

1.4.5.4 While all of our Academic Providers have intimated their willingness to offer their course framework into further discussions, FAPLT would like to further explore the appointment of one Academic Provider as the primary accrediting body of our ministry courses. This Academic Provider would serve to manage a ‘hub’ of provision using other providers as required and as possible. This sense of ‘hub’ working is one that our Academic Providers have discussed and indeed it has come from them, but does require more thinking to take this forward. The role of the postholder referred to above in 1.2.4.1 (ix) would be a key element within this, working with both the course providers and our present Training Team.

1.4.5.5 Key to this is the use of accredited placements, whereby time spent in placement would contribute to the academic award, with an emphasis on the development of theological reflective and integrated practice within and for ministry. The content of the academic provision requires to be met with a focused, inclusive, supported, flexible, enriching experience for our Apprentices and Candidates, and FAPLT is confident that with a focused provision this can be done.

1.5 The implications for the Church

1.5.1. Finance

1.5.1.1 There are obvious financial implications for the Church particularly as we have been in the fortunate position that for many Candidates their university fees are presently paid through Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) funding.

1.5.1.2 Further work requires to be done on the full costings to the Church, but the Church appointed post to begin the liaison work with our Academic Provider is now crucial.

1.5.2 Supervisors

1.5.2.1 FAPLT fully recognises that this will require a new investment by the Church in the training of Supervisors. A new training programme has already been piloted and further conversation with our Academic Provider is required to ensure that supervision meets the standard required for accreditation for the Apprentice/Candidate. The quality of training and support for our Mentors and Supervisors will be essential, but early indications are that many are keen to do this, and recognise that this will require to be an essential part of their own ongoing ministry.

1.5.2.2 FAPLT also feels that to offer renumeration to either the Supervisor or their congregation would be a key element of support of the Apprenticeship Route going forward.

1.5.3. Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

1.5.3.1 The wish of FAPLT remains for an educated ministry, with each person called to a national ministry continuing to undertake some form of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

1.5.3.2 We would wish to bring our proposals for CPD to a future General Assembly, with some consideration given to the compulsory obligation upon those in FTWAS and the Diaconate.

1.5.4. Capability and competency framework

1.5.4.1 While work continues on this, any new IME programme would require such a framework to work in tandem with the Formation Framework and CPD requirements.

1.6 Conclusion

1.6.1 FAPLT, through the work of the People and Training Programme Group have reached a point where the Church must now take a decision about the future direction of IME. This proposal offers a way to ensure that theology and practice go hand-in-hand, in a way that meets the diverse needs of those wishing to train for our national ministries.

1.6.2 As society has changed in these last years, so must our response as a Church. Having congregations and new worshipping communities that are worshipful, inspired and inspiring, creative, enthusiastic, reflective, pastoral and missional, requires those in our national ministries to be well resourced, well trained, encouraged, resilient and reflective practitioners of Word, Service and Sacrament.

1.6.3 In proposing a new way forward for IME, we honour that which has been achieved in past years, particularly in more recent times when our Academic Providers have worked in the face of increased secularised thinking and have sought to maintain the place of Christian theology, insight and practice within our academic institutions.

1.6.4 New realities now have to be faced. The Church should now take full responsibility for ensuring that the equipping of those we send out to the mission fields of our own communities are prepared for this changing context.

1.6.5 Moving to new models of training and changing from degree level entry to FTWAS to diploma level is a significant change. However, the FAPLT hope that with the support of continued education and practical training throughout ministry, rooted in reflective practice, and a passion for mission, the Church of Scotland will have within those who serve in our national ministries a zeal for the glory of God, love to the Lord Jesus Christ, and a desire for the salvation of all people.

In the name of the Committee

TOMMY MACNEIL, Convener

ALISTAIR CUMMING, Vice Convener (Resource and Presence)

JONATHAN FLEMING, Vice Convener (Mission Support)

EMMA JACKSON, Vice Convener (Public Life and Social Justice)

BILL WISHART, Vice Convener (People and Training)

KAY CATHCART, Acting Secretary

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT OF THE GENERAL TRUSTEES MAY 2024

Proposed Deliverance

The General Assembly:

1. Receive the Supplementary Report.

2. Pass The Church of Scotland General Trustees (Properties, Funds and Endowments) Act 2024 as set out in the Appendix to this Supplementary Report.

Report

1. The Church of Scotland General Trustees (Properties, Funds & Endowments) Act 2024 brings together all the various Acts and Regulations in this area into a single consolidating Act. Primarily, the Act should be seen as a tidying up exercise and whilst much of the narrative in the Act is aimed at making legislation clearer in terms of interpretation, the main focus has been on consolidation, supported by a modernisation of the guidelines and resources which will be part of the Trustees’ “sub” website, a resource likely to be available later in 2024. That said, there are a small number of suggested amendments to existing legislation which are of note, namely:

It is proposed that the requirement for a congregational vote on the disposal of a church or hall building which appeared in Act VII 1995 is discontinued. The burden of maintenance and insurance of buildings falls on local charity trustees (the members of the Kirk Session and, if separate, the Financial Board) and it is felt that the decision of a Kirk Session in terms of disposing of a redundant church or hall building should not be negated by a body which does not have such responsibility. This consideration comes into particularly sharp focus where members who are not active in the life of a congregation nevertheless elect to have a say in the future of its buildings. There already is no requirement for a congregational vote in terms of manse disposal.

Explicit powers are delegated to the Trustees so as to allow the Trustees to instruct works to buildings following an annual inspection and/or five-yearly report and where the congregation has not instructed such works timeously. In addition, it is proposed that, where available, funds held for the congregation’s benefit in the Consolidated Fabric Fund will be applied towards the cost of doing so.

A provision which still appeared in Act VII 1995, providing for the possibility of a petition to the General Assembly for review of a determination by the General Trustees, has been removed on the basis that it is obsolete and/or has been superseded by the terms of the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021).

Some rights of appeal have been updated, to refer to the appropriate delegated body. In section 47 within Schedule 2, a right of reference to the General Assembly has been deleted.

In relation to grants from the Central Fabric Fund, a provision has been added that a congregation will normally be expected to utilise up to 75% of centrally held funds (including those in the Consolidated Fabric Fund and unrestricted reserves in the Investors Trust) towards the cost of the project/works where such costs are in excess of a congregation’s available fabric funds.

In the name of the General Trustees

ALAN F K KENNEDY, Chair

SCOTT RENNIE, Vice-Chair

BRIAN D WALLER, Chief Executive

Appendix

The Church of Scotland General Trustees (Properties, Funds and Endowments) Act 2024
Edinburgh, [ ] May 2024, Session [ ]

Whereas:

(a) The Church of Scotland General Trustees (hereafter “the General Trustees”) are a statutory body incorporated by an Act of Parliament, the Church of Scotland (General Trustees) Order Confirmation Act 1921. The Act simplified the holding of titles to land and buildings which, up to that point, had been held by various councils and committees of the Church. A further Act of Parliament, the Church of Scotland (Property & Endowments) Act 1925, widened the scope of work of the General Trustees, in particular the management and administration of land and buildings. The General Trustees are also a registered charity (number SC014574); and

(b) Through a number of Acts and Regulations of the General Assembly the work of the General Trustees now covers the purchase and disposal of heritable property, the application of sale proceeds, technical and financial assistance to congregations, buildings and insurance, care of and work to buildings, property letting and other related areas of work. The purpose of this Act is to consolidate all the items of Assembly legislation, introduced specially by or for the General Trustees, into one Act with areas of work grouped together in Schedules;

Now the General Assembly enact and ordain as follows:

1. Definitions and interpretation

1.1 For the purposes of this Act, definitions are listed at the beginning of each Schedule.

1.2 Wherever any existing Church legislation is mentioned in this Act and such legislation is hereafter replaced or amended, the section(s) of this Act in question shall thereafter be read as if reference to the replacement and/or amended legislation had been inserted.

2. Schedules to this Act

2.1 In relation to Ecclesiastical Buildings (including their care and works to them), the provisions of Schedule 1 shall apply.

2.2 In relation to the Central Fabric Fund, Consolidated Fabric Fund, Consolidated Stipend Fund and the application of Fabric and Stipend Endowments, the provisions of Schedule 2 shall apply.

2.3 In relation to sales and disposals of heritable property, including the application of a levy on the proceeds of sale, the provisions of Schedule 3 shall apply.

2.4 In relation to manses, the provisions of Schedule 4 shall apply.

2.5 In relation to glebes, the provisions of Schedule 5 shall apply.

2.6 The Schedules to this Act contain provisions which have been divided generally by subject matter for the purposes of ease of reference. There is inevitably some overlap and that division shall not constrain the appropriate provision(s) applying in any given situation.

3. Effective date and repeals

3.1 This Act shall come into effect on 23 May 2024 and the following Acts and Regulations of the General Assembly shall be repealed on that date:

2007 Act XII: Care of Ecclesiastical Properties

1995 Act VII: General Trustees (Delegated Powers)

2013 Reg III: Manse Adjudication Committee

2008 Reg VIII: Application of a Levy on Proceeds of Sale Regulations

2007 Reg VII: Manses

2001 Reg IV Consolidated Stipend Fund

2001 Reg III Further endowment for stipend

1998 Reg I: Work at ecclesiastical buildings

1996 Reg II: Proceeds of sale of heritable properties

1995 Reg VII: Consolidated fabric fund

1995 Reg V: Application of stipend and fabric endowments

1979 Reg VII: Central fabric fund

1972 Reg I: Glebes

Schedule 1

Care of Ecclesiastical Buildings

Definitions

1. (a) “Alteration”: in general any change to an Ecclesiastical Building and includes in particular demolition (including partial demolition), erection, extension, reconstruction, restoration and redecoration except insofar as the same are embraced within the definition of “Repair”

(b) “Ecclesiastical Buildings”: All properties pertaining to a congregation whether or not in use for the purposes of the congregation and in particular but without prejudice to the foregoing generality all Churches, Church Halls, Manses, houses for assistant or associate ministers, Church Officers’ houses, retirement houses, ancillary buildings or outbuildings and properties which are let. Any object or structure fixed to an ecclesiastical building or forming part of the land and comprised within the curtilage will be treated as part of the building. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing pertains to properties owned by both the General Trustees and local trustees.

(c) “FAPLT”: Faith Action Programme Leadership Team or any successor body.

(d) “Financial Board”: The Kirk Session, Congregational Board, Deacons Court, Committee of Management or other congregational authority responsible for finance and for the maintenance of the Ecclesiastical Buildings.

(e) “General Trustees’ Financial Limit”: The financial limit set and reviewed from time to time by the General Assembly on the Report of the General Trustees in terms of section 17 (a) of this Schedule 11.

(f) “Health and Safety Toolkit” (as amended/successor document): The guidance and advice on health and safety for all congregations produced by the General Trustees and available on the Church of Scotland website.

(g) “Manse Condition Schedule”: The document contained in Appendix III of the Joint Report of the General Trustees and the Ministries Council to the General Assembly of 2007 as amended from time to time.

(h) “Presbytery Buildings Officer” (or successor role): Officer responsible for assessment and monitoring of the condition of Ecclesiastical Buildings within the bounds of the Presbytery and for the provision of professional advice to assist congregations with the maintenance and improvements of Ecclesiastical Buildings.

(i) “Professional Reporter”: An Associate or Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland or of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and who has satisfied the Presbytery that he or she carries appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance or such other professional person nominated by the Presbytery and approved by the General Trustees, including Presbytery Buildings Officers.

(j) “Property Register”: The register of the Ecclesiastical Buildings in the form specified in paragraphs 3 (b) and (c) of this Schedule 1.

(k) “Repair”: In general the carrying out of operations to make good and includes in particular restoration and redecoration which do not bring about any change in the character or appearance of the property.

Duties of Congregations

2. The Financial Board shall in each congregation set up a Fabric Committee to take care of the Ecclesiastical Buildings. The Fabric Committee shall be empowered to co-opt persons with appropriate skills to enable it to carry out its work.

3. (a) The Fabric Committee shall complete and maintain a Property Register and a Manse Condition Schedule which shall be submitted annually for attestation by the Presbytery. The Manse Condition Schedule shall also be submitted to Presbytery upon a vacancy in the charge; when permission for Repairs or Alterations to the Manse is being sought; or at any other time when requested by the Presbytery or the General Trustees.

(b) The Property Register shall be in the form approved and issued by the General Trustees and shall contain the following sections in respect of the Ecclesiastical Buildings (except the Manse of the charge):

(i) A list of the Ecclesiastical Buildings and the title upon which each is held;

(i) The level of insurance cover in respect of each Ecclesiastical Building;

(ii) An inventory of furnishings and equipment wherever located;

(iii) Details of all repairs and improvements undertaken to the Ecclesiastical Buildings other than those identified by the Professional or Interim Reports;

(iv) A summary of the urgent and essential items of repair identified by the Professional five-yearly report (whether undertaken by an independent professional or the Presbytery Buildings Officer) or Interim Reports.

(c) The Manse Condition Schedule shall be in the form approved and issued by the General Trustees and FAPLT and shall contain the following information in respect of the Manse(s) of the charge:

(i) Basic information as to address, building type, Listing, insurance cover and service contracts;

a. A description of the internal condition by reference to each room, its current condition, when it was last decorated and/or up-graded and at what cost;

b. A description of the external condition including the garden; and clarification of the relative responsibilities of the Financial Board and Minister with regard to garden upkeep;

c. Details of items such as floor coverings, curtains, and white goods which are provided and maintained by the Financial Board.

4. The Fabric Committee shall inspect all Ecclesiastical Buildings including the Manse by the end of May each year. All matters which are found to require attention at the annual inspection, and at any other time, shall be recorded in the Property Register or the Manse Condition Schedule along with a note of the action taken thereon.

5. (a) The Property Register and the Manse Condition Schedule shall be submitted annually to the Financial Board when it considers its budget for the following year so that reasonable provision may be made for the repairs and renovations required. At the same time, the Financial Board shall consider the levels of insurance cover in respect of all Ecclesiastical Buildings including the Manse to ensure that they are realistic and to make allowance for increased premiums in the following year.

(b) Congregations are required to insure all their Ecclesiastical Buildings through the scheme offered by Church of Scotland Insurance Services Limited (COSIS) or any subsequent arrangements made by the General Trustees to provide a consistent level of protection across all Church property. They are also required to take up covers for public liability, employer’s liability, breach of duty, trustee indemnity and contents cover as provided by the scheme or under any subsequent arrangements.

(c) The General Trustees will arrange for Presbyteries or congregations to undertake regular revaluations of Ecclesiastical Buildings for insurance purposes in accordance with the requirements of the insurer.

(d) Nothing in this section shall preclude Presbyteries from instructing valuations for insurance purposes on the Ecclesiastical Buildings of congregations within their bounds.

6. Where a Manse serves as the Manse of a linked charge, the Fabric Committee which prepared the Manse Condition Schedule shall give a copy of the Manse Condition Schedule to the Fabric Committee of the other congregation or congregations in the linkage.

7. All congregations shall appoint a health and safety administrator and the Financial Board shall consider compliance, risk and safety aspects and issues when considering care of Ecclesiastical Buildings. The Fabric Committee shall ensure that it is in possession of the most up to date version of the Health & Safety Toolkit.

Duties of Presbyteries

8. Each Presbytery shall have a Fabric Committee (the “Presbytery Committee”) to which it shall appoint persons with technical knowledge and experience and appropriate skills and shall empower it to co-opt persons with such knowledge, experience and skills or to obtain such assistance as it may deem necessary.

9. The Presbytery Committee shall consider the Property Registers and Manse Condition Schedules of all congregations within the bounds on an annual basis and shall report thereon to the Presbytery. The Presbytery shall have power to instruct a congregation to undertake such repairs as it may deem necessary and to implement the recommendations of insurance valuations.

(a) The Presbytery Committee shall instruct five yearly comprehensive inspections and reports to be undertaken on all Ecclesiastical Buildings within the bounds, such inspections to be carried out by the Presbytery Buildings Officer where one has been appointed whom failing by a Professional Reporter (“the Five-yearly Report”).

The Presbytery shall be the principal recipient of the Five-yearly Report with copies made available to the Financial Board and the General Trustees.

(b) Reasonable notice of intended five yearly inspections shall be given to the Clerk of the Financial Board or Fabric Convener and to the Minister of the charge and it shall be their duty to afford all reasonable facilities for the carrying out of inspections.

(c) All Five-yearly Reports shall identify i) as “Urgent” all works required for the safety of the public or persons using the buildings and works should be completed within six months of the date of publication of the Five-yearly Report; ii) as “Essential” all works required to keep the buildings wind, water-tight and fit for use; and iii) as “Desirable” all other works including works of modernisation and improvement.

(d) Presbytery Buildings Officers and Professional Reporters shall also have regard to the terms of the previous Five-yearly Report and shall comment on whether the Financial Board has dealt with the Urgent, Essential and Desirable works identified therein.

(e) The cost of all Five-yearly Reports shall be met by the Presbytery where such Reports are undertaken other than by the Presbytery Buildings Officer.

