general assembly 2021 - church of scotland

S A T U R D A Y 2 2 – T H U R S D A Y 2 7 M A Y

I. Assembly Office-Bearers and

Procedure Committee .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03

II. Index of Presbyteries .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04

III. Roll of Commissioners .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05

IV. Order of Business .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

V. Information on Questions,

Comments and Motions .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

VI. Proposed Committees .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

VII. Overtures .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

VIII. Supplementary Reports .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

IX. Minutes .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

X. Standing Orders .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

XI. Proposed Amendments to Standing Orders

for the Online General Assembly 2021 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS

Scottish Charity Number: SC011353

General Assembly 2021

Order of Proceedings ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................

NOTES

TRAININGPlease ensure you sign up for the one of the training events, on which information will beemailed to you separately.

COMMISSIONERS’ TRAVELLING EXPENSES AND SUBSISTENCE EXPENSESPlease note that as this is a fully online event, expenses will not be paid.

CONTACT USIn the first instance please email: [email protected] with any queries.

02 Order of Proceedings The Church of Scotland General Assembly 2021

mailto:[email protected]


Assembly Office-Bearers and Procedure Committee

ASSEMBLY OFFICE-BEARERSTitle Name NoModerator Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair 739Moderator-Designate Lord Wallace of Tankerness 744Chaplains Rev Dr Marjory A MacLean 740

Rev Gordon Fraser HMacNaughton

742

Principal Clerk Rev Dr George J Whyte 745Depute Clerk Ms Christine Paterson 743Procurator Ms Laura Dunlop QC 738Law Agent Miss Mary MacLeod 741Precentor Rev Colin RenwickChief Steward Mr Alexander F GemmillDepute Steward Mr Neil ProvenAssembly Officer Mr William MearnsDepute Assembly Officer Mrs Karen McKay

PROCEDURE COMMITTEETitle Name NoConvener Rev Donald McCorkindale 746Vice-Convener Mrs Susan Pym 747

Order of Proceedings The Church of Scotland General Assembly 2021 03


Index of Presbyteries31 Aberdeen and Shetland36 Abernethy30 Angus7 Annandale and Eskdale12 Ardrossan19 Argyll10 Ayr

34 Buchan

41 Caithness14 Clyde

8 Dumfries and Kirkcudbright29 Dundee27 Dunkeld and Meigle5 Duns

1 Edinburgh47 England

22 Falkirk24 Fife

16 Glasgow33 Gordon

17 Hamilton

48 International Charges37 Inverness11 Irvine and Kilmarnock

6 Jedburgh49 Jerusalem

32 Kincardine and Deeside

13 Lanark44 Lewis38 Lochaber42 Lochcarron – Skye3 Lothian

4 Melrose and Peebles35 Moray

45 Orkney

28 Perth

39 Ross

23 Stirling40 Sutherland

43 Uist

2 West Lothian9 Wigtown and Stranraer



Roll of Commissioners1. Presbytery of Edinburgh

Minister1. Rev Ian W Alexander, Interim Head

of the Faith Impact Forum *2. Very Rev Dr Russell Barr, (Edinburgh:

Cramond)3. Very Rev Dr Derek Browning,

Edinburgh: Morningside4. Rev Christine Clark, (Healthcare

Chaplain)5. Rev Joanne G Foster, Edinburgh:

Inverleith St Serf's6. Rev Neil N Gardner, Edinburgh:

Canongate7. Rev Keith E Graham, Edinburgh:

Murrayfield8. Rev Peter Graham, (Presbytery Clerk)9. Rev James J Griggs, Edinburgh:

Corstorphine St Anne's10 Rev Dr Jared W Hay, (Edinburgh:

Priestfield)11. Rev Elizabeth M Henderson,

Edinburgh: Richmond Craigmillar12. Rev Dr James A P Jack, Edinburgh:

Duddingston13. Rev Dr Thomas Kisitu, Edinburgh: St

Nicholas' Sighthill14. Rev Ian A MacDonald, Edinburgh:

Holy Trinity15. Rev Dr Rosie Magee, Edinburgh: St

Andrew's and St George's West16. Rev Michael Mair, Edinburgh: St

David's Broomhouse17. Rev Cheryl McKellar-Young,

Edinburgh: Fairmilehead18. Rev Russell McLarty, Edinburgh: Leith

North19. Rev Marjory McPherson, Presbytery

Clerk

20. Rev Peter Nelson, Edinburgh:St John's Colinton Mains

21. Rev Sheena Orr, Prison Chaplain*22. Rev Malcolm Ramsay, Edinburgh:

Willowbrae23. Very Rev Colin A M Sinclair,

Edinburgh: Palmerston Place24. Very Ref Prof Iain R Torrance Kt,

(University of Aberdeen)25. Rev Samuel A R Torrens, Edinburgh:

Slateford Longstone*26. Rev Dr Fiona Tweedie, Mission

Statistics Coordinator, OLM27. Rev Ian J Wells, RathoElder28. Mrs Joanne Baird, Edinburgh: Leith St

Andrew's29. Mr Andrew Bathgate, Edinburgh:

Craiglockhart30. Ms Matilda Boulogne, Edinburgh:

Juniper Green31. Mr Ian R Buckingham, Edinburgh:

Broughton St Mary's32. Mrs Lesley Burt, Balerno33. Mr James R Byers, Edinburgh:

Corstorphine St Ninian's34. Mr James Campbell, Edinburgh: St

Andrew's and St George's West35. Mrs Andrena Crawford, Edinburgh: St

Andrew's and St George's West36. Mr George B Dickson, Edinburgh: St

David's Broomhouse37. Mr Duncan Douglas, Dalmeny38. Mr David Drummond, Edinburgh:

Corstorphine Old39. Mr John Duncan, Edinburgh:

Palmerston Place40. Dr Alison Elliot, Edinburgh: Greyfriars41. Mrs Isobel Gray,

Edinburgh: Meadowbank



42. Dr Hazel Hastie, Edinburgh: Drylaw43. Mrs Doreen Jones, Edinburgh:

Duddingston44. Mr David MacLennan, Edinburgh:

Gorgie Dalry Stenhouse45. Mr Hugh McDiarmid, Edinburgh:

Newhaven46. Mr William McKay, Kirkliston47. Mr Chris McNeil, Edinburgh:

Morningside48. Mrs Deirdre Shishodia, Edinburgh:

Cramond49. Mrs Sandra Steedman, Edinburgh: St

Andrew's Clermiston50. Mr Ian A J Thom, Edinburgh:

Greenbank51. Mrs Carol Turnbull, Edinburgh:

Corstorphine Craigsbank*52. Mrs Sheila Ward, Edinburgh:

Slateford Longstone53. Mr Duncan Wilson, Edinburgh:

Fairmilehead*54. Mr Gary C Winney, Edinburgh: High

(St Giles')Deacon55. Mrs Margaret Gordon DCS,

Edinburgh: (Currie)56. Miss Elspeth McPheat DCS,

(CrossReach )2. Presbytery of West Lothian

Minister57. Rev Alistair Cowper, Kirknewton and

East Calder58. Rev Derek R Henderson, Abercorn

l/w Pardovan, Kingscavil andWinchburgh

59. Rev W. Richard Houston, Linlithgow:St Ninian's Craigmailen

60. Rev A Scott Marshall, Abercorn l/wPardovan, Kingscavil andWinchburgh

61. Rev Dr Ian D Maxwell, Uphall: South62. Rev Allison Quilter, Polbeth Harwood

l/w West Kirk of Calder, OLM63. Rev Thomas S Riddell, Linlithgow: St

Michael's, Auxiliary Minister*Elder64. Mr Hugh Brown, Broxburn65. Mr David Cameron, Uphall: South66. Mr Alan Carruthers, Abercorn67. Mrs Jean Kershaw, Pardovan,

Kingscavil and Winchburgh68. Mr John McFadzean, Whitburn: South69. Mr Darren Philip, Livingston: United*70, Mr Keith Stirling, TorphichenDeacon71. Mrs Kay McIntosh DCS, Edinburgh:

Mayfield Salisbury, Pastoral Assistant3. Presbytery of Lothian

Minister72. Rev Robin N Allison, Cockenzie and

Port Seton: Chalmers Memorial73. Rev Geoff T Berry, Army Chaplain74. Very Rev Dr John B Cairns, (Aberlady

l/w Gullane)75. Rev Hayley L Cohen, Musselburgh:

Northesk76. Rev Suzanne G Fletcher, Dunglass77. Rev Dr David J Graham, Dirleton l/w

North Berwick: Abbey78. Rev Ruth D Halley, (Logie)79. Rev Dr Robin E Hill, Gladsmuir l/w

Longniddry80. Rev Keith L Mack, Dalkeith: St John's

and King's Park81. Rev Louise I Purden, Bonnyrigg*82. Rev Gordon Stevenson, Dunbar83. Rev John D Vischer, Garvald and

Morham l/w Haddington: West



Elder84. Mr A William Bell, Garvald and

Morham*85. Mr Robert D Burgon, North Berwick:

Abbey86. Mrs Joan E Cape, Penicuik: St

Mungo's87. Mrs Mary T Gordon, Cockenzie and

Port Seton: Chalmers Memorial88. Mrs Mary S M Graham, North

Berwick: Abbey89. Mr Connor MacFadyen, Tranent90. Mr John D McCulloch, Presbytery

Clerk91. Mrs Abigail Morrison, Longniddry92. Mr Alexander P M Nightingale,

Dunglass93. Mrs Emma T Stewart, Musselburgh:

St Andrew's High94. Mr Iain J Thomson, Bonnyrigg95. Mr Kenneth M Wright, GullaneDeacon96. Mrs Marilynn J Steele DCS,

(Edinburgh: Granton)4. Presbytery of Melrose and Peebles

Minister97. Very Rev David Arnott, (St Andrews:

Hope Park with Strathkinness)98. Rev Fraser Edwards, Innerleithen,

Traquair and Walkerburn99. Rev Rosemary Frew, Bowden and

Melrose100. Very Rev Dr Finlay Macdonald,

(Principal Clerk)101. Rev Sheila W Moir, Maxton and

Mertoun l/w Newtown l/w StBoswells*

102. Rev Margaret D J Steele, Ashkirk l/wSelkirk

Elder103. Dr Patsy Campbell, Carlops

104. Mrs Frances Heafield, Ashkirk105. Mrs Isobel Hunter, Skirling106. Mr Peter Sandison, Galashiels: Old

and St Paul's107. Mr Robert Scott, Innerleithen,

Traquair and Walkerburn108. Mr Robert G Turnbull, Earlston*

5. Presbytery of DunsMinister109. Rev Andy Haddow, Coldingham and

St Abbs l/w Eyemouth*110. Rev Mike A Taylor, Chirnside l/w

Hutton and Fishwick and PaxtonElder111. Mrs Susan Patterson, Ayton and

District Churches*112. Mr David S Philp, Presbytery Clerk

6. Presbytery of JedburghMinister113. Rev Lisa-Jane Rankin, Hawick: Wilton

l/w Teviothead*114. Rev Anna S Rodwell, Kelso: North

and Ednam115. Rev Rachel Wilson, Hobkirk and

Southdean l/w RuberslawElder116. Mr R S Elliot, Hawick: Burnfoot*117. Mr Stuart Kelly, Cheviot Churches118. Mrs Morag McKeand, Oxnam7. Presbytery of Annandale and Eskdale

Minister119. Rev Morag Crossan, Canonbie United120. Rev Elsie Macrae, Kirkpatrick Juxta

l/w Moffat: St Andrew's l/wWamphray

121. Rev Dr Robert Pickles, Langholm,Eskdalemuir, Ewes and Westerkirk

122. Rev David Whiteman, Annan: Old l/wDornock*



Elder123. Mr David Boncey, Kirkpatrick Juxta124. Mrs Elaine I Irving, Hoddom, Kirtle-

Eaglesfield and Middlebie125. Mr Anthony Lane, Canonbie United*126. Mr Ian Scott, Lochmaben

8. Presbytery of Dumfries andKirkcudbright

Minister127. Rev Dr David Bartholomew,

Balmaclellan, Kells and Dalry l/wCarsphairn

128. Rev Donald Campbell, Dumfries: StGeorge's*

129. Rev John Notman, Dumfries:Troqueer

130. Rev Valerie J Ott, Gatehouse andBorgue l/w Tarff and Twynholm

131. Rev Mark Smith, Dunscore l/wGlencairn and Moniaive

132. Rev Fiona Wilson, Dalbeattie andKirkgunzeon l/w Urr

Elder133. Mrs Louise Finch, Kirkcudbright*134. Mrs Thelma Hart, Kirkcudbright135. Mrs Andrea Houston, Kirkmichael,

Tinwald and Torthorwald136. Mr Robert J McBride, Kirkmahoe137. Mrs Elizabeth Tanner, Dumfries: St

Mary's Greyfriars'138. Mr David Townsend, Dumfries:

Northwest9. Presbytery of Wigtown and Stranraer

Minister139. Rev Eric Boyle, Kirkcowan l/w

Wigtown*140. Rev Alexander I Currie, Glasserton

and Isle of Whithorn l/w Whithorn:St Ninian's Priory

141. Rev Stephen Ogston, Inch l/w LuceValley

Elder142. Mr Angus Carrick-Buchanan, Ervie

Kirkcolm*143. Mrs Sandra McDowall, Wigtown144. Mr Robert McKinnel, Glasserton and

Isle of Whithorn l/w Whithorn: StNinian's Priory

10. Presbytery of AyrMinister145. Rev Lynsey Brennan, Dundonald146. Rev Kenneth Elliott, Presbytery Clerk147. Rev Brian Hendrie, Ayr: St Leonard's

l/w Dalrymple148. Rev Dr David Hume, Alloway, OLM149. Rev Neil McNaught, Alloway*150. Rev John Paterson, Lugar l/w Old

Cumnock: Old151. Rev Dave Prentice-Hyers, Troon: Old152. Rev Mandy Ralph, Annbank l/w

Tarbolton153. Rev Alastair Symington, Depute

Presbytery Clerk154. Rev Allan Vint, Mauchline l/w SornElder155. Dr James Anderson, Girvan: South156. Mr Bill Duncan, Alloway*157. Mr Gordon MacDonald, Prestwick:

Kingcase158. Mr Sandy Mavor, Dundonald159. Mrs Irene McCallum, Annbank160. Mrs Maureen McNae, Tarbolton161. Mr Ian Watt, Mauchline162.163.164.

11. Presbytery of Irvine and KilmarnockMinister165. Rev Taylor Brown, Kilmarnock: South



166. Very Rev William Hewitt, (PresbyteryClerk: Glasgow)

167. Very Rev Dr David Lacy, (Kilmarnock:Kay Park)

168. Rev George Lind, (Irvine: Mure l/wIrvine: Relief Boutreehill)

169. Rev Alison McBrier, Caldwell170. Rev James McNaughtan, Kilmarnock:

St Andrew's and St Marnock's171. Rev John Urquhart, Kilmaurs: St

Maur's Glencairn172. Rev Alec Wark, Presbytery Clerk*Elder173. Mr Alan Beattie, Kilmarnock: St

Andrew's and St Marnock's174. Mr William Bremner, Irvine: St

Andrew's175. Mrs Margaret Hamilton, Kilmarnock:

South*176. Mrs Jane Johnston, Kilmarnock: St

John's Onthank177. Mr Les Kirk, Dunlop178. Mr Robbie Menzies, Kilmaurs: St

Maur's Glencairn179. Mrs Loraine Strang, Caldwell180. Mr David Whitelaw, Irvine: OldDeacon181. Mrs Barbara Urquhart DCS, (Deacon)

12. Presbytery of ArdrossanMinister182. Rev David Albon, Dalry: St Margaret's183. Rev Scott Cameron, Stevenston: High184. Rev James McNay, West Kilbride185. Rev David Watson, Largs: Clark

Memorial*186. Rev David Sutherland Stevenston:

Ardeer l/w Stevenston: LivingstoneElder187. Mr Archie Currie, Kilbirnie: Auld*

188. Ms Veronica A M Fitzpatrick,Kilwinning: Abbey

189. Mrs Jean Hunter, Presbytery Clerk190. Mrs Bea Nicholson, Saltcoats: St

Cuthbert's191. Mr Magnus Ross, Largs: Clark

MemorialDeacon192. Miss Fiona Blair DCS, Beith

13. Presbytery of LanarkMinister193. Rev Iain D Cunningham, Carluke:

Kirkton194. Rev Bryan Kerr, Lanark: Greyfriars*195. Rev Louise E Mackay, Lanark: St

Nicholas'196. Rev Andrew D Rooney, KirkmuirhillElder197. Mrs Lesley Ewing, Carluke: Kirkton198. Mr Scott M Paget, Lanark: Greyfriars*199. Mr David M Waters, Kirkmuirhill200.

14. Presbytery of ClydeMinister201. Rev Gordon Armstrong, Paisley:

Oakshaw Trinity202. Rev Dr Sonia Blakesley, Paisley: St

Mark's Oldhall203. Rev William Boyle, Port Glasgow:

New204. Rev Stuart Davidson, Pioneer

Minister Paisley: North End205. Rev Gray Fletcher, Elderslie Kirk206. Rev Andrew Frater, Milngavie: Cairns207. Rev Dr Christine Goldie, Bearsden:

Westerton Fairlie Memorial*208. Rev Pamela Gordon, Barrhead:

Bourock



209. Rev Kenneth Gray, Bridge of Weir:Freeland

210. Rev Dr Alan J Hamilton, Bearsden:Killermont

211. Rev Karen Harbison, Greenock:Westburn

212. Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood OBE,(Renfrew: North)

213. Rev Colin I W Johnson, Dumbarton:St Andrew's

214. Rev Margaret McArthur, Cardross215. Rev Dr Peter McEnhill, Presbytery

Clerk*216. Rev Christine M Murdoch,

Craigrownie l/w Garelochhead l/wRosneath: St Modan's

217. Rev Gary Noonan, Houston andKillellan

218. Rev Alastair Shaw, Johnstone: StPaul's

219. Rev Ramsay B Shields, Dumbarton: StAndrew's

Elder220. Mrs Sheila Atkinson, Baldernock221. Mrs Ima Burnett, Barrhead: St

Andrew's222. Mrs Christine Cavanagh, Bearsden:

Killermont223. Mrs Linda Dye, Barrhead: Bourock*224. Mrs Elma Farr, Barrhead: St Andrew's225. Mr John O Hawthorn, Gourock: Old

Gourock and Ashton226. Mr Robert M Kinloch, Lomond*227. Mr John Kitson, Bearsden: Killermont228. Mr David Linley, Bearsden: Baljaffray229. Miss Celia Massicks, Dumbarton:

Riverside230. Ms Anne Mcgregor, Kilmacolm: Old231. Mr Campbell McGregor, Renfrew:

North

232. Mr Alan Nimmo, Arrochar233. Mrs Eileen Nish, Bridge of Weir:

Freeland234. Mr Derek W Smith, Clydebank:

Kilbowie St Andrew's235. Mrs Elizabeth Stewart, Dalmuir:

Barclay236. Mr Douglas Thomson, Bonhill237. Mrs Moira Thomson, Bonhill238. Mrs Maureen Walker, Cardross

16. Presbytery of GlasgowMinister239. Rev Norman Afrin, Glasgow:

Sandyhills240. Rev Dr S Grant Barclay, Interim

Presbytery Clerk241. Rev Scott Blythe, Netherlee and

Stamperland242. Rev James A S Boag, Broom243. Rev Richard Cameron, Glasgow:

Scotstoun244. Rev Stuart J Crawford, Newton

Mearns245. Rev Jane M Denniston, Campsie*246. Rev Ruth Forsythe,

Spiritual Formation Advisor247. Rev Ian F Galloway, Glasgow: Gorbals248. Rev James Gemmell, Glasgow:

Carnwadric*249. Rev David Gray, Glasgow: Govan and

Linthouse250. Rev Roy J M Henderson, Glasgow:

Pollokshaws251. Rev Karen E Hendry, Glasgow: Yoker252. Rev Derek Hughes, Glasgow:

Easterhouse253. Rev Margaret H Johnston, Glasgow:

Kinning Park254. Rev Mark Johnston, University of

Glasgow: Pastoral Studies Tutor



255. Rev Jonathan A Keefe, Glasgow:Robroyston

256. Rev Dr Carolyn Kelly, University ofGlasgow: Interfaith Chaplaincy

257. Rev Stuart Love, Glasgow:Clincarthill

258. Very Rev Dr David W Lunan,(Presbytery Clerk: Glasgow)

259. Rev Dr Kleber Machado, Glasgow: StAndrew's West

260. Rev Alasdair R MacMillan, Glasgow:Cathcart Trinity

261. Rev Elaine H MacRae, Glasgow: StEnoch's Hogganfield

262. Rev Gordon MacRae, Stepps263. Rev Stuart C Matthews, Glasgow:

Maryhill264. Rev I Scott McCarthy, Glasgow:

Garthamlock and Craigend265. Rev (James) Andrew McIntyre,

Glasgow: Partick South266. Rev David N McLachlan, Glasgow:

Langside267. Rev T Alastair McLachlan, Craiginsh

with Kilbrandon and Kilchattan l/wKilniver and Kilmelford

268. Rev Alan McWilliam,Glasgow: Whiteinch

269. Rev Peter Nimmo, Cambuslang270. Rev John S Purves, Glasgow:

Drumchapel St Andrew's271. Rev Christopher J Rowe, Glasgow:

Colston Milton272. Rev Robert M Silver, Glasgow:

Croftfoot273. Rev Aquila R Singh, Fernhill and

Cathkin*274. Rev David G Slater, Gartcosh l/w

Glenboig275. Rev Ian Taylor, Bishopbriggs:

Springfield Cambridge*

Elder276. Mrs Catherine Arbuckle, Glasgow: St

James' Pollok277. Mrs Wendy Armstrong, Eaglesham278. Mr Graeme D I Barrie, Glasgow:

Easterhouse*279. Mr Alastair Borthwick, Glasgow:

Baillieston Mure Memorial280. Mrs Christina L Brownlie, Glasgow:

Cardonald281. Mrs Carole Campbell, Glasgow:

Baillieston St Andrew's282. Miss Morag Campbell, Glasgow: St

David's Knightswood283. Mrs Fiona Crawford, Newton Mearns284. Mr Anthony C D Crow, Glasgow:

Sandyford Henderson Memorial285. Mrs Agnes Dick, Glasgow:

Shettleston New286. Mrs Brenda Dickie, Glasgow:

Cathcart Old287. Ms Jane Drummond, Glasgow:

Broomhill Hyndland288. Mr Andrew Dunn, Glasgow: Tron St

Mary's289. Ms Rebecca Gebauer, Glasgow:

Wellington290. Mrs Elizabeth Glen,

Glasgow: Blawarthill291. Mr Bill Gray, Glasgow: Torrance292. Ms Fiona Hay, Glasgow: Balshagray

Victoria Park293. Ms Una L Heaney, Glasgow:

Sherbrooke Mosspark294. Mr Robin C Hutchison, Glasgow: St

John's Renfield295. Mr Raymond Jenkins, Glasgow: King's

Park296. Mr Ross Johnstone, Williamwood297. Mr Peter Liddell, Greenbank



298. Mr Robert Macdonald, Glasgow:Yoker

299. Mr Gordon J MacFarlane, Glasgow:Clincarthill

300. Ms Patricia Mackenzie, Broom301. Mrs Isabel McDerment, Glasgow:

Scotstoun*302. Mr David Mclachlan, Glasgow:

Shawlands Trinity303. Mrs Janette McMaster, Glasgow:

Barlanark Greyfriars304. Mrs Margaret O'Neil, Glasgow:

Thornliebank305. Ms Lorraine Robertson, Stepps306. Mrs Margaret Robertson,

Williamwood307. Mr Harry Sime, Glasgow: Robroyston308. Miss Jean O Smith, Glasgow:

Dennistoun New309. Mrs Helen Sturrock, Glasgow:

Wellington*310. Mrs Fiona L Watson, Glasgow:

Kelvinside Hillhead311. Ms Edith Watt, Glasgow: Bridgeton

St Francis in the East312. Mr Andrew Wilkin, Kirkintilloch: St

David's Memorial ParkDeacon313. Ms Ann Lyall DCS, Parish Assistant

Glasgow: Baillieston Mure Memoriall/w Glasgow: Baillieston St Andrew’s

314. Miss Anne MacDonald DCS, GlasgowRoyal Infirmary: Hospital Chaplain

315. Mrs Margaret D McLellan DCS,(Glasgow: Merrylea)

17. Presbytery of HamiltonMinister316. Rev Ross Blackman, Hamilton: Old317. Rev John Brewster, East Kilbride:

Greenhills

318. Rev Leslie N Brunger, Uddingston:Burnhead

319. Rev Stewart Cutler, Stonehouse: StNinian's LEP

320. Rev Dr Peter H Donald, Airdrie:Cairnlea

321. Rev Lorna Fyfe, Coatbridge: New StAndrew's OLM*

322. Rev Joanne C Hood, Hamilton: StJohn's

323. Rev Lorna I MacDougall, Overtown324. Rev Iain M T Majcher, Bothwell325. Rev Dr Alistair S May, Motherwell:

Dalziel St Andrew's*326. Rev Dr Gordon A McCracken,

Presbytery Clerk327. Rev Fiona Nicolson, Coatbridge: New

St Andrew's328. Rev Gordon R Palmer, East Kilbride:

Claremont329. Rev Shaw J Paterson, Strathaven:

Trinity330. Rev Graham Raeburn, Newmains:

Bonkle l/w Newmains: ColtnessMemorial

331. Rev Ecilo Selemani, Hamilton: Southl/w Quarter

332. Rev S Lindsay A Turnbull, Hamilton:Trinity

Elder333. Mr David S Alexander, Uddingston:

Viewpark334. Mr Samuel Clark, Bellshill: West335. Mr David Findlay, Calderbank336. Mrs Susan Forbes, Overtown337. Mr William Howson, Hamilton: St

John's338. Mrs Roberta E Hutton, Wishaw:

Craigneuk and Belhaven339. Mrs June Irvine, Newmains: Coltness

Memorial



340. Mrs Lynette Jardine, Uddingston: Old341. Ms Marion McElroy, Airdrie: St

Columba's342. Mr John McGeary, Wishaw: South

Wishaw343. Mr Hugh R McGregor, Larkhall:

Trinity344. Dr David Moreland, Strathaven:

Avendale Old and Drumclog345. Mrs Marion Murray, Larkhall:

Chalmers346. Mr Douglas Pearson, Uddingston:

Burnhead347. Mr Steven Preston, East Kilbride:

Claremont348. Mr George Robertson, Hamilton:

Old*349. Mr Andrew Williamson, Blantyre: St

Andrew'sDeacon350. Mr Colin Ogilvie DCS, Coatbridge:

Calder l/w Coatbridge: OldMonkland, Locum

19. Presbytery of ArgyllMinister351. Rev David Carruthers, Ardrishaig l/w

South Knapdale352. Rev William Crossan, Campbeltown:

Lorne and Lowland353. Rev Chris Fulcher, Team Minister,

South Argyll, OLM354. Rev Steve Fulcher, South Kintyre355. Rev Elizabeth A Gibson, North Mull356. Rev Dr Robert K Mackenzie, Upper

Cowal*357. Rev Lyn Peden, Skipness l/w Tarbert,

Loch Fyne and Kilberry358. Rev Sibyl Tchaikovsky, Rothesay:

TrinityElder359. Mr Douglas Lindsay, Bute: United

360. Miss Maureen M Mackinnon, Northand West Islay

361. Mr Ron McInnes, Ardrishaig362. Mr James I Miller, Strathfillan363. Ms Helen Pearson, Kilmore and Oban364. Mrs Maura Rae, Kilbrandon and

Kilchattan365. Mr W Stewart Shaw, Presbytery

Clerk*366. Mrs Jeneffer Zielinski, Cowal Kirk

22. Presbytery of FalkirkMinister367. Very Rev Albert O Bogle, Sanctuary

First368. Rev James Cowan, (Barrhead: St

Andrew's)369. Rev Dr Jean Gallacher, Dunipace370. Rev Aftab Gohar, Grangemouth:

Abbotsgrange371. Rev Elspeth McKay, Cumbernauld:

Old*372. Rev Andrew J Moore, Bothkennar and

Carronshore373. Rev Julie Rennick, Larbert: West374. Rev William Thomson, Stenhouse

and Carron375. Rev Kipchumba Too, Denny:

Westpark376. Rev David Wandrum, Carriden377. Rev Anne White, Falkirk:

Grahamston UnitedElder378. Mr Alastair Blackstock, Camelon379. Miss Alison Cooke, Denny: Westpark380. Mrs Anne Coulter, Airth381. Mrs Janette M Craig, Slamannan382. Mr Christopher Dunn, Cumbernauld:

Kildrum



383. Mrs Helen Moir, Cumbernauld:Condorrat

384. Mrs Rena C Moore, Blackbraes andShieldhill

385. Mrs Eleanor Neilson, Grangemouth:Kirk of the Holy Rood

386. Mrs Morag M Patterson, Stenhouseand Carron*

387. Mr James C Slater, Falkirk: Bainsford388. Mr Eric C Smith, BrightonsDeacon389. Mr David Nicholson DCS, Deacon,

Cumbernauld Kildrum l/w StMungo's

23. Presbytery of StirlingMinister390. Rev Dr Valerie L Allen, Presbytery

Chaplain391. Rev Alison E P Britchfield,

Tillicoultry*392. Rev Dr Anthony Foley, Dollar393. Rev Barry Hughes, Stirling: St Mark's394. Rev Alison M Jack, New College395. Rev Dawn A Laing, Alloa: Ludgate396. Rev Sigrid Marten, Balfron397. Rev Scott McInnes, Stirling: North398. Rev Alan F Miller, Presbytery Clerk399. Rev Colin C Renwick, Dunblane

CathedralElder400. Mr David Briggs, Stirling: North401. Mrs Marjory Davidson, Tullibody: St

Serf's402. Mrs Mary Gillies, Tullibody: St Serf's403. Mr Daniel Gunn, Dunblane: St

Blane's*404. Mr Ian McVean, Balfron405. Miss Isobel Munro, Menstrie406. Mrs Val Rose, Alloa: Ludgate

407. Mr David Scott, Dunblane Cathedral408. Mr Michael G S Yuille, Dunblane: St

Blane's409.Deacon410. Mrs Jean T Porter DCS, Stirling: St

Mark's24. Presbytery of Fife

Minister411. Rev Jane Barron, Moderator of the

Presbytery of Fife*412. Rev Graeme Beebee, Cameron l/w St

Andrew's: St Leonard's413. Very Rev Dr John Chalmers, (Principal

Clerk)414. Rev Amos Chewachong, Newport-

on-Tay415. Rev Douglas Creighton, East Neuk

Trinity l/w St Monans416. Rev Andrew C Donald, Kirkcaldy:

Pathhead417. Rev John Duncan, Leuchars: St

Athernase418. Rev Elizabeth A Fisk, Culross and

Torryburn419. Rev Peter S Gerbrandy-Baird,

Aberdour: St Fillan's420. Rev Donald Lawrie, Auchterderran:

Kinglassie421. Rev Jeffrey Martin, Cupar: Old and St

Michael of Tarvit l/w Monimail422. Rev Eileen Miller, Glenrothes: St

Margaret's423. Rev Andrew Morrice, Dunfermline:

East424. Rev Allan Morton, Kennoway,

Windygates and Balgonie: StKenneth's

425. Rev Gillian Paterson, Methil:Wellesley



426. Rev Alec Shuttleworth, Tulliallan andKincardine l/w Saline andBlairingone*

427. Rev David J Smith, Glenrothes: StNinian's

428. Rev Muriel F Willoughby,Dunfermline: St Andrew's Erskine

Elder429. Ms Marion J Baldie, Falkland430. Lady Sheila Boyd, Leuchars: St

Athernase431. Miss Elizabeth Bracher, East Neuk

Trinity*432. Mrs Sheena S T Briggs, Glenrothes: St

Ninian's433. Mrs Ella Brown, Ceres, Kemback and

Springfield434. Mr Kenneth Brown, Dunfermline:

East435. Mrs Clementina B Dodds MBE,

Culross and Torryburn436. Mr Louis Douglas, Dunfermline: St

Andrew's Erskine437. Mrs Margaret Dow, Kelty*438. Mrs Linda Gartshore, Methil:

Wellesley439. Mr Ian Hamilton, Auchterderran:

Kinglassie440. Mr William Henderson, Aberdour441. Mr Hugh Mackenzie, Kirkcaldy:

Pathhead442. Mr Philip Owen, Newport-on-Tay443. Mr George G Owenson, Dalgety444. Miss Iona M Pringle, Kennoway,

Windygates and Balgonie: StKenneth's

445. Mrs Catriona J Reidpath, Glenrothes:St Margaret's

446. Mr Peter Robinson, Cameron

Deacon447. Mrs Pamela Scott DCS, Lochgelly and

Benarty27. Presbytery of Dunkeld and Meigle

Minister448. Rev Benjamin Abeledo, Blairgowrie449. Rev Michael J Erskine, Alyth*450. Rev Peggy Ewart-Roberts, Kinclaven

l/w Caputh and Clunie451. Rev Neil M Glover, Aberfeldy l/w Dull

and Weem l/w Grandtully, Logieraitand Strathtay

Elder452. Mr Clifford Cooke, Blairgowrie453. Mr Alan Dunlop, Aberfeldy454. Mrs Sheila Mannion, Dunkeld455. Mr Steven Tait, Alyth*

28. Presbytery of PerthMinister456. Rev Marc F Bircham, St Madoes and

Kinfauns457. Rev Grant MacLaughlan, Community

Worker with Tulloch Net458. Rev Lynn McChlery, Auchterarder459. Rev Alex M Millar, Presbytery Clerk*460. Rev Elisabeth M Stenhouse,

Fossoway: St Serf's and Devonsidel/w Cleish

461. Rev Anne E Stewart, Chaplain at HMPCastle Huntly

462. Rev Anne Stott, CommunityMinister, Bertha Park

463. Rev Kenneth D Stott, Perth: NorthElder464. Mr Kenith Barclay, Perth: Letham St

Mark's465. Mrs Margaret Bell, Dunbarney and

Forgandenny466. Miss Marjorie Clark, Perth: St

Matthew's*Order of Proceedings The Church of Scotland General Assembly 2021 15


467. Mrs Elizabeth Cunningham, Dundurn468. Mr George G Hayton, Kinross469. Mr Ian A Roy, Crieff470. Mrs Karin Wilson, St Madoes and

Kinfauns471.Deacon472. Miss Patricia M Munro DCS, (Perth:

Riverside)*29. Presbytery of Dundee

Minister473. Rev Colin Brough, Dundee: Fintry*474. Rev Gordon A Campbell, Chaplain,

Dundee University475. Rev Dr James Connolly, Dundee:

West476. Rev Donna Hays, Fowlis and Liff l/w

Lundie and Muirhead477. Rev Anita Kerr, Dundee: Meadowside

St Paul's l/w Dundee: St Andrew's478. Rev Marc Prowe, Invergowrie479. Rev Graham Taylor, (Dundee:

Broughty Ferry St Luke's and QueenStreet)

480. Rev James Wilson, Dundee: WhitfieldElder481. Mr James Colville, Broughty Ferry

New Kirk482. Miss Catherine Coull, Dundee:

Lochee483. Mr Ken McAra, Lundie and Muirhead484. Mr Gordon McBean, Dundee: Lochee485. Mrs Margaret McVean, Fowlis and

Liff486. Mr Tim Podger, Monikie and

Newbigging and Murroes andTealing*

487. Mr Alastair Robertson, Monifieth488. Mr Timothy Xenophontos-Hellen,

Dundee: St Andrew's

30. Presbytery of AngusMinister489. Rev Stephen Blakey, The Isla Parishes490. Rev Fiona C Bullock, Dun and Hillside491. Rev Michael S Goss, Barry l/w

Carnoustie492. Rev Christine Hay, Arbroath: West

Kirk493. Rev Dr Ian A McLean, Presbytery

Clerk*494. Rev Brian Ramsay, Aberlemno l/w

Guthrie and Rescobie495. Rev Geoffrey Redmayne, Montrose:

South and FerridenElder496. Mrs Elizabeth Aiken, Arbroath: West

Kirk497. Mrs Joyce Brown, Carnoustie:

Panbride498. Mrs Meg Cowan, Montrose: South

and Ferryden499. Mr Douglas Gow, Edzell Lethnot and

Glenesk500. Mrs Elizabeth Kidd, Brechin: Gardner

Memorial501. Mr Ronald Leslie, Forfar: Lowson

Memorial502. Mrs Irene McGugan, Dunnichen,

Letham and Kirkden*31. Presbytery of Aberdeen & Shetland

Minister503. Rev Keith Blackwood, Aberdeen:

Mannofield504. Rev Dr John A Ferguson, Presbytery

Clerk*505. Rev Dr Frances Henderson, Transition

Minister, Shetland506. Rev David S Hutchison, (Chaplain,

University of Aberdeen)507. Rev J Peter N Johnston, Aberdeen:

Ferryhill



509. Rev Manson C Merchant, Dyce510. Rev Scott M Rennie, Aberdeen:

Queen's Cross511. Rev David J Stewart, Aberdeen: South

Holburn512. Rev Prof John Swinton, University of

Aberdeen513. Rev Maggie Whyte, Aberdeen: St

Stephen'sElder514. Miss Pauline M Alexander, Aberdeen:

Woodside515. Mr Jim Donald, Shetland*516. Mr Robert Gunn, Dyce517. Mrs Hazel Hewitt, Aberdeen: South

Holburn518. Mr Ronald Johnstone, Aberdeen:

South Holburn519. Mrs Eunice McConnach, Aberdeen:

Rubislaw520. Miss Alice Merrilees, Aberdeen:

Ferryhill521. Mr William Rae, Aberdeen:

Ruthrieston West522. Dr J Graeme Roberts, Aberdeen:

Ferryhill523.32. Presbytery of Kincardine and DeesideMinister524. Rev David Barr, Glenmuick*525. Rev Dr Melvyn Griffiths, Maryculter

Trinity526. Rev Andrew Morrison, Stonehaven:

Fetteresso527. Rev Brian D Smith, West Mearns528. Rev Holly Smith, Mid DeesideElder529. Mr James M Clark, Glenmuick530. Mr David E Laing, Banchory-Ternan:

East*

531. Mrs Marion McNeil, Drumoak-Durris532. Mr David Middleton, West Mearns533. Mrs Gloria Potter, Stonehaven:

Fetteresso33. Presbytery of Gordon

Minister534. Rev Dr John A Cook, Howe Trinity*535. Rev Dr Mary Cranfield, Culsalmond

and Rayne l/w Daviot536. Rev Dr Kay Gauld, Insch-Leslie-

Premnay-Oyne537. Rev Euan Glen, Presbytery Clerk538. Rev Douglas McNab, New Machar539. Rev Sheila Mitchell, Echt and Midmar540. Rev Dr William Stalder, MethlickElder541. Miss Ann Brown, Kemnay*542. Mrs Anne M Campbell, Insch-Leslie-

Premanay-Oyne543. Ms Susan E S Hogg, Daviot544. Mrs Pat Patrone, Meldrum and

Bourtie545. Mrs Somersal Shepley, Howe Trinity546. Mrs Jeannie Price, Methlick547.

34. Presbytery of BuchanMinister548. Rev James M Cook, Turriff: St

Andrew's l/w Monquhitter and NewByth

549. Rev David I W Locke, Banff l/w KingEdward

550. Rev Dr Alan Macgregor, Marnoch551. Rev Aileen McFie, Maud and Savoch

l/w New Deer: St Kane's552. Rev Colin A Strong, New Pitsligo l/w

Strichen and Tyrie*553. Rev Sean Swindells, Cruden



554. Rev Dr Jeffrey Tippner, St FergusElder555. Mrs Isabel Cumming, Maud and

Savoch556. Mrs Maureen H Esson, Cruden557. Mr Robert M Esson, Cruden558. Miss U Ruth R Mackenzie, Peterhead:

New559. Mr Kenneth Sim, Sandhaven*560. Mrs Elizabeth Slaven, Longside561. Mr Steven Wilson, Strichen and Tyrie

35. Presbytery of MorayMinister562. Rev Jennifer M Adams, Duffus, Spynie

and Hopeman563. Rev Anne Attenburrow, (Auxiliary

Minister, Duffus, Spynie andHopeman)

564. Rev Eduard Enslin, Cabrach andMortlach

565. Rev Richard G Moffat, Dyke andEdinkillie

566. Rev Douglas F Stevenson, Cullen andDeskford*

567. Rev Wiekus Van Straaten, Keith: StRufus Botriphnie and Grange

Elder568. Mrs Ann M C Bowie, Bellie and

Speymouth569. Mrs Iona Kielhorn, Lossiemouth: St

Gerardine's High570. Mr Stuart Lynch, Elgin: St Giles' and

St Columba's South*571. Mr Alastair Rossetter, St Andrew's-

Llanbryde and Urquhart572. Mrs Jane Rossetter, St Andrew's-

Llanbryde and Urquhart573. Mrs Janet S Whyte, Bellie and

Speymouth

Deacon574. Miss Margaret R King DCS, (Bellie and

Speymouth)36. Presbytery of Abernethy

Minister575. Rev Graham Atkinson, Abernethy l/w

Boat of Garten, Carrbridge andKincardine

576. Rev Charles Finnie, Alvie and Insh l/wRothiemurchus and Aviemore*

Elder577. Mrs Margaret Dick, Cromdale and

Advie*578. Mrs Wilma Grierson, Alvie and Insh

37. Presbytery of InvernessMinister579. Rev Robert E Brookes, Cawdor l/w

Croy and Dalcross580. Rev Thomas M Bryson, Auldearn and

Dalmore l/w Nairn: St Ninian's581. Rev Ian A Manson, Kilmorack and

Erchless582. Rev Alison C Mehigan, Nairn: Old*583. Rev Fiona E Smith, Inverness: Ness

Bank584.Elder585. Mrs Annie Burtwell, Nairn: Old*586. Miss Christine Mackenzie, Inverness:

Old High St Stephen's587. Mrs Grace McCloy, Auldearn and

Dalmore l/w Nairn: St Ninian's588. Mr Michael Ronaldson, Inverness:

Trinity589. Mr Geoffrey Thomson, Inverness:

Ness Bank590.Deacon591. Mrs Dorothy Getliffe DCS, Inverness:

Old High St Stephen's



38. Presbytery of LochaberMinister592. Rev Sandy Stoddart, Duror l/w

Glencoe: St Munda's*593. Rev Ann Winning, (Morvern)Elder594. Mr John Arnold, North West

Lochaber595. Mrs Mabel W Wallace, Fort William:

Kilmallie*39. Presbytery of Ross

Minister596. Rev Andrew Fothergill, Fearn Abbey

and Nigg l/w Tarbat*597. Rev Michael J Macdonald, Alness598. Very Rev Dr Alan D Mcdonald,

(Cameron l/w St Andrews: StLeonard’s)

599. Rev James Munro, (Urray andKilchrist)

600. Rev Bruce Dempsey, Dingwall: StClement's

Elder601. Mrs Cath Chambers, Presbytery

Clerk*602. Mr Duncan Cromb, Urray and

Kilchrist603. Mr Douglas Gordon, Fearn Abbey and

Nigg l/w Tarbat604. Mr Peter McLoughlin, Alness605.

40. Presbytery of SutherlandMinister606. Rev Andrea M Boyes, Durness and

Kinlochbervie607. Very Rev Dr Susan M Brown, Dornoch

Cathedral608. Rev Dr Beverly W Cushman,

Altnaharra and Farr

609. Rev Hilary M Gardner, Kincardine,Croick and Edderton

610. Rev Lorna Tunstall, Clyne*Elder611. Mrs Rachel Allan, Rogart612. Mrs Angela DeBoer, Durness and

Kinlochbervie613. Mrs Ina Macpherson, Kildonan and

Loth Helmsdale614. Mrs Kim McCarthy, Dornoch

Cathedral615. Mrs Fiona Risk, Clyne*

41. Presbytery of CaithnessMinister616. Rev Andrew Barrie, Wick:

Pultneytown and Thrumster*617. Rev David Malcolm, Thurso: St

Peter's and St Andrew's618. Rev Lyall Rennie, Pentland. OLMElder619. Mrs Sheila Cormack, Halkirk

Westerdale620. Mrs Angela Lewis, Pentland621. Mrs Lorraine Sinclair, Latheron*

42. Presbytery of Lochcarron – SkyeMinister622. Rev Sandor Fazakas, Portree623. Rev Dr Rory A R MacLeod, Strath and

Sleat*624. Rev Stuart J Smith, Gairloch and

DundonnellElder625.626.627.