10. The Presbytery Committee shall consider the Five-yearly Reports with particular reference to the items identified as Urgent and Essential in the immediately preceding Report. It shall consult with the Fabric Committee of the congregation concerned before presenting the Five-yearly Report to the Presbytery with instructions as to the timescales, prior to the next Report, within which the said Financial Board shall complete the works classified as “Urgent” and those classified as “Essential”. The Presbytery may instruct an energy survey to be carried out by the General Trustees’ Heating Consultant. The Financial Board shall advise the Presbytery when these works have been completed and, if required by the Presbytery, when an energy survey has been undertaken. The Presbytery Clerk shall inform the Presbytery if such advice from the Financial Board is not to hand within the stated timescale and the Presbytery shall take such action as it deems appropriate.

11. Each Presbytery shall annually prepare and transmit to the General Trustees not later than 31 December, a report containing such information as may be prescribed by the General Trustees, on its diligence in carrying out the provisions of this Schedule 1 within its bounds. The General Trustees shall report thereon to the General Assembly.

General Trustees instructing works

12. Where a Financial Board has failed to undertake work within a reasonable time as highlighted in an annual inspection or a Five yearly Report, the General Trustees, in consultation with Presbytery, may arrange for such works to be undertaken and to apply sums which are held for the benefit of the congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund towards the cost of such works.

Notification of injuries and damage

13. The Financial Board shall notify the General Trustees and Presbytery immediately of any injuries to any persons sustained within any of the Ecclesiastical Buildings of the congregation, and of any material damage (including fire damage) to any such buildings.

Works to Ecclesiastical Buildings

14. Sections 15 to 17 of this Schedule 1 apply in respect of Ecclesiastical Buildings held by or for the benefit of any court or congregation of the Church of Scotland, within the Presbyteries in Scotland and the Presbytery of England and the Channel Islands.

Presbytery Approvals

15. (a) Subject to the provisions in paragraphs 16(a) and 17(c) of this Schedule 1, a Financial Board shall not without first obtaining the approval of Presbytery of the bounds instruct the carrying out of Repairs or Alterations at an Ecclesiastical Building.

(b) Each Presbytery is authorised and empowered from time to time to make provision by way of resolution that the requirement for its approval may be dispensed with in such circumstances and on such conditions as it may deem appropriate. It will have no power to dispense with the requirement for approval of work at an Ecclesiastical Building where:

(i) The cost exceeds the General Trustees’ Financial Limit.

(ii) The cost plus the cost of work at the same building authorised by Presbytery during the previous three years, exceeds the General Trustees’ Financial Limit.

(iii) The cost plus the cost of other work likely to be required at the same building over the following three years, is likely to exceed the General Trustees’ Financial Limit.

(iv) The work is otherwise work which requires the approval of the General Trustees (including the invoking of the General Trustees’ Financial Limit).

Work meeting criteria (i), (ii) or (iii) is hereinafter referred to as work which invokes the General Trustees’ Financial Limit.

In the case of work meeting criteria (iv) (but not work meeting criterial (i), (ii) or (iii)), Presbytery may resolve that approval is deemed to be granted if authorised by the Presbytery Property Convener or some other person or body nominated by Presbytery.

Any resolution by Presbytery hereunder will have no effect until it has, in writing, been intimated to and acknowledged by the General Trustees.

(c) When Presbytery is dealing with applications for approval of work at a building, Presbytery shall consider all relevant factors including the current approved five-year Presbytery Mission Plan, the number of buildings for which the congregation is responsible, whether the particular building is likely to be required by the congregation in the medium to long term, the need for the work in the interests of safety or to preserve the value of the building as a marketable asset and the impact of the proposed expenditure on the congregation’s other commitments such as contributions towards their Giving to Grow allocations. In addition, Presbytery shall consider whether the building in question broadly conforms to the standards and requirements as set out in the Presbytery Planning Land and Buildings Toolkit and, in the case of manses, the relevant statutory minimum housing condition standard.

(d) If a Presbytery withholds approval for work, the Financial Board of the congregation or congregations concerned will have a right of appeal against the Presbytery’s decision to the Appeals Committee of the Commission of Assembly subject to compliance with the following provisions:-

(i) It shall be the duty of Presbytery in such circumstances to advise the Financial Board or Boards forthwith in writing both of their right of appeal and the time limit which applies.

(ii) A Financial Board wishing to lodge an appeal must intimate the same in writing in terms of the Appeals Act (Act I 2014) and thereafter the provisions of that Act shall apply.

(e) When approval has been granted by or on behalf of Presbytery for work which also requires the approval of the General Trustees, the application shall be transmitted immediately to the General Trustees.

General Trustees’ Approval

16. (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 16(b) and 17(d) in this Schedule 1, a Financial Board shall not without first obtaining the approval of the General Trustees instruct the carrying out of Alterations at an Ecclesiastical Building or of work at an Ecclesiastical Building which invokes the General Trustees’ Financial Limit.

(b) The General Trustees are authorised and empowered from time to time to make provision by way of resolution that the requirement for their approval may be dispensed with in such circumstances and on such conditions as they may deem appropriate.

(c) The General Trustees shall not give unconditional approval for the carrying out of work at a church, church hall or ancillary building where the cost of work invokes the General Trustees’ Financial Limit without the opinion of FAPLT having first been obtained.

(d) On making a decision under this Schedule 1 to approve or not to approve of work, the General Trustees will be bound to intimate the same forthwith to:

(i) The Presbytery concerned

(ii) The Financial Board or Boards of the congregation or congregations directly affected and

(iii) In cases where the cost of the work invokes the General Trustees’ Financial Limit and FAPLT has not concurred, that body.

(e) If a decision not to approve work is based on the categorisation of an Ecclesiastical Building in the Presbytery Mission Plan, the General Trustees will be bound to incorporate a statement to that effect in the intimation.

(f) If the General Trustees withhold approval for work, the Financial Board of the congregation or congregations concerned will have a right of appeal against the General Trustees’ decision to the Appeals Committee of the Commission of Assembly subject to compliance with the following provisions:-

(i) It shall be the duty of Presbytery in such circumstances to advise the Financial Board or Boards forthwith in writing both of their right of appeal and the time limit which applies.

(ii) A Financial Board wishing to lodge an appeal must intimate the same in writing in terms of the Appeals Act (Act I 2014) and thereafter the provisions of that Act shall apply.

General

17. (a) The General Assembly on the Report of the General Trustees shall determine and thereafter review at intervals of no longer than 5 years the amount of the General Trustees’ Financial Limit.

(b) The provisions in this Schedule 1 apply irrespective of the body in which an Ecclesiastical Building is vested or the manner in which the titles are held and, in particular, will cover subjects held on lease, and are without prejudice to the need to obtain any additional consents or approvals which may be necessary for the carrying out of work and resulting from any requirement in the titles, the constitution of the congregation or otherwise.

(c) Where a Repair or Alteration to an Ecclesiastical Building is urgently necessary in the interests of safety or for the preservation of the building the Financial Board may proceed to have such work undertaken without obtaining such approvals as would otherwise be required under this Schedule 1 but shall give immediate written notice to Presbytery and the General Trustees of the need for the works and full details of what has been instructed.

(d) Any approval granted by Presbytery and/or the General Trustees under the provisions of this Schedule 1 will, unless acted upon, lapse after a period of three years from the date upon which it was granted.

(e) For works which are more than basic repair or refurbishment, the Financial Board shall instruct appropriate qualified building professionals, including an architect/surveyor and, if necessary, a Quantity Surveyor and it will be the responsibility of the Financial Board to ensure that all contractors and tradesmen engaged in the work are appropriately qualified with accreditation from their requisite trade body.

(f) The Presbytery Buildings Officer shall assess matters such as contractor’s insurance, risk assessment and overall specification of works.

(g) This Schedule 1 will not apply to (a) congregations and Presbyteries out with the United Kingdom but these Presbyteries shall take such steps as they deem wise in their own circumstances for the inspection of all Ecclesiastical Buildings within their bounds and (b) congregations of New Charge Developments until they attain full status.

Schedule 2

Central Fabric Fund
Consolidated Fabric Fund
Consolidated Stipend Fund
Application of Fabric and Stipend endowments

Definitions

1. (a) “FAPLT”: Faith Action Programme Leadership Team or any successor body

(b) “Financial Board”: The Kirk Session, Congregational Board, Deacons Court, Committee of Management or other congregational authority responsible for finance and for the maintenance of the Ecclesiastical Buildings.

(c) “Presbytery Buildings Officer” (or successor role): Officer responsible for assessment and monitoring of the condition of Ecclesiastical Buildings within the bounds of the Presbytery and for the provision of professional advice to assist congregations with the maintenance and improvements of Ecclesiastical Buildings.

Central Fabric Fund

General

2. The Central Fabric Fund shall be used by the General Trustees:

(a) in making grants and loans to congregations for costs relating to the purchasing, building, repairing and improving of Churches, Church Halls and Manses;

(b) at the discretion of the General Trustees, meeting the cost, wholly or partially, of employing Presbytery Buildings Officers; and

(c) in certain other special cases as determined by the General Trustees.

3. In addition to the purposes set out in section 2 of this Schedule 2, the General Trustees may hold a restricted sub-fund for each Presbytery within the Central Fabric Fund, to be administered by the General Trustees and applied as provided for in section 47 of this Schedule 2.

Applications

4. (a) In addition to the prescribed application form, there shall be submitted to the Presbytery of the bounds a schedule containing particulars of the proposals, together with plans (if appropriate), estimates of probable costs and a copy of the most recent abstract of congregational accounts. When dealing with the application, Presbytery shall consider all relevant factors including the Presbytery Mission Plan, the number of buildings for which the congregation is responsible, whether the particular building is likely to be required by the congregation in the medium to long term, the need for the work in the interests of safety or to preserve the value of the building as a marketable asset and the impact of the proposed expenditure on the congregation’s other commitments such as contributions towards Giving to Grow. If, after considering these matters, the Presbytery approves the application, it shall transmit the schedule with its deliverance thereon and the supporting papers to the General Trustees. No application which has not been approved by the Presbytery shall be considered by the General Trustees.

(b) In all cases where financial assistance by way of grant or loan is being requested the application must be considered by the General Trustees prior to the work being commenced.

(c) In urgent cases, where immediate repairs are necessary, the Convener or Vice-Convener of the Fabric Committee of the General Trustees may give leave for the work to proceed without prejudice to subsequent consideration of the application by the General Trustees.

(d) Nothing in these or other provisions of this Schedule 2 shall infer any pecuniary liability on the General Trustees to any person undertaking work in connection with any Church, Manse or Hall.

(e) The General Trustees reserve the right to decline any application where the foregoing provisions have not been observed.

Grants

5. (a) Grants awarded are normally subject to the condition that the title to the property concerned is vested in the General Trustees or alternatively is vested in a body of local trustees under the express stipulation that the property is subject to the regulation and direction of the General Assembly as regards the management and disposal of the property, but the General Trustees are empowered to make grants in other cases where they deem the circumstances to be appropriate.

(b) In considering an application the General Trustees shall give attention to the following points: the Presbytery’s opinion of the proposals, the need and urgency of the work, the financial resources and obligations of the congregation, the efforts made locally to raise additional money for the work and whether the congregation has any outstanding unjustified shortfalls in past givings to the Ministry and Mission or in Giving to Grow contributions. The General Trustees are empowered to call for the production of the congregation’s Property Register.

(c) Grants will be payable on completion of the work and on presentation of appropriate contractor/professional adviser paperwork or invoice, but a portion of the grant can, in circumstances such as contractors requiring deposits, be made available in advance of the work commencing. The General Trustees shall be at liberty to pay grants in instalments, should circumstances require, of up to two thirds of the amount thereof while the work is proceeding, the last instalment being payable on completion of the scheme if the conditions laid down by the General Trustees have been fulfilled.

(d) Grants are awarded on condition that, if the property in respect of which they are awarded is subsequently sold, the General Trustees have the right of reclaiming the amount of the grant from the proceeds of the sale.

(e) The offer of a grant will lapse unless claimed within two years of the date on which it is awarded.

(f) A congregation will normally be required to utilise up to 75% of centrally held funds (including those in the Consolidated Fabric Fund and unrestricted reserves in the Investors Trust) towards the cost of the project/works where such costs are in excess of a congregation’s available fabric funds.

Loans

6. (a) Loans may be made of such amount and on such terms as to interest (including non-liability to interest), repayment etc as the General Trustees, in the particular case, will determine. If interest is charged, the rate in force at the date on which the loan is made available shall be the maximum rate applicable to that loan until it is repaid, unless repayments are in arrears, in which case the General Trustees shall be entitled to charge interest at a rate of three per cent per annum above the Base Lending Rate from time to time of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

(b) Loans will be repayable with interest, if required, in sums and at dates fixed by the General Trustees when the loans are granted. Congregations are encouraged to make complete repayment of capital and interest in shorter time than that determined.

(c) The offer of a loan will lapse unless claimed within eighteen months of the date on which it is offered.

(d) Loans shall be paid only on an Undertaking to repay signed on behalf of the Financial Board of the congregation and supported by an extract minute of the Financial Board agreeing the terms proposed by the General Trustees.

(e) Applications for loans in excess of £50,000 will require the congregation to submit a detailed business plan and cashflow analysis.

Use of monies

7. The General Trustees are authorised to use monies from the Central Fabric Fund to meet any liabilities which may fall on them in respect of buildings in circumstances where, in the judgement of the General Trustees, they cannot appropriately recover the same from a congregation.

Consolidated Fabric Fund

General

8. (a) The Consolidated Fabric Fund was created in 1995 in terms of the Consolidated Fabric Fund Regulations (as amended). It is held by the General Trustees for the benefit of individual congregations and consists of:

(i) Capital Accounts holding funds derived from the sale of heritable properties where title is held in the name of the General Trustees or where title is held in the name of local trustees but is subject to the direction and regulation of the General Assembly as regards to management and disposal; and

(ii) Revenue Accounts holding rental receipts from heritable properties and investment income.

(b) The Consolidated Fabric Fund also holds all congregational heritable properties vested in the General Trustees.

9. The Consolidated Fabric Fund shall be administered by the General Trustees who shall receive donations and bequests directed to it. The net sale proceeds of properties referred to in section 8(a)(i) of this Schedule 2 shall be transferred to the Consolidated Fabric Fund as assets thereof and in terms of this Schedule 2 and shall form additions to existing accounts or the initial amounts to be credited to new accounts as appropriate.

10. The General Trustees as administrators of the Consolidated Fabric Fund shall be bound to meet as and when required the amounts standing at credit from time to time of the accounts.

11. Management of Funds

The funds and assets of the Consolidated Fabric Fund shall be managed by the General Trustees in the following ways:

(i) for meeting the expenses of administration of the Consolidated Fabric Fund, declaring that the General Trustees may, for this purpose, charge an appropriate fee at a rate to be determined by them;

(ii) for meeting their liabilities in connection with the accounts; and

(iii) in respect of any balance of funds, not required for the preceding purposes, for investing in any investment permitted to them in terms of the Church of Scotland (General Trustees) Order Confirmation Act 1921 (as amended) and the Church of Scotland (Properties and Investments) Order Confirmation Act 1994.

12. Introduction of New Capital

New capital arises from the sale of heritable properties or from a transfer from the Consolidated Stipend Fund if so permitted under Section 36 (ii) of this Schedule 2.

It may be introduced at any time and placed on deposit. It may be introduced to share-based Capital Accounts at the beginning of each calendar month. The applicable share price for new shares in such Capital Accounts is calculated by dividing the total value of that Capital Account by the number of shares already in issue at that date. The number of new shares issued in that Capital Account is calculated by dividing the amount being introduced to it by the share price.

13. Dividend and Interest Administration

The General Trustees shall declare a dividend in respect of shares held in Capital Accounts that is normally credited to Revenue Accounts half-yearly. Interest accruing from both Capital and Revenue Accounts is normally credited to Revenue Accounts quarterly.

14. Withdrawal of Capital

Capital may be withdrawn from Capital Accounts subject to Sections 16 to 18 below or in the event of a transfer to the Consolidated Stipend Fund being permitted under Section 36 (iii) of this Schedule 2.

Capital held on deposit may be withdrawn at any time. Capital held in share-based Capital Accounts may be withdrawn at the beginning of each calendar month by the encashment of shares. The applicable share price for share encashment in such Capital Accounts is calculated by dividing the total value of that Capital Account by the number of shares already in issue at that date. The value of the encashed shares is that share price multiplied by the number of shares being encashed.

15. Withdrawals from Revenue Accounts

Withdrawals may be made from Revenue Accounts at any time subject to Sections 16 to 18 below or in the event of a transfer to the Consolidated Stipend Fund being permitted under Section 36 (iii) of this Schedule 2.

16. Application of Funds

The amount held in both the Capital Accounts and Revenue Accounts in the Consolidated Fabric Fund shall be held and applied by the General Trustees for fabric and fabric-related purposes and for limited non-fabric purposes as laid down in Guidance approved by the General Assembly in 1995, as such Guidance may be adjusted and approved by the General Assembly from time to time. The Guidance applies differently to Capital Accounts and Revenue Accounts.

17. New Charges

Any holding in the Consolidated Fabric Fund for the benefit of a congregation which adopts the status of and is constituted as a New Charge shall be transferred by the General Trustees to FAPLT to be held and applied by it for fabric purposes in connection with that congregation.

18. Restriction on use of Funds

Funds can only be applied to buildings where title is held in the name of the General Trustees or where title is held in the name of local trustees but as regards management and disposal is subject to the direction and regulation of the General Assembly.

Consolidated Stipend Fund

General

19. The Consolidated Stipend Fund (hereinafter referred to as “the Stipend Fund”) was created on 1 January 1982 as a depository for the net sale proceeds of glebes.

20. The Stipend Fund shall be administered by the General Trustees and may be invested through the medium of the Church of Scotland Investors Trust or any other body approved by the General Trustees. Any investment policy changes will be put into effect by the General Trustees only after consultation with FAPLT.

21. The General Trustees shall be entitled to an administration charge in respect of their intromissions with the Fund of such amount as may be agreed from time to time by FAPLT and the General Trustees or, failing agreement, determined by the Assembly Trustees.

22. The shares currently held in the Stipend Fund for the benefit of congregations will, subject to the provisions of this Schedule 2, continue to be held for the benefit of those congregations.

Distributions from Fund

23. Each year, the General Trustees will, after consultation with FAPLT, determine the dividend which it is proposed to pay on each share in the Stipend Fund in the following year. It is stipulated for the avoidance of doubt that the General Trustees are empowered to pay a proportion of such dividend out of the capital of the Stipend Fund.

24. The General Trustees will account to FAPLT twice a year in June and December for the amount to be paid by way of dividend on shares.

25. Introduction of New Capital

New capital may be introduced to the Stipend Fund at the beginning of each calendar month or at such other times as may be determined by the General Trustees and the number of shares to be attributed to such new capital will be ascertained by dividing the total value of the capital of the Stipend Fund before the introduction of the new capital by the number of shares in issue at that date, the share value thus produced being divided into the new capital to determine the number of new shares.

26. Withdrawal of Capital

Normally capital may only be withdrawn in the event of a transfer to the Consolidated Fabric Fund being permitted under section 36 (ii) of this Schedule 2.

Such capital may be withdrawn from the Stipend Fund at the beginning of each calendar month or at such other times as may be determined by the General Trustees by the encashment of shares; the value of the shares to be withdrawn will be ascertained by dividing the total value of the capital of the Stipend Fund before the withdrawal of the capital by the number of shares in issue at that date, the share value thus produced being multiplied by the number of shares being withdrawn, in order to determine their aggregate value.

Glebe Finance

27. Treatment of Glebe Sales

The net sale proceeds of glebe land will constitute new capital for the Stipend Fund and these will be introduced as provided under section 25 above.

28. Glebe Rents

Rents from glebes vested in or administered by the General Trustees (hereinafter referred to as “the Rents”) will be collected by the General Trustees but will not form part of the income of the Stipend Fund.

29. The General Trustees will be entitled to allocate support costs, representing collection charges on the Rents and management of glebe land, against the Glebe Fund of such amount as may be agreed from time to time by FAPLT and the General Trustees or, failing agreement, as may be determined by the Assembly Trustees.

30. The General Trustees will account to FAPLT twice a year in June and December for the Rents less the support costs.

31. Application of Income

The dividend on shares in the Stipend Fund and the Rents (net of support costs) will be applied by FAPLT towards the cost of providing for the benefiting congregation a minister and other members of the ministry team who exercise paid leadership in the worship and pastoral life of the congregation. For the avoidance of doubt, this shall not include administrative posts such as Church secretaries or Church officers, or organists.

32. Powers of the General Trustees

For removal of any doubt it is declared that the provisions of this Schedule 2 are without prejudice to any powers delegated elsewhere to FAPLT and to the General Trustees.

Application of Fabric and Stipend Endowments

General

33. In this part:

“The stipend” of a congregation or of a charge means the cost of providing a minister and other members of the ministry team for that congregation or charge.

34. The benefiting congregation in respect of a stipend or fabric endowment will be determined by the General Trustees and will normally be the congregation (a) within the parish of which the subject producing the endowment is or was situated or (b) with which the subject is or was connected.

35. Where any decision to allocate or reallocate or not to allocate or reallocate any stipend or fabric monies (including glebe rents) has been made by FAPLT or by the General Trustees or any determination regarding the benefiting congregation or charge in respect of a stipend or fabric endowment has been made by the General Trustees all in terms of this Schedule 2, any Presbytery concerned or any Financial Board having title or interest may (except where the consent of the General Assembly has been given to the decision or determination) ask the Legal Questions Committee to review such decision or determination. The decision of the Legal Questions Committee shall be final.

36. In implementing the powers conferred upon them under this Schedule 2, the General Trustees shall have regard to the following principles:

(i) It is the law and practice of the Church that the proceeds of sales of glebes are treated as being available for stipend endowment and that the proceeds of sales of ecclesiastical buildings and associated land are treated as being available for fabric endowment. That practice will generally continue but will be subject to the principles laid down in sub-sections (ii) and (iii) of this section.

(ii) If the stipend endowment held for a charge is in excess of its reasonable requirements, the fabric requirements of the congregation or congregations of the charge will be examined and if any congregation is considered to be inadequately endowed in that respect, an appropriate allocation will be made from the stipend endowment of that congregation to its fabric endowment. A stipend endowment may be deemed surplus if it exceeds an amount, after reallocation, which generates endowment income equivalent to one half of a Minister’s stipend at point five of the stipend scale. The General Trustees, after consultation with FAPLT, will seek the view of Presbytery prior to agreeing to any reallocation following a request by a congregation.

(iii) If the fabric endowment held for a congregation is in excess of its reasonable requirements, the stipend requirements of the charge related to that congregation will be examined and if the stipend of the charge is considered to be inadequately endowed an appropriate allocation will be made from the fabric endowment of that congregation to its stipend endowment. The reallocation will constitute new capital for the Stipend Fund as provided at section 25 above. Any surplus remaining will be, subject to the meeting of any shortfalls in contributions to central funds in the circumstances determined by the Assembly of 1996, allocated to the Central Fabric Fund.

Stipend Endowments

37. At each vacancy in a charge, if the value of shares in the Stipend Fund held for the congregation or congregations of the charge exceeds an amount to be determined from time to time by the General Trustees after consultation with FAPLT, Presbytery shall give its views to the General Trustees on a possible reallocation in terms of section 36(ii) of this Schedule 2.

38. When new capital falls to be included in the Stipend Fund, Presbytery shall give its views to the General Trustees on a possible reallocation if (i) the following circumstances exist namely (a) the value of the new capital exceeds such amount as may be determined from time to time by the General Trustees after consultation with FAPLT and (b) the addition of the new capital to the existing stipend endowment held for the charge would result in the value of the endowment held for the charge exceeding the amount determined in relation to section 37 in this Schedule 2 or (ii) the General Trustees or FAPLT so require.

39. On receiving the views of Presbytery on a possible reallocation or if no views are expressed within a period of three months from the reference to Presbytery or such longer period as may be allowed by the General Trustees in a particular case, the General Trustees shall make a reallocation or determine not to make any reallocation but shall not make any reallocation to the Consolidated Fabric Fund without the specific concurrence of FAPLT.

40. Glebe rents shall be applied towards the stipend of the congregation with which the glebe is connected but the General Trustees will have power, in what they deem to be exceptional circumstances, to allocate excess monies either to the revenue account in the Consolidated Fabric Fund held for the benefit of the congregation or to the National Stipend Fund subject in the former case to the concurrence of FAPLT.

41. On the dissolution of a congregation, the endowments for stipend held for the benefit of that congregation will, unless there is agreement by both the General Trustees and FAPLT to the contrary or either body refers the matter to the General Assembly, be allocated to the National Stipend Fund.

Fabric Endowments

42. (a) This section refers to funds held in the Consolidated Fabric Fund for the benefit of individual congregations.

(b) Such funds will be held and applied by the General Trustees in accordance with the Guidance for the use of monies in the Consolidated Fabric Fund as set out by the General Trustees from time to time and approved by the General Assembly and can only be applied to buildings where title is held in the name of the General Trustees or where title is vested locally but as regards the management and disposal of the property is subject to the direction and regulation of the General Assembly.

43. Details of all cases in which the value of the assets in the Consolidated Fabric Fund held for the benefit of a congregation exceeds an amount to be determined by the General Trustees from time to time will be referred to Presbytery which shall give its views to the General Trustees on a possible reallocation in terms of the Guidance set from time to time by the General Trustees and approved by the General Assembly.

44. When new capital becomes available Presbytery shall give its views to the General Trustees on a possible reallocation if (i) the following circumstances exist namely (a) the value of the new capital exceeds an amount as determined in section 36 above and (b) the addition of the new capital to the existing fabric endowment held for the congregation would result in the value of the endowment held for the congregation exceeding an amount as determined in section 36 above.

45. The General Trustees may, in each case in which they consider the circumstances are appropriate, invite the Presbytery to give its views on a possible reallocation and any Presbytery will have the right to give its views on a possible reallocation in any case, whether or not it has been asked to do so by the General Trustees.

46. On receiving the views of Presbytery on a possible reallocation or if no views are expressed within a period of three months from the reference to Presbytery or such longer period as may be allowed by the General Trustees in a particular case, the General Trustees shall make a reallocation or determine not to make any reallocation.

47. On the dissolution of a congregation, 50% of the net proceeds of sale of redundant properties, either vested in the General Trustees or vested in local trustees (whether or not title is held subject to the direction and regulation of the General Assembly), will be allocated to the Central Fabric Fund, subject to the meeting of any shortfalls in contributions to central funds in the circumstances determined by the Assembly of 1996, unless there is agreement by both the General Trustees and FAPLT to the contrary. The remaining 50% of the net free proceeds will be credited to the relevant Presbytery sub-fund within the Central Fabric Fund, to be administered by the General Trustees and the holdings therein to be applied, at the discretion of the Presbytery, to a fabric project within the bounds of the Presbytery.

48. On the dissolution of a congregation with any buildings defined as Historic Properties in terms of Act VIII 2021, the Presbytery Mission Plan Act, the proceeds of sale of all buildings shall be credited to the Historic Property Fund, a designated fund administered by the General Trustees.

Schedule 3

Disposal of Land and Property

Definitions

1. (a) “Central Fabric Fund”: the Fund originally formed in terms of Regulations VII 1979 and now governed by the terms of Schedule 2 of this Act.

(b) “Consolidated Fabric Fund”: the Fund originally formed in terms of Regulations VII 1995 and now governed by the terms of Schedule 2 of this Act.

(c) “Ecclesiastical Buildings”: all properties pertaining to a congregation whether or not in use for the purposes of the congregation and in particular but without prejudice to the foregoing generality all churches, church halls, manses, houses for assistant or associate ministers, Church Officers’ houses, retirement houses, ancillary buildings or outbuildings and properties which are let. Any object or structure fixed to an ecclesiastical building or forming part of the land and comprised within the curtilage will be treated as part of the building.

(d) “Fabric project”: works of repair, improvement and alteration at churches, halls and manses and replacement of and/or purchase of (sites for) churches, halls and manses.

(e) “Financial Board”: the Kirk Session, Congregational Board, Deacons’ Court, Committee of Management or other congregational authority responsible for finance.

(f) “Presbytery”: the Presbytery of the bounds unless the context otherwise requires.

Ecclesiastical Approvals

2. The General Assembly, with reference to the provisions of the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Acts and Orders 1925 to 1995 and of the title deeds of various properties, delegate to the General Trustees all the powers conferred upon or reserved to the General Assembly by:

(One) (a) section 34 (1) (g) (as substituted) and section 36 (as amended) of the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Act 1925;

(b) sections 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Amendment Act 1933 (all as amended); and

(c) section 3 of the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Amendment Order 1978;

and all as amended by the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Amendment Order 1995; and

(Two) the terms of the titles of heritable properties where the trustees holding the same are, due to such terms, subject in any way to the regulation and direction of the General Assembly as regards the management and disposal of the properties or the proceeds of sale thereof, as such terms are amended by the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Amendment Order 1995 (declaring that such properties will include properties of congregations of the former Free Church of Scotland and congregations of the former United Free Church of Scotland where the title was taken in terms of the “Sections for Congregational Titles” approved of for use in the case of properties acquired after 30th October 1900);

so that the General Trustees shall be the sole determining body in relation to the powers hereby delegated, but subject to the remaining terms of this Act.

3. (i) Without prejudice to sections 4, 5 and 6 hereof and to the right of Presbytery to effect Adjustment in terms of Act VIII 2021 (Presbytery Mission Plan Act), all applications to the General Trustees for a determination under the powers hereby delegated for authority to sell or otherwise dispose of any Ecclesiastical Building shall proceed from the Financial Board (and the Kirk Session, if different) with the approval of the Presbytery of the bounds. Such applications shall state the reasons for the application and the purposes to which it is desired that any proceeds of sale be applied.

(ii) The General Trustees shall, on making a determination in terms of section 3 (i), intimate such determination forthwith by notice in writing to the Presbytery or Presbyteries concerned and also to the Financial Board or Boards of the congregation or congregations directly affected. On receipt by the Clerk of the Presbytery of the notice of the determination of the General Trustees, he or she shall intimate the determination to the next ordinary meeting of Presbytery. Any determination authorising the sale or disposal of property will be final and not subject to appeal.

4. With reference to section 3 hereof, in any case where, in the opinion of the General Trustees special circumstances obtain, including, without prejudice to that generality, the situation where the property or endowment under consideration is held for other than congregational purposes or a congregation has dissolved, an application may proceed otherwise than is provided in the said section; and the whole provisions of the said section, including those relative to determination, will have effect with regard to such application and determination, all with such modifications as may be appropriate in the circumstances.

5. With regard to glebe subjects vested in the General Trustees the powers hereby delegated will include power to the General Trustees to determine at any time that any such glebe or part thereof shall be sold or otherwise disposed of, subject only to their consulting with the minister of the Parish and the Presbytery of the bounds, the proceeds of sale or disposal being applied according to the provisions of Schedule 2 of this Act.

6. In the event of the General Trustees being of the opinion that any individual matter hereunder should be determined by the General Assembly or their Commission, they are empowered of their own volition to bring such matter before the Assembly or their Commission for determination.

7. Where any funds which are or may be subject to the terms of this Act are to be applied in the purchase of any heritable property, the Solicitor of the Church is directed to see the transaction carried into effect and also to see that the title deeds of the new property are either (a) taken in such terms that the trustees holding the property will, as regards the management and also as regards the disposal of the same, be subject to the regulation and direction of the General Assembly and that such trustees will (subject to such regulation and direction) have power to sell or otherwise dispose of the whole or any part of such new property and to burden the same with debt or (b) vested in the General Trustees.

8. Where any funds which are or may be subject to the terms of this Act are applied for fabric purposes, the capital of such funds shall be expended only on properties where the trustees holding the same are, in terms of the titles thereof, subject to the regulation and direction of the General Assembly as regards the management and disposal thereof or alternatively are the General Trustees.

9. Any determination made under the powers hereby delegated and authorising the sale or disposal of property will (unless acted upon) lapse after a period of five years from the date thereof.

Application of a Levy on Sale Proceeds

10. There shall be a levy (hereinafter referred to as “the levy”) applied to the net proceeds arising from the sale of all property in every case where the proceeds are required to be credited to the Consolidated Fabric Fund i.e. where the title to the property is either held in the name of the General Trustees or in the name of local trustees who are subject, as regards management and disposal and/or use of sale proceeds, to the direction and regulation of the General Assembly.

11. The levy shall also apply to the net proceeds of sales of property where title is held in the name of local trustees and not subject to the direction and regulation of the General Assembly so far as management and disposal is concerned and where the proceeds would not be credited to the Consolidated Fabric Fund; and in such cases (if the sale proceeds are not held by the General Trustees) it shall be the responsibility of the Presbytery to administer the levy and inform the General Trustees accordingly.

12. The levy shall in all cases be 10% of the net proceeds of sale and will be credited to the Central Fabric Fund.

13. Where, after the net proceeds of sale have been added to a congregation’s existing holding (if any) in the Consolidated Fabric Fund, the total holding is less than £75,000 or such other figure as may be fixed by the General Assembly from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the “base figure”) no levy shall be applied.

14. Where, after the net proceeds of sale have been added to a congregation’s existing holding (if any) in the Consolidated Fabric Fund, the application of the levy would result in that total holding being less than the base figure, the levy shall be reduced to the extent that the total holding shall never be less than the base figure.

15. The General Trustees will provide a form, for the benefit of the Presbytery and congregation, which will show how the levy, if requiring to be applied, has been calculated.

16. Where the levy is applied, the amount raised by it shall be allocated as follows:

(a) Where the proceeds require to be credited to the benefit of the congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund, to the Central Fabric Fund;

(b) Where the proceeds do not require to be so credited but require to be held as a local fabric fund, at the discretion of the Presbytery either to the Central Fabric Fund or to a fabric project in relation to the buildings of any other congregation within the Presbytery or a combination of the two.

17. (a) When approving the sale of property, the Presbytery may recommend to the General Trustees that, prior to the operation of the levy, part or all of the net proceeds of sale shall be applied in the first instance towards the cost of a fabric project already approved by it either in principle or in detail.

(b) Any determination passed by the General Trustees under section 3 of this Schedule 3 may specify, where appropriate, that the net proceeds of sale shall be applied in the first instance towards the cost of a fabric project and any balance remaining thereafter shall, subject to the application of the levy, be credited to the benefit of the Congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund.

18. Sections 10 to 17 of this Schedule 3 shall not apply to the sale of properties of dissolved congregations where the proceeds are destined for the Central Fabric Fund or Historic Properties Fund as provided for in Schedule 2 of this Act.