43. Presbytery of UistMinister628. Rev Gavin Elliott, Presbytery Clerk



629. Rev Ishie Macdonald, OLM,Benbecula*

Elder630. Mr John Macdonald, Carinish631. Mrs Cherrie McKinlay, Benbecula*

44. Presbytery of LewisMinister632. Rev Iain M Campbell, Kinloch*633. Rev William Heenan, Stornoway: St

Columba's634. Rev Hugh M Stewart, Lochs-in-

Bernera l/w UigElder635. Mr Murdo Afrin, Stornoway: St

Columba's636. Mr John Cunningham, Presbytery

Clerk*637. Mr David Maciver, Kinloch

45. Presbytery of OrkneyMinister638. Rev John Butterfield, Stromness639. Rev June Freeth, Flotta l/w Hoy and

Walls l/w Orphir and Stenness, OLM640. Rev Iain D MacDonald, Westray l/w

Papa Westray*641. Rev Julia M Meason, Kirkwall East l/w

ShapinsayElder642. Mrs Sally Bartkowiack, Stromness643. Mrs Jean Gillespie, Hoy and Walls644. Mr Colin Gunn, Kirkwall: East*645. Mr Alan Sharp, Westray

47. Presbytery of EnglandMinister646. Rev Alistair Cumming, Presbytery

Clerk*647. Rev Dr James Francis, Army Chaplain648. Very Rev Dr John H McIndoe,

(London: St Columba's)

649. Rev John McMahon, HealthcareChaplain

650. Rev Prof Paul Middleton, UniversityChaplain

651. Rev Pauline Steenbergen, EcumenicalPioneer Minister

652.Elder653. Mrs Katie Bennie, Jersey: St

Columba's654. Miss Elizabeth Fox, London: St

Columba's*655. Ms Elspeth Gordon, London: Crown

Court656. Mrs Caroline J Ludlow, Jersey: St

Columba's657. Dr Peter Mills, London: St Columba's658. Miss Ethel Robb, Guernsey: St

Andrew's in the Grange659. Mr Angus Sneddon, Corby: St

Andrew's48. Presbytery of International Charges

Minister660. Rev Alistair Bennett, Bermuda: Christ

Church, Warwick661. Rev Derek Lawson, Depute

Presbytery Clerk*662. Rev Ewen MacLean, Gibraltar: St

Andrew's663. Rev Gillian MacLean, Lausanne: The

Scots Kirk664. Rev Lance Stone, Amsterdam:

English Reformed ChurchElder665. Mr Jeremy Gomez, Gibraltar: St

Andrew's666. Mrs Cynthia Gunn, Lausanne: The

Scots Kirk667. Mrs Martha Kirkland, Bermuda:

Christ Church, Warwick



668. Mrs Heleen Koning, Amsterdam:English Reformed Church

669. Mr Scott MacSween, Paris: The ScotsKirk*

49. JerusalemMinister670. Rev Dr John McCulloch, Jerusalem

and Tiberias: St Andrew's*Elder671. Ms Heather Dobson, Jerusalem** denotes membership of the Commission ofAssembly 2021-2022

DELEGATES FROM OTHER CHURCHESUK

The Presbyterian Church of Wales679. Rev Marcus Wyn Robinson,

ModeratorThe United Reformed Church678. Mr Peter Pay, ModeratorThe United Reformed Church (NationalSynod of Scotland)681. Rev Paul Whittle, ModeratorChurch of England676. Rt Rev James Newcombe, Bishop of

CarlisleThe Baptist Union of Scotland672. Rev Frances Bloomfield, ConvenerThe Methodist Church in Scotland680. Rev Mark Slaney, Chair of the

Methodist Church in ScotlandReligious Society of Friends – GeneralMeeting for Scotland682. Adwoa Bittle (Saturday)683. Elizabeth Allen, Clerk of the General

Meeting for Scotland (Monday andTuesday)

702. Mary Woodward (Wednesday andThursday)

Scottish Episcopal Church677. Rt Rev Ian Paton, Bishop of St

Andrews, Dunkeld and DunblaneThe United Free Church of Scotland675. Rev John Fulton, ModeratorRoman Catholic Bishops’ Conferenceof Scotland674. Most Rev Leo Cushley, Archbishop of

St Andrews and EdinburghThe Salvation Army673. Major David Cavanagh, Assistant

Secretary for ScotlandDELEGATES FROM ECUMENICAL BODIESAction of Churches Together inScotland686. Miss Carole HopeChurches Together in Britain andIreland684. Mr Bob Fyffe, General SecretaryChurches Together in England685. Rev Dr Paul Goodliff, General

SecretaryDELEGATES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

AFRICAUniting Presbyterian Church ofSouthern Africa696. Rev Dr Lungile Mpetsheni, General

SecretaryPresbyterian Church of South Sudanand Sudan697. Rev Tut Nguoth, Presbyterian Relief

and Development AgencyUniting Church of Zambia693. Mr Bornface Mafwela – Project

OfficerAMERICAS

Presbyterian Church in Canada700. Rev Ian Ross-McDonald, General

Secretary, The Life and MissionAgency



THE CARIBBEANUniting Church of Jamaica and theCaymen Islands694. Ms Janet McConnell, Human and

Mission Resources ManagerASIA

Church of Bangladesh699. Rev John Probhudan Hira, Synod

Secretary and Principal, St Andrew’sTheological College

Church of South India692. Prof Dr Mathew Koshy Honorary

Director, CSI Synod Department ofEcological Concerns

The Amity Foundation, China691. Ms She Hongyu, Associate General

SecretaryUnited Mission to Nepal688. Mr Joel Hafvenstein, Executive

DirectorEUROPE

Spanish Evangelical Church687. Rev Israel Flores Olmos, General

SecretaryEvangelical Church of Westphalia695. Rev Dr Ulrich Moeller, Head of

Department for Ecumenism, Missionand Global Responsibility

MIDDLE EASTEvangelical Church of Egypt, Synod ofthe Nile689. Rev Dr Hani Hanna, Lecturer,

Evangelical Theological SeminaryCairo

Middle East Council of Churches701. Department of Service to Palestinian

Refugees, Dr Bernard Sabella,Executive Secretary

National Evangelical Synod of Syriaand Lebanon690. Rev Salam Hanna, Chair of the

committee on Ecclesial and SpiritualAffairs

PACIFICUniting Church in Australia698. Dr Deirdre Palmer, President

CORRESPONDING MEMBERSAssembly Trustees703. Prof Elizabeth Ashcroft705. Mr Alan Campbell707. Mrs Jean Couper710. Mr David Harrison712. Ms Linda Irvine723. Mr James McNeill725. Mr Geoff Miller726. Ms Ann Nelson728. Mrs Norma Rolls729. Rev Anikó Schuetz Bradwell735. Mr Raymond Young737. Mr Philip ZieglerChief Officer713. Mr Dave KendallHead of Faith Action730. Rev Dr Scott ShackletonChurch of Scotland Pension Trustees718. Ms Lin MacmillanDeputy Treasurer731. Ms Leanne ThompsonEcumenical Relations Committee724. Rev Dr John L McPake711. Rev Alexander HorsburghFaith Nurture Forum720. Rev Angus R Mathieson706. Rev Dr Karen K Campbell



Faith Impact Forum709. Ms Carol FinlayGeneral Treasurer716. Mrs Anne MacintoshGeneral Trustees732. Mr Ian T TownsendHead of Communications717. Ms Ruth MacLeodHead of Human Resources721. Mrs Elaine McCloghryLegal Questions Committee714. Rev Victoria LinfordLife and Work Editor722. Mrs Lynne McNeilNomination Committee736. Rev Bill WishartSafeguarding Committee719. Ms Julie MainScottish Churches' ParliamentaryOfficer704. Mr David BradwellSocial Care Council708. Mrs Viv Dickenson734. Mrs Sarah WoodThe Guild733. Mr Iain WhyteTheological Forum715. Rev Dr Donald MacEwanTrustees of the Housing and Loan Fund727. Rev MaryAnn Rennie

YOUTH REPRESENTATIVESYouth Representatives appointed byFaith Nurture Forum754. Mx Iona Kimmitt765. Ms Ishbel Wright764. Miss Joanne Whyte

PRESBYTERY YOUTH REPRESENTATIONEdinburgh748. Mx Chloe BlackWest Lothian751. Mr Scott GilchristLothian755. Ms Kate MacFadyenJedburgh761. Mr Greg James RobertsonClyde760. Miss Fiona ReidIrvine and Kilmarnock757. Ms Charlotte MurrayGlasgow763. Miss Rebecca StewartHamilton752. Ms Megan GrahamFalkirk762. Mr Stephen StalkerFife750. Miss Hannah DunlopStirling758. Mrs Bethany PringleAngus753. Miss Carla IngramAberdeen & Shetland749. Mr Fraser BorlandKincardine and Deeside 759. Ms Rebekka ReadEngland756. Miss Iris Maxfield



Order of BusinessDay 1 - Saturday 22 May 2021Session 1: 10am-12noon1. Constitution of Assembly.2. Roll of Commissioners laid on the

table.3. Election of Moderator and Prayer of

Consecration.4. Commission to the Lord High

Commissioner to be read and ordergiven for recording it.

5. Her Majesty’s Gracious Letter to beread and order given for recording it.

6. Address by the Lord HighCommissioner and reply by theModerator.

7. Address by Retiring Moderator.8. Appointment of the Committee to

Prepare Answer to Her Majesty’sGracious Letter.

9. Report of the Standing Committeeon Commissions.

10. Submission of the Standing Orders.11. Appointment of the Procedure

Committee.12. Appointment of Committee to

prepare a minute on DeceasedMinisters, Missionaries and Deacons.

13. Intimation of arrangements for acelebration of Holy Communion onMonday 24 May, at 10am on Zoom.

Short break14. Presentation of Delegates.15. Report of the Assembly Business

Committee (including Overtures fromPresbyteries wishing to unite) (Reports1/1 and Order of Proceedings p29).

16. Report of the Scottish Bible Societyand Presentation of Bible toModerator (Reports 1/4).

17. Report of the Delegation of theGeneral Assembly (Reports 2/1).

18. Minutes of the Appeal Hearingsbefore the Ministries Appeal Panel(Order of Proceedings p91).

BreakSession 2: 1-3.30pm19. Report and Supplementary Report of

the Assembly Trustees (Reports 3/1and Order of Proceedings p64).

Note: Section 9 of the Deliverance will betaken during the Report of the Faith NurtureForum20. Close.Day 2 - Monday 24 May 2021Session 3: 1-3.30pm1. Constitution of Assembly.2. Report of the Procedure Committee.3. Report of the Committee to draft a

reply to Her Majesty’s GraciousLetter.

4. Report of the Special Commission onthe Effectiveness of the PresbyterianForm of Church Government(Reports 4/1).

BreakSession 4: 4-6pm5. Report of the Legal Questions

Committee (Reports 5/1).6. Report of the Ecumenical Relations

Committee (Reports 6/1).7. Close.Day 3 - Tuesday 25 May 2021Session 5: 1-3.30pm1. Constitution of Assembly.2. Report and Supplementary Report of

the Faith Nurture Forum (Reports 7/1and Order of Proceedings p38).Including section 9 of the Deliveranceon the Report of the AssemblyTrustees and the Overture from thePresbytery of Aberdeen & Shetland(Order of Proceedings p32).

3. Report of the Trustees of theHousing & Loan Fund (Reports 8/1).



BreakSession 6: 4-6pm4. Report of the Church of Scotland

Guild (Reports 9/1).5. Report of the Theological Forum

(Reports 10/1).6. Report of the Registration of

Ministries Committee (Reports 11/1).7. Close.Day 4 - Wednesday 26 May 2021Session 7: 1-3.30pm1. Constitution of Assembly.2. Report of the Faith Impact Forum

(Reports 12/1).3. Report of the Iona Community Board

(Reports 13/1).Break

Session 8: 4-6pm4. Report of the Social Care Council

(Reports 14/1).5. Report of the Safeguarding

Committee (Reports 15/1).6. Close.Day 5 - Thursday 27 May 2021Please note that there is the possibility of anextra session from 10am-12noon. This issimply an “emergency provision” to allow usto catch up with any business we have notbeen able to complete Saturday-Wednesday. The Procedure Committee willgive as much notice as possible if this Sessionis to be held.Session 9: 1-3.30pm1. Constitution of Assembly.2. Report of the Committee on

Chaplains to HM Forces (Reports16/1).

3. Report of the General Trustees(Reports 17/1).

4. Report of the Pension Trustees(Reports 18/1).

5. Report of the NominationCommittee (Reports 19/1).

6. Report of the Selection Committee(if required).

7. Report of the Church HymnaryTrustees (Reports 20/1).

8. Report of the Church of ScotlandTrust (Reports 21/1).

9. Report of the Church of ScotlandInvestors Trust (Reports 22/1).

10. Close.Break

Session 10: 4-6pm1. Constitution of Assembly.2. Report anent Deceased Ministers,

Missionaries and Deacons.3. Protestations called for.4. Report on the Printing of Acts.5. Draft Minutes of Sederunts not yet

submitted to be read if required.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 onSaturday 21 May 2022.

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 BENEDICTIONNoteIt is hoped that this timetable will beadhered to but items could arise earlier orlater than the times specified.



Information on Questions, Commentsand Motions

Asking QuestionsYou will see from the Standing Orders thatquestions are always in order (SO 45).However, the usual time for questions isonce a Convener has presented the Reportand moved the deliverance. At thisAssembly the Conveners’ speeches willhave been recorded in advance and thenplaced on the Church website ahead of theAssembly getting underway so that when aReport is called the Convener will simplyoffer a short introduction and then we willbe straight into questions.To ask a question you should register a“request to speak” on the Assembly Hubagainst the particular section ofdeliverance. It is best to ask generalquestions about a Standing Committee’sReport or work under section 1 of thedeliverance (“Receive the Report”). For amore specific matter, register your requestagainst the appropriate section ofdeliverance.If your question concerns a matter within aparticular Standing Committee’s remit butto which no reference is made in theReport, advance notice of your questionshould be given to the Convener.Making CommentsAgain, you should register a “request tospeak” on the Assembly Hub. Generalcomments should be registered againstsection 1 (“Receive the Report”); morespecific comments should be registeredagainst the appropriate section ofdeliverance.Moving MotionsAt each Assembly various “motions” areconsidered. These mainly consist of theproposed sections of deliverance appearingin Reports from Standing Committees.However, any Commissioner can move amotion to amend a proposed section ofdeliverance, offer an alternative section tothe one proposed or to add a new section

of deliverance. (To remove a section ofdeliverance, see below).If you want to do any of these things, youneed to submit a Notice of Motion to theClerks through the Assembly Hub. It helpseveryone if you can give as much advancenotice as possible of your motion. TheClerks may contact you about the text ofyour proposed motion. Details of how tosubmit a motion through the Hub will beshared at the training events and on avideo to be available to you.When you prepare a Notice of Motion, youneed to decide what sort of motion youwant to propose. Options are:-• amendments – adding words to or

removing words from a proposedsection of deliverance but leaving thebasic meaning intact. You can alsopropose an amendment to anothercommissioner’s amendment.

• counter-motions – proposing analternative to an existing proposedsection of deliverance which, ifapproved, would be distinctly differentfrom the section proposed by theStanding Committee (ie if your counter-motion is accepted by the Assembly itwould mean that the originallyproposed section falls).

• new section of deliverance altogether– adding to the Standing Committee’swork or affirming a priority. Such amotion needs to fall within the relevantStanding Committee’s remit and forthis type of motion you must give therelevant Convener reasonable notice inwriting.



• If you simply don’t think that theAssembly should accept a proposedsection of deliverance, there is noneed to move a motion stating thedirect negative. Instead, using theAssembly Hub, you would “register tospeak” when the proposed section ofdeliverance is taken and when you arecalled to speak you would explain whyyou encourage a vote against it. TheAssembly Hub enables you to indicatethat you wish to speak “against”.

The Moderator is the final judge of thecategory into which a motion falls.To move your motion on the day, youshould go about it as follows:-When the Assembly reaches theappropriate place in the debate for yourmotion to be moved, the Moderator willknow that you have already put forward aNotice of Motion because it will be visiblein the Assembly Hub. OtherCommissioners will be able to see yourmotion and may note in advance, using theAssembly Hub, that they will second yourmotion. At the time your motion is moved,a check will be made of the Assembly Hubto see that there is a seconder registered. Ifno one is willing to second it, then yourmotion falls. If it is seconded, then theModerator will ask you to read what youpropose (or the Clerks might do this) andthe text will be shown on the live feed. TheModerator will then invite you to tell theAssembly why you believe your proposal isthe right one.

Seconding can be formal so a seconderdoes not need to speak in support of aproposal but if they wish to do so, theyshould also register a “request to speak” onthe Assembly Hub.When moving a motion, you will be givenup to five minutes to make your case. Therewill then be debate at the end of which youwill be asked if you wish to say anythingelse to convince the Assembly. After that,the Convener presenting the Report will beasked to give their response, and then theAssembly will decide on the matter byvoting.



Proposed CommitteesCommittee to Prepare an Answer to Her Majesty’s Gracious Letter

Very Rev Dr Martin FairRev Gillian Paterson 425Mrs Dorothy Getliffe DCS 591Mr John Cunningham 636

Committee to Prepare Minute onDeceased Ministers, Missionaries and Deacons

Very Rev Dr Martin Fair Principal ClerkDepute Clerk



Overtures

OverturesPresbyteries of Hamilton and LanarkAct Anent the Union of the Presbyteries of Hamilton and Lanark......................................30Presbytery of Aberdeen and ShetlandOverture Regarding Training for the Full Time Ministry of Word and Sacrament..............32



OvertureOVERTURE ANENT THE UNION

OF THE PRESBYTERIES OF HAMILTON AND LANARKFrom the Presbyteries of

Hamilton and LanarkWhereas the Presbyteries of Hamilton andLanark have conferred together, and haveeach come to the view that it is necessaryfor the effective good government of theChurch that they have each other's mutualsupport and encouragement in a unitedPresbytery and have agreed the Basis ofUnion set out in the Appendix to thisOverture at meetings of the Presbyterieson the twenty fourth day of March 2021:It is humbly overtured by the Reverend thePresbyteries of Hamilton and Lanark to theVenerable the General Assembly to enactand ordain as follows:-

ACT ANENT THE UNION OF THE PRESBYTERIES OF

HAMILTON AND LANARKEdinburgh, XX May 2021, Sess. XX

Notwithstanding the terms of Act Il 1975,by which the present overall Presbyterystructure of the Church was established,and following the decision of the GeneralAssembly of 2019 to reform the number ofPresbyteries, the General Assembly in theexercise of power to readjust the saidstructure as may be required from time totime enact and ordain that:-1. With effect from 1 January 2022 the

Presbyteries of Hamilton and Lanarkshall be united in terms of the Basisof Union agreed by them all.

2. The name of the united Presbyteryshall be the Presbytery of LanarkshireChurch of Scotland, known as‘Lanarkshire Presbytery’ or‘Presbytery of Lanarkshire’

3. The Scottish Charity NumberSC048680 shall be retained as theScottish Charity Number ofPresbytery of Lanarkshire Church ofScotland.

4. All ministers and deacons havingseats in the Presbyteries of Hamiltonand Lanark in terms of Act III 2000(as amended) shall be members ofthe Lanarkshire Presbytery.

5. All Presbytery elders, whethercommissioned by Kirk Session orappointed by the Presbytery, shall solong as their commission orappointment run be members of theLanarkshire Presbytery.

6. All property or funds belonging to orheld on behalf of the Presbytery ofHamilton or the Presbytery of Lanarkshall belong to the LanarkshirePresbytery. Any trust or other specialfunds held by either Presbytery shall,from the date of the Union, be dealtwith in such a way as is competentand as may be agreed to by theunited Presbytery, subject toobtaining of legal advice on anyquestion of difficulty which mayarise.

Proposed DeliveranceThe General Assembly:1. Receive the Overture.2. Pass an Act uniting the Presbyteries

of Hamilton and Lanark to form thePresbytery of Lanarkshire as set outin the Overture received from thePresbyteries.



AppendixBASIS AND PLAN OF UNION

OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON AND LANARK

1. The united Presbytery to be createdby uniting the existing Presbyteries ofHamilton and Lanark, the newPresbytery to comprise the sixty-fourcharges as at present or as shall be inplace on 31 December 2021.

2. The united Presbytery to be calledthe Presbytery of Lanarkshire Churchof Scotland, known as ‘LanarkshirePresbytery’ or ‘Presbytery ofLanarkshire’

3. The united Presbytery to meet for itsfirst meeting on 5 February 2022, in avenue to be determined, when thenormal pattern of meetings shall bedecided.

4. The united Presbytery to appoint aModerator to serve from 1 January2022 until September 2023.

5. The united Presbytery to establish aPresbytery Office with a full timeClerk and appropriate administrativeassistance along with other staffingwhich may be appropriate andaffordable.

6. The Standing Orders for the unitedPresbytery shall be approved by theunited Presbytery at its first meeting.

7. The united Presbytery to establishMission Areas/ Locality Groups andtheir remits and appropriatecommittees to enable a structure tobe developed that commits to aprinciple of subsidiarity and/ ordelegation that allows discussions totake place in the most effectiveforum.

The provisional objective of the unitedPresbytery shall be Supportingcongregations to share the Good News ofJesus Christ through working with each

other, working for each other and being witheach other.We work with each other by providingresources, knowledge and training, based onlearning and receiving from each other andalso being accountable to each other.We work for each other by doing the thingsPresbytery can do in order to free upcongregations to do what they are energisedto do.Being with each other means knowing eachother, listening to each other, learning fromeach other and supporting each othercollaboratively.We encourage and support congregations toprovide:Opportunities for worship, fellowship, theteaching of the Christian faith, the enrichingof community life, ensuring that the views ofthe local Church are heard on matters ofwider concern;Pastoral care, advice and support to peoplein each parish.



OvertureOVERTURE REGARDING TRAINING FOR THE FULL TIME MINISTRY OF

WORD AND SACRAMENTFrom the Presbytery of Aberdeen and Shetland

Whereas:1. The Church of Scotland has four

training paths to recognisedMinistries, which are Full TimeMinistry of Word and Sacrament,Ordained Local Ministry, theDiaconate and the Readership.

2. There are no direct training paths toChaplaincies such as in Healthcare,Prisons and the Army and those whoare employed as a Chaplain may havebeen ordained as a Full Time Ministerof Word and Sacrament, as anOrdained Local Minister or as aDeacon.

3. The traditional training for Ministryof Full-Time Word and Sacrament isdeliberately left broad in order thatcandidates move through the yearsof training, primarily accruingexperience of Parish Ministry, yetsome upon completion see theircalling in the work of Chaplaincy.