Provisions in Terms of Proceeds of Sale and Shortfalls in Contributions to Central Funds

19. With reference to the question of unjustified shortfalls, in terms of Act VIII 2003, in contributions to central funds:

19.1 Any heritable property held for the benefit of a congregation which is to be dissolved shall, if the same is not already vested in the General Trustees, subject to their concurrence, be transferred to the General Trustees prior to the dissolution and on the dissolution of a congregation any accumulated shortfalls in contributions to central funds, to the extent to which these have been determined by Presbytery to be unjustified, shall be the first charge on (i) the free moveable assets of the congregation and (ii) thereafter to the extent to which they have not been satisfied from such assets, the free proceeds of any redundant heritable property.

19.2 On the sale of a redundant heritable property as a direct result of a union or linking, if that congregation has a shortfall in its contributions to central funds which has been determined by Presbytery to be to any extent unjustified, the following provisions will apply:

i. in the case of a property falling within the scope of section 3 of this Schedule 3, the General Trustees shall, before making an allocation to the Central Fabric Fund of any surplus monies, set against the same any shortfalls in contributions to central funds to the extent to which these have been declared by Presbytery to be unjustified; and

ii. in the case of properties not falling within the scope of section 3 of this Schedule 3, Presbytery shall look at the whole circumstances of the congregation including (a) its total resources – in particular resources held by it locally and other sources from which it can obtain assistance (b) its commitments in respect of the funding of ministry in the parish (c) its givings record and potential and (d) its future in the context of the Presbytery Mission Plan and necessary buildings policy. If after doing so it considers that following receipt of the proceeds of sale of the redundant property the monies held are in excess of the reasonable fabric requirements of the congregation, it shall consider the funds held by or on behalf of the congregation for stipend purposes and, if it considers that stipend requirements are not sufficiently endowed, may direct that the whole or part of the surplus fabric monies be remitted to the General Trustees to be held in the Consolidated Stipend Fund on behalf of the congregation. If after this exercise the Presbytery considers that the monies held are still in excess of the reasonable fabric requirements of the congregation, it shall determine that part of the proceeds of sale of redundant properties should be applied against shortfalls in contributions to central funds if such shortfalls are declared by Presbytery to be unjustified.

Schedule 4

Manses

Definitions

1. (a) “Adjustment”: any of the forms of adjustment carried out in terms of the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021)

(b) “Appeal”: an appeal to the Ministries Appeal Panel against the decision of the MAC either as a tribunal of first instance or as an intermediate appeal tribunal.

(c) “Charge”: a congregation or linked congregations in full status or a or New Charge Development congregation.

(d) “FAPLT”: Faith Action Programme Leadership Team or any successor body.

(e) “Financial Board”: the Kirk Session, Congregational Board, Deacons’ Court, Committee of Management or other congregational authority responsible for finance and for the maintenance of the ecclesiastical buildings of the congregation.

(f) “MAC”: the Manse Adjudication Committee

(g) “MAC Hearing”: a hearing of the MAC to determine whether the Minister’s Own House shall be designated as the Manse of the Charge.

(h) “Manse Condition Schedule”: the document contained in Appendix III of the Joint Report of the General Trustees and the Ministries Council to the 2007 General Assembly2

(i) “Manse of the Charge”: whichever of the Parish Manse or the Minister’s Own House as shall, in accordance with these Regulations, be designated as the house which is to serve as the Manse of the Charge and in which the Minister of the Charge is to reside.

(j) “Minister”: the minister who at the time of making an application to the Manse Adjudication Committee is currently inducted to a Charge or is considering induction to a Charge.

(k) “Own House”: any residential property owned solely or jointly and severally by the Minister or in which the Minister is otherwise entitled to reside.

(l) “Parish Manse”: the Manse of the Charge provided for the occupation of the Minister and which he or she would normally be expected to occupy in the performance of his or her duties.

(m) “Presbytery”: the Presbytery of the bounds unless the context otherwise requires.

The Basic Position

2. A Minister’s remuneration comprises both a stipend and a manse. Accordingly, before a Minister is inducted to a vacant Charge, Presbytery has to be satisfied that there is a suitable manse within the parish or in close proximity and that all work needed to make it so has been carried out.

3. A Minister has the right to live in the manse and a corresponding duty to occupy it.

4. Every congregation has a duty through its Financial Board to provide a wind and watertight manse which is habitable and to keep it in a good state of repair and decoration during its occupation by the Minister and family. The Minister should not have to spend his or her own stipend to achieve this.

5. A Minister must treat the manse fabric, including fittings and fixtures, with due care and consideration and, where these are provided by the local congregation, must leave them in the manse as the property of the congregation.

6. Presbyteries must ensure that manses are inspected at least once every year by the congregational Fabric Committee, that the Manse Condition Schedule is annually reviewed and that both necessary repairs and agreed annual maintenance and decoration are undertaken.

7. In order to facilitate this process the Minister must allow for suitable arrangements to be made for this annual inspection and the Minister and Financial Board should agree on access being provided for the annual programme of maintenance and decoration to be carried out.

8. The Financial Board must recognise its responsibility to have in place a rota for the systematic internal and external decoration of the manse. (A recommended programme is shown as part of the Manse Condition Schedule).

The Regulatory Essentials

9. It is a requirement that the Manse of the Charge at the very least meets the tolerable standard criteria set out in section 86 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 so that the standards are the same as if the building was being let on the private letting market.

10. The Financial Board must:

10.1 take responsibility for the completion of a Manse Condition Schedule and thereafter be responsible for its revision at the onset of a vacancy, a five yearly inspection or at the completion of major works/repairs;

10.2 ensure that all required works identified in the Manse Condition Schedule are carried out timeously and to a good standard;

10.3 take responsibility for the upkeep of the grounds where these extend beyond the bounds of a reasonable garden surrounding the property. Otherwise the Minister shall be responsible, where the garden is of normal domestic proportions, for maintaining the garden and grounds in a neat and tidy condition. (The parameters for this will be set out in the Manse Condition Schedule);

10.4 budget to meet the costs of the agreed programme of redecoration and repair.

Letting of Manses

11. A manse vested in the General Trustees may in limited circumstances and subject to the approval of Presbytery and the General Trustees be let during a vacancy. Rent received will be credited to the benefit of the congregation in the revenue account of the Consolidated Fabric Fund.

12. The General Trustees will normally only approve a manse let if a congregation is in vacancy and has been given, or anticipates being given, permission to call a minister. In cases where the manse in question is redundant as a result of Adjustment, it should be sold.

13. It is for the Financial Board to ensure that the manse meets the statutory tolerable standard prior to entering into any letting arrangement.

14. A manse vested in local congregational trustees may in limited circumstances and subject to the approval of the Financial Board of the congregation and of Presbytery be let during a vacancy.

15. In all cases, the Financial Board must give careful consideration to the limited grounds on which vacant possession may be obtained, in the light of statutory tenant protections and the difficulties that are likely to be experienced in regaining vacant possession of the manse. If a potential tenant may have difficulty in finding alternative accommodation, whether because of the scarcity of similar-sized letting properties in the area or for any other reason, or is seeking medium to long-term accommodation, the manse should not be let to that tenant.

Manse Adjudication Committee

Powers and Constitution

16. Any application by a Minister to designate his or her Own House as the Manse of the Charge in place of the Parish Manse shall be made to the MAC which shall have power to designate the Minister’s Own House as the Manse of the Charge.

17. Where the Parish Manse falls within the scope of Schedule 3 of this Act (i.e. the title to the Parish Manse is held in the name of the General Trustees or it contains a section placing the trustees in whom it is vested under the control of the General Assembly so far as disposal is concerned), then:

(a) the MAC shall comprise two representatives of the General Trustees, one of whom shall be the Convener, and two representatives of FAPLT;

(b) the Chief Executive of the General Trustees (or his or her Depute) and a nominated senior staff member of FAPLT (or his or her Depute) shall attend each meeting of the MAC and shall be entitled to advise on questions of fact or procedure and to put questions to those appearing before the MAC, but they shall not take part in the making of decisions; and

(c) the Chief Executive of the General Trustees (or his or her Depute) shall act as the Clerk to the MAC.

18. Where the Parish Manse does not fall within the scope of Schedule 3 of this Act, then:

(a) the MAC shall comprise four representatives of the FAPLT, one of whom shall be appointed as Convener;

(b) A nominated senior staff member of FAPLT (or his or her Depute) shall attend each meeting of the MAC and shall be entitled to advise on questions of fact or procedure and to put questions to those appearing before the MAC, but he or she shall not take part in the making of decisions; and

(c) A nominated senior staff member of FAPLT (or his or her Depute) shall act as the Clerk to the MAC.

Pre-MAC Hearing Procedures

19. A Minister who wishes his or her Own House to be designated as the Manse of the Charge shall in the first instance consult with the Financial Board.

20. In the event of the Financial Board agreeing in principle to the Minister’s Own House being designated as the Manse of the Charge, the Minister and the Financial Board shall make a joint submission to the Presbytery or, where the Financial Board does not agree to the Minister’s request, the Minister alone may make a submission to the Presbytery.

21. The Presbytery shall meet separately with the Minister and the Financial Board. The Presbytery shall, after such further investigation as it deems appropriate, and on the basis of the factors set out in Appendix 1 to this Schedule 4, and taking account of the reports referred to in section 22 in this Schedule 4, make a decision as to whether or not to support the Minister’s application to the MAC to have the Minster’s Own House designated as the Manse of the Charge.

22. There must be submitted to the Presbytery written reports from an independent chartered surveyor or letting agent advising on the level of market rent which will require to be paid in respect of the Minister’s Own House and on the level of rent which is likely to be received for the Parish Manse, taking into account factoring and other charges which may be incurred in respect of the letting of the Parish Manse. The written reports shall accompany any subsequent application to the MAC.

23. In the event of:

(a) the Presbytery not agreeing that the Minister’s Own House should be designated as the Manse of the Charge, the Minister, with or without the support of the Financial Board, shall be entitled to submit an application to the MAC. In this case the application to the MAC shall be characterised as taking the matter to an intermediate appeal tribunal, the Minister bringing the matter forward as an appeal or a dissent-and-complaint against the Presbytery’s decision; or

(b) the Presbytery agreeing that the Minister’s Own House should be designated as the Manse of the Charge, the Minister, with or without the support of the Financial Board, shall be entitled to submit an application to the MAC. In this case the application to the MAC shall be characterised as an application to a tribunal of first instance.

MAC Hearing and MAC Decision

24. The Minister shall apply to the MAC for a decision as to whether or not the Minister’s Own House shall be designated as the Manse of the Charge.

25. In determining whether or not the Minister’s Own House shall be designated as the Manse of the Charge, the MAC shall be satisfied all of the factors set out in Appendix 1 to this Schedule 4 have been appropriately addressed, taking also into consideration the independent reports referred to in section 22 above.

26. The MAC Hearing shall proceed in accordance with the Rules of Procedure set out in Appendix 2 to this Schedule 4.

27. Save where (i) the Minister has not been inducted to the Charge and is seeking prior approval to his or her Own House being designated as the Manse of the Charge, or (ii) the Parish Manse is deemed by an independent chartered surveyor to be uninhabitable, the MAC shall deal with an application and shall hold a MAC Hearing only where the Minister is, both at the time of the application and continuously up to and throughout the MAC Hearing, residing in the Parish Manse. Save as aforesaid, where a Minister is not residing in the Parish Manse or has moved into his or her Own House in advance of the decision by the MAC, the application shall automatically be refused.

Post-MAC Hearing Procedure

28. The Clerk to the MAC shall forthwith notify the Minister, Financial Board and Presbytery in writing of the decision of the MAC which may be an interim decision pending the production of such further evidence as the MAC shall require.

29. Within 14 days of the date of intimation of the MAC decision, any of the parties attending or represented at the MAC Hearing shall be entitled to submit an Appeal to the Ministries Appeal Panel.

30. An Appeal must be made on the basis of one of the following grounds of appeal:

(a) that in the course of the MAC Hearing there were irregularities in the process;

(b) that the final decision of the MAC Hearing was influenced by incorrect material fact; or

(c) that the MAC Hearing acted contrary to the principles of natural justice.

31. In the event of an Appeal, a representative of the MAC shall be entitled to be heard by the Ministries Appeal Panel, along with the Minister, the Financial Board and the Presbytery.

32. The Ministries Appeal Panel shall then determine the matter in accordance with the terms of the Ministries Appeal Panel Act (Act VI 2007).

33. In the event that the MAC decides that the Minister’s Own House shall be designated as the Manse of the Charge (and no Appeal is taken to the Ministries Appeal Panel or an Appeal is unsuccessful), then:

(a) subject always to sections 11 to 15 of this Schedule 4, that shall be deemed to be approval in principle for the Parish Manse to be let under a Private Residential Tenancy, the terms of which will require to be approved by the General Trustees or, if the title to the Parish Manse is held in the name of local trustees, by the Financial Board;

(b) the Solicitor of the Church shall act on behalf of the Financial Board in the preparation of a Lease Agreement between the Minister and the Financial Board in respect of the Minister’s Own House; and

(c) the Minister’s Own House shall be inspected on behalf of the Presbytery every five years in terms of Schedule 1 of this Act.

34. In the event that the MAC decides that the Parish Manse shall be designated as the Manse of the Charge (and no Appeal is taken to the Ministries Appeal Panel or an Appeal is unsuccessful), then the Minister must reside in the Parish Manse which shall continue to be the Manse of the Charge.

35. At any time, the Minister may only cease to occupy the Parish Manse once there exists a final decision of the MAC (which is not subject to an Appeal or which has been the subject of an unsuccessful Appeal) that the Minister’s Own House shall be designated as the Manse of the Charge.

Miscellaneous

36. This Schedule 4 shall not apply to the situation where there are two co-habiting adults and both are ordained ministers of the Church of Scotland, are inducted to different charges and are living together in the Parish Manse of one of the Charges.

Appendix 1

Factors for determining whether the Minister’s Own House shall be designated as the Manse of the Charge

(a) That the Minister’s Own House is suitable to serve as the Manse of the Charge taking into account:

a. the location which must be within a reasonable distance of the Charge and the sphere of ministry;

b. the size and internal layout of accommodation;

c. the condition and state of repair; and

d. the potential availability of office and meeting facilities at a church or hall within the Charge.

(b) That there will not be an adverse impact on the financial position of the congregation of the Charge as a result of the designation of the Minister’s Own House as the Manse of the Charge taking into account the following factors:

(i) the requirement to pay a full market rent for the Minister’s Own House;

(ii) the requirement to pay Council Tax, Water Rates, etc for the Minister’s Own House;

(iii) the requirement to pay an agreed share of the repair and maintenance costs of the Minister’s Own House; and

(iv) the likelihood that there may be periods when the Parish Manse is un-let and no rent is being received to offset the payment of the full market rent for the Minister’s Own House to the Minister.

(c) That there are exceptional circumstances justifying the Minister’s request that his or her Own House should be designated as the Manse of the Charge. In coming to its view the MAC shall:

(i) consider such supporting evidence as might reasonably be made available, including medical or social work reports and photographs; and

(ii) recognise that the following situations may constitute exceptional circumstances:

where a Minister is within less than 12 months of retirement; or

where the Parish Manse is not suitable for occupation by a person with a disability or particular health issue, such person being the Minister or an immediate member of his or her family, and cannot be made suitable for such occupation.

Appendix 2

MAC Hearing Procedures

1. The MAC shall be deemed to be acting in a judicial capacity so that the rules of natural justice will apply.

2. The Minister, representatives of the Financial Board and representatives of the Presbytery shall be given the opportunity to make verbal submissions and to speak to any written evidence lodged in support of the application.

3. Professional advisers shall not be permitted to represent the Minister at a MAC Hearing.

4. The Minister, representatives of the Financial Board and representatives of the Presbytery and any other witness permitted by the MAC shall be heard separately and after giving evidence shall be asked to withdraw from the MAC Hearing but may be recalled in the event of the MAC seeking further information.

5. In coming to a decision as to whether to designate the Minister’s Own House as the Manse of the Charge, the MAC shall consider the factors set out in Appendix 1 to this Schedule 4, and the independent reports referred to in section 22 above.

6. The MAC Hearing may take place by audio and/or video conference call or other appropriate medium.

Schedule 5

Glebes

1. Definition

“Financial Board”: the Kirk Session, Congregational Board, Deacons’ Court, Committee of Management or other congregational authority responsible for finance and for the maintenance of the ecclesiastical buildings of the congregation.

2. For the removal of any doubt, no Minister shall have the right to the possession or lease of glebe land, other than such right as may have been or be granted to them by the General Trustees.

3. The General Trustees shall be entitled to grant a lease or right of possession or occupancy to any Minister or Financial Board of glebe land on such terms and conditions as shall be mutually acceptable to the parties.

4. No Minister shall be entitled to grant any lease or right of possession or occupancy of or access to glebe land. For the avoidance of doubt, no rights in respect of glebe land may be granted by a Minister or any Financial Board to any detectorists without the prior written consent of the General Trustees.

5. Before selling or otherwise disposing of glebe land or leasing or granting any right in possession or occupancy thereof, the General Trustees shall consult with the Minister of the Parish or, if the Charge is vacant, with the Financial Board of the Congregation and (except in the case of seasonal grazing or mowing lets or other lets with security of tenure for a period of five years or less) the Presbytery of the bounds.

6. The net sale proceeds of glebe land shall be treated as the introduction of new capital into the Consolidated Stipend Fund in terms of the provisions of section 25 in Schedule 2.

1 As of May 2024, this amount is £50,000.

2 This is available at: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/resources/building-and-property-resources#manses

9. Standing Orders

Note: Generally, references to “laid on the table” shall include “circulated electronically in advance”.

I. COMMISSIONS

1. Roll of Presbytery. Each Presbytery Clerk shall, by 15 December of each year, transmit to the Clerks of Assembly the number of charges, appointments and deacons specified in section 21 of Act VI 2023 – all as at 30 November immediately preceding.

2. Presbyterial Representation. The Clerks of Assembly will thereafter intimate to Presbyteries what will be their representation in the ensuing Assembly. Any queries shall be settled by the Assembly Business Committee at the request of the Clerks. The decision of the Assembly Business Committee shall be subject to review by the Assembly on Petition by the Presbytery concerned.

3. Question Arising. Should there arise between the month of December and the opening of the Assembly any question regarding representation not provided for in these Orders, the Assembly Business Committee shall have power to dispose thereof.

4. Transmission of names and details of Commissioners. The names, in alphabetical order, full postal addresses, email addresses, charges and types of commission (ie minister, deacon or elder) of Commissioners from Presbyteries, shall be transmitted by Presbytery Clerks to the Clerks of Assembly not later than 31 January in each year so far as they have been elected by that time. In transmitting the names of Commissioners to the Clerks of Assembly, the Clerk of each Presbytery is certifying that to the best of his or her knowledge the Elders named therein are bona fide ruling Elders and are commissioned by the Presbytery.

5. Committee on Commissions. The Committee on Commissions shall consist of the Clerks and the Convener of the Assembly Business Committee; the Principal Clerk shall be Convener. The Committee shall prepare and circulate a list of Commissioners for submission to the Assembly. Along with the said list a copy of the Standing Orders of the General Assembly shall be made available to each member. The Clerks shall arrange to forward to each Commissioner, at least one week before the opening day of the Assembly, an electronic copy of the volume of Reports and Proposed Deliverances and a copy of all Assembly Papers then available.

6. Objections. During the sittings of the Assembly, the Committee on Commissions shall, if called upon, or if it shall appear to it necessary or expedient so to do, hear any person whose Commission is objected to in support of his or her Commission, and also any person or persons who may object to such Commission, and the Committee on Commissions shall have power to settle any such matters.

7. Late Commissions. It shall be competent at any time prior to the opening of the Assembly to lodge with the Clerks of Assembly Commissions which have not previously been transmitted to them; and the Committee on Commissions shall settle any queries as to whether or not such Commissions are valid. Once the Assembly has opened and the Roll of Commissioners has been laid on the table, no further Commissions may be received.

8. [ADDITIONAL WORDING APPLYING TO A HYBRID GENERAL ASSEMBLY] Assembly Hub for online attendees. All Commissioners, Members ex officiis, Corresponding Members, Delegates, Visitors (if any) and Youth Representatives attending the General Assembly online shall require to use the Assembly Hub software application (the “Assembly Hub”) to participate in the General Assembly as set out below. All such persons shall be supplied in advance with login details to the Assembly Hub and training on its use shall be made available. In particular, the Assembly Hub shall be used by online attendees throughout the General Assembly to do the following:

to follow the business of the General Assembly, read sections of deliverance and vote on them;

to submit notices of motion (to amend an existing section of deliverance, to propose a counter-motion to an existing section of deliverance, or to propose a new motion);

to second a notice of motion; and

to indicate a request to speak (ask a question, make a comment or raise a point of order).

8A. [ADDITIONAL WORDING APPLYING TO A HYBRID GENERAL ASSEMBLY] In Person/Online Participation. Commissioners, Delegates, Corresponding Members and Youth Representatives may participate in person or online at the General Assembly. A person shall be designated in advance by the commissioning Presbytery as either an in person or an online attendee for the entire duration of the Assembly. No change to a person’s status as an in person or online attendee shall be possible after 28 March, save only in the following circumstances: if an in person attendee becomes ill and unable to attend the Assembly in person, they shall advise the Office of the General Assembly as soon as possible by emailing pcoffice@churchofscotland.org.uk. When doing so they may request to change to being an online attendee and the Office of the General Assembly shall enable this if possible.

II. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

(a) OPENING SESSION

9. Convening. The Commissioners elected to serve in the Assembly shall convene on the day and at the hour fixed for the meeting of the Assembly, and, after prayer by the Moderator of the preceding Assembly, the List of Commissioners shall be laid on the table.

10. Election of Moderator. The election of a Moderator shall then be made.

11. His Majesty’s Commission. His Majesty’s Commission to the Lord High Commissioner shall then be read and ordered to be recorded.

12. His Majesty’s Letter. His Majesty’s Letter to the Assembly shall then be read and a Committee shall be appointed to prepare an answer thereto.

13. Standing Orders. The Standing Orders shall be laid on the table.

14. Committee on Commissions. The Report of the Committee on Commissions (SO 5) shall be called for and disposed of.

15. Order of Business. The Assembly shall appoint a Procedure Committee, the Convener and Vice-Convener thereof normally to be the Convener and Vice-Convener respectively of the Assembly Business Committee. The Assembly Business Committee shall prepare and circulate electronically before the commencement of the Assembly, a proposed Order of Business for the Assembly. The proposed Order of Business shall be put to the Assembly for approval on the opening day.

(b) PROCEDURE COMMITTEE

16. The Procedure Committee shall consist of the Convener and Vice-Convener, plus the Moderator, the Clerks, the Procurator and the Law Agent.

17. Remit. The Procedure Committee shall be wholly responsible for any re-ordering of the business of the General Assembly.

18. Selection Committee. Commissioners to the General Assembly shall be free to nominate other commissioners to serve on the Selection Committee. The names of those proposed shall be brought before the first meeting of the Procedure Committee which, in turn and without being limited to those names proposed by commissioners who are not among its members, shall nominate a Selection Committee of twenty commissioners, including a Convener and Vice-Convener, whose function it shall be to select and submit to the Assembly for their approval names of persons to serve on all Special Commissions and Committees appointed during the sittings of the Assembly. Such persons need not be commissioners.

19. Communications. All letters addressed to the Moderator for the purpose of being communicated to the Assembly shall, in the first instance, be laid before the Procedure Committee, which shall advise the Moderator as to their disposal.

20. Materials for Assembly Members: Requests for permission to distribute material electronically to Assembly Members shall be submitted to the Assembly Business Committee before the commencement of the Assembly, and requests received thereafter shall be submitted to the Procedure Committee. Any other Committee concerned should be informed and supplied with electronic copies, if available, of the material to be distributed.

(c) DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES

21. The Lord’s Supper. The Assembly shall celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper at a time appointed by the General Assembly at its opening session.

22. Acts of Worship. The Moderator shall be responsible to the Assembly for the conduct of all acts of worship, and shall consult the Assembly Business Committee or the Procedure Committee anent any proposed innovation in such conduct.

(d) MISCELLANEOUS

23. Minutes. The minutes of each day’s proceedings, if available, together with the Agenda for the following day or days, intimations of meetings of Committees, and Notices of Motion, shall be circulated as the “Assembly Papers”, and shall be made available for all members. The Minutes, being taken as read and full opportunity having been given for correction, shall be approved as available. It shall always be in order at the close of any particular item of business to move that the Minute thereanent be adjusted and approved. Before the dissolution of the Assembly a small Committee, appointed for the purpose, shall be authorised to approve the Minutes not already approved by the Assembly.

24. Quorum. The quorum of the Assembly shall be thirty-one, of whom not less than sixteen shall be Ministers. Any Member may at any time call the attention of the Moderator to the fact that there is not a quorum present, and if, on a count being made, it is found that such is the case, it shall be the duty of the Moderator to suspend or adjourn the session.

25. Tellers. The Assembly Business Committee shall submit for the approval of the Assembly at their first session a proposed Panel of Tellers. (See SO 105.)

26. Acts of Assembly. The Committee on Commissions (SO 5) shall arrange for the text of the Acts of Assembly to be finalised and shall arrange for a list of the proposed Acts of Assembly to be circulated in advance in the Assembly Paper, which shall be considered on the last day of the Assembly.

27. Examination of Records. Minutes of the Standing Committees of the Assembly shall be examined by the Legal Questions Committee. The Committee shall report thereanent to the General Assembly.

28. Returns to Overtures.

(a) A Committee on Overtures and Cases, consisting of the Clerks, Procurator and Law Agent of the Church (with the Principal Clerk as Convener) shall advise any Committee or individual on the procedure to be followed in respect of measures requiring process under the Barrier Act.

(b) For the avoidance of doubt, measures other than Acts of Assembly may be referred for the consideration of Presbyteries, in which case they shall be presented to the General Assembly in the form of an Overture set out as an Act.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, it is open to the General Assembly to decline to consider any motion of which it believes inadequate notice has been given, considering the nature of its content.

(d) Measures remitted to Presbyteries by an Overture under the Barrier Act shall be accompanied by a note of the voting figures in the General Assembly, the text of the relevant Report and a note by the Clerks explaining any technical or legal matters contained in the Overture.

(e) All Presbyteries shall make a return in respect of every Overture sent down under the Barrier Act. The return shall be made upon the schedule sent electronically to the Presbytery Clerk for the purpose, transmitted to the Clerks of Assembly, and then submitted to the Committee on Overtures and Cases. The Committee shall classify the returns and make a report to the next Assembly. It shall be the duty of the Committee to report not only the number of Presbyteries for and against an Overture, but also the numbers voting in the Presbyteries as reported in the schedule.

(f) The Report of the Committee shall include the text of such Overtures as have been approved by a majority of Presbyteries.

(g) The Assembly Business Committee shall ensure that the Committee’s Report classifying returns is taken by the General Assembly no later than session 2 thereof, and in any case before any debate that in the opinion of the Committee on Overtures and Cases would more usefully follow consideration of the Committee’s Report.

(h) The Report of the Committee shall be given in to the Assembly by the Principal Clerk, with the reply to the debate on the merits of the measure given by the relevant Convener. Both should be available to answer questions, as appropriate.

29. Special Commissions and Committees.

Special Commissions or Committees will only be appointed where the General Assembly has no existing Standing Committee to which the matter under consideration can, in all the circumstances, properly be remitted. In normal circumstances, business proposed by Councils or Committees of the General Assembly or proposed by Commissioners in the course of debate shall be remitted to one or more of the appropriate Standing Committees listed in SO 113. When, from time to time, a Standing Committee requires to co-opt relevant expertise in order to fulfil the work remitted to it by the General Assembly, it should acknowledge the same in its Report to the General Assembly.

30. Closing of Assembly.

When the business set down for the last day of the Assembly has been disposed of, the Assembly shall be closed by addresses by the Moderator to the Assembly and to the Lord High Commissioner, and by an address by the Lord High Commissioner to the Assembly, during an act of worship, and dissolved according to the practice of the Church.

III. MEMBERS NOT COMMISSIONERS

(a) MEMBERS ex officiis

31. These are the Moderator of the Assembly, on election, and the immediately preceding Moderator, the Clerks, Procurator, and Law Agent, and also the Convener and Vice-Convener of the Procedure Committee upon their election.

They have all the rights and privileges of Commissioners.

(b) CORRESPONDING MEMBERS, DELEGATES AND VISITORS – DEFINITION

32. Corresponding Members. Representatives of Departments and Standing Committees as stated in SO 33.

Delegates from other Churches. Representatives of other Churches who come in response to an invitation from the Principal Clerk sent at the request of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team or from the Ecumenical Relations Committee to their Church to send a delegate or delegates to the General Assembly and who are duly accredited by the Courts or equivalent authority of their Churches.

Visitors. Visitors from other Churches who come with a Letter of Introduction from Assembly or Presbytery Clerks or equivalent officer of their Church.

33. Corresponding Members

1. (a) Each of the following bodies shall have the right to appoint for each day of the General Assembly, one member or staff-member to act as a Corresponding Member: Faith Action Programme Leadership Team, Social Care Council, Ecumenical Relations Committee, General Trustees, Church of Scotland Guild, Trustees of the Housing and Loan Fund, the Legal Questions Committee, the Nomination Committee, Safeguarding Committee, Stewardship and Finance Department, the Church of Scotland Pension Trustees and the Theological Forum.

(b) Each such body will advise the Assembly Business Committee not less than one week before the commencement of the General Assembly of the name of the Corresponding Member appointed for each day. The names of Corresponding Members appointed under this Standing Order shall be included in the Assembly Papers.

2. The Chief Officer, the Head of Faith Action, the Secretary of the Social Care Council, the Ecumenical Officer, the Editor of Life and Work, the General Treasurer, the Head of Human Resources, the Convener of the Nomination Committee, the Scottish Churches’ Parliamentary Officer and the Head of Communications shall be Corresponding Members when not Commissioners.

3. The Assembly Trustees, being the Charity Trustees of the Unincorporated Councils and Committees of the General Assembly, shall also be Corresponding Members when not Commissioners.

34. Status. Corresponding Members of Assembly shall be entitled to attend all sessions of the same and to speak on any matter before the Assembly affecting the interests of their Council or Committee, where applicable, but shall not have the right to vote or make a motion.

(c) YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES

35. Status

(i) Presbyteries shall be entitled to appoint persons to serve as Youth Representatives as follows:

(a) Each Scottish Presbytery other than Clèir Eilean Ì (the Presbytery of the Highlands & Hebrides) and the Presbytery of Lewis may appoint up to four Youth Representatives.

(b) Clèir Eilean Ì (the Presbytery of the Highlands & Hebrides) and the Presbytery of Lewis may together appoint up to four Youth Representatives.

(c) The Presbyteries of England, International Charges and Jerusalem may each appoint one Youth Representative.

(ii) Each Youth Representative shall be between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five on the opening day of the General Assembly. They shall be involved in the life of a congregation within the bounds of the Presbytery and shall be regularly involved in the life and worship of the Church of Scotland. The minister of the congregation shall provide confirmation of this involvement if asked by the Presbytery of the bounds.

(iii) The names of Youth Representatives shall be passed to the Clerks of Assembly by 31 January each year. If a Presbytery does not use fully use its entitlement to appoint Youth Representatives in any given year, its unused entitlement may be allocated to another Presbytery or Presbyteries at the discretion of the Clerks of Assembly.

(iv) Youth Representatives shall be entitled to speak and move motions but not to vote:

during debates on Committee reports, and

during debates on Overtures.

(v) Youth Representatives shall not be entitled to speak, move motions or vote:

during debates on Petitions or cases, and

during debates on matters affecting General Assembly procedure or Standing Orders.

(vi) Youth Representatives shall not be members of the Commission of Assembly.

Oversight

(vii) The Faith Action Programme Leadership Team shall take responsibility for Youth Representatives and shall extend to them appropriate hospitality.

(d) DELEGATES AND VISITORS

36. Reception. Delegates from other Churches shall be received and welcomed by the Moderator. The Assembly Business Committee is authorised, after consultation with the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team and the Ecumenical Relations Committee, to recommend to the Moderator to invite two specified delegates to convey greetings briefly after all the delegates have been received and welcomed by the Moderator.

37. Status.

(i) Delegates to the Assembly shall have the right to attend all sessions and to speak on all matters before the Assembly, except when the Assembly are exercising judicial functions, but shall not have the right to vote.

(ii) Visitors shall have the privilege of seats in the Assembly but without the right to speak or vote. As in the case of Delegates, the officials of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team, the Ecumenical Relations Committee, or other relevant Council or Committee shall extend appropriate hospitality to Visitors.

38. Oversight. The officials of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team, the Ecumenical Relations Committee, and other Councils or Committees which may be interested in Delegates, shall see that Invitations to Assembly functions are procured for the Delegates, and that the Members of Assembly shall do everything in their power to make the visits of all the Delegates pleasant and profitable.

(e) NON-MEMBERS

39. Guest Speakers. Where any Committee wishes that one of its members or staff members, not being a Member of Assembly, should have an opportunity of addressing the Assembly in connection with the discussion of its Report, the Convener shall seek the permission of the Moderator; for the avoidance of doubt, such permission may be sought during a debate. Where any Committee wishes that a person, not being a Member of Assembly or member or staff member of that Committee, should address the Assembly, the Convener shall submit the name of such person for approval to the Assembly Business Committee before the Assembly opens, or to the Procedure Committee during the sittings of the Assembly, and the decision of the Assembly Business Committee or Procedure Committee shall be final, unless the Assembly themselves shall resolve in terms of SO 129 hereof to dispense with the observance of Standing Orders in respect of that particular matter.

40. Conference Sessions. The Assembly Business Committee, or the Procedure Committee, in consultation with other Councils and Committees as appropriate may invite the General Assembly to meet in conference sessions and arrange for guest speakers to address such sessions. Councils and Committees shall also be free to invite guests, whom they consider to have a particular interest in the matter under discussion, to participate in the debate. When the General Assembly is meeting in conference no resolutions shall be framed or decisions taken. Expert speakers invited to address the conference shall be allowed a maximum time of fifteen minutes. All other speeches shall be limited to five minutes.

IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND OVERTURES

(a) REPORTS

41. Transmission. Reports of all Committees reporting to the Assembly shall be transmitted to the Clerks of Assembly not later than the first Monday after the third Tuesday in February each year provided that, by arrangement with the Clerk of Assembly, a Statement and Proposed Deliverance on the Budget of the Church, report on Congregational Statistics as reported by Kirk Sessions through Presbyteries and report on Statistics of Ministry may be submitted at a later date, but in time to be included and circulated with the Reports. All Reports shall be accompanied by the Deliverance to be proposed to the Assembly, and when the Proposed Deliverance exceeds two sections each section shall be numbered consecutively.