4. Armed Force Chaplaincy requires aChaplain to be Ordained by theirDenomination, however the otherChaplaincies (such as those withinthe National Health Service andPrison Service) do not requireOrdination, though theseappointments would generally askfor a certain level of training andnormally the approval of aDenomination or Faith Group.

5. The scenarios specifically beingreferred to in this Overture are thosein which an individual is in a full orpart-time paid appointment (withsufficient contracted hours) and isnot serving as a volunteer Chaplain.(Note in some settings the term‘Chaplain’ is often used to describework that is voluntary.)

6. We are referring specifically toindividuals who feel called tocontinue serving and ministering toothers in the setting of their existingappointment, but who feel the Callto Ordination, and who have theirCall upheld in the Church ofScotland’s Discernment andAssessment process.

7. The Church of Scotland TrainingProgramme for Full Time Ministry ofWord and Sacrament requirescandidates to undertake a 4th

placement (Probationary Placement)which is full time. Though generally afair system, in terms of the entrypoint to Call and the programme oftraining for most candidates, thisfixed requirement creates an unfairdisadvantage to the journey ofcalling for those individuals alreadyserving as Chaplains.

8. A solution to this anomaly could befor a Chaplain to seek ordination viathe Ordained Local Ministry route.However, an OLM is part time, is avoluntary position, is under theSupervision of a minister and thepositions which they are placed intoare under the auspices of thePresbytery and designated within anagreed Presbytery Plan.



9. To be asked to leave their job toundertake a Probationary Placement,which is solely focused on ParishMinistry, and then hope to return totheir existing Chaplaincyappointment seems at odds with theunique experience of discerning acalling and finding a unique vocationwithin which to serve God.Organisations such as the NHS,Prison Service or an EducationalInstitution would not hold anindividual’s job open for them for aperiod of 15 months. It is entirelypossible for an individual, alreadyserving God in the vocation theyenvisage God has set apart for them,to feel that God is drawing them tocontinue in this role, but as anOrdained Minister with the fulloptions of ‘Sacramental Ministry’open to them in that PastoralAppointment.

10. Many other denominations allow forthe flexibility of an individuallyorientated pathway within trainingtowards Ordination for selectedindividuals who are already employedwithin a Chaplaincy. This includes inthe Ministry of HealthcareChaplaincy for instance, where manydenominations have an option opento them to select, train and Ordainsomeone already in post.

11. Serving as a Chaplain is described bymany as a true Calling. Relationshipswithin the care setting are built upand allow for the transference ofcomfort, encouragement, guidance,and support. Though ‘sacramentalministry’ is not necessarily anessential requisite for carrying outthis vocational role, many Chaplainswho are ordained have the additionalopportunity for journeying alongsidepeople at important points in theirlife though the administering of

Sacramental graces. Examplesinclude: the baptism of a patient inhospital who feels drawn into God’sLove and sharing communion with aperson who is terminally ill. Inaddition, some Chaplains are askedto conduct marriages for people theyhave grown in relationship with overa period of time whilst perhapssupporting them for other reasons.

12. Sacramental Ministry goes beyondthe practical examples of ministrymentioned above and opens the doorfor a Chaplain to care for the ‘whole’person. Chaplaincy does notnecessitate Sacramental ministry.However, some Chaplains who workas non ordained employees can pointto clear feelings that God is placing aCall to Ordained Ministry upon themand to continue in their currentvocation.

13. Where the discernment process ofthe Church, and NationalAssessment Conference, confirm thepresence of a Call for a givenindividual, it does not seem fair thatthe current options for the trainingof Ordained Ministers does not allowfor flexibility in such a case, to allowthe individual to continue through anappropriate training programme andon to fulfil the Calling toSacramental Ministry within theircurrent vocation and area of service.

14. At a time when the Church is rightlyconcerned about decreasing numbersof Parish Ministers, it isunderstandable that it shouldencourage people to consider such acalling. However, a calling to thework of Chaplaincy and serving theChurch denomination in otherappointments outside ParishMinistry, is equally legitimate.



15. The Church of Scotland is very muchaware of the financial cost of trainingcandidates, especially if ultimately anindividual at the end of training iscalled into a Ministry other thanParish Ministry when there is suchshortage in this area. However, itshould be noted that in these specificcases outlined, the cost of training isminimal – limited to AcademicCourse Fees, Travel and ConferenceFees. The requirement to pay acandidate an allowance during theyears of Academic Study in the casesabove would not be necessary as thatperson would continue in theirChaplaincy Appointment, studyingPart-Time. In addition, a stipendduring the Probationary Placementwould not be required.

16. This proposal for an amendment tothe Selection and Training for Full-Time Ministry Act (Act X 2004) is notintended to create a shortcut forcertain individuals to seek fast-trackOrdination and is not intended tomove the Church away from thebroad approach to the TrainingProgramme that generally workswell. In addition, it is not seeking theremoval of any steps in the processof discernment, education, andplacement experience for certainpeople. Instead, it is to address ananomaly whereby an individual isdisadvantaged, effectively havingtheir path to building on their senseof call blocked, despite their callbeing sustained at NationalAssessment, on account of alreadybeing employed as a Chaplain. Suchindividuals are placed in theimpossible position of being asked toleave their appointment toundertake the traditionalProbationary Placement - builtheavily around the experiences of

Parish Ministry - and then hope toreturn to their previous ChaplaincyAppointment.

17. It is humbly overtured by thePresbytery of Aberdeen and Shetlandto the Venerable the GeneralAssembly of the Church of Scotland,that the General Assembly pass anAct amending the Selection andTraining for Full-Time Ministry Act(ACT X 2004) (as amended by Acts II,X 2005, III 2007, VI 2009, VIII 2011, XI2014, IV 2015, XIV 2016, II 2017, XI2018, I and III 2019 and IX and XV2020) by inserting a new section 22Aas follows:22A. In the special circumstance of anindividual being accepted as aCandidate for the Full Time Ministryof Word and Sacrament (FTWS), whois currently employed as a Chaplainthough not currently Ordained, andwho has demonstrated at NationalAssessment a Call to full-timeMinistry of Word and Sacrament, andyet who believes and candemonstrate a Calling to continue intheir current role as a Chaplain, thecommittee have in their powers theoption of modifying the trainingrequirement of Full-Time ProbationPlacement in the following terms:(i) All other parts of the Training

Programme (includingapproved Academic Course,appropriate Conferences andfirst three Placements) to becompleted during the years ofAcademic Study preceding theProbationary Placement.(Sections 16 and 17, Act X2004).

(ii) The modified ProbationaryPlacement to follow the samerequirements as theProbationary Periodundertaken by a Candidate



within the Ordained LocalMinister Training Programme.(Section 12, Ordained LocalMinistry Act (Act IX 2011).

(iii) This placement to runalongside the candidate’scontinuation in their salariedemployment as a Chaplain.

(iv) All appraisals to be carried outas per the standard TrainingProgramme for Full-TimeMinistry of Word andSacrament, with an additionalstatement required in the FinalAppraisal provided by asuitably qualified person whocan testify to the candidate’swork in their Chaplaincy duringthe year of placement. (Mostusually a Line Manager).

(v) Upon successful completion ofthe training, the candidate willbe granted an Exit Certificateand become a GraduateCandidate pending Ordinationand will be given an assignedcategory of ‘E’, according to theRegistration of Ministries Act(ACT II 2017).

(vi) Should the said individual, atsome point in the future, seekto take up a calling withinanother Ministry of the Church,an application for a change ofcategory in terms of Section 27of Act II 2017 will be required,including the committee’sdecision on further training/placements that the applicantmay be asked to undertake tocomplete before the change incategory is approved.

Or to do otherwise as to yourVenerable Court may seem good.

Proposed DeliveranceThe General Assembly:1. Receive the Overture.2. Pass an Act amending the Selection

and Training for Full-Time MinistryAct (Act X 2004) (as amended) as setout in the Appendix.

Appendix[ ] ACT AMENDING THE SELECTIONAND TRAINING FOR FULL-TIMEMINISTRY ACT (ACT X 2004) (ASAMENDED)Edinburgh, [ ] May 2021, Session [ ]The General Assembly hereby enact andordain that the Selection and Training forFull-Time Ministry Act (Act X 2004), asamended, shall be further amended asfollows:1. Insert a new section 22A as follows:

22A. In the special circumstance of anindividual being accepted as aCandidate for the Full Time Ministryof Word and Sacrament (FTWS), whois currently employed as a Chaplainthough not currently Ordained, andwho has demonstrated at NationalAssessment a Call to full-timeMinistry of Word and Sacrament, andyet who believes and candemonstrate a Calling to continue intheir current role the committeehave in their powers the option ofmodifying the training requirementof Full-Time Probation Placement inthe following terms:(i) All other parts of the Training

Programme (includingapproved Academic Course,appropriate Conferences andfirst three Placements) to becompleted during the years of



Academic Study preceding theProbationary Placement.(Sections 16 and 17, Act X2004).

(ii) The modified ProbationaryPlacement to follow the samerequirements as theProbationary Periodundertaken by a Candidatewithin the Ordained LocalMinister Training Programme.(Section 12, Ordained LocalMinistry Act (Act IX 2011).

(iii) This placement to runalongside the candidate’scontinuation in their salariedemployment as a Chaplain.

(iv) All appraisals to be carried outas per the standard TrainingProgramme for Full-TimeMinistry of Word andSacrament, with an additionalstatement required in the FinalAppraisal provided by asuitably qualified person whocan testify to the candidate’swork in their Chaplaincy duringthe year of placement. (Mostusually a Line Manager).

(v) Upon successful completion ofthe training, the candidate willbe granted an Exit Certificateand become a GraduateCandidate pending Ordinationand will be given an assignedcategory of ‘E’, according to theRegistration of Ministries Act(ACT II 2017).

(vi) Should the said individual, atsome point in the future, seekto take up a calling withinanother Ministry of the Church,an application for a change ofcategory in terms of Section 27of Act II 2017 will be required,including the committee’s

decision on further training/placements that the applicantmay be asked to undertake tocomplete before the change incategory is approved.



Supplementary ReportsIndex

Supplementary Report of the Faith Nurture Forum ...........................................................38

Supplementary Report of the Assembly Trustees ...............................................................64



SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT – FAITH NURTURE FORUM

Proposed DeliveranceThe General Assembly:1. Receive the Supplementary Report.2. Pass the Presbytery Mission Plan Act

as set out in Appendix 1.3. Instruct Presbyteries to complete the

process of developing and gainingfinal approval of their PresbyteryMission Plan by 31 December 2022noting that Presbyteries which are inthe process of union with otherPresbyteries may seek to form ashared Presbytery Mission Plan withthem as the fulfilment of thisinstruction. (Section 2 and Section 7)

4. Agree the number of ministry postsallocated to each Presbytery set outin Appendix 4 and instruct that thisbe the figure used in the forming ofany Presbytery Mission Plan. (Section7 and Appendix 4)

5. Instruct that all Presbytery Plansagreed and approved in terms of theAppraisal and Adjustment Act (ActVII 2003) be suspended from 1 June2021. (Section 2 and Section 3)

6. Instruct that from 1 June 2021a) only vacancies and

readjustments processed interms of section 9(2) of Act VII2003 (which require, for theavoidance of doubt, theapproval of the Presbytery ofthe bounds and theconcurrence of the FaithNurture Forum) may proceedand

b) any vacancies andreadjustments givenpermission to proceed throughthis exception shall beReviewable Charges. (Section 3)

7. Instruct that where permission tocall in terms of section 8 of theVacancy Procedure Act (Act VIII2003) has been given prior to 1 June2021 the vacancy process in a chargemay continue after 1 June 2021 but ifthat process has not led to thepreaching of a nominee in terms ofsection 22 of Act VIII 2003 by 30September 2021, such a vacancyprocess shall be discontinued at thatdate unless agreement is reachedbetween the Presbytery of thebounds and the Faith Nurture Forumthat the process may be continuedthereafter in terms of Act VIII 2003.(Section 4)

8. Instruct that from 1 June 2021 alloutstanding appeals under section 6of Act VII 2003 related to PresbyteryPlans shall be suspended, but thatthis shall be without prejudice to anyright to initiate a review in terms ofthe Presbytery Mission Plan Act indue course. (Section 5)

9. Pass the Local Mission ChurchRegulations as set out in Appendix 5.(Section 8 and Appendix 5)



Report1. PRESBYTERY MISSION PLAN

ACTMembers of the Faith Nurture Forum haveworked with the General Assembly’s LegalQuestions Committee and with theGeneral Trustees on the Presbytery MissionPlan Act (Appendix 1.) This Act, asindicated in the main Volume of Reports,seeks to:• Name mission as the prime driver for

Planning.• Align the description of mission with

that being used in the Faith Action Plan.• Commit to a territorial ministry as in

the Constitution but also set the scenefor ecumenical cooperation in itsdelivery.

• Bring Ministry Post numbers into thelegislation as a mandatory figure, andfacilitate Presbyteries achievingconformity to their allocation by 2025.

• Set a framework for a five-year rollingplan (as opposed to a fixed ten years inAct VII 2003) and require the FaithNurture Forum to provide a five-yearrolling projection of Ministry Postnumbers.

• Simplify the strategic decisions aboutbuildings and draw on the support andguidance provided by the GeneralTrustees.

• Simplify and speed up the processwhereby the process of arriving at PlanDecisions and other Planning matterscan be challenged by Kirk Sessions andPresbyters through the provision of abespoke review process. Outstandingappeals will fall if the new PresbyteryMission Plan Act is agreed by theGeneral Assembly.

• Maintain a tight control on budgets byinsisting that shortfalls be dealt withand appointments are properly set upwith secure funding and good HRpractice.

• Offer Presbyteries a wider range ofoptions as they seek to reshape churchlife and use the Ministry Posts whichthey have been allocated in particularto add provision for – Team Ministry,“light touch” local church (LocalMission Church), online church, newexpressions of church.

• Provide a clearer framework forimplementing Plans through itsdescription of adjustment processes.

2. THE PRIORITY OF MISSIONIn developing the Presbytery Mission PlanAct presented to the General Assembly,questions have rightly been asked aboutwhere this leaves existing plans, drafted interms of Act VII, 2003. The Faith NurtureForum wishes to be clear about the priorityof mission, and in particular the Five Marksof Mission, while the Assembly Trusteeshave been clear about the financialrealities. There is an urgency and thereforethe Faith Nurture Forum asks the GeneralAssembly to instruct Presbyteries to beginworking on new plans and to submit a newplan, in terms of the Presbytery MissionPlan Act, reflecting the reduced number ofministries, no later than 31st December2022.

3. SUSPENDING EXISTING PLANS In order to facilitate this work, it makessense to suspend all existing plans, whilestill allowing, in exceptional circumstances,for certain vacancies and readjustments tobe processed in terms of section 9(2) of theAct VII 2003 (requiring, for the avoidanceof doubt, the approval of the Presbytery ofthe bounds and the concurrence of theFaith Nurture Forum). Recognising too thatcircumstances may change while these newplans are being drafted, the Forum, inconsultation with the Legal QuestionsCommittee and the General Trustees, asksthe General Assembly to instruct that suchvacancies and readjustments givenpermission to proceed through thisexception shall be Reviewable Charges.



This proviso will apply until final plansunder the new Presbytery Mission Plan Acthave been agreed and concurred with bythe Faith Nurture Forum, and any reviewsarising from these Presbytery Mission PlanAct decisions are dealt with under theproposed review process.

4. EXISTING VACANCIESPURSUING CALLS

For those congregations pursuing a call atthis time, it is only fair that they should beallowed to continue in that process.However, if that process has not led to thepreaching of a nominee in terms of section22 of Act VIII 2003 by 30 September 2021,such a vacancy process shall bediscontinued at that date unlessagreement is reached between thePresbytery of the bounds and the FaithNurture Forum that the process may becontinued thereafter in terms of Act VII2003 section 9(2). Again, this allowsPresbyteries the discretion to enablecongregations which are critical to themission of the Presbytery to seek to discernwhether there is a suitable candidate forthese vacancies, in conversation with theFaith Nurture Forum.

5. APPEALSGiven that there are outstanding appealswhich have been lodged under the terms ofAct VII, 2003, some of which may still besome way off resolution for a variety ofreasons, it is proposed that any suchappeals be suspended. This would bewithout prejudice to any right to initiate areview in terms of the agreed PresbyteryMission Plan Act in due course.

6. GUIDELINES AND CODE OFPRACTICE

The Faith Nurture Forum, working with theLegal Questions Committee and theGeneral Trustees, will prepare Guidelinesand a Code of Practice, focussing onmission and other underlying principles, a

basic outline of which can be found atAppendix 2.

7. ALLOCATION OF MINISTRIESNUMBERS

7.1.1 The Assembly Trustees in theirforward planning have indicated that thenumber of ministries which the Church willbe able to afford by the end of 2025 is 600.Taking into account the need for a 10%allowance for vacancies, to allow formovement and flexibility, this means thatthe number of posts – a combination ofMinisters of Word and Sacrament, andMinistries Development Staff – to beincluded in plans equates to 660.7.1.2 In seeking to tease through howthese 660 posts might be allocated acrossScotland, the Faith Nurture Forumconsidered how to arrive at a distributionwhich was equitable; which was based onsound principles; and which reflected theChurch’s continuing Priority to the Poor, asaffirmed by successive General Assemblies.7.1.3 The General Assembly of 2018considered a set of advisory figures, whichrelated purely to Ministers of Word andSacrament, and did not include MinistriesDevelopment Staff. Recognising that theadvisory nature of these figures wasunsatisfactory, the Forum has done furtherwork on weightings and ministriesallocations, drawing on the realisation thatthe weightings agreed by GeneralAssembly in 2010 and again in 2011 requiredrevisiting.7.1.4 A small group met on threeoccasions, with input from the Rev DrFiona Tweedie, and received papers fromthe Church’s Finance Department toconsider whether these weightings werestill helpful. The composition of the groupis listed at Appendix 3. In addition, aninformal survey of Presbytery Clerks tookplace to ascertain their views, and theresponses from more rural Clerks wereindicative of being supportive of theweightings, while the responses receivedfrom some of the more urban Presbyteries



were indicative of finding the weightingsless than helpful.7.1.5 In 2011, the allocation of ministrieswas based on two key factors. The first waspopulation density, and, recognising thatpopulation density was radically differentin the rural and remote parts of Scotland,the weightings reflected this, with thosemost remote and rural parts receiving aweighting of three, and the urban areas,and predominantly urban areas receiving aweighting factor of one. The second keyfactor reflected the fact that the mission ofthe Church was to those who self-identified as Church of Scotland in the 2011Census, and also to those who self-identified as having no religious affiliation,as well those who chose not to answer thisquestion.7.1.6 While a Census took place inEngland in March 2021, the Scottish Censuswill take place in March 2022, with the keyfindings to support the revision ofministries allocations not being availableuntil the latter part of 2023.7.1.7 In looking at the weightings, andthe allocation of ministries numbers,various options were considered. Theseincluded doing away with a weightingsystem entirely, while retaining the doubleweighting for population for Priority Areas;removing the weightings entirely, andremoving the double weighting ofpopulation for Priority Areas, and offeringa pool of 30 posts for MDS roles withinPriority Areas, which would have beensubject to a bidding process; andintroducing a new weightings system.7.1.8 The group looking at weightingsalso had access to the figures for Ministriesand Mission allocations for the period 2019to 2021, and looked at these alongside thenumber of ministries allocated to eachPresbytery or cluster of Presbyteries wherePresbyteries had come together to create anew Presbytery, with the costing of aministry post equating to £43,698 at 2021figures. There are some questions aboutwhether using the population density

statistics is the right method going forwardand the Forum will consider these andreport back to a subsequent GeneralAssembly.7.1.9 Equally the shape of PresbyteryReform will require appropriateadjustments to these weightings as newPresbyteries are created to replace existingones. The weightings factors can be foundon the General Assembly pages of theChurch of Scotland website.7.1.10 The Forum asks the GeneralAssembly to retain the existing weightings,recognising that further work will takeplace in the coming year and the allocationof ministries arising from these weightings,capped at 660, and distributed accordinglyacross the Presbyteries in Scotland, withappropriate adjustments on a percentagebasis for those Presbyteries not subject to acalculation against population. Thesefigures are to be regarded as mandatory,and the new Presbytery Mission Actindicates this. These ministry figures can befound at Appendix 4.7.1.11 For the Presbyteries of Clyde andFife, the Forum offers an aggregate ofministries, and encourages otherPresbyteries working together to shape anew Presbytery to consider these figures asthey work collaboratively.7.1.12 The new Presbytery Mission PlanAct provides for a more dynamic rollingfive-year planning cycle, with ministryallocations being reported on each year tothe General Assembly. Alongside thereview of Ministries and MissionAllocations, reported on elsewhere to thisGeneral Assembly, it is appropriate to workwith the existing weightings, alongside thepercentage reduction in ministriesnumbers, as the baseline for PresbyteryMission Plans with an end date of 31December 2025.7.1.13 These numbers reflect those whoself-identified as Church of Scotland in the2011 Census, and also those who self-identified with no religious affiliation.Recognising that much housebuilding has



taken place across Scotland since the 2011Census, the work done by the Reverend DrFiona Tweedie in arriving at these figuresdraws heavily on the Small Area PopulationEstimates data provided by NationalRecords of Scotland, as at June 2019. TheForum is grateful for Dr Tweedie’s supportin this key area of work.7.1.14 The Forum also asks the GeneralAssembly to note that there will be a capon the numbers of MDS posts within theoverall allocation of ministries, at a higherpercentage of the overall posts than waseventually the case in the 2011 plans. For2022 this cap will be 120 in the firstinstance.7.2 GuardianshipsIn addition, the provision of guardianshipswill continue, but guardianships will bebuilt into plans as 0.25 of an FTE post; theyreceive two days of pastoral work and alsoa Sunday, and these costs need to bereflected fully in Presbytery Plans.7.3 Financial Issues in PlanningThe group has taken account of thepossibility that a Presbytery might agree aMission Plan which significantly reducesthe aggregate amount of Ministry andMission contributions which itscongregations remit to the nationalChurch. It is possible for a Presbytery to doso while acting in good faith and inaccordance with Church law. Whether thePresbytery is a net contributor or not, thiswould imperil the Church’s ability to payfor 600 ministries. The more Presbyteriesproduce Mission Plans which result in areduction of their aggregate Ministry andMission contributions, the greater the risk.To mitigate this risk, the group believesthat the General Assembly should be clearin setting targets for gross aggregateMinistry and Mission contributions fromeach Presbytery. These targets wouldrequire annual revision and might beadvisory or mandatory.7.4 The group had neither theresources nor the time to bring detailedproposals to the Assembly. It is also aware

that work is being done elsewhere onChurch finance which might bear directlyon this issue. Nevertheless, the grouprecommends that the Faith NurtureForum, working with the AssemblyTrustees and Legal Questions Committee,should monitor the potential impact ofPresbytery Mission Planning on thefinances of the national Church and, ifnecessary, bring proposals to a futureGeneral Assembly.7.5 The Forum will continue to keepthese figures under review and will reportback to the General Assembly of 2022.