42. Circulation of Reports and Proposed Deliverances. It shall be the duty of the Clerks to arrange for all such Reports and Proposed Deliverances to be circulated in the authorised form to each Member of Assembly at least one week before the day of meeting. All Reports so distributed shall be held as read. Each Committee shall immediately after the rising of the Assembly furnish the publisher of the Reports with the number required for circulation.

43. Oral Reports and Reports of Sub-Committees. Oral Reports shall not be received, and no Sub-Committee shall give any Report to the Assembly.

44. In Retentis. Reports shall not be engrossed in the Minutes, but a copy of each Report certified by one of the Clerks as being that given to the Assembly, shall be kept in retentis; and the Reports thus collected shall be preserved among the other Records of the Assembly.

45. Questions on Reports. After the Deliverance on the Report of any Committee has been moved and seconded the Assembly, before dealing with any other motions or amendments thereon, shall have opportunity for asking questions on the Report, this being without prejudice to the right of Members to put questions, with the leave of the Assembly, at any subsequent stage.

[ADDITIONAL WORDING APPLYING TO A HYBRID GENERAL ASSEMBLY]

[If attending in person]: If such a person has a device enabling them to do so, they may use the Assembly Hub as in the subsequent paragraph. Alternatively an in person attendee may use one of the stations placed in the Hall to enter a “request to speak” against the relevant section(s) of deliverance.

[If attending online]: Commissioners, Delegates, Youth Representatives and Corresponding Members who wish to ask a question or to make a comment on a Report should use the Assembly Hub to enter a “request to speak” against the relevant section(s) of deliverance.

46. Questions requiring Notice. It shall be in order to ask questions of the Convener regarding any matter in the care of the Committee to which no reference is made in the Report but in such cases timeous notice shall be given to the Convener.

[ADDITIONAL WORDING APPLYING TO A HYBRID GENERAL ASSEMBLY]

[If attending in person]: If such a person has a device enabling them to do so, they may use the Assembly Hub as in the subsequent paragraph. Alternatively an in person attendee may use one of the stations placed in the Hall to enter a “request to speak” against the relevant section(s) of deliverance.

[If attending online]: Commissioners, Delegates, Youth Representatives and Corresponding Members who wish to ask a question or to make a comment on a Report should use the Assembly Hub to enter a “request to speak” against the relevant section(s) of deliverance.

47. Deliverance. The final Deliverance of the Assembly upon the Report of any Committee shall follow immediately after the consideration of that Report, except in the event of a special reason for the contrary having been approved by the Assembly and recorded in the Minutes.

48. Late Reports. Reports of Committees appointed during the sittings of Assembly, if they propose any motion not already circulated to Members, shall be submitted to the Clerks of Assembly at least one day prior to their being considered, and included in the “Assembly Papers”.

(b) OVERTURES

49. Transmissions. All Overtures from Presbyteries passed on or before 24 April shall be sent to the Clerks of Assembly not later than that date in each year. Overtures from Commissioners shall be lodged with the Clerks not later than noon on the third last day of the meeting of the Assembly, unless the Assembly for special reason decide otherwise.

50. Circulation of Overtures. The Clerks shall arrange for the circulation of Overtures to Commissioners, at the expense (if any) of those promoting them, either with the papers for Cases or in the “Assembly Papers”.

51. Form. Overtures should contain a brief statement of the matter to be brought before the Assembly together with a Proposed Deliverance, of which the first section shall be “The General Assembly receive the Overture”.

52. When Taken. Overtures relating to matters under the care of the Committees of the Church whose reports are on the Agenda for one of the first two days of the Assembly shall be assigned by the Assembly Business Committee (unless the Committee on Overtures and Cases decides not to transmit) to the place in the discussion at which they shall be introduced to the Assembly. In other cases this shall be done by the Procedure Committee. When the Proposed Deliverance of an Overture is capable of being treated as a counter-motion or amendment to the Proposed Deliverance of a Committee, or as a new section of such Proposed Deliverance, it shall be so treated.

53. Grouping. Overtures on the same or cognate subjects shall be grouped by the Assembly Business Committee or Procedure Committee of the Assembly and only one speaker shall be heard introducing each group.

54. Introduction. An Overture from a Presbytery may be introduced by any member of that Presbytery, specially appointed for the purpose, at the bar; or by any one of its Commissioners to the Assembly in his or her place as a Commissioner.

(c) GENERAL

55. Matters Relating to Stipend. It shall not be competent for the Assembly, without due notice of motion in the hands of Commissioners in proper form (for example as a Proposed Deliverance, Notice of Motion or Crave of a Petition), to debate any proposal which might impact directly on or which might bring about binding changes to the terms and conditions of ministers which relate to stipend or stipend scales.

56. Proposals with Budgetary Implications. Prior to making any proposal, Commissioners should give due consideration as to whether this will incur the use of additional resources or affect the incoming resources for the Church’s work, ie whether the proposal has budgetary implications. Advice on any proposal can be sought from the General Treasurer. A proposal with budgetary implications must be in the hands of Commissioners in proper form providing due notice (for example, as a Proposed Deliverance, Notice of Motion, or Crave of a Petition). Specifically, to ensure sensible budget controls:

(a) Any proposal which involves potential new or additional expenditure whether of a one-off or recurring nature, must be accompanied by a statement specifying where funding will be found, whether by a reduction of existing expenditure; funding external to the Church or from additional funding provided by congregations.

(b) Any proposal which results in a potential reduction in income, including a reduction in the funding provided by congregations, must be accompanied by a statement of where replacement funding will be found or expenditure reduced to compensate for the reduction in the income.

The Assembly Trustees and/or the General Trustees, as applicable, shall have the right to comment upon any proposal in category (a) or (b) before any decision is taken.

57. Declaratory or Interim Act. The draft of any proposed Declaratory or Interim Act, as also the draft of any Overture which it is proposed to transmit to Presbyteries in terms of the Barrier Act (other than any Overture circulated in the volume of Reports), shall be circulated to Members and laid on the table of the Assembly at least one day before a Motion for the passing of such Declaratory or Interim Act, or for the transmission of such Overture to Presbyteries, is made in the Assembly.

V. CONDUCT OF CASES

58. Commission of Assembly. The rules of procedure for the Appeals Committee of the Commission of Assembly shall be as set out in Schedule 2 to the Appeals Act (Act I 2014). Standing Orders 59 – 61 apply where a matter is being brought before the Commission of Assembly in terms of those powers of the Commission of Assembly not being exercised by the Appeals Committee, or before the General Assembly, being a petition, a reference or an appeal on a matter of doctrine. In Standing Orders 59 - 61 references to the General Assembly shall be taken to refer where appropriate to the Commission of Assembly and all references shall be so construed mutatis mutandis.

(a) LODGING OF PAPERS

59. Appeal; Dissent and Complaint; Petition. The papers in all cases intended to be brought before the Assembly, whether Appeals or Dissents and Complaints against the judgement of inferior courts, or Petitions, should be lodged with the Clerks of Assembly not later than 24 April, and must be lodged not less than fourteen days before the opening session of Assembly; except in the case of judgements pronounced within sixteen days of the meeting of Assembly, in which case they shall be lodged within forty-eight hours of the judgement being pronounced.

60. (a). Reference. In the case of Reference of a matter from an inferior court for the judgement of the Assembly the same limits as to time for lodging of papers in the case shall apply as in SO 59.

(b). Reference of Matter Previously Considered. Where the matter of a Reference has previously been under consideration of the Assembly, the Reference shall state the date when the matter was previously before the Assembly and shall narrate the Assembly’s Deliverance thereon.

61. Answers. It shall be competent for all parties claiming an interest in the subject matter of an Appeal, Dissent and Complaint or Petition to lodge Answers thereto complying with the requirements of this SO 61. Answers may be lodged any time after the Appeal, Dissent and Complaint or Petition is received by the Clerks, but not later than seven days before the opening meeting of Assembly. Answers shall be in the form of articulate numbered Answers to the narrative contained in the Appeal, Dissent and Complaint or Petition, indicating in particular matters of fact that are admitted and denied, and shall set forth a concise statement of the Respondent’s case, together with a crave specifying the action the Assembly are invited to take thereanent.

(b) PROVISION OF PAPERS

62. Circulation. It shall be the duty of the Clerks on receiving papers that are to come before the Assembly in connection with cases to arrange to have these circulated to Members in authorised form.

63. In Private. Papers relating to business dealt with by Presbyteries in private, or which the Committee on Overtures and Cases (SOs 70 - 71) consider should be taken in private, shall be circulated separately and may be dealt with by the Assembly in private.

64. Cost of Circulation of Papers. In cases of discipline brought before the Assembly by the Judicial Commission, by Reference from a Presbytery, or by complaint by a minority of the Court, the expense of circulation (if any) shall be borne by the Assembly Business Committee; in other circumstances by the Complainer or Appellant. In all other cases the expenses of circulating papers (if any) for the use of Commissioners shall be borne by the party having interest in the same or desiring a Deliverance from the Assembly.

65. In Retentis. A copy of every circulated paper shall be kept by the Clerks of Assembly to be retained among the Records of Assembly.

(c) CIRCULATION OF PAPERS

66. Date of Dispatch. A copy of all papers transmitted to the Clerks of Assembly not later than 24 April shall be forwarded by them to each Member of Assembly at least one week before the opening day of the Assembly.

67. In Private. The Clerks of Assembly shall not issue in advance to Members the papers in cases which they think require to be conducted in private, until specially instructed by the Assembly so to do; but shall report such cases to the Convener of the Procedure Committee, for the information of that Committee, immediately after its appointment.

(d) INTIMATION TO PARTIES

68. Appeal; Dissent and Complaint. In all cases coming before the Assembly by Appeal or Dissent and Complaint it shall be the duty of the Clerks of Assembly to inform the parties on both sides as soon as possible of the time at which such case is likely to be taken by the Assembly. Such intimation shall, unless in a specific case the Assembly determine otherwise, be regarded as sufficient notice.

The Clerks shall further be bound, on application made to them for the purpose, to supply a copy of all papers circulated in pursuance of the foregoing Orders to the opposite party or parties in any case, or to his or her or their duly accredited Agents.

69. Petition. In every Petition it shall be the duty of the Petitioner to make such intimation of the Petition as may be necessary having regard to the nature of the Petition. Such intimation shall be made not more than seven days later than the time when the Petition is lodged with the Clerks of Assembly as provided in SO 59 above; and along with the Petition there shall be lodged a certificate signed by the Petitioner or his or her Agent setting forth the names of the parties to whom such intimation has been made or is to be made. The Assembly may refuse to dispose of any Petition if in their opinion sufficient intimation thereof has not been made.

(e) TRANSMISSION TO ASSEMBLY

70. Committee on Overtures and Cases. All papers lodged with the Clerks in cases of every sort in terms of the foregoing Orders shall be laid by them before the Committee on Overtures and Cases, which shall consider the same and report to the Assembly.

71. Decision not to Transmit. If the Committee on Overtures and Cases shall decide not to transmit to the Assembly any papers in cases duly lodged with the Clerks of Assembly it shall report the same to the Assembly at their first Session, or at the Session next after such decision, with its reasons for not transmitting the papers, and parties shall be entitled to be heard thereon at the bar of the Assembly. Intimation of a decision not to transmit papers shall be made to the parties concerned as soon as possible, and in time to allow of their being represented at the bar when the decision not to transmit is reported to the Assembly.

72. In Private. The Procedure Committee shall, in its first Report, specify any case which in its judgement requires to be conducted in private, and any case which does not appear to it to be of that character although the Clerks of Assembly may have reported it as such. The Assembly shall thereupon determine by a special Deliverance, at what stage in the proceedings the papers in such a case shall be issued to the Commissioners. In every case which the Assembly appoint to be conducted in private the instruction to issue the papers shall be accompanied by a special exhortation to the Commissioners to keep them private.

73. Proposed Legislation. All Overtures from Presbyteries or from Commissioners which propose the introduction of new or the amendment of existing Acts (or Regulations) shall contain the precise terms of the legislation which they propose; and the Committee on Overtures and Cases shall not transmit to the Assembly any Overture which is deficient in this respect, provided always that the Clerks and Procurator shall be available to assist with the framing of such proposals.

(f) HEARING OF CASES

74. Announcement. Before parties are heard in any contentious case the Clerk shall read the following announcement, viz – “The Commissioners are reminded that justice requires that all the pleadings at the bar should be heard by all those who vote in this case, and that their judgement should be made solely on the basis of the pleadings.” Immediately before a vote is taken in such a case, the Clerk shall read the following further announcement, viz – “The Commissioners are reminded that only those who have heard all the pleadings at the bar are entitled to vote in this case.”

75. Appeal; Complaint; One Appellant. In cases brought before the Assembly by Appeal, where there is only one appellant (or one set of appellants concurring in the same reasons of Appeal) and only one respondent (or one set of respondents concurring in the same answers to the reasons of Appeal) the case for the appellant (or set of appellants) shall be stated by him or herself or by his or her counsel, who at the same time shall submit such argument upon the case as he or she shall think fit. The party or counsel so stating the Appeal shall be followed by the respondent or his or her counsel who likewise shall submit such arguments upon the case as he or she shall think fit. At the close of the statement for the respondent the appellant shall be entitled to be again heard, and the respondent shall also be entitled to be heard in answer to the second speech for the appellant and if, in his or her final answer, the respondent shall state any fact or submit any argument not adverted to in his or her answer to the opening statement for the appellant, the appellant shall be entitled to a reply upon the new matter introduced in the final answer for the respondent. With the exception of this right of reply, so limited, more than two speeches shall not be allowed to any party at the bar.

76. Appeal; Complaint; More than one Appellant. In such cases as those referred to in SO 75 if there is more than one appellant (or set of appellants) insisting on the Appeal, or more than one respondent (or set of respondents) supporting the judgement appealed against, (a) on different grounds, or (b) in separate reasons or answers, each appellant shall be entitled to open and state his or her separate case, and each respondent shall be entitled to make his or her separate answer, and the debate shall be closed with a reply for the several appellants; provided always that it shall be competent to the parties, with consent of the Assembly to make any arrangement for conducting the debate other than herein prescribed, if it shall have the effect of limiting, further than is herein done, the number of speeches to be made from the bar.

77. Appeal; Complaint; Who may appear. Any Member of an inferior court whose judgement is brought under review of the Assembly may appear at the bar in support of the judgement; but, when Commissioners have been specially appointed by the inferior court to support its judgement, the Assembly shall not hear any Member of such court other than the Commissioners so appointed, unless any Member not so appointed but wishing to be heard can show a separate and peculiar interest to support the judgement; and in all such cases it shall be competent to the Assembly to limit the number of Members of an inferior court who shall be heard in support of the judgement under review.

78. Dissents and Complaints. In SOs 75 to 77, “Appeal” includes “Dissents and Complaints” and “Appellant” includes “Complainer”.

79. Petition. In cases brought before the Assembly as the court of first instance by Petition, the party promoting the application shall be entitled to be heard in support of the same; and the Assembly shall also hear an answer from any party at the bar claiming to be heard whom it shall consider to be a proper respondent, and the debate at the bar shall be closed with a reply from the person promoting the application.

80. Reference. In cases brought before the Assembly by reference from a Presbytery the reference shall be stated to the Assembly by a Member of the referring court, specially appointed for the purpose, at the bar if not a Commissioner, or in his or her place as a Commissioner if a Commissioner from the Presbytery. The Assembly shall thereafter hear the parties in the case referred in such order as the nature of the case may seem to require, keeping in view the regulations in SOs 74 to 79.

81. Readjustment Cases. In cases arising from Act VII, 2003, when a request for determination follows a decision of the Partnership Development Committee not to concur in the judgement of a Presbytery, the Convener, or other member of the said Committee, shall be heard at the bar if not a Commissioner, or in his or her place as a Commissioner if a Commissioner, immediately after the request for determination has been stated. After the initial statement and the response by the said Committee when applicable, the General Assembly shall hear at the bar such parties in the case as are not represented by Commissioners, in such order as the nature of the case may seem to require.

VI. ORDER OF DEBATE

(a) ORDER OF THE DAY

82. When the Assembly have resolved that a case or other piece of business shall be taken up at a certain hour mentioned in the Order of Business, such case or other piece of business shall be taken not later than the hour fixed and the business before the Assembly, if not finished at the hour named, shall be adjourned, provided that, in the case of an Order of the Day following the Report of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team, such unfinished business shall not be taken up. If, in the opinion of the Moderator, it would be in accordance with the general convenience of the Assembly, the Moderator may allow the transaction of the business then actually under discussion to continue for a period of not more than fifteen minutes beyond the specified time, but no fresh business shall be commenced.

(b) MOTIONS

83. Time-bound

On the motion of the Procedure Committee or moved as part of the deliverance of the Assembly Business Committee, the General Assembly may resolve that the Report and draft Deliverance relating to a particular Council or Committee’s Report be taken in a time-bound process of debate and decision. Such a motion shall be moved at least 24 hours in advance of the presentation of the Report concerned.