8. LOCAL MISSION CHURCH8.1 In engaging with Presbyteries andcongregations, the Faith Nurture Forum,the Principal Clerk’s Office and the GeneralTrustees have been all too aware of thedemands placed on small congregations intheir ongoing life and work as they seek toengage in mission in context. The burden offinding an Interim Moderator and ofpopulating the offices of Session Clerk,Treasurer, Safeguarding Coordinator and aProperty Convener, to name but some ofthe local offices required, is challenging forsmall congregations. There is a positivehistory in the Church of Scotland ofmission stations being a vibrant expressionof local church, and the regulations onLocal Mission Church referred to below canbe a significant contribution to that story.8.2 Accordingly, following theinitiative of the Legal QuestionsCommittee, the Forum brings to theGeneral Assembly Regulations on LocalMission Church, which can be found atAppendix 5.8.3 These create provision for acongregation, which is small and whichseeks to continue to worship, to have acontinuing life, while recognising that theburdens of continuing with a Kirk Sessionand the associated offices, perhapsincluding a Clerk to the CongregationalBoard, as well as the roles indicated aboveare beyond its means. Worship could be



provided by worship teams, by onlineprovision, or through the offices of aReader or Ordained Local Minister. Theexperiences of the last year have shownthat different possibilities exist and thatonline worship can be offered as a deepexperience of the Holy Spirit and thegathered people of God. Some of thecongregations currently experiencing lifeunder Guardianship may wish, inconsultation with Presbytery, to considermoving to assume the status of a localmission church.

In the name of the ForumROSEMARY FREW, Convener

KAREN K. CAMPBELL, Vice-ConvenerANGUS R MATHIESON, Interim Head of

ForumAppendix 1

PRESBYTERY MISSION PLAN ACT [ ] 2021Edinburgh, [ ] May [ ], Session [ ]The General Assembly declare and enact asfollows: –In requiring Presbyteries to plan missionwithin their bounds, the Church ofScotland seeks to:-• underscore the Church’s priority as

participating in Christ’s mission.• set down a definition of that mission.• provide a framework for a Presbytery to

express that priority in forming a rollingfive-year Mission Plan.

• enable a group of Presbyteriesanticipating union to work together ona Mission Plan.

• ensure that a Presbytery makes best useof the ministry posts allocated to it bythe General Assembly.

• insist that a Presbytery take decisionsabout the future of Church buildings.

• provide a range of ways in which aPresbytery may structure and resourceChurch life.

• engage the Faith Nurture Forum andthe General Trustees in assistingPresbytery in their planning.

Accordingly, the General Assemblyhereby enact and ordain:1. DEFINITIONS1.1 For the purposes of this Act thefollowing terms shall have the meaningshereby assigned to them:–a) “Adjustment” shall mean a form of

adjustment set out in section 7, sub-sections (1) to (11);

b) An “appointment” shall mean anappointment to a post other than aninducted Minister detailed within theMission Plan and which is eithercounted within the allocation ofministry posts funded by the ParishStaffing Fund and allocated to thatPresbytery by the General Assemblyor is funded locally by thecongregation and/or the Presbytery;

c) ”Approved Mission Plan” shall meana Mission Plan that has beenapproved by the Presbytery, theForum and the General Trustees;

d) “Basis of Adjustment” shall mean thewritten terms upon whichAdjustment is implemented;

e) A “charge” shall mean a sphere ofpastoral duty to which a minister isinducted and may include a TeamMinistry Charge as referred to insection 7(10);

f) A “congregation” shall mean anassociation of persons in a parishwhose names are on the CommunionRoll and Adherents’ Roll and who areunder the pastoral oversight of aminister or ministers (or an InterimModerator) and a Kirk Session, forChristian worship, fellowship,instruction, Mission and service;

g) “ecclesiastical building” shall meanany property pertaining to a



congregation or agency whether ornot in use for the purposes of thecongregation or agency and inparticular but without prejudice tothe foregoing generality any Church,Church Hall, Manse, house for anassistant or associate minister,Church Officer’s house, retirementhouse, ancillary building oroutbuilding or property which is let;

h) A “Financial Board” shall mean thebody responsible for managing thefinances of a congregation, includinga Congregational Board, Deacons’Court, Committee of Managementand Kirk Session;

i) the “Five Marks of Mission” shallmean:1. To proclaim the Good News of

the Kingdom2. To teach, baptise and nurture

new believers3. To respond to human need by

loving service4. To seek to transform unjust

structures of society, tochallenge violence of every kindand pursue peace andreconciliation

5. To strive to safeguard theintegrity of creation andsustain and renew the life ofthe earth;

j) “The Forum” shall mean the FaithNurture Forum;

k) “Guidance” shall mean the Guidanceaccompanying this Act as referred toin section 13;

l) “Historic Properties” shall meanthose buildings specified by theGeneral Trustees as being of specialhistoric or architectural interestwhich are outstanding examples of aparticular period, style or building

type and “Historic Property” shall beconstrued accordingly;

m) “MDS” shall mean MinistriesDevelopment Staff, and refers toappointments of employees by theForum;

n) “Mission” shall be construed asmeaning those aspects of church lifeset out in the Five Marks of Missionsupplemented by the Guidance;

o) “Mission Plan” shall mean a MissionPlan formulated in terms of section 2below and in the form of thetemplate set out in Guidance;

p) “Mission Plan Review Panel” shallmean the Panel described in theSchedule;

q) The “Presbytery” shall mean thePresbytery of the bounds where thecharge, agency, partnership orMission initiative is located or onlineactivity is rooted; the word“Presbytery” may be construed so asto include a group of Presbyteries,where appropriate;

r) The “shape of church life” shall meanthe arrangements of congregations,agencies, ministries, partnershipsinitiatives and others, including theirphysical resources and onlineactivities, all under the supervision ofthe Presbytery;

s) “Vacancy” shall mean the state inwhich a charge finds itself when it iswithout an inducted minister andshall include the situation of aprospective vacancy where anInterim Moderator has beenappointed under section 6(1) of theVacancy Procedure Act (Act VIII2003), and “vacant” shall beconstrued accordingly.



2. THE PRESBYTERY MISSIONPLAN2.0.1 Each Presbytery shall be requiredto have an Approved Mission Plan in placein terms of this Act by 31 December 2022.2.0.2 It shall be in order for a group ofPresbyteries anticipating union to presentto the Forum and the General Trustees ashared draft Mission Plan in terms of thisAct. For this to become an ApprovedMission Plan in terms of this Act it musthave been approved at a meeting of each ofthe individual Presbyteries and then thefinal approval of the Forum and theGeneral Trustees must be obtained.2.1 Content of A Mission Plan2.1.1 A Mission Plan shall describe howthe Church of Scotland’s engagement withChrist’s Mission is to be shaped andresourced in the following five years and tothat end shall demonstrate how thePresbytery will:-i) ensure that the life of the Church of

Scotland is shaped around Missionand adequately reflects theoutcomes of Local Church Reviewand ideas for local mission;

ii) sustain the commitment to aterritorial ministry as described in theThird of the Articles Declaratoryappended to the Church of ScotlandAct 1921 and affirmed in DeclaratoryAct V 2010 including its commitmentto ecumenical working;

iii) make appropriate use of suchministry posts as may be permittedby the General Assembly so that thenumber of post holders in eachPresbytery conforms to the numbersand timescales set by the GeneralAssembly;

iv) ensure that new ways of beingChurch, other than stipendiaryMinisters of Word and Sacrament ortraditional MDS appointments, arereflected in the Mission Plan

2.1.2 In doing so the Presbytery willcategorise each ecclesiastical building aseither:-(a) to be retained beyond the five years

from the date at which the MissionPlan is approved or annuallyreviewed, or

(b) to be sold, let or otherwise disposedof by a specified date which is withinfive years from the date at which theecclesiastical building is firstcategorised as (b).

2.1.3 In order to arrive at thesecategorisations the Presbytery shall use,and reference, resources and adviceprovided by the General Trustees, includingthe Land and Buildings Toolkit (or anysuccessor guidance issued by the GeneralTrustees).2.1.4 In the case of a (b) categorisationthe General Trustees shall be empowered,at their discretion and in consultation withthe Forum, to refuse any application madein respect of that building in terms of theWork at Ecclesiastical BuildingsRegulations (Regs I 1998) (as amendedfrom time to time).2.1.5 The Mission Plan shall also recordthose ecclesiastical buildings within thePresbytery which are Historic Properties,regardless of whether they are categorisedas (a) or (b).2.2 Process for preparing andapproving a Mission Plan2.2.1 Mission Plan is prepared: APresbytery shall prepare a draft MissionPlan, in consultation with the Forum andthe General Trustees. To facilitate thePresbytery’s preparation of the MissionPlan, the Forum shall, as part of its input,intimate the total number of ministryposts approved by the General Assembly asreferred to at section 2.4.1 below, and theGeneral Trustees shall, as part of theirinput, provide such information as isavailable as to suitability of theecclesiastical buildings for mission. In the



course of its development the Presbyteryshall at regular intervals share the draftMission Plan with the Forum and theGeneral Trustees. The Presbytery, theForum and the General Trustees shall worktogether to develop the Plan, with theForum and the General Trustees offeringadvice and guidance on the framing of theMission Plan. Presbytery shall take intoaccount the Code of Practice contained inthe Guidance.2.2.2 Presbytery meets to approve theMission Plan: The completed draft MissionPlan shall be put to a full meeting of thePresbytery for approval. When a Presbyteryhas voted to approve a Mission Plan, or toapprove a Mission Plan following its annualevaluation and development, thePresbytery’s process shall be sisted and anextract minute of the decision and a copyof the Mission Plan document shall be sentto the Forum and the General Trustees fortheir final approval.2.2.3 Approval of the Mission Plan bythe Forum and the General Trustees:Upon receipt of the Mission Plan, theForum and the General Trustees shallconsider whether the Mission Planconforms to section 2.1 above and thuswhether the Forum and the GeneralTrustees can grant final approval of theMission Plan, or whether further discussionwith the Presbytery is required. If in thesediscussions Presbytery representativesagree to possible amendments then theamended Mission Plan will be resubmittedto a full meeting of Presbytery for its finalapproval.2.2.4 Possible referral to Mission PlanReview Panel for assistance: Discussionon the Mission Plan among the Presbytery,the Forum and the General Trustees shallcontinue until final approval of the MissionPlan is given by the Forum and the GeneralTrustees. If final approval is not in placewithin a period of three calendar monthsafter the Forum’s and the GeneralTrustees’ receipt of the Mission Plan, thematter shall be referred to the Mission Plan

Review Panel by the Presbytery and thePanel shall assist the parties to resolve thematter, so that final approval of theMission Plan can be given.2.2.5 Extract minute of finalapprovals to Presbytery: Once both theForum and the General Trustees have givenfinal approval of the Mission Plan, theForum shall send an extract minute toPresbytery indicating that the Forum andthe General Trustees have granted finalapproval of the Mission Plan.2.2.6 The Approved Mission Plan:When the Forum’s and the GeneralTrustees’ final approval of the Mission Planis announced and recorded at a meeting ofthe Presbytery, the Mission Plan will thenbe considered an Approved Mission Planand, subject to the right of review referredto at section 3 below, steps shall be takenby the Presbytery towards itsimplementation.2.3 Annual evaluation anddevelopment of a Mission Plan2.3.1 Each Presbytery shall carry out aprocess of annual evaluation anddevelopment of its Mission Plan so as tomaintain in rolling form an accurate,comprehensive and up to date Mission Planfor the shape of church life in the next fiveyears in that Presbytery.2.3.2 The process of annual evaluationand development of the Mission Plan shallbe initiated by the Presbytery Clerk, andshall proceed in consultation with theForum and the General Trustees.Thereafter approval by the Presbytery, andfinal approval by the Forum and GeneralTrustees shall be sought and this processshall follow the procedure set out above atsection 2.2, save that the period to achievefinal approval of the Plan shall be onemonth rather than three months. Aftersuch evaluation and development, finalapproval and recording of that approval ata meeting of the Presbytery, the MissionPlan shall be re-dated to cover the next five



years and that shall become thePresbytery’s Approved Mission Plan.2.4 Other provisions as to MissionPlans2.4.1 The Forum shall bring annually tothe General Assembly for approval theproposed total number of ministry posts tobe funded by the Parish Staffing Fund,allocated among the Presbyteries, in eachof the next five years, so that there is afive-year rolling plan for such allocations.2.4.2 In the first Approved Mission Plan,and in every subsequent Approved MissionPlan formed after the process of annualevaluation and development and approval,the provisions of section 2.1.1(iii) shallapply.2.4.3 For the avoidance of doubt, inincluding in a Mission Plan provision forAdjustment to achieve the Mission Plangoals, the Presbytery shall not beconsidered to be affecting the rights of aninducted Minister. The Presbytery shallhave the right to call a meeting of therelevant Kirk Session(s) and thecongregation(s) to discuss the Mission Planwith or without consent of the inductedminister. The inducted minister shall not beentitled to attend and speak at such ameeting, but the Presbytery may choose tomeet separately with the inducted ministerto discuss the Mission Plan goals.3. REVIEW3.1 Within fourteen days of the dateof the Presbytery meeting at which theagreement of the Forum and the GeneralTrustees to the Mission Plan (or to anannual evaluation and development of theMission Plan, as the case may be) has beenrecorded at the Presbytery meeting it shallbe open to any twelve or more members ofthe Presbytery or to any Kirk Session withinits bounds to seek a review of the processused by the Presbytery in preparing andapproving the Mission Plan (or its annualevaluation or development) by sendingintimation to the Principal Clerk (who in

turn shall inform the Forum and theGeneral Trustees).3.2 When a review has beenintimated: any provision of the MissionPlan which is not affected by a request forreview may be progressed under section 4while the review is pending.3.3 The review may only be requestedon the grounds set out in the Schedule tothis Act.3.4 Such a review shall be conductedby a Mission Plan Review Panel inaccordance with provisions of the Scheduleto this Act.4. IMPLEMENTATION OF THEMISSION PLAN4.1 After achieving the final approvalof the Forum and the General Trustees tothe Mission Plan (or to annual evaluationand development of the Mission Plan), andwhen there are no outstanding requests forreview to be heard by the Mission PlanReview Panel, the Presbytery shall proceedto implement the Approved Mission Plan.5. PRESBYTERY MISSION PLANSAND PERMISSION TO CALL AMINISTER OR TO MAKE ANAPPOINTMENT5.1 A vacant charge in respect ofwhich an Approved Mission Plan exists maybe given permission to call a minister,subject to the provisions of Act VIII 2003,and further provided that:(a) the Mission Plan provides that no

Adjustment is required before a newminister is inducted, or

(b) the Adjustment described in theApproved Mission Plan has been fullyimplemented, or



(c) the Presbytery has alreadynegotiated a Basis for theAdjustment described in theApproved Mission Plan and is able toimplement it before sustaining a calland there is no outstanding requestfor review to be heard by the MissionPlan Review Panel.

5.2 A vacant charge shall not be givenpermission to call a minister if:(a) a Basis of Adjustment has not yet

been agreed between the Presbyteryand the congregation, and/or

(b) there is any outstanding request forreview to be heard by the MissionPlan Review Panel, and/or

(c) there are Mission Plan issues yet tobe resolved in terms of this Act.

5.3 Appointments may also be madeto other posts (MDS and/or Presbyteryand/or locally funded posts) described inthe Mission Plan providing that:(a) there is funding in place for the

envisaged duration of theappointment,

(b) the job description and contract ofemployment have been approved bythe Human Resources department inthe national office in order to ensureconsistency and fairness acrossPresbyteries, and

(c) Presbytery shall satisfy itself as tothe status and good standing of anyminister of another denominationappointed in terms of this section5.3.

6. SUSPENSION OF THEIMPLEMENTATION OF THE MISSIONPLAN6.1 On cause shown, and subject tothe right of any twelve or more membersof Presbytery or a Kirk Session to requestreview by the Mission Plan Review Panel onthe grounds set out in the Schedule withinfourteen days of the date of suspension,

the Presbytery, the Forum or the GeneralTrustees may suspend the implementationof the Mission Plan in part or whole.6.2 When this happens, the Presbyteryand the Forum and the General Trusteesshall strive to reach agreement withinterested parties as soon as possible toallow the Mission Plan to be reinstated andimplemented.6.3 The Presbytery shall not permit acongregation to call a minister or anappointment to be made in terms of theMission Plan when such a post is coveredby the suspended section(s) (or as the casemay be, whole) of the Mission Plan.7. IMPLEMENTATION OF THEMISSION PLAN THROUGHADJUSTMENT AND OTHERARRANGEMENTS7.0 The Mission Plan may specify anyof the following forms of Adjustment andother arrangements: –(1) UnionTwo or more congregations may be unitedto form one congregation under theUnitary Constitution, and such union shallinvolve the union of charges, parishes, KirkSessions, Financial Boards, property andfunds and, except in special circumstanceswhere provision is made to the contrary inthe Basis of Union, all congregationalagencies and organisations.(2) LinkingTwo or more charges may be linked to formone charge in terms of a Basis of Linking, sothat the congregations are served by oneministry, the constitutions of the saidcongregations being in no other wayaffected.



(3) Deferred Union or DeferredLinking(a) When for any reason it is not possible

to unite a vacant congregation withanother congregation under theminister of the other congregation,the Presbytery may decide to unitethem on the understanding that theimplementation of such decisionshall be deferred to take place assoon as practicable after thatminister’s interest has terminated.

(b) The Basis of Deferred Union shallprovide (i) that the congregations tobe united shall elect a minister whoshall be inducted in the first instanceas minister of the vacantcongregation, and (ii) that on thetermination of the other minister’sinterest the Union shall immediatelybe effective under the minister soelected and inducted.

(c) If another vacancy occurs in theoriginally-vacant congregationbefore the termination of the otherminister’s interest, the Basis ofDeferred Union shall remain in forceand the congregations shall electanother minister as in (b) above;subject to the proviso that thePresbytery may decide to recall theBasis of Deferred Union with a viewto making another Adjustmentdecision.

(d) A linking may be deferred in thesame manner as a union in terms ofsubsections (a) to (c) above.

(4) Local Mission ChurchThe Presbytery may determine in itsMission Plan that a Local Mission Churchshall be created, either (a) following aunion or dissolution effected in terms ofthis Act, or (b) as a new venture. Such aLocal Mission Church shall be establishedin terms of the Local Mission ChurchRegulations and shall be governed by aBasis of Local Mission Church. The process

to create a Local Mission Church shall be asspecified in the Guidance.(5) GuardianshipA charge may continue without the right tocall a minister under the Guardianship ofthe Presbytery. There shall be a Basis ofGuardianship which shall include thetiming and scope of the how theguardianship shall be reviewed. In such acase, the Presbytery will appoint an InterimModerator who will ensure thatappropriate arrangements are put in placeto enable the ongoing ministry and Missionof the congregation(s). For the avoidanceof doubt, a Guardianship shall count as0.25 towards the total ministry allocationfor a Presbytery. A Guardianship shall besubject to a separate five yearly reviewprocess at the instigation of Presbytery,alongside the normal annual evaluationand development of the Mission Plan.(6) New Charge DevelopmentThose new charges which have beenestablished prior to the passing of this Actin terms of Act XIII 2000 may be includedin the relevant Mission Plans, but no newcharges under Act XIII 2000 may bespecified in a Mission Plan after the passingof this Act.(7) Transportation(a) The Presbytery may move a

congregation from one place ofworship to another, and, where thatinvolves a change of parish, it shallbe designated “transportation”.

(b) Where transportation is effected, thePresbytery shall take such steps ofAdjustment as may be necessary toensure that the parishes involved areallocated to defined charges.

(8) Parish GroupingsThe Presbytery may declare that two ormore charges shall have responsibility for asingle area. The Basis of such anAdjustment shall determine the extent towhich the charges shall operate as a ParishGrouping, for instance in the sharing of



worship, personnel, education resources,mission initiatives, congregationalorganisations etc.(9) DissolutionA charge may be dissolved by thePresbytery of the bounds. The Basis ofDissolution shall provide for:-(a) The issuing of certificates of

transference to all members of thecongregation;

(b) The allocation of the parish toanother charge or charges;

(c) The transfer to the General Trustees,prior to dissolution, of any heritableproperty held by or on behalf of thecongregation title to which is not yetvested in the General Trustees;

(d) The transfer, prior to dissolution, offunds to enable the General Trusteesto discharge their obligations(including maintenance, security andinsurance) in relation to any heritableproperty held by or on behalf of thecongregation which is designated asa Historic Property; provided thatsuch funds shall include (i) allrestricted funds (including organfunds) held for fabric purposes and(ii) such proportion of allunrestricted funds as may bereasonably required for suchpurposes by the General Trustees;and

(e) The destination of all other propertyand funds of the charge(s).

(10) Team Ministry(a) The Presbytery may determine, in

respect of any charge, the amount ofministerial time required by thecharge, and the number and natureof posts necessary, provided that(except in the case of job-sharing)the Presbytery shall identify one ofthe inducted ministers as moderatorof the Kirk Session.

(b) Presbyteries are encouraged indesigning a Team Ministry toconsider the significance of the rolewhich might be played by those otherthan Ministers of Word andSacrament and MinistriesDevelopment Staff.

(c) The terms under which a TeamMinistry will operate shall be set outin a Basis of Team Ministry agreed bythe Presbytery and all members ofthe Team prior to any such TeamMinistry being established; the Basisshall include a dispute resolutionmechanism.

(d) A Team Ministry may be created inone or other of the following twoways:(I) a Presbytery may create a Team

Ministry with an inductedparish minister (who shall bethe moderator of the KirkSession) and which may includea deacon, MDS appointments,the appointment of anOrdained Local Minister orsuch other appointment asmay be deemed appropriate inMission Plan discussions, or

(II) alternatively, the Presbyterymay create within the charge aTeam Ministry consisting oftwo or more Team MinistryCharges, to each of which aparish minister shall beinducted, provided always thatone of the Team MinistryCharges shall be identified inthe Basis as the one providingthe moderator of the KirkSession. The Team may alsoinclude a deacon, MDSappointments, theappointment of an OrdainedLocal Minister or such otherappointment as may bedeemed appropriate in MissionPlan discussions.