Having so resolved the General Assembly shall operate the following timetable:-

a) Start times shall be allotted to specified Sections of the Report and to the related sections of the draft Deliverance. Discussion of any Section of the Report shall not commence later than its allotted start time, but may begin earlier if debate of the previous Section has been completed.

b) If discussion and debate of a particular Section of the Report has not been concluded within its allotted time, then further consideration of associated sections of the draft Deliverance shall be sisted and the General Assembly shall take up the next Section of the Report.

c) If, at the close of the debate on the last Section of the Report, there is still time before the Order of the Day requires to be implemented or business is due to conclude, then the General Assembly shall return for further debate of any outstanding sections of the draft Deliverance remaining relative to each Section of the Report.

d) If the Order of the Day or anticipated close of business is imminent, then any outstanding sections of the draft Deliverance shall be voted upon without debate, except that other motions circulated in the Daily Papers shall also be taken, without debate, the Convener simply having the right to indicate whether or not the Council or Committee is willing to accept the motion.

e) Where motions appearing in the Daily Papers do not relate directly to the Report and draft Deliverance proposed by the Council or Committee, they will be taken either at the end of the appropriate Section, if there is time available according to the allotted timetable, or at the end of the appropriate Section when the procedure leading to the Order of the Day (or close of business) is being implemented.

84. Right to Move. Any Commissioner to the Assembly may make a motion upon any matter coming regularly before the Assembly; and on rising to do so he or she shall read the terms of the motion having previously handed the same in writing on the form provided to the Assembly Office or other point of collection intimated to the General Assembly. It shall be in order to move a motion regarding any matter in the care of a Committee to which no reference is made in the Report of that Committee, provided that reasonable notice has been given in writing to the Convener before presentation of the Report. The mover of any counter-motion or amendment may reply to the discussion of his or her motion, immediately before the Convener closes the debate.

85. Withdrawal. When a motion has been duly seconded it shall not be competent to withdraw it, or to make any alteration upon it, without the permission of the Assembly.

86. Priority of Deliverance over other motion. The Deliverance on the Report of a Committee shall take precedence of any other motion on that subject.

87. Committee Convener. The Convener of a Committee when a Commissioner, on giving in the Report of that Committee, shall move the Deliverance proposed in terms of SO 41. A Convener, when not a Commissioner, shall be allowed to submit the Report of the Committee, and to give explanations in the subsequent discussion. In such a case the Principal Clerk, whom failing, the Depute Clerk, shall formally move the Deliverance. In all cases the Convener shall have the right of replying to the debate.

88. Introducer of Overture. The Introducer of an Overture, if a Commissioner, shall move the Deliverance; and if he or she is not a Commissioner the Principal Clerk, whom failing the Depute Clerk, shall formally move the Deliverance. The Introducer, whether a Commissioner or not, may answer questions or give explanations in the course of the debate and, if a Commissioner, may reply to, the discussion immediately before the relevant Convener closes the debate.

89. Notice of Motion. Commissioners are encouraged to give advance Notice of motions. Any Commissioner may, during the sittings of the Assembly, give advance notice of Motion on any subject due to come regularly before the Assembly, other than a contentious case. Notices of Motion so given in shall, if received in time to do so, be included in the “Assembly Papers” not later than the day on which the business is to be taken. Such circulated Notice of Motion shall confer no right of priority of moving same, the Moderator being the sole judge of the order in which Members are entitled to address the Assembly.

[ADDITIONAL WORDING APPLYING TO A HYBRID GENERAL ASSEMBLY]

[If attending in person]: If such a person has a device enabling them to do so, they may use the Assembly Hub as in the subsequent paragraph. Alternatively an in person attendee may email a duly completed notice of motion form to the Clerks of Assembly using pcoffice@churchofscotland.org.uk, or may complete and return to the Clerks at the top table or to the Assembly Office, a paper notice of motion form.

[If attending online]: Commissioners, Members and Youth Representatives should use the Assembly Hub to register a notice of motion in advance in respect of the relevant section(s) of deliverance.

[For all attendees]: All persons entitled to do so are asked to register a notice of motion before the start of the relevant Standing Committee’s business slot, i.e. before debate on the relevant Report starts

(c) THE DEBATE

90. The Chair. Every speaker shall address the Assembly through the Moderator, and the correct address is “Moderator”.

91. In Support. When a motion or motions have been made and seconded, any Member (including a formal seconder in terms of SO 95) may take part in subsequent debate.

92. Speeches. (1) Except as provided in SOs 84 and 87, no Member may speak twice on the same question except in explanation, and then only by special permission of the Assembly. (2) Members shall make relevant declarations of interest where the topic of debate makes it appropriate to do so.

93. Point of Order. Any Member may rise to speak to a Point of Order. A speaker is not to be interrupted unless upon a call to order. When so interrupted he or she shall cease speaking, and shall resume his or her seat until the Point of Order is decided. The Member calling to order shall state the grounds for so doing; and the speaker who has been interrupted may briefly reply in explanation, to show that he or she is not out of order, but no other Member may speak to the Point of Order unless with the permission or at the request of the Moderator, with whom the decision of the point rests, though the Moderator may put the point to a vote of the Assembly.

94. There shall be no right of reply to a debate except as provided for by SOs 84 and 87.

95. Limits. All speeches shall be limited to 5 minutes, with the following exceptions:

(i) COMMITTEES

Convener giving in the Report of his or her Committee and moving thereon (seconding to be formal)

15 minutes

Convener responding to a question

4 minutes

(ii) OVERTURES

Introducing an Overture and when the Introducer is a Commissioner, moving thereon

10 minutes

Mover of other Motions in relation to Overture (seconding to be formal)

10 minutes

(iii) PETITIONS

Speeches of Petitioners

10 minutes

96. No Time Limit. The time limits shall apply, except in the following cases:

(a) when the Assembly are debating specific proposals for change under Barrier Act procedure;

(b) when the Assembly are exercising judicial functions;

(c) in Petitions when, for special reasons, the Committee on Overtures and Cases reports that the circumstances demand an extension, and when the General Assembly adopt that opinion;

(d) in any other matter when the Assembly Business Committee (in respect of the Order of Business for the first two days) or the Procedure Committee (in respect of the Order of Business for the subsequent days) declares that, in its opinion, such matter is of exceptional importance, and when the Assembly adopt that opinion.

(d) DEALING WITH MOTIONS

97. Character of Motions. Motions shall be considered as belonging to one of the following categories, and shall be dealt with as prescribed, viz:

1. The original Motion.

2. Counter-Motions – being Motions contradictory or negative of the original Motion or of a substantial part of the original Motion.

3. Amendments being Motions not substantially contradictory of the original Motion or Counter-Motion, but for making deletions, alterations, or additions thereto without defeating its main object.

4. Amendments of amendments already moved and seconded.

98. Moderator to Judge. The Moderator shall be judge of the category to which any Motions shall be considered to belong, and the ruling of the Moderator shall be final.

99. Grouping of Amendments. When to any Proposed Deliverance there has been given notice of amendments which differ from each other only slightly in their general tenor, the Moderator shall decide whether or not to permit more than one of such amendments to be moved.

100. Voting on Amendments. When an amendment (Category 3) has been proposed it shall be disposed of by the Assembly before any other counter-motion or amendment is proposed. However, it shall be in order for an amendment of an amendment (Category 4) to be proposed, seconded and debated, after which the Moderator shall take a vote “For” or “Against”. When all such Category 4 motions have been so disposed of, the Assembly shall complete its consideration of the original amendment (Category 3) and the Moderator shall take a vote “For” or “Against” the original amendment amended or unamended as the case may be. For the avoidance of doubt, it is affirmed that the order of debate for Category 3 and Category 4 motions shall be the same except as herein provided and that the provisions of SO 87 shall apply to both.

101. Voting on Motions. After all amendments, if any, have been disposed of, the Moderator shall take a vote between all Motions in Categories (l) and (2), and in doing so shall adopt the following procedure. A vote shall be taken in one of the methods provided below, between all the Motions in the order in which they were made, beginning at the first. Each Commissioner may vote for one Motion only. If, on the numbers being announced, one Motion has obtained a clear majority of votes, all the other Motions shall fall; but if no Motion has obtained a clear majority, the Motion having the smallest number of votes shall be struck off and a vote taken between the remaining Motions; and the Assembly may determine.

102. Voting for Appointments. In the case of voting for appointments to vacant offices in the Church, where there are more than two nominations the Assembly shall vote separately on all the names proposed, and, unless there be a majority in favour of one over all the others combined, the one having the lowest number shall be dropped, and the Assembly shall again vote on those that remain.

103. Deliberative Vote. The Moderator or Acting Moderator in the Chair shall have no Deliberative Vote.

104. Casting Vote. If in any division there shall be an equality of votes for two proposals before the Assembly, the Moderator shall have power to give a deciding vote; and if in the course of the voting as provided in SOs 100 and 101 above, there should be an equality of votes for the two Motions having fewest votes, the Moderator shall have power to give a deciding vote and the Motion for which the Moderator shall vote shall be retained for the purpose of the next vote of the Assembly.

(e) TAKING THE VOTE

105. The Moderator may, in any circumstances and at his or her sole discretion, ascertain the mind of the Assembly by asking the Commissioners to stand in their places, and shall intimate to the Assembly on which side there is in his or her opinion a majority. Unless the opinion of the Moderator so intimated is at once challenged, it shall become the decision of the Assembly. If any Commissioner challenges the opinion of the Moderator, the Assembly shall proceed to take an electronic vote using a system approved by the Assembly Business Committee. Alternatively, it shall be open to the Moderator, again at his or her sole discretion and in any circumstances, to ascertain the mind of the Assembly by recourse to the use of electronic voting. After all votes have been counted the Moderator shall intimate the result of the voting which will become the decision of the Assembly. In no circumstances shall a second vote be taken on a matter which has already been the subject of a vote by electronic voting. The Procedure Committee shall ensure that Commissioners are familiar with the method of electronic voting and will appoint Tellers to assist Commissioners, where necessary, with the process of casting votes and to assist the Assembly with the process of voting by paper ballot which shall be a competent alternative to the taking of a vote by electronic means in the event of a failure in the electronic voting system.

[ADDITIONAL WORDING APPLYING TO A HYBRID GENERAL ASSEMBLY]

[For all attendees] Quick approval of business: The Moderator shall have discretion to gauge approval, without need formally to vote, of any section of deliverance by combining the following indications and forming a view: having taken into account any “requests to speak” which have been registered, they may ask in person commissioners to stamp their feet or stand and at the same time may ask online commissioners to “raise a hand” on Zoom to indicate approval of a section of deliverance. If following use of this procedure any commissioner requests a formal vote, then the Moderator shall call for an electronic vote to take place.

Where an electronic vote is used, it shall proceed as follows:

[If attending in person]: An in person attendee shall vote using a Bluetooth handset supplied to them at the start of the Assembly. Voting for such persons via the Assembly Hub will be disabled.

[If attending online] An online attendee shall use the Assembly Hub to vote. In the event of a failure in the technology operating the Assembly Hub, online attendees shall vote using Zoom Polls or shall use such other voting mechanism as may be prescribed at the time by the Procedure Committee.

[For all attendees]: The votes from both from in-person attendance and the Assembly Hub shall be added together and the result shall be announced by the Moderator. The voting figures shall be minuted where the Moderator, in his or her discretion, specifically requests this, or where the Clerks of Assembly decide that it would be appropriate to do so. In no circumstances shall a second vote be taken on a matter which has already been the subject of a vote by electronic voting.

(f) DISSENTS

106. Entering. Any Commissioner dissatisfied with a judgement of the Assembly, which has not been unanimous, has the right to enter his or her dissent against it; but no dissent can be given in until the matter to which it refers has, for that session, been disposed of, the Minute adjusted, and the Assembly is ready to proceed to other business.

107. Adhering. When a dissent has been entered, it is in order for any other Commissioner present when that judgement was pronounced to adhere to such dissent. No other’s adherence may be entered.

108. Reasons. A person dissenting may do so with or without giving in reasons of dissent. If he or she dissent for reasons given in at the time, or to be afterwards given in, such reasons shall, if received by the Assembly as proper and relevant, and provided they are given in before the close of the next session (or, when made on the last day of the Assembly, before the close of the same session), be recorded in the Minutes.

109. Answers. If the Assembly appoint a Committee to prepare answers to reasons of dissent, the Report of the Committee shall, except on the last day of the Assembly, be in the “Assembly Papers”; and, as approved by the Assembly, shall be included in the Minutes, if the reasons of dissent have been so circulated.

110. Record of Dissents. Reasons of dissent and answers thereto when not entered in the Minutes, shall be kept in a separate Record of Dissents.

[ADDITIONAL WORDING APPLYING TO A HYBRID GENERAL ASSEMBLY]

[If attending in person]: If such a person has a device enabling them to do so, they may email their dissent as in the subsequent paragraph. Alternatively, an in person attendee may sign the list provided by the Assembly Office.

[If attending online]: A dissent shall be entered or adhered to by sending an email to: pcoffice@churchofscotland.org.uk
with the subject line stating “Dissent against….[insert name of Standing Committee and number of relevant section of deliverance]”. To be recorded in the minute, any such email must be received by the Clerks by the close of the last session of the Assembly.

VII. COMMITTEES AND THEIR MEMBERSHIP

(a) COMMITTEES

111. Committees. The Committees of the General Assembly shall be those listed in SO 113 together with such ad hoc Committees as the General Assembly may appoint from time to time. Clerical services for the ad hoc Committees shall normally be provided by the staff of the Principal Clerk’s Department.

112. Quorum. Save for those bodies where provision is already made for a quorum, the quorum of Standing Committees of the General Assembly listed in SO 113 shall be three. When a meeting ceases to be quorate, business must be suspended. The quorum shall apply also to sub-committees and other bodies constituted from the relevant Standing Committees where such sub-committees and other bodies have decision-making powers, but not otherwise.

113. Membership. The Standing Committees of the General Assembly shall have membership as follows, General Assembly appointments being made on the nomination of the Nomination Committee except where otherwise stated.

1. Assembly Business Committee16/17

Convener, Vice-Convener, 2 members of the Legal Questions Committee (Convener and another member involved more in judicial matters to be nominated by the Legal Questions Committee), a further 6 members with experience of the General Assembly appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee, with the following members ex officio: the Moderator and the Moderator Designate, the Principal Clerk, the Depute Clerk, the Solicitor, the Procurator and the General Treasurer. The Convener and Vice-Convener are also to serve as Convener and Vice-Convener respectively of the Procedure Committee.

2. Assembly Trustees14

12 trustees appointed in accordance with the Constitution and Remit approved at the General Assembly of 2019 (from which shall be drawn the Convener, Vice-Convener, and Administrative Trustee), plus 2 ex officio members: the Convener of the Assembly Business Committee and the Chair of the General Trustees.

3. Audit Committee6

Convener, who shall not be an Assembly Trustee, three voting members appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee, all of whom shall be independent of the Unincorporated Entities and at least one of whom shall have recent and relevant financial experience, and two additional voting members be appointed by the Assembly Trustees. The quorum shall be three voting members, at least one of whom is a Trustee member. The Chief Officer and the General Treasurer shall attend without a right to vote or make a motion. In addition, other officials, as required by the Committee, may be in attendance from time to time without a right to vote or make a motion. Representatives of the External and Internal Auditors, shall be entitled to attend all meetings but without a right to vote or make a motion.

4. Church of Scotland Investors Trust

Trustees are appointed as required, by the General Assembly on the nomination of the Trust.

5. Church of Scotland Trust

Trustees are appointed as required, by the General Assembly on the nomination of the Trust.

6. Committee on Chaplains to HM Forces10

Convener, Vice-Convener and six* members appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee. There is also 1 non-voting member: a representative from and appointed by the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team. *To reduce further to four from 2024 onwards.

7. Delegation of the General Assembly4

The Clerks of Assembly, the Principal Clerk as Chair, the Procurator and the Solicitor of the Church, ex officiis.

8. Ecumenical Relations Committee10 plus representatives, co-optees and corresponding members

a) 8 members appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee.

b) Convener who will act as a personal support for the Ecumenical Officer, and Vice-Convener, appointed by the General Assembly.

c) A representative of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland appointed in virtue of the Saint Margaret Declaration; a representative of the Scottish Episcopal Church appointed in virtue of the Saint Andrew Declaration; a representative of the Church of England appointed in virtue of the Columba Declaration, and 1 representative from each of 2 churches drawn from among the member churches of ACTS and the Baptist Union of Scotland, each to serve for a period of 4 years.

d) The Committee shall co-opt Church of Scotland members elected to the central bodies of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the World Council of Churches (WCC), the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE, formerly the Leuenberg Fellowship of Churches).

e) The General Secretary of ACTS shall be invited to attend as a corresponding member.

f) Meetings of the Committee shall normally be held with all members, representatives, co-optees and corresponding members present, but a meeting may also be called only for voting members, being those appointed under paragraphs a) and b) above. Where the full Committee is meeting, only those persons appointed under paragraphs a) and b) above shall be entitled to vote, but before any vote is taken the views of members representing other churches shall be ascertained.

9. Ethical Oversight Committee9

9 people, each of whom shall serve no more than two three-year terms, to be populated as follows: 3 persons who shall be trustees of the Investors Trust, 1 person from the General Trustees, and 5 appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee; of these 5, 3 will have a social justice and/or world church background; 1 will be a parish minister; and 1 will be thirty years of age or under at first appointment.