(e) Where there are Team MinistryCharges created in terms ofparagraph (d)(II) above, the followingshall apply:(A) The Team Ministry Charges

shall share the samecongregation and Kirk Sessionand be part of the same Churchlife.

(B) The ministers inducted to aTeam Ministry Charge shalleach occupy the manseprovided for their use.

(C) The ministers of the TeamMinistry Charges shall beappointed in one or other ofthe following two ways:(i) the ministers may be

called, with appropriatechanges, through thevacancy processes set outin Act VIII 2003, or

(ii) where a new charge isbeing created by a unionof charges and wherethere are at the time ofthe proposed unionminister(s) inducted toone or more of thosecharges with unrestrictedtenure, it shall becompetent for thePresbytery to createTeam Ministry Chargeswithin the new chargeand to include suchminister(s) within thenew charge subject totheir agreement to theBasis of Team Ministry.

(D) The Team Ministry Charges,save for any exception at (e)(C)(ii) above, shall be ReviewableCharges in the terms set out insection 9(1) of this Act and maybe part-time.

(E) For the avoidance of doubt, theminister(s) who are notinducted to the Team MinistryCharge providing themoderator of the Kirk Sessionwill not automatically succeedto that Team Ministry Chargeon the occurrence of a vacancybut would be entitled to applyfor that Team Ministry Chargethrough the vacancy processesset out in Act VIII 2003.

(11) New Forms of Church LifeAfter consultation with the Forum, thePresbytery may devise a new form ofAdjustment or ministry, ensuring that suchform is consistent with the Acts anddeliverances of the General Assembly. Thismay include the provision of online Church,where the Presbytery seeks to coordinateand resource the provision of onlineworship and mission by identifyingcongregations, partnerships or agencieswhich will be given lead responsibility forsuch provision; this may include theallocation of a Mission Plan post or posts.The Mission Plan should demonstrate howthe Presbytery will relate to those whosebelonging is primarily through networks orthe virtual world.(12) Presbytery Mission InitiativeThe Presbytery may set up a PresbyteryMission Initiative in terms of the PresbyteryMission Initiatives Act (Act V 2015).8. AGREEMENT TO UNION ORLINKING UNDER AN INDUCTEDMINISTER8.1 Preliminary8.1.1 No Basis of Union or Linking shallbe distributed by Presbytery to the officebearers or members of a congregationwhere the minister has been inducted onthe basis of unrestricted tenure withoutthe consent of that minister.



8.2 Congregational Votes on theProposed Basis of Adjustment8.2.1 When an explicit provision of aBasis of Union or Linking is that theminister of one of the congregationsinvolved shall be the minister of the unitedor linked charge (the new charge) then thefollowing procedures shall be adopted. Allsuch votes shall be by secret ballot.8.2.2 Where the minister referred to in8.2.1 was inducted on unrestricted tenureto his or her current congregation, thereshall be a single vote taken in thatcongregation to approve all the terms ofthe Basis. Other congregations shall voteusing the double vote system as set outbelow.8.2.3 Where the minister referred to in8.2.1 was inducted on a Basis of ReviewableCharge there shall be separate votes takenin each congregation on each of thefollowing matters:-i. to approve the terms of the Basis,

apart from the clause which saysthat the minister referred to in 8.2.1shall be the first minister of the newcharge; and

ii. to approve the clause in the Basiswhich says that the minister referredto in 8.2.1 shall be the first ministerof the new charge.

8.2.4 Where a congregation is vacantthere shall be separate votes taken in thatcongregation, irrespective of whether theminister referred to in 8.2.1 was inductedon unrestricted tenure or to a ReviewableCharge, on each of the following matters: -i. to approve the terms of the Basis,

apart from the clause which saysthat the minister referred to in 8.2.1shall be the first minister of the newcharge; and

ii. to approve the clause in the Basiswhich says that the minister referredto in 8.2.1 shall be the first ministerof the new charge.

8.3 Procedure Subsequent toCongregational Votes8.3.1 When the vote taken in terms of8.2.2 is “for” then the Presbytery is free toproceed to effect the adjustment subject toconsideration of the votes taken in termsof 8.2.3 and 8.2.4.8.3.2 When votes are taken in terms of8.2.3 and the vote is “for” in terms of i but“against” in terms of ii then the Presbyterymay choose to follow one of theseoptions:-i. if the review date for the Basis of

Reviewable Charge has passed or isimminent, to end the tenure of theReviewable Charge by giving theminister six months’ notice andthereafter enact the Union orLinking, or

ii. if the review date for the Basis ofReviewable Charge is some timeahead seek to negotiate a Basis ofDeferred Union or Linking to coverthe period until the review is due.

8.3.3 Where votes are taken in terms of8.2.4 and the vote is “for” in terms of i but“against” in terms of ii then the Presbyterymay choose to follow one of theseoptions:-i. if the review date for the Basis of

Reviewable Charge has passed or isimminent, to end the tenure of theReviewable Charge and give theminister six months’ notice and enactthe union or linking, or

ii. negotiate a Basis of Deferred Unionor Linking which will be enactedwhen either the incumbent ministeron unrestricted tenure has lefthis/her charge or, if applicable, whenthe Reviewable Charge may bereviewed and its tenure terminated.

8.4 General Provisions for SuchAdjustments8.4.1 A Presbytery may not effect anadjustment whereby a minister would be



imposed on a congregation which has notvoted in favour in terms of 8.2.3 ii or 8.2.4ii.8.4.2 In the case of a minister whobecomes minister of a united or linkedcharge in terms of a Basis of Union orLinking, the united or linked charge shall beregarded as a modification of the charge towhich he or she has already been inductedso that no further induction shall berequired; but in all such cases thePresbytery shall conduct a service ofintroduction.9. INSTRUMENTS FOR FUTUREPLANNING9.0 The Presbytery may utilise in itsMission Plan either of the instruments forfuture planning described below.(1) Reviewable Charge9.1.1 In respect of any charge, thePresbytery may decide that such chargeshall be a Reviewable Charge, meaning thatits next minister shall be inducted oncondition that the Presbytery mayterminate the tenure of the minister at anytime and for any reason which may seemgood to the Presbytery, on terms specifiedin the Basis of Adjustment and alwaysupon giving the minister six months’ noticein writing. On the date of termination, theminister shall be deemed to have demittedhis or her charge.9.1.2 The minister shall be free to seekto demit or be translated as in the ordinarycase of any minister inducted to a charge,provided that, if the Reviewable Charge isthat minister’s first charge, this constitutesexceptional circumstances in terms ofsection 4 of the Vacancy Procedure Act(Act VIII 2003).9.1.3 Before proceeding to induct aminister in terms of this section 9(1), thePresbytery shall submit to him or her theBasis of Reviewable Charge, and shallobtain and record his or her writtenacceptance thereof.

(2) Transference9.2.1 A parish and charge may betransferred from the bounds andjurisdiction of one Presbytery to thebounds and jurisdiction of another with theagreement of both Presbyteries.9.2.2 In the event of disagreementbetween the two Presbyteries, thePresbytery desiring the transference mayrequest a review by the Mission PlanReview Panel in terms of the Schedulewithin fourteen days of the date of thePresbytery meeting at which a decisiondisputing the transference was taken, andshall immediately notify the otherPresbytery of its request.9.2.3 Transference shall be a necessarypreliminary to union or linking ofcongregations which are not within thebounds of one Presbytery.10. ACHIEVEMENT OFADJUSTMENT10.1 When the Presbytery decides tonegotiate a Basis of Adjustment in a chargein accordance with a Mission Plan, it shallremit to the appropriate StandingCommittee, or to a committee appointedfor the purpose, the task of conferring withlocal parties, provided that:(a) Conference with local parties shall be

with the ministers and with theelders and the members of theFinancial Board (if any) of thecongregations which may be involvedin Adjustment, and should includeconsultation with other members ofa ministry team;

(b) No proposed Adjustment involvingthe rights of the minister shall bediscussed with the office-bearers ofthe congregation as in (a) abovewithout his or her consent in writing;



(c) All meetings of office-bearers underthis section 10.1 shall be called by thePresbytery’s Committee and aminister, deacon or elder, appointedby the said Committee, shall act asConvener for the purposes ofconference. In no case shall aminister preside at or attend anymeeting called under the terms ofthis Act where matters in which hisor her interests are involved arediscussed or decided.

10.2 A detailed Basis of Adjustmentshall be negotiated with the office-bearersinvolved, and in the course of thenegotiation its text shall be submitted tothe Forum to ensure it is consistent withthe Mission Plan, and to the Principal Clerkand the Solicitor of the Church who shallensure that the provisions of the Basis arein conformity with Church and Civil Law.The Basis of Adjustment shall be votedupon firstly by the office-bearers and thenby the congregation or congregationsinvolved, before the matter is put to thePresbytery for decision. Those entitled tospeak and vote at such a congregationalmeeting shall include those who have beenformally recognised by the Kirk Session asadherents of the congregation. ThePresbytery shall have regard to thedecisions arrived at by the respective officebearers and congregations, providedalways that:(a) no Basis affecting the rights of a

minister shall be presented to his orher or any other congregationwithout his or her written consent,

(b) any congregation directly involved inand named in any proposed Basisshall be cited to appear for theirinterests at any meeting of thePresbytery at which a decision is tobe made in terms of this Act.

10.3 Notwithstanding the provisions ofthis section 10, while it shall be the duty ofthe Presbytery to make every effort tosecure approval of the office bearers and

congregations involved, the right of thePresbytery to effect Adjustment in termsof this Act is hereby affirmed, subject tothe written consent of any minister orministers whose rights would be adverselyaffected.11. REVIEW OF A BASIS OFADJUSTMENT11.1 It shall be open to any Kirk Sessioninvolved in the Adjustment or twelve ormore members of Presbytery to seek areview of a Basis of Adjustment by theMission Plan Review Panel. Such a reviewshall consider whether the details of theBasis are in conformity with the ApprovedMission Plan and this Act and must berequested within fourteen days ofPresbytery’s decision on the Basis.11.2 Such review shall otherwiseproceed in line with the provisions of theSchedule.12. MEMBERS OF PRESBYTERY12.1 For the avoidance of doubt it ishereby declared that any person who isboth a member of a cited congregation anda member or a corresponding member ofthe Presbytery (including an InterimModerator) shall be entitled to participatein any discussion leading to a decision ofthe Presbytery in terms of this Act and,where qualified, to vote thereon.13. GUIDANCE13.1 The Forum, after consultationwith the Legal Questions Committee, shallissue Guidance on the implementation andoperation of this Act, including a Code ofPractice, which shall be reviewed by theForum in consultation with the LegalQuestions Committee, from time to time.14. REPEALS AND AMENDMENTS14.1 The Appraisal and Adjustment Act(Act VII 2003) is hereby repealed exceptthat section 9(2) of that Act shall remain inforce until Approved Mission Plans are inplace for all Presbyteries.



SCHEDULE- THE MISSION PLAN REVIEWPANEL

A: GENERAL: COMPOSITION,JURISDICTION AND MAKING A REQUESTOF THE PANEL1. Composition (for allJurisdiction matters)The Mission Plan Review Group shall be agroup of fifteen persons appointed by theGeneral Assembly on the Report of theNomination Committee and in line withthe process for appointing persons to otherjudicial bodies. Additionally, the Forum andthe General Trustees shall be entitled tomake suggestions to the Legal QuestionsCommittee as to persons who are suitablefor appointment to the Group, but the finaldecision as to nominees shall rest with theLegal Questions Committee. The membersof the Group shall be suitably experiencedmembers of the Church.The Panel shall consist of three membersdrawn from the Mission Plan ReviewGroup. One member shall act as Convener.The quorum of the Panel shall be two,including the Convener. None of themembers of the Panel shall be members ofthe Presbytery whose Mission Plan is beingconsidered or reviewed.Where a Mission Plan Review Panel haspreviously been formed to consider aquestion relating to a particular MissionPlan, if there is a subsequent request forassistance or review relating to the sameMission Plan, the Panel shall be formed soas not to include the same persons.2. JurisdictionThe Panel shall consider the followingmatters:

(a) in terms of section 2.2, an applicationby the Presbytery, the Forum and/orthe General Trustees for the Panel toassist the parties to resolve thematter where agreement cannot bereached on a Mission Plan among thePresbytery, the Forum and theGeneral Trustees within a period ofthree calendar months of theirreceipt of the Mission Plan;

(b) in terms of section 2.3, an applicationby the Presbytery, the Forum and/orthe General Trustees for the Panel toassist the parties to resolve thematter where agreement cannot bereached on the annual evaluationand development of the Mission Planamong the Presbytery, the Forumand the General Trustees within aperiod of one calendar month oftheir receipt of the Mission Plan;

(c) in terms of section 3, an applicationfrom any twelve or more members ofthe Presbytery or any Kirk Sessionseeking a review of the process usedby the Presbytery in preparing andapproving a Mission Plan or in itsannual evaluation and development;

(d) in terms of section 6, an applicationfrom any twelve or more members ofPresbytery or a Kirk Sessionrequesting a review of a decision ofthe Presbytery and/or the Forumand/or the General Trustees tosuspend the implementation of aMission Plan in part or whole;

(e) in terms of section 9(2), anapplication for review from aPresbytery desiring to transfer aparish and charge from the boundsand jurisdiction of one Presbytery tothe bounds and jurisdiction ofanother (Transference), where thereis disagreement between the twoPresbyteries; and



(f) in terms of section 11, an applicationfrom twelve or more members ofPresbytery or a Kirk Session seeking areview of a Basis of Adjustment, toconsider whether the details of theBasis are in conformity with theMission Plan and this Act;provided always that no provision ofthis Act shall operate so as to havethe Panel review its own decision orgive judgement twice on the samequestion.

3. Making the request forassistance (Jurisdiction paragraphs(a)& (b)) or for review (Jurisdictionparagraphs (c) to (f))A request for assistance or review shall besent to the Principal Clerk (who in turnshall inform the Forum and the GeneralTrustees) within fourteen days of therelevant event.B: ASSISTANCE (Jurisdiction paragraphs(a) & (b) above)1. Procedure for assistanceThe Panel shall have wide discretion toassist the parties to reach agreement as itsees fit. The Panel shall have power torequire parties to produce documents andinformation as to the provisions of theMission Plan.C: REVIEW (Jurisdiction paragraphs (c) to(f) above)1. Grounds for requesting review(Jurisdiction paragraphs (c) to (e)above)A review may only be requested on thegrounds that (a) there was a material errorin Church law, (b) there was materialirregularity of process on the part ofPresbytery (or the Forum or GeneralTrustees, as the case may be) or (c) thedecision of Presbytery (or the Forum orGeneral Trustees, as the case may be) tookinto account an irrelevant material fact orfailed to take into account a relevantmaterial fact.

2. Ground for requesting review(Jurisdiction paragraph (f) above)Such a review may only be requested whereit is alleged that the details of the Basis arenot in conformity with the ApprovedMission Plan and this Act.3. Procedure for review(Jurisdiction paragraphs (c) to (f)above)A request for review shall require to obtainleave to proceed from the GeneralAssembly’s Committee on Overtures andCases, whose decision shall be final.The Panel shall complete a review withinthree calendar months of receiving therequest for a review (along with allnecessary documentation), save that thePanel has the discretion to extend thistimescale on cause shown.The Panel may choose to proceed whollyon written submissions or may choose tohold a hearing, which may be online. ThePanel may decide whether or not to visitthe place(s) giving rise to the request forreview and when doing so may choosewhether or not to meet with local parties.If the Panel chooses to proceed wholly onwritten submissions it shall notify its finaldecision to all interested parties. Thedecision shall be in writing and shall set outthe grounds upon which its decision wasreached.If the Panel chooses to hold a hearing,whether in person or online, procedureshall follow that of the General Assembly’sStanding Orders and shall normally be asfollows:1. Hearing is opened with prayer2. Convener makes introductions3. Convener explains the purpose of the

hearing4. Persons requesting review are given

opportunity to speak (through onenominated speaker)



5. Respondent (normally Presbytery) isgiven opportunity to speak (throughone nominated speaker)

6. Members of the Panel ask questionsof parties

7. Respondent has its final word8. Persons requesting review have their

final word9. Parties are removed and Panel

reaches a decision10. Decision is intimated when parties

are recalled or may be intimated byemail to parties; at this stage asummary of reasons for the decisionmay be given

11. Hearing is closed with prayer/theGrace/the Benediction

Within fourteen days of the hearing awritten decision shall be issued which shallset out the grounds on which the decisionwas reached.4. Possible outcomes (Jurisdictionparagraphs (c) to (e) above)The outcome of the review process will beeither (1) no change, i.e. to endorse thecorrectness of the decision which has beenmade, or (2) to send the matter back to thedecision-maker for the decision to be madeagain, with identification of anydeficiencies in its processes.The review is about the legality of theprocesses adopted (how the decision wastaken), not the substance of the decisionmade. The outcome will not be a differentdecision.5. Possible outcomes (Jurisdictionparagraph (f) above)The outcome of the review process will beeither (1) to confirm that the Basis is inconformity with the Mission Plan and thisAct or (2) to confirm that it is not. In thelatter case the Presbytery will thereafterrenegotiate the Basis.

6. Finality of decisions(Jurisdiction paragraphs (c) to (f)aboveThe Panel’s decision on a request forreview, however determined, shall be finaland there shall be no right of appealagainst a decision of the Panel.Appendix 2

Mission and other underlying principles1. IntroductionThe Presbytery Mission Plan Act providesthe legislative framework for the urgentneed for a rapid and adaptive approach toPresbytery Planning. The task requiresserious and immediate engagement on thepart of Presbyteries, Congregations and allinvolved in the ministries of the Church.The Act outlines the Five Marks of Mission,and additional Guidelines will be availablefrom the Faith Nurture Forum about howthe Five Marks of Mission can be applied tothe task of shaping Presbytery Plans.Mission is the primary principle for makingstrategic decisions on the use of ministriesposts, the use of Church Buildings, and thewider ministry of the whole people of God.The template for our ministry is theministry of Jesus. The Church’s ministry is aparticipation in the ministry of Jesus Christ.Jesus’ ministry was a ministry rooted in andfocused on mission, and is seen in Jesus’preaching in the synagogue in Nazareth inLuke 4.18, where Jesus says:“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, becausehe has anointed me to bring good news tothe poor. He has sent me to proclaimrelease to the captives and recovery ofsight to the blind, to let the oppressed gofree, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’sfavour.”The church has affirmed a number ofimportant principles that help to explainwhat is meant by being a church focusedon mission. Presbyteries in their Plans willtherefore take account of the following:



2. CommunitiesEvery community of every size in everylocation within Scotland is part of a Churchof Scotland Parish. While populationshould no longer be the only principle inshaping Presbytery Plans, it still remainsthe starting point. Our calling as a church isnot primarily to resource congregations: itis mission to everyone in the land.3. The PoorSuccessive General Assemblies haveaffirmed the Gospel imperative is priorityto the poor. At a time when resources arescarce, it is tempting to withdraw from themost marginal communities wherechurches are often fragile and small.However pressing those reasons are, thismust be resisted because it goes againstthe Gospel and the repeated view of theGeneral Assembly.4. CongregationsOne of the ways in which the Gospel findsexpression is in committed congregationsunder the power of the Holy Spirit. Thesecongregations both express the Gospel,and commend it to others. Presbyteries intheir planning will identify congregationswhich are outward looking, which engagewith their communities, and consider howthese strengths can contribute to themission of the Church.5. Financial ResponsibilityPresbytery Planning does not mean thatcongregations which make a netcontribution to central funds take priority.A degree of financial realism is required,and it is recognised that somecongregations are more generous thancomparable ones, and even in the poorestcongregations, per capita giving can bemuch higher than in some of thewealthiest congregations. It makes sensefor Presbyteries to consider the complexfinancial picture and allocate ministerialresources to congregations which taketheir financial stewardship seriously.

6. BuildingsThere is a connection between ministry andchurch buildings, although that connectionis neither uniform nor universal. TheChurch of Scotland has too many buildings,numerous buildings that are under-utilised,buildings that are too large for present dayneeds and buildings that are in the wrongplace. At a local level however, almostevery church building is deemed essential.There is no simple solution to this problem.The starting point however should bemission. Presbyteries will want to considerwhich buildings are essential and useful forthe mission they envisage.7. Linkage or UnionIn terms of charitable governance, it isimportant to attempt to makeappropriately resourced, mission-mindedgoverning bodies. There should be apresumption against ever-expandinglinkages of separate congregations, whichrequire multiple session meetings (andother meetings) for which a Minister mightcarry responsibility as well as office-bearersin each congregation. Shared missionshould lead to a single governing bodywherever possible, and support forindividual buildings can be providedthrough the use of local fabric care groupsanswerable to a central Kirk Session.



Appendix 3Membership of Group examining weightingsRosemary Frew Convener, and minister at Bowden and Melrose, Faith

Nurture Forum

Karen K. Campbell Vice-Convener, and minister at Edinburgh: Marchmont StGiles, Faith Nurture Forum

Lesley-Ann Calvert Member of Dundee: The Steeple, and member, FaithNurture Forum

Mike Goss Minister, Barry Parish Church linked with CarnoustieChurch, member, Faith Nurture Forum

Alan Hamilton Minister, Killermont Parish Church and member, FaithNurture Forum

Richard Lloyd Member of Edinburgh: Queensferry, and member, FaithNurture Forum

Ruth Mackenzie Elder, member of Peterhead: New and member, FaithNurture Forum

Scott McCarthy Minister, Garthamlock and Craigend East, and member,Faith Nurture Forum

Angus R. Mathieson Interim Head, Faith Nurture



Appendix 4Ministries Figures for the period to 31 December 2022Presbytery Presbytery

Number2021

TOTAL2011 FTEs

Edinburgh 1 48.5 78.2West Lothian 2 17 28.2Lothian 3 25 30.2Melrose and Peebles 4 9 13.7Duns 5 4 7Jedburgh 6 5.5 11.9Annandale and Eskdale 7 7.5 13.6Dumfries and Kirkcudbright 8 12.5 20.9Wigtown and Stranraer 9 6 10.2Ayr 10 24 26.6Irvine and Kilmarnock 11 13.5 20.8Ardrossan 12 13.5 23.1Lanark 13 9.5 15.2Clyde 14 40 59.8Glasgow (inc. Cumbernauld) 16 84 133.7Hamilton 17 34.5 57.5Argyll 19 18 31.6Falkirk (excl. Cumbernauld) 22 15.5 32.3Stirling 23 21.5 35.2Fife 24 44.5 68.1Dunkeld and Meigle 27 6.5 11.3Perth 28 16.5 26Dundee 29 18 27.8Angus 30 15.5 24.8Aberdeen and Shetland 31 24 46.1



Ministries Figures for the period to 31 December 2022 (continued)Presbytery Presbytery

Number2021

TOTAL2011 FTEs

Kincardine and Deeside 32 10.5 15.8Gordon 33 16 31.4Buchan 34 14 22.6Moray 35 14 20.8Abernethy 36 4.5 7.3Inverness 37 14 22.3Lochaber 38 5.5 7.9Ross 39 10 15.9Sutherland 40 4 6.1Caithness 41 5.5 9.1Lochcarron-Skye 42 5 7.7Uist 43 2 2.2Lewis 44 5 7.1Orkney 45 7 10.7England 47 5 7.1International 48 5 10.7TOTAL 661 1040.7



Appendix 5LOCAL MISSION CHURCHREGULATIONS (REGS ZZ 2021)Edinburgh [ ] May 2021, Session [ ]Definitions1. In these Regulations:(a) The term “charge” shall have the

meaning given to it in the PresbyteryMission Plan Act (Act ZZ 2021);

(b) “Leadership Team” shall mean thosepersons who have the responsibilitiesin relation to the Local MissionChurch outlined in section 6;

(c) “Presbytery” shall mean thepresbytery of the bounds withinwhich the Local Mission Church islocated.

Local Mission Church2(1) A Local Mission Church shall be aChristian community whose purpose is toworship, witness and serve in a distinctgeographical setting.2(2) A Local Mission Church shall beestablished in terms of these Regulationsand a Basis of Local Mission Church(hereinafter referred to as “the Basis”). Theform of the Basis shall be prescribed fromtime to time by the Faith Nurture Forumafter consultation with the LegalQuestions Committee.2(3) A Local Mission Church shall notown any property, heritable or moveable,nor have any legal personality. It shall nothave a Kirk Session and shall not have theright to call a minister. The creation orsustaining of a Local Mission Church is notdependent on the provision of a churchbuilding.Creation of a Local Mission Church3. The process to create a LocalMission Church shall be as specified in theGuidance accompanying the PresbyteryMission Plan Act.

Role of Kirk Session of charge4. A Local Mission Church shall existwithin the territorial boundaries of acharge. All legal and governance mattersaffecting the Local Mission Church shall bethe responsibility of the Kirk Session of thecharge. In particular, the Kirk Session shall:(a) ensure that all requirements of the

law of the Church of Scotland and ofcivil law are fulfilled in relation to theLocal Mission Church;

(b) be the owner/title-holder of allproperty whether heritable ormoveable, used by or within thepossession of the Local MissionChurch;

(c) administer all offerings and othermonies collected at or in relation tothe Local Mission Church;

(d) apply such monies in the firstinstance to meet the costs of theLocal Mission Church for as long as itexists, after discussion with theLeadership Team, and thereafter asthe Kirk Session determines.

Oversight by Presbytery5. A Local Mission Church shall besubject to the oversight of the Presbytery.In particular, a review of a Local MissionChurch and its place in the Mission Planshall be conducted by the Presbytery atleast once every five years but withoutprejudice to annual evaluation anddevelopment of the Mission Plan.Leadership Team6(1) A Local Mission Church shall havea Leadership Team as set out in the Basisand this Team shall include one or morerepresentatives of each of the Kirk Sessionand the Presbytery.6(2) The life and witness of the LocalMission Church shall be co-ordinated by itsLeadership Team, subject to the oversightof the Kirk Session and the Presbytery.Without prejudice to this generality, theLeadership Team shall be responsible for:



(a) developing appropriate expressionsof worship, witness and service;

(b) ensuring that the Local MissionChurch is adequately organised;

(c) ensuring good communication withthe Kirk Session; and

(d) assisting with the upkeep ofbuildings (if any), subject always tostrict adherence to sections 7(a) and(b) below. Any contracts shall beentered into by the Kirk Session.

Further provisions7. The following further provisionsshall apply to a Local Mission Church:(a) Neither a Leadership Team nor any

person acting on behalf of a LocalMission Church shall have anyauthority or power to enter intocontracts or to incur liabilities onbehalf of the Kirk Session.

(b) Neither a Leadership Team nor anyperson acting on behalf of a LocalMission Church shall conductthemselves in such a way (includingsilence) that might cause aninference contrary to section 7(a) tobe drawn by any person.



SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT OF THE ASSEMBLY TRUSTEES MAY 2021

Proposed DeliveranceThe General Assembly:1. Receive the Supplementary Report.2. Receive the 2020 Report and

Accounts of The Church of ScotlandUnincorporated Councils andCommittees. (Section 1)

3. Approve the total to be contributedby congregations in 2022 of£42,000,000 based on the projectionof congregational income for 2022and its disposition among localcongregational expenditure, theParish Ministries Fund and theMission and Renewal Fund. (Section 2and Appendix I)

4. Note the indicative budget for 2022.(Section 2 and Appendices I and II)

5. Urge Presbyteries to prioritise the useof the 2022 Discretionary Allowancetowards reducing the amounts ofMinistries and Mission contributionspayable by congregations which arestruggling financially. (Section 2.6)

6. Approve the reappointment of AnnNelson as an Assembly Trustee for asecond term; and approve theappointment of David Cameron,Barry Hughes and Peter McEnhill asAssembly Trustees. (Section 4)

Report1. AUDIT OF ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

FOR 2020The external auditors gave an unqualified,or ‘clean’, audit opinion on the Report andAccounts. The Assembly is invited toreceive the 2020 Report and Accounts ofthe Unincorporated Entities.Commissioners are invited to view theReport and Accounts. https://churchofscotland.org.uk/79854

2. CONGREGATIONAL INCOMEAND 2022 INCOMEDISPOSITION

2.1 Introduction2.1.1 The remit of the AssemblyTrustees requires that “The Trustees shallrecommend to the General Assembly thetotal amount of the Church’s Co-ordinatedBudget for the Parish Ministries Fund andthe Mission and Renewal Fund for thefollowing financial year; and shalldetermine the allocation of the budget forthe Mission and Renewal Fund among therelevant Agencies”. The Trustees’recommendations for total congregationalcontributions for 2022, and the allocationof these, are to be found in Appendix II.This level of income is required to pay forthe activities to which the Church isalready committed. Stability in income isneeded to finance stipends, salaries andother costs of providing ministries andsupport to the local Church.2.1.2 The Trustees’ main Report details,at Section 5, the challenging financialsituation facing the Church as a result ofthe Covid-19 pandemic and reaffirms theneed for budgetary prudence and thepriority of resourcing Presbytery reformand supporting the growth of the localChurch. In 2020 the Trustees noted areduction of about 3% from 2019 inMinistries and Mission Contributions paid


https://churchofscotland.org.uk/79854

https://churchofscotland.org.uk/79854


by Congregations by the year end, andbecame aware that some Congregationswere using their reserves in order tomaintain their contributions. This led tothe decision that, for 2021, there should bean overall reduction in aggregate Ministriesand Mission contributions of 18% to relievethe pressure locally. Analysis ofcongregational financial statistics confirmsthat, on average, Congregations’ 2020income reduced by approximately 20%.The extent to which Congregations areable to recover from this reduction in theirincome by 2022 remains to be seen. Whilethere has been much innovation,resourcefulness and creativity withinCongregations, which has mitigated someof the financial effects caused by theCovid-19 pandemic, the road map out ofthe restrictions, and therefore some of itseffects, are outwith the control of theChurch and the Trustees. The pandemic hasperhaps changed the behaviours and needsof many of our stakeholders, from ourmembers, supporters, ministers and staffto our service users, partners andbeneficiaries.2.1.3 In bringing forward therecommendations for the Co-ordinatedbudget the Trustees have had to carefullyconsider and make assumptions about:• The forecast level of congregational

income• The number of ministers likely to be in

post in 2022• The operating position of CrossReach2.1.4 All of which has a high degree ofuncertainty and a substantial potentialimpact on the Co-ordinated Budget.2.1.5 With the financial situation ofCongregations in mind, for a second year,the Trustees have agreed to bring arecommendation of an amount which willnot fund all of these activities and they willpart fund the activities from reserves of theUnincorporated Entities. WithCongregations continuing to suffer theeffects of the Covid-19 restrictions well

into 2021, there are slim prospects for fullfinancial recovery in 2021 and in alllikelihood also in 2022.There will bevariability across Congregations in theirability to contribute to Ministries andMission. Some may not have returned to asustainable position. Others may havemade savings and maintained or evenincreased giving, meaning that theirreserves have not been impacted as badlyas they might have been. Congregationshave also been given relief of 18% inaggregate in their 2021 allocations whichshould help preserve some of their reservesalthough such decisions are made at a locallevel. With this financial backdrop,consideration needs to be given to areduction in the amount required fromCongregations in 2022 to an amountsomewhere between the reducedcontribution requested in 2021 of£38,172,000 and the level in the last pre-Covid-19 year, of £46,586,000.2.1.6 The Assembly Trustees proposethat the amount of the Budget to be metby congregations in 2022 should be set at£42,000,000. Appendix I summarises theactual and projected annual income ofCongregations over the period 2019 to 2022and how the income will be used – the“Income Disposition”. It should be notedthat the reduced contributions requiredfrom Congregations in 2021 and 2022 havedistorted the percentages shown onAppendix I when compared to previousyears because the amount of contributiondoes not cover the required expenditure.2.1.7 The projected “Ordinary Income”of Congregations for 2022 shown inAppendix I is £82,860,000. Projectedincome is assessable income and is basedon returns of Financial Statistics fromCongregations for 2020, rolled forward to2021 and 2022. This is difficult to forecastbecause of the high level of uncertaintyaround congregational recovery. Based onthese estimates, the amount retained byCongregations for local expenditure isprojected to be 53.7% (2021 - 51.8%).



2.1.8 It should be noted thatcongregational income in Appendix I doesnot include extraordinary income, such aslegacies, restricted income not available tomeet regular expenditure, receipts formajor fabric projects etc, which areassumed to be used exclusively to meetlocal congregational expenditure.2.1.9 The percentage of congregationalincome allocated to the Parish MinistriesFund is projected to be 35.9% (2021 -40.1%) after deducting vacancyallowances, and that to the Mission andRenewal Fund to be 10.4% (2021 - 8.1%).The Faith Nurture Forum receives fundingfrom the Mission and Renewal Fund as wellas the Parish Ministries Fund. Allocation tothe Parish Ministries Fund pays for theprovision of Ministries to the local Church.2.1.10 Much of the work funded by theMission and Renewal Fund is directed backto the local Church in the promotion ofworship, prayer and discipleship;facilitating engagement with local andglobal communities. The Fund alsoprovides the Church's financial and legalservices; advice on Church judicialprocedures; and regulatory compliance andsafeguarding services.2.2 Congregational Income2.2.1 The commitment and generosityof those who make up the Congregationsof the Church of Scotland across thecountry and beyond is evidenced in theirregular giving, even in this mostchallenging and unprecedented time, forwhich we are all deeply grateful.2.2.2 The starting point in thepreparation of the indicative budget for thefollowing year is the estimation of totalcongregational income for the previousyear, drawn from the returns submitted bytreasurers immediately after the year end.The calculations for 2022 are based on 65%of returns received to date and availablefor comparison. Provisional details for2020 Congregational Income are containedin Appendix I. These show a decrease of20.3% in total “Ordinary Income”, with

“Offerings” down by only 10.7% due to atremendous effort to maintain givingacross the Church. This has also helped tomaintain the contribution of Gift Aid taxrecovery which is down by only 4.9%.2.2.3 Not unexpectedly, the starkestreduction is in “Other Ordinary Income”which suffered a 67% drop due to reducedincome from areas such as outsideorganisations (mainly hall lets); regularfundraising; and weddings and funerals, allof which were impacted by the pandemic.In normal circumstances, even a smallpercentage reduction has a significantimpact on congregational income. In thecurrent circumstances the overall financialimpact, which is estimated at a reductionin the order of £18,000,000, potentiallymore, leads to some extremely challengingtimes ahead for Congregations and theChurch.2.2.4 It is worth noting thatCongregations with higher levels of givingby standing order were impacted less thatthose with lower levels.2.2.5 Until the onset of the pandemic,there was evidence that the income ofmany Congregations remained steady,although this was not the experience of all.However, aggregate income was reducingas membership of the Church declined. Itwas already clear that, given the trend ofreducing income, the Church could onlycarry out the activities whichCongregations were able to fund. By far thelargest proportion of that work is the costof parish ministries and this is the reasonwhy the Church needs to focus onPresbytery planning as a matter of urgency.The financial effects of the pandemic haveonly served to heighten that urgency.2.2.6 Although early indications show a67% reduction in “Other Ordinary Income”in 2020, this heading includes a number ofdifferent categories of income, and thetotal can only be confirmed when thedetailed analysis of congregationalaccounts is completed later in the year.However it is apparent that income from



outside organisations, previously an area ofgrowth, is the aspect of income which hassuffered the largest reduction over 2020.2.3 Stipend Endowment Income2.3.1 The reduction in Growth Funddividend distributions in 2020 and 2021 bythe Investors Trust led to reduced incomein the Stipend Endowment Fund held bythe General Trustees for the benefit ofCongregations. This is passed through theFaith Nurture Forum which bore theeffects of the reduction in 2020 sincestatements had already been issued toCongregations with the anticipated annualamount of stipend endowment income.2.3.2 Early in 2021, representatives ofthe General Trustees, Faith Nurture Forumand Stewardship and Finance staff met todiscuss a new investment strategy for theStipend Endowment Fund. The GeneralTrustees’ Report to the General Assemblydescribes the new strategy which, ifagreed, would cover the period 2021 to2025 and would distribute capital as well asincome at a level of £3,200,000 per annumover that period. This gives a measure ofstability to congregational income over thenext five years while Presbytery Plans arere-aligned. The budget has assumed this£3,200,000 as well as £440,000 of GlebeRental income, but is subject to GeneralAssembly approval of the General Trustees’proposal.2.4 Parish Ministries Fund(including Stipends and related expenses forParish Ministers)2.4.1 From Appendix II it will be notedthat the projected cost of Parish Ministriesfor 2022 is £37,818,000 (2021 -£39,583,000). This is a best estimate basedon existing Minister and MinistriesDevelopment Staff (MDS) numbersprojected forward to take account ofretirements, leavers and joiners. This is,however, difficult to forecast in detail andis closely connected with the PresbyteryPlanning Process. As indicated in AppendixI and Appendix II, the proportion of theamount of £42,000,000 to be contributed

by Congregations to be allocated to theParish Ministries Fund is £33,373,000. Thebalance of £4,445,000 will be drawn fromthe Stipend Endowment Fund, GlebeIncome and Investment Income.2.4.2 The General Assembly previouslyagreed to a cap on MDS Staff of 120 FullTime Equivalents (FTE). Furtherinformation is provided under the Co-ordinated Budget (Section 2.7).2.4.3 The 2019 Supplementary Report ofthe Council of Assembly suggested that areview of the Parish Ministries Fund ring-fencing arrangements should be carriedout to establish whether this remains themost suitable method of budgeting forParish Ministries costs. Following the 2019General Assembly the Trustees agreed thatthese arrangements should bediscontinued and that the Parish MinistriesFund would no longer be budgeted as aring-fenced item, in addition to havingtighter parameters over what should beincluded in the Parish Ministries Fundbudget.2.4.4 The Faith Nurture Forum willreceive 81% of congregationalcontributions including stipendendowment income and glebe rents,directed through the Parish MinistriesFund, which includes use for:• the National Stipend Fund which pays

the stipend and other costs of parishministers;

• ordained parish ministry support anddevelopment;

• the salaries and other costs ofMinistries Development Staff;

• new, alternative and emerging forms ofministry costs;

• readership costs;• recruitment and education for

ministries, including Ordained LocalMinisters and the training ofProbationers;

• parish appraisal costs;



• properties costs;• a share of support and administration

costs.2.4.5 However, as described at 2.1 inrelation to the disposition of expenditure,the necessity to curtail expenditure in 2021and 2022 has resulted in only the directstipend and salary costs of Ministers andMinistries Development Staff and vacancyallowances being paid through the ParishMinistries Fund. Recruitment, training andeducation; parish appraisal; property; andadministration costs are no longerincluded. These essential costs and otherhigh priority work as agreed by theAssembly Trustees have been funded fromreserves and the Mission and Renewal Fundelement of congregational contributions. Areview of the Parish Ministries Fund toreflect the new Presbytery Planning processwill be carried out at a future date.2.4.6 The Ministries Development Staffset out in 2.4.2 are as agreed within currentPresbytery Plans, employed or appointedby the Ministries Council within the FaithNurture Forum; and the numbers includeDeacons, Associate Ministers, and TeamLeaders. Any parish staff engaged locallyby Congregations (and not designated onPresbytery Plans) are not funded by theParish Ministries Fund.2.5 Mission and Renewal Fund2.5.1 The Mission and Renewal Fund’sshare of the Income Disposition is 10.4%,after releasing £600,000 (2021 -£600,000) from the Fund’s budgeted, non-congregational annual income to supportthe Church’s work. As detailed in the 2019Report, the Mission and Renewal FundReserves were previously also used tosupport the budget. However, theAssembly Trustees consider that reserves,being essentially finite, should notnormally be used to support regularongoing work.2.5.2 Also, as reported by the Council ofAssembly in 2019, the balance on theMission and Renewal Reserve Fund as at 31December 2018 had been extinguished. The

review of Funds instructed by GeneralAssembly 2018 resulted in reclassificationsof general funds held by the formerCouncils, and reorganisation of other fundsthrough OSCR. As a result, the balance ofthe Fund as at 31 December 2020 was£9,200,000.2.5.3 The Trustees allocate Mission andRenewal contributions among Forums,Committees and Departments to meet thefinancing of approved work. The Forumshave other income, mainly frominvestments; and, in addition, the reservesoverseen by the Forums will be used tocover budget deficits arising in their area ofwork.2.6 Presbytery DiscretionaryAllowance2.6.1 The Assembly Trustees propose tomaintain the total available for thePresbytery Discretionary Allowance for2022 at 5% of the total Ministries andMission contributions due from theCongregations in each Presbytery. Thismeans that around £2,100,000 will beavailable to Presbyteries for regional orlocal use. However, given the financialdifficulties of Congregations as a result ofthe pandemic, the Trustees are urgingPresbyteries to prioritise the use of theAllowance for the remainder of 2021, andin 2022, towards assisting with theamounts of Ministries and Missioncontributions payable by Congregationsstruggling financially. The Allowanceshould be targeted to Congregationswhich, for example, have sufferedreductions in other income such as halllets, rather than being automaticallyallocated across all Congregations in aPresbytery.2.6.2 The Stewardship and FinanceDepartment will support Presbyteries withthe provision of regular information onshortfalls and remaining Allowancebalances. In addition, the CongregationalSustainability Task Force recently set up bythe Trustees will be on hand to provide



advice on dealing with legal and buildingsissues.2.6.3 Presbyteries should be proactive inplanning ahead in respect of a number ofchanges being brought as proposals to thisyear’s General Assembly. In October 2020the Ministries and Mission Review Group’sInterim Report to the Assembly indicatedthat the proposed new system will see theending of the Discretionary Allowancemeaning that alternative ways of funding,or potentially curtailing certain posts andprojects will need to be considered. Thefinal proposal from the Group is included inthe Trustees’ main report.2.6.4 New Presbyteries which arecoming into being from 2022 are providedfor in the Co-ordinated Budget to theequivalent cost of a Presbytery Clerk andfull time Administrator and an allowancefor running costs (although there isflexibility as to the use of the fundingdepending on local needs) and Presbyterieswill need to consider ways in which theymay raise further funds for projects orposts they wish to progress or continue.2.6.5 The Mission Plan Act and proposedreduction in ministries numbers will needto be taken into consideration at this time.2.7 The 2022 Co-ordinated Budget2.7.1 As well as the issue of decliningcongregational income, pressures on theNational Church budget have been ofserious concern in recent years with theCouncils that were in place until 2019 onlyable to make marginal reductions onprogramme costs until such time as clearlyidentified priorities were agreed. Thereorganisation into Forums at thebeginning of 2020; the development of theFaith Action Plan incorporating the RadicalAction Plan elements; and improvedaccountability measures were beginning totake shape when the effects of thepandemic struck; and these measuresproved to be invaluable in enabling costreductions during 2020. Compared to theamount budgeted for 2019, a reduction inexpenditure of £6,600,000 was achieved in