10. Faith Action Programme Leadership Team38

The Leadership Team will comprise a) a Convener appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee b) 4 Vice Conveners, appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee, to deputise for the Convener when unavailable and lead Programme Groups (with 1 of the Vice Conveners to be designated, on the recommendation of the Nomination Committee, as Depute Convener) c) 5 members appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee d) 12 members appointed by Presbyteries. There will be 1 such member for each Presbytery or Presbytery grouping e) The Convener, or substitute, of the Theological Forum f) The Convener, or substitute, of the Ecumenical Relations Committee. No Assembly Trustee, member of another Agency of the Church or employee of the Church will be eligible to be a member. The quorum will be 5 members. The Convener will have a casting vote. The Convener will be appointed for a term of four years. Of the Vice Conveners 2 will be appointed for two years and 2 for three years as decided by the Nomination Committee. Subsequent to those first appointed, the Convener and Vice Conveners may be appointed from existing members and will conclude service at the conclusion of their term as Convener or Vice Convener. Of the other Members of the Leadership Team first appointed, one third will serve for four years, one third for three years and one third for two years as decided by the Nomination Committee.

Four Programme Groups will report to the Leadership Team and will have written delegated authority from the Leadership Team to take forward their respective elements of the Faith Action Programme. Each Vice Convener will lead a Programme Group. No other members of the Leadership Team will be a member of a Programme Group. Programme Groups will each consist of 4 members, appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee plus their Programme Group Leader. Of the 4, 2 will serve for four years and 2 for three years as decided by the Nomination Committee. Programme Groups will have power to co-opt members to their Group, subject to approval by the Leadership Team and notification to the Assembly Trustees. The number of co-opted members will not exceed the number of General Assembly appointed members, and only General Assembly appointed members will have the right to vote on decisions of the Programme Group. Programme Groups may form short-life Task Groups to assist or advise them in the delivery of the Faith Action Programme. With the exception of the Presbytery Mission Plan Implementation Group, such Groups will comprise no more than 5 individuals (of whom no more than 2 may be non-members of the Church), and be headed by a Programme Group member, with freedom to select other persons, including members of staff, as co-opts. The remit and composition of each such Group will be agreed by the Leadership Team and reviewed annually, should the task for which it is formed not be completed within a year. Task Groups will report to the relevant Programme Group. The number, size, remits and activities of such Groups will be approved by the Leadership Team Convener and reported to the General Assembly. The Presbytery Mission Plan Implementation Group will report to the Leadership Team in regard to the approval of Presbytery Plans.

11. General Trustees

Trustees are appointed as required, by the General Assembly on the nomination of the Trust.

12. Iona Community Board20

Convener and 5 members appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee;

6 members appointed by and from the Iona Community, 2 changing each year;

The Leader of the Iona Community;

1 member appointed by and from the Presbytery of Argyll.

In addition the Board will invite 6 member churches of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) to appoint a representative member to the Board, such members being eligible to serve for a maximum period of 4 years.

13. Judicial Panel20

30 people being ministers, elders, deacons and members nominated by the Nomination Committee and appointed by the General Assembly. All members of the Judicial Panel shall be qualified to practise as lawyers or shall be experienced in the law and practice of the Church. Notwithstanding SOs 114 and 118, the members of the Judicial Panel shall initially be appointed for a term of four years, and shall be eligible for reappointment for further terms of four years.

14. Legal Questions Committee16

Convener, Vice-Convener and 10 members appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee, the Clerks of Assembly, the Procurator and the Solicitor of the Church.

15. Life and Work Editorial Advisory Committee9

Convener and 7 members appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee together with the Principal Clerk as an ex officio member. The members should represent a wide range of theological opinion and perspectives, with an interest and particular gifts to offer the Committee, for example journalism, magazine production, former contributors. The Committee may co-opt members with particular gifts or information.

16. Ministries Appeal Panel5

Convener, Vice-Convener and 3 members appointed by the General Assembly. At least 1 member shall be legally qualified, at least 1 shall be a minister and at least 1 shall be an elder.

17. Mission Plan Review Group15

A group of fifteen persons appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee and in line with the process for appointing persons to other judicial bodies. Additionally, the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team and the General Trustees shall be entitled to make suggestions to the Legal Questions Committee as to persons who are suitable for appointment to the Group, but the final decision as to nominees shall rest with the Legal Questions Committee. The members of the Group shall be suitably experienced members of the Church.

18. Nomination Committee20

Convener, Vice-Convener and 18 members appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee. Notwithstanding SO 118, no member of the Committee, having served a term of 4 years, shall be eligible for re-election until after a period of 4 years, except for special cause shown. The Convenership of the Committee shall be for 3 years.

19. Nomination of the Moderator Committee12

Twelve persons comprising eleven ministers and elders nominated by Presbyteries plus one deacon selected at random by the Clerks of Assembly. The ministers and elders on the Committee shall be selected as follows: each Scottish Presbytery (provided that in the case of Clèir Eilean Ì (the Presbytery of the Highlands & Hebrides) and of Lewis, this means the two Presbyteries working together) shall nominate 1 minister and 1 elder to populate the Committee; the Presbyteries of England and of International Charges shall nominate 1 minister or elder for the Committee in each alternate year, the first nomination being made in 2024 by the Presbytery of England. Upon receipt of all the nominations, the Nomination Committee shall select for appointment 1 or other of the nominees from each Scottish Presbytery, and shall appoint the nominee from the Presbytery of England or International Charges, to create a Committee which is representative of the diversity of the whole Church. The Committee is to be convened by the immediate past-Moderator of the General Assembly, failing which by another former Moderator of the General Assembly.

20. Personnel Appeal Group12

12 members appointed by the General Assembly with the Solicitor of the Church as Secretary, each appointed to serve a four-year term with the option of appointment for a further four-year term. Members shall not include any former or current members of staff of any of the Church’s Employing Agencies (including the Social Care Council), nor any current Council or Committee member.

21. Registration of Ministries Committee5

Convener, Vice-Convener and 3 members. 1 member is appointed by the Legal Questions Committee, 1 member by the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team and 3 members by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee. The Convener and Vice-Convener are appointed by the General Assembly from the General Assembly appointees. One or other of the Clerks to the General Assembly and the Head of the Faith Action Programme attend the Committee ex officiis in an advisory capacity but are not members. The Committee is clerked by a staff member of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team; this person is not a member of the Committee.

22. Safeguarding Appeal Panel6

A Panel of 6 persons appointed by the General Assembly, being persons with Safeguarding and other relevant experience, and including at least two persons who shall be qualified to practise as lawyers or who are experienced in the law and practice of the Church, and at least two ministers. None of the Panel shall be a current or former employee of any of the Employing Agencies or a current member of the Safeguarding Committee.

23. Safeguarding Committee11

Convener, Vice-Convener and 6 members appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee, 1 representative (voting member) from and appointed by each of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team and the Social Care Council, the Solicitor of the Church, the National Adviser (Head of Safeguarding) as Secretary to the Committee, the Chief Officer and up to 4 members co-opted by the Committee for their expertise. For the avoidance of doubt it is declared that only the following persons will be entitled to vote: Convener, Vice-Convener, the six Assembly appointed members and the two representatives from each of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team and the Social Care Council.

24. Social Care Council12

Convener, Vice-Convener and 9 members appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee, with the Chief Executive Officer of CrossReach as a non-voting ex officio member. At least one member shall be a Church of Scotland minister.

25. Theological Forum13

Convener, Vice-Convener and 11 members appointed by the General Assembly through the Nomination Committee, the membership being selected to provide an appropriate balance of (a) ministers of Word and Sacrament, (b) members of academic staff from the Divinity Schools (or equivalent) of Institutions of Higher Education in Scotland, (c) elders and (d) members drawn from the wider membership of the Church chosen for their particular expertise, experience or provenance.

26. Trustees of the Housing and Loan Fund Up to 11

Up to 3 ministers and 1 member appointed by the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team, who having served a term of 4 years shall be eligible for re-appointment for a second 4 year term;

Up to 4 appointed by the General Assembly on the nomination of the Trustees, who having served a term of 4 years shall be eligible for re-appointment for a second 4 year term;

Up to 3 appointed by the Baird Trust, for a term of office determined by that Trust.

Any Trustee (other than one appointed by the Baird Trust) may serve for up to a further two four-year terms if elected also as Chairperson or Depute Chairperson.

(b) MEMBERS

114. Period of Service. All Members of each of the Standing Committees shall retire after serving for four years.

115. Representatives. Bodies entitled to appoint representatives shall be permitted to make changes in their representation for special reasons in any year.

116. Non-attendance. The name of a Member shall be removed from any Standing or Special Committee which has met three times or oftener between 1 June and 1 March unless he or she has attended one-third of the meetings held within that period. Attendance at meetings of Sub-Committees shall for this purpose be reckoned as equivalent to attendance at the meeting of the Committee itself.

117. Replacement. When a Minister, Elder, or Member of any Standing or Special Committee is unable to accept the appointment, or where from any cause vacancies occur in Committees during the year, that Committee, after consultation with the Convener of the Nomination Committee, may appoint a Member to take the place of the Member whose retirement has caused the vacancy. All such appointments, if for a longer period than one year, shall be reported for confirmation through the Nomination Committee to the General Assembly.

118. Re-election. A Member retiring from a Council or Committee by rotation, or having his or her name removed for non-attendance, shall not be eligible for re-election to that Council or Committee until the expiry of one year thereafter, unless the Assembly are satisfied, on the Report of the Nomination Committee, on information submitted to it by the Council or Committee concerned, that there are circumstances which make re-election desirable; but where more than one member is due to retire then not more than one-half of the retiring members be so re-elected. No Member shall normally serve for more than two consecutive terms of office. (If possible 20 per cent of the Assembly appointed members of Councils or Committees should be under the age of 35 at the time of their appointment). A Member appointed in the room of one deceased, resigned or removed, or of one appointed as Convener or Vice-Convener, shall serve for the remainder of the period for which the person was appointed whose place he or she takes, and on retiral shall be eligible for re-election if he or she has not served for more than two years.

A retiring Convener shall be eligible for re-election as an additional member of the Council or Committee concerned to serve for one year only immediately following tenure of office as Convener.

119. Eligibility. No person shall be a Member of more than three Councils or Committees at the same time. Appointments ex officio shall not be reckoned in this number. This rule shall not apply to those for whom the Nomination Committee is prepared to give special reason to the Assembly for their appointments to more than three Committees.

The Nomination Committee shall not nominate for Committees any of its own number except in special circumstances which must be stated to the Assembly.

120. Secretaries and Deputes. It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary of each Council and Committee to attend the meetings thereof, to provide information and advice as requested, and to provide a depute for any meeting that he or she cannot attend. Members of staff shall not have the right to vote at any meeting.

121. Expenses. Expenses incurred by Members of Committee, consisting of travel charges and a sum for maintenance when required shall be defrayed.

(c) CONVENERS AND VICE-CONVENERS

122. Appointment.

(i) Conveners and Vice-Conveners of Councils and Committees shall be appointed by the Assembly.

(ii) Conveners of Standing Committees other than the legal bodies shall hold office for not more than four consecutive years (in the case of the Nomination Committee, three consecutive years) and Vice-Conveners of Standing Committees other than the legal bodies shall hold office for not more than three consecutive years, unless the Assembly are satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances which make the reappointment of Conveners and Vice-Conveners desirable. The period of reappointment shall be for one year only. If at the time of their appointment they are already members of the Council or Committee another Member shall be appointed in their stead for the remainder of the period of their original appointment.

(iii) Conveners of the legal bodies (meaning the Appeals Committee of the Commission of Assembly, the Discipline Tribunal, the Judicial Commission, the Judicial Panel, the Ministries Appeal Panel, the Mission Plan Review Group, the Personnel Appeal Group and the Safeguarding Appeal Group) shall initially be appointed for a term of four years and shall be eligible for reappointment for further terms of four years. Vice-Conveners of the legal bodies shall initially be appointed for a term of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment for further terms of three years.

123. Replacement. In the event of the death, resignation, consistent non-attendance or supervening incapacity of the Convener or Vice-Convener of any Council or Committee, the body concerned, after consultation with the Convener of the Nomination Committee, may appoint an Interim Convener or Interim Vice-Convener, as the case may be. Such appointment shall be reported by the Committee to the General Assembly and the Assembly shall make such order as the situation may require.

(d) NOMINATION COMMITTEE

124. List of Nominations. The Nomination Committee shall include in its Report its list of nominations to be submitted to th e Assembly. The Report, so prepared, shall be included in the Volume of Reports issued to Members of Assembly.

125. Nomination of Conveners. When the Convener or Vice-Convener of a Committee or Council is completing his or her term of office the Council or Committee shall be invited by the Convener of the Nomination Committee to suggest the name of one who may be appointed in succession. The Nomination Committee shall satisfy itself that an open and transparent process has been followed in identifying the Convener or Vice-Convener so suggested.

126. Conveners to Attend Meeting. Conveners of Standing Committees shall be entitled to be present at meetings of the Nomination Committee when the composition of their respective Committees is under consideration, but not to vote.

127. Amendment to Report. No amendment to the Report of the Nomination Committee shall be in order of which due notice has not been given.

All notices of proposed amendments on the Report, including such as propose the omission or insertion of any name or names, or the addition of a name or names where the full number eligible has not been nominated by the Committee, must be given in to the Clerks before midday on the third day prior to the closing of the Assembly, signed by the Member or Members giving them.

All such notices of proposed amendment shall, with the names of those signing them, be circulated in the “Assembly Papers” issued on the second day prior to the closing of the General Assembly, and on the morning of the day the Report is to be called for.

VIII. ALTERATION AND SUSPENSION

128. Alteration. Any proposal for alteration of Standing Orders shall be either (a) on the Report of the Legal Questions Committee and included in the volume of Reports or (b) by Overture and the subject of at least one day’s notice in the “Assembly Papers”. This Standing Order shall not apply to SO 113 which may be amended by the Principal Clerk in accordance with the decisions of the General Assembly.

129. Suspension. It shall always be competent for the Assembly, on the Motion of any Commissioner and on cause shown, summarily to dispense with the observance of the Standing Orders, or any part of them, in any particular case: provided that such Motion shall receive the support of not less than two-thirds of those voting on the question when put from the Chair, and that such suspension shall not contravene any Act of Assembly.

NOTE AS TO AMENDMENTS TO STANDING ORDERS FOR A HYBRID GENERAL ASSEMBLY (NEW SOs 8 AND 8A AND ADDITIONAL WORDING AT SOs 45, 46, 89, 105 AND 106-110):

The Standing Orders in their current form shall apply save for these amendments which shall, where there is any conflict with an existing Standing Order, apply in preference.

10. Other Information

For In Person Commissioners

IMPORTANT: FIRE PROCEDURE

The following arrangements MUST BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO:

A. ON DISCOVERING A FIRE –

Sound the Alarm by operating the nearest break-glass Call point. This will automatically call the Fire Brigade.

B. ON HEARING THE ALARM –

1. Evacuate building by the nearest safe available exit route following the stewards’ directions:
Debating Chamber Level: Main doors down to QUADRANGLE;

Gallery Level: 4 Exits on to LAWNMARKET.

2. Do not use the Lift in the event of an emergency, due to the risk of power failure.

3. Do not stop to collect belongings, ie. Coats, brief-cases, handbags, etc.

4. Exit doors must remain clear at all times. When exiting leave in an orderly fashion.

5. ASSEMBLE – WHEN CLEAR OF THE ASSEMBLY HALL, KEEP MOVING AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF THE STEWARDS TO A PLACE OF ASSEMBLY.

6. Do not re-enter the building until you have been told it is safe to do so.

(Note: The above-mentioned arrangements relate to the Assembly Hall building. If present within New College when the College fire alarm sounds, leave the College by the nearest available exit. New College areas include the Assembly Office, Stewards’ Office, Media Rooms and Rainy Hall.)

THE FASTI – Some hard copies of the recently published Vol XII of the Fasti (the latest volume of the record of ministries in the Church of Scotland since the Reformation) will be available for purchase at the Assembly. These will be held in the Assembly Office and any person who wishes to purchase one should visit the Office to arrange this.

FIRST AID ROOM – This room is off the “black and white” corridor of the Assembly Hall.

REPORTS – The Volume of Reports can be downloaded here. Individual Reports can be downloaded here.

TIME LIMIT FOR SPEECHES – A bell will notify Speakers that they are approaching the time limit and are expected to finish their speeches within one minute.

HEARING AIDS – These should be switched to “T” for best results from the induction loop. BSL interpreters will cover each session of the General Assembly. Please advise the Office of the General Assembly if you would find this facility helpful so that a seat can be reserved for you in the appropriate area.

Seating for Commissioners – Commissioners should sit in the ground floor and in the south and west galleries.

FILMING/PHOTOGRAPHY – We draw to your attention that cameras are used to film and photograph the General Assembly throughout its meeting and that the footage will be streamed live on the Church of Scotland website and used in other media including Social Media. In addition the footage and live stills obtained may, at some future point, be broadcast on national or international television and/or be used in other publications. If you do not wish to be filmed/photographed in this way, you should sit out of range of the cameras in the corners against the back wall on the ground floor of the Assembly Hall, and not behind any of the microphones which are located around the Hall. If you are unsure where this is, please ask a steward.

LOST PROPERTY– Please report or hand this in to the Assembly Office.

Luggage and coats – Luggage may be left in a cloakroom opposite the Assembly Office on the Saturday and Thursday mornings; bags and coats may be left in this space Monday to Wednesday. All items are left at commissioners’ own risk.