2020. This related to expenditure outwiththe Parish Ministries Fund and CrossReach.2.7.2 As noted in the main report, thebudgeted deficit for 2021 is £11,400,000.The reduced level of congregationalcontributions in 2022 will result in abudgeted deficit for 2022 of £5,100,000.However the focus on cost savings and thecontinued progression towards zero-basedbudgeting for 2022 will be importantfactors in containing the deficit. TheAssembly Trustees propose that theForums’ expenditure budgets are frozen atthe levels agreed for the 2021 Budget withonly minor adjustments. The expenditurebudgets of the service departments willalso be frozen but the budget includes anadditional amount for essential buildingrepairs and investment in infrastructuresystems. Core funding for the newPresbyteries established/to be establishedby 2022 has been included in the budget tosecure funding whilst the long termfunding arrangements are developed. Thisrequires a budget of £120,000 per newPresbytery in 2022, totalling £600,000.Appropriate funding will be key in ensuringthat the Church’s governance structurescan be made more efficient, which in turnwill assist in allowing its ministry andmission to flourish.2.7.3 The Co-ordinated Budget providesfully for the total projected number ofcurrent Presbytery Plan posts which arelikely to be filled during 2022 as part of theParish Ministries Fund.2.7.4 Presbytery planning should ensurethe most effective and appropriate use ofresources at a local level. Changes incongregational configuration can lead to adrop in income without any correspondingdrop in expenditure. Continued carefulfinancial management of the nationalForums and Committees, and the increasein the proportion of congregational incomewhich is retained for local work, areessential to present a more sustainablepicture. The proposed changes to theMinistries and Mission contribution systemare designed to help achieve this but what



remains evident is that the Church is onlyable to maintain the level of ministries andmission, both local and national, which itsmembers are prepared to support throughtheir offerings; diligent stewardship of theChurch’s resources of people, property andmoney remains paramount.2.7.5 Absorbing further compliance andgovernance costs including the cost ofPresbytery reform means that Forums andCommittees will again face challengingbudget decisions for 2022. The Trusteescontinue to scrutinise and prioritiseForums bids for additional funding for newprojects and posts and have engaged incareful consideration of other proposedprojects, looking at costs and resultantbenefits of the work.2.7.6 The number of Full TimeEquivalent (FTE) staff employed by theCentral Services Committee (CSC) hasreduced from a monthly average of 217 FTEin 2019 to an average of 199 FTE in 2020.Grant funding to partners has alsosubstantially reduced and grant-makingand grant receiving activities are beingcentralised to ensure better governanceand sourcing of grant funding for bothcongregations and the National Church.2.7.7 Appendix II shows indicativefigures for Projected Gross Expenditure in2022 for each Forum and how this is to befunded, using contributions fromcongregations, income from externalsources and annual income frominvestments, with any projected deficitbeing met from the reserves of theindividual Forums. This shows ProjectedGross Expenditure of £101,173,000 (2021 -£101,755,000). The budgeted incomecomprises contributions fromcongregations £42,000,000 (2021 -£38,172,000); investment income£2,152,000 (2021 - £2,152,000); externalsources including Stipend Endowment andglebe income and CrossReach serviceincome, £51,911,000 (2021 -£50,036,000);with a deficit from reserves of £5,100,000(2021 - £11,400,000). In recent years, inview of the lack of growth in

congregational income and the necessarycurtailment in the use of the Mission andRenewal Reserve, no allowances weremade within the budget for inflation andForums and Departments were required tofund any increased costs from within theirbudgets. An amount has been included as acontingency in the 2022 Budget to coverpotential cost increases and/or anyrestructuring costs. By Autumn 2021 theForums will present their proposed workprogrammes for 2022 to the Trustees. Newwork programmes can only beaccommodated if existing workprogrammes are ended or other savingsmade. It will be increasingly important forForums to include exit strategies in anybudget bids. The progress made during2020 in achieving the 30% saving against2019 costs will only be locked in bymaintaining budget discipline. The FaithAction Plan and the new Head of FaithAction Programme post will begin toinform spending plans.2.7.8 Forums will continue to use theirrestricted funds to progress their work andthe reorganisation of funds through OSCRis freeing up money which was previouslynot available to be spent. The AssemblyTrustees are bound to the GeneralAssembly to ensure good governance andcontrol over all of the funds of theUnincorporated Entities, including ensuringthat adequate levels of unrestrictedreserves are held.2.8 Budgets of Forums,Committees and Departments2.8.1 The Social Care Council CrossReach has faced very challengingoperating circumstances during theCovid-19 pandemic in both 2020 and 2021.Whilst all services have been affected themost significant impact has been in OlderPeople’s services. At the time of writingCrossReach has estimated a budget deficitof £1,460,000 for 2022. However, becauseof the uncertainties around recovery from,and longer term implications of thepandemic, it is not yet possible to attachany degree of certainty to this budget



estimate. The complexities of the sector inwhich it operates; local authority fundingcycles and National Care Contracts as wellas potential changes in an election yearmean that May 2021 is too early to firm upon a budget for 2022.The CrossReachManagement Team is committed tomanaging operational risks.The budget assumes that there will be nofundamental changes to the servicesprovided and that any increases to theScottish Living Wage or National MinimumWage will be cost neutral (funded byNational Care Contracts or service users).Potential impacts of the IndependentReview of Adult Social Care may befactored into the 2022 budget later in theyear. Other income and expenditure hasbeen budgeted in line with 2021, and thebudget anticipates that Covid-19 will bemanaged within normal operatingprocedures rather than being the cause ofsevere disruption because of outbreaks.However new Covid-19 variants could posea further risk. Separately, there has been alack of investment in propertymaintenance over 2020 and 2021 whichcould result in remedial works.Finally, the budget does not allow forcontribution to the Redress Scheme orliability in respect of any historical abusecases, neither of which can yet bequantified.Early in 2021, the Pension Trustees advisedthat the closed CrossReach defined benefitpension scheme was fully funded and thatdeficit repair contributions could cease inFebruary 2021. The annual cost for 2022would have been £620,000 and thisrecurring saving has been very warmlywelcomed by both CrossReach and theAssembly Trustees.2.8.2 Faith Nurture Forum The Faith Nurture Forum budget, whichincorporates the former Ministries Counciland Mission and Discipleship Councilbudgets, has an indicative deficit budget atthis point of £3,200,000 to be funded fromits reserves. This assumes that the reduced

level of congregational contributions isallocated to the Parish Ministries Fund andthe deficit therefore arises on other Forumcosts. Other Forum costs include the costof recruiting, training and supportingministries and the eldership; PartnershipDevelopment and Priority Areas. TheForum is also responsible for two tradingentities Life and Work magazine and theScottish Storytelling Centre.The budget assumes the transfer of theEcumenical Relations Committee andTheological Forum budgets to the Office ofthe General Assembly in 2022.As noted in 2.4.1, the budget for ParishMinistry costs is difficult to forecast. This isperhaps more so during the pandemicwhen the rate of retirals has not followedmore recent patterns. Ministers are underno obligation to advise of their plans forretirement.It is anticipated that the number ofPresbyteries will reduce to 9 by the start of2023. Current Presbytery plans will bedrawn to a close at the end of May 2021and new plans to fit the new structure ofthe Church will require to be in place byDecember 2022.2022 will therefore see a transition periodto the new plans and the Church will beworking with existing numbers until then.The budget assumes that numbers ofministers retiring will increase againtowards the end of 2021; contributing to areduction in parish minister numbers of 15,to 680.It is then assumed that more ministers willretire in 2022 coinciding with the newPresbytery plans being established and thewidening of parish boundaries etc., thatwill come with that change. The budgetassumes a net decrease in parish ministrynumbers by 35 in 2022, to 645.By way of illustration, other budgetscenarios have been considered. If thestatus quo was maintained in terms ofMinisters joining equalling those leaving orretiring, the impact on the budget would



be a cost of £1,400,000. If the rate ofreduction of ministers was the same asforecast for 2021, the additional costimpact would be £280,000. All scenariosinclude 120 FTE MDS.At present there are more than 120Ministries Development Staff on thePresbytery plans however the number ofMDS was capped at 120 until Dec 2020.Currently only essential recruitment istaking place but the 2022 Budget assumes120 FTE staff. The work being done on thePresbytery Mission Plan Act provides forthe allocation of ministries to be revisitedand reported on, annually, to the GeneralAssembly, and that will allow for futureadjustments to the MDS establishment.None of these costings include a stipend orsalary increase in 2022. However anyincrease agreed by separate processesduring 2021 would be covered by thecontingency in the overall budget.2.8.3 Faith Impact ForumFaith Impact Forum incorporates theformer World Mission Council and formerChurch and Society Council.The Forum’s indicative budget shows adeficit of £444,000. As in the case of theFaith Nurture Forum’s other work, nocongregational contributions have beenallocated to the Faith Impact Forum in2022. This is because the contributionsfrom Congregations in 2022 are once againat a rate which does not cover all costs. TheForum has substantial funds, immediatelyavailable both for general and restrictedpurposes.A block grant of £85,000 is paid annuallyby the Church to Christian Aid, and this isincluded in the Faith Impact Forum’sbudget. The Trustees gratefullyacknowledge the substantial financialsupport provided by Congregations directlyto Christian Aid.The indicative budget shown on Appendix Idoes not include the work of the Israelientities which are not part of the Co-ordinated budget process. However the

results of all of these entities are includedeach year in the Church’s consolidated(“Group”) Annual Accounts.Detailed 2022 budgets for the tradingsubsidiaries in Israel will be prepared laterin 2021. The Guesthouse in Jerusalem plansto re-open on 2 May following itsrefurbishment and Covid-19 closure. TheScots Hotel re-opened on 25 March. Thecash position of the hotel remains positiveand both operations have bookings for2021.The Forum, through the residual WorldMission Council as the employing agency,employs 10 mission partners and providesgrant funding to support its programme ofattentive accompaniment of partnerchurches and organisations overseas. Themove towards zero based budgeting hasmeant a reduction in budgeted expenditureby the Forum to £2,200,000 in 2022compared to £3,000,000 budgeted for2020.2.8.4 Office of the General AssemblyThis budget, under the auspices of thePrincipal Clerk, includes the Clerk andoffice staff; the cost of the GeneralAssembly and the running costs of theAssembly Hall and the Moderator’s flat atRothesay Terrace. Certain costs ofCommittees without Funds such as thegrant to the Church of Scotland Trust arealso included within the budget.The budget assumes a return to an inperson General Assembly in 2022.The budgets of the Theological Forum andEcumenical Relations Committee will alsomove to this budget if approved by theAssembly.The Ecumenical Relations Committee hasan annual budget of £193,000. The includessubscriptions to the Ecumenical Bodies –the World Council of Churches (WCC),World Council of Reformed Churches(WCRC) and Churches Together in Britainand Ireland (CTBI).The Theological Forum budget is £28,000.



2.8.5 Support and ServicesCommittees and DepartmentsThese Committees and Departments havebeen listed in Appendix II. They have noreserves and as such need to be fundedmainly by congregational contributions.The Departments provide services to thenational, local and regional Church as wellas to the Church’s other StatutoryCorporations – the General Trustees, theChurch of Scotland Investors Trust and TheChurch of Scotland Trust. They also carryout work on behalf of the Pension Trustees.Charges are made to these bodies as wellas to the Housing and Loan Fund and NewCollege. Cross charges are rarely made toCongregations, but when they do occurthey are mainly for property-relatedtransactions. The central support andservice functions do not cross charge theForums and Committees for their servicesother than limited charges for legal andsafeguarding services provided toCrossReach as noted below.The Social Care Council is largelyautonomous in terms of central servicesand charges the costs of its CentralServices costs against the service units.There is also some cross-working betweenSocial Care and departments within theNational Office, such as Estates, Law andSafeguarding.Budgets for the service departments arelargely based on 2021 budgets, withvacancies included where there will be areplacement. Individual budgets to do notinclude cost of living increases in 2022 butincreases for CSC staff working in servicedepartments and the Forums would becovered by the contingency in the budget.Key features of the service departmentbudgets are:2.8.5.1 National OfficeThe 2020 budget included £400,000 foressential repairs on the George Streetproperty, most of which could not becarried out due to Covid-19 restrictions. Aprogramme to maintain the fabric of thebuilding and ensure the safety of staff and

visitors has been agreed in consultationwith the General Trustees and £100,000 isincluded in the 2022 budget for this work.2.8.5.2 Information Technology andCommunicationsThe budget includes £200,000 ofexpenditure on IT infrastructure projects inline with the IT strategy being developed bythe IT Programme Board. This will includeimproving our means of communication bymoving to global use of Church e-mailaddresses and development of the intranetas a platform for resources.2.8.5.3 Office of the AssemblyTrusteesThe budget has been increased to includethe staff of the former Go For It Fund andthe budget for the Small Projects Fund of£100,000. The salary of the newlyappointed Head of Faith ActionProgramme is also included here.The department now carries out researchand analysis functions including high levelmodelling of the Church’s resources toallow for future planning. The budget forthe Trustees’ Equality, Diversity andInclusion (EDI) Group will be managed bythe Office of Assembly Trustees supportedby staff within the Faith Impact Forum.2.8.5.4 Stewardship and FinanceDepartmentFollowing the departure of several staffduring 2020, including three at a seniorlevel, the department has beenrestructured and savings made on salarycost. Whilst there has been an increase inrunning costs of the new HR and Payrollsystem the implementation of newmodules for expenses will ultimately resultin further business efficiencies.2.9 Other FundsThe budget shown on Appendix II does notinclude the Housing and Loan Fund, theGuild and New College which are not partof the Co-ordinated Budget process.



2.10 2021 BudgetsThe 2021 budgets approved by the Trusteesare contained in the main report in the BlueBook (Section 39) along with a summary ofthe operating results of theUnincorporated Entities against the 2020budget (Section 38).

3. SYSTEMS OF INTERNALCONTROL

Role of Audit Committee3.1 The Trustees are responsible formaintaining adequate systems of internalcontrol. The Audit Committee’s remitincludes responsibility for reviewing thesystems of internal control and foroversight of the Internal Audit function.This function is delivered by Azets(formerly Scott-Moncrieff) as theappointed Internal Auditors alongside thework of the Church’s own Audit andCompliance Officer. Azets produce anannual programme of work based on anassessment of audit risk which seeks toensure that all the main areas of activityare periodically reviewed. Audit reports aresubmitted at the end of each assignmentand an annual audit report is made to theAudit Committee expressing an opinion onthe systems of internal control in place inthe Unincorporated Councils andCommittees.3.2 Azets conducted a number ofreviews in 2020 covering the followingareas:• Cyber Security at CrossReach• Tendering and Contract Maintenance at

CrossReach• Payroll System, National Office• Risk Management, National Office3.3 Azets reported to the AuditCommittee that, in their opinion, theChurch of Scotland has a framework ofcontrols in place that provides adequateassurance regarding the organisation’sgovernance framework, risk management

and achievement of objectives, subject toimplementation of:• ongoing actions in response to and to

embed actions from the SpecialCommission report on StructuralChange, to strengthen governancearrangements, increase accountabilityand create clearer delegations ofresponsibility across the organisation;and

• a range of continuous improvementactions, addressing the higher-gradedmatters arising from internal auditreviews. This also applies to historic/backlog action implementation.

4. NEW TRUSTEES4.1 The non-renewable terms of officeof three of the original trustees, BethAshcroft, Alan Campbell and Norma Rolls,conclude at Assembly 2021. Following theprocess stipulated in our Constitution andRemit we consulted with the NominationCommittee, considered the requiredskillsets, and issued an open advertisementwhich resulted in a healthy response. Afterinterview we decided to appoint DavidCameron, Barry Hughes and Peter McEnhill.David is Minister of New Laigh, Kilmarnockand brings both parish ministry experienceand an understanding of the challengesfacing the National Church. Barry isMinister at St Mark's, Stirling and brings tothe Trustees an understanding of PriorityArea ministry. Peter is Clerk for the newClyde Presbytery and brings a valuableconnection to Presbytery Reform.4.2 With three Ministers taking theplace of three congregation members weare for the time being at the maximumnumber of Ministers under ourConstitution. We were also disappointed atthe small number of women applicantshaving, currently, been at a 50/50 balance.We would enjoin Commissioners andothers to speak to possible applicants fromas diverse backgrounds as possible, with aview to early 2022 when we will advertisefor a further three new colleagues.



4.3 We were very pleased when AnnNelson, who was appointed for theremainder of the term of George Cowie,and so being able to serve a second term,expressed her interest in doing so. We weredelighted to approve this.

5. CONGREGATIONALSTATISTICS 2020

5.1 Summary• As at December 2020, there were

297,435 members of the Church ofScotland, a fall of 5% from 2019, and33% from 2010.

• These figures are a reflection of theChurch of Scotland in 2020, a yearmarked by the Covid-19 pandemic.Gathering for worship services wasprohibited for much of the year.

• Additional questions were asked toreflect the changes in worshipprovision, including availability ofonline, or alternative offline worshipprovision.

• 84% of congregations had offeredonline worship; 67% had offeredalternative offline worship and 82%had re-opened for public worship whenable to do so. Almost 95,000households are estimated to haveworshipped online, and 17,000 madeuse of alternative offline provisions.

• 26% of congregations have people ofBAME ethnicity represented, 7% havepeople of BAME ethnicity in leadership.

• Acknowledge the diligence andstrenuous efforts of Clerks to obtainthese statistics and transmit them tothe National Offices at times of greatdifficulty.

• Nil return from Presbytery of Lewis andPresbytery of International Charges.

5.2 IntroductionThroughout 2020 the closure of churchbuildings, on advice from the Scottish andUK governments in response to theCovid-19 pandemic impacted on all areas ofchurch life, including Professions of Faith,ordination of new Elders, Baptisms,Weddings and Attendance. Once churchbuildings were able to reopen, there was acap on the total numbers of attendeesthroughout Scotland of 50. In addition,social distancing within church buildingrequired restricting numbers even furtherfor some congregations. Not all churcheswho did reopen were able to do soimmediately upon restrictions being lifted.With this in mind, the 2020 congregationalstatistics should be read and interpreted inlight of the impact of the pandemic andcare should be taken in any comparisons toprevious years.Information on the number of thosephysically attending worship andcongregational activities have not beenreported in this year’s statistics as many ofthese activities changed throughout theyear due to the impact of restrictions inresponse to the pandemic.



5.3 Congregational Statistics 2020Church-level membership and participation, 2020Congregations within the Church of Scotland come in all shapes and sizes, from large citycongregations to small rural or island communities. Table 1 shows the reportedparticipation at the smallest 5% and 25% of churches, the median (i.e. middle) church,the largest 25% and 5% of churches (i.e. 75th and 95th percentile), and the mean (average)church. A few large congregations can result in a larger mean value that may notrepresent the overall data well – a “typical” church may be better described by the medianvalue.

5th

percentile

25th

percentile

Median(middle)church

75th

percentile

95th

percentile

Mean(average)church

Members 22 91 181 311 556 224Adherents 0 1 10 40 137 32

Professions of Faith 0 0 0 0 1 0

Children 0 0 7 30 120 26Children receiving Communion 0 0 0 0 10 2

Elders 0[1] 8 15 27 54 19

Baptisms 0 0 0 0 2 0Weddings 0 0 0 0 2 0Funerals 0 3 9 17 36 12

Table 1: Church participation summary, 2020The “typical”, i.e. median, congregation in 2020 has just over 180 members (181), and 10adherents. In the median congregation there are also:• no professions of faith in 2020.• 7 children associated with the congregation, but none receiving communion.• 9 funerals, no baptisms, and no weddings.• The congregation is led by 15 elders.Over 90% of congregations welcomed no new members through Profession of Faith, only6% welcoming any new members in this way. 24% of congregations welcomed newmembers through certificates, and 18% through resolution of the Kirk Session. Childrenreceived Communion in 20% of congregations.



Persons and Agencies in Scotland for 2020(cf Appendix II of the Reports of the Council of Assembly, 2019)The membership statistics may be stated thus:

Removals by Death 9,833Less Admissions by Profession 190 9,643

Removals by Certificate 1,110Less Admissions by Certificate 679 431

Other Removals 5,466Less Restoration 769 4,697

Total decrease 14,771

And shown graphically in Figure 1, below.


Figure 1 Leavers and Joiners in 2020


Comparative GraphsDue to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic with the closure of church buildings during2020 care should be taken in making comparisons to previous years, as can be seen insome of the graphs below.Membership


Professions of Faith



Elders

Baptisms


Presbytery DataReporting


Table 2: Presbytery reporting


Membership


Table 3: Presbytery membership figures


Occasional Offices


Table 4: Presbytery baptisms, weddings, funerals figuresChurch of Scotland congregations conducted 4.2% of weddings celebrated in Scotland in2020, and 25.0% of funerals. They baptised or gave thanks for 1.0% of births (excludingadult baptisms).


Leadership


Table 5: Presbytery leadership figuresThere are 25,828 elders in the Church of Scotland of whom 43.1% are male and 56.9%female, 8.7% of the membership.


Public Worship in 2020Due to the Covid-19 pandemic church buildings were closed, on advice from the Scottishand UK governments, for many months during 2020.The 2020 Congregational Statistics highlight that many of the congregations who wereable to reopen once restrictions had eased, did so at different times, with numbers whowere able to attend being impacted by the size and layout of their building to allow forsocial distancing and the maximum allowable number dependant on local restrictionsonce a new tier system was introduced throughout Scotland. Due to the significantdifferences across congregations, an initial analysis has demonstrated that it is nothelpful to report these figures at a presbytery or wider church level in 2020.Additional questions were added to the 2020 Congregational Statistics to obtain abroader and more realistic picture of worship throughout the church in 2020. These aregiven in Table 6. No responses were obtained from the Presbyteries of Lanark, Lewis orthe Presbytery of International Charges.84% of congregations offered online worship, with 67% making alternative offlineprovisions such as phone-in services or worship sheets. 95,000 households wereestimated to have watched online worship, and 17,000 to have engaged in the alternativeresources. These figures are made up of best estimates from congregations - it isimpossible to judge how many people watch on a single device, or who re-watch a service.They are offered as indicative of the online engagement with the congregations of theChurch of Scotland.Additional information provided alongside the additional questions showed that somelocal radio stations also broadcast Church of Scotland services to those in the local area.82% of congregations had re-opened their church building for public worship in 2020when able to do so.An ecumenical report, “Adapt and be Flexible - the Mission Doesn’t Stop!” The ScottishChurch and the COVID-19 pandemic, reported that 96% of churches in their sample wereable to offer online worship.[2]The value reported here (84%) is rather less, perhaps due tothe larger numbers of congregations completing these congregational statistics details,or other denominations being able to offer more online material.The same report, at p17, also noted that 75% of churches in Scotland had re-opened forsome form of public worship. The figure reported here, 82%, is likely to be higher due tocongregations owning their own buildings in contrast with some other denominations,and perhaps where online provision has not been able to be made.



Public worship in 2020


Table 6: Presbytery public worship figures


Congregational Statistical Returns – Young People(cf Appendix III of the Reports of the Council of Assembly, 2019)Work with children and young people was greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thefigures presented here need to be considered with this in mind and data quality may notbe as high as in other years.Reports from the Presbyteries showed that as at 31 December 2020:1. The number of children and young people aged 17 years and under who are involved

in the life of the congregation is 33,153;2. The number of people aged 18 years and over, whose names are not on the

Communion Roll, but who are involved in the life of the congregations is 12,737 and3. The number of children who receive Holy Communion in terms of Act V, 2000,

Section 15 is 2,107.


Table 8: Young People and Adherents


Congregational Statistical Returns – DiversityGA2020 tasked the Faith Impact Forum with investigating the experiences of people whoare of Black, Asian or Minority Ethnicity (BAME)[3]within the Church of Scotland. As partof that work, congregations were asked to report the percentage of their attenders, andof their leadership, who were of such ethnicity. The inability to meet for public worship inmuch of 2020 made this question less easy to answer, but we are grateful to Clerks fortheir best estimates at this time.The following table shows, of those who replied, the percentage of congregations in eachPresbytery who reported any people of BAME in their congregations or in their leadership.No responses were obtained from the Presbyteries of Lanark and Lewis nor theInternational Presbytery.• 26% of Church of Scotland congregations had BAME attenders• Only 7% of Church of Scotland congregations had BAME leaders• A third of presbyteries had no BAME leaders at all.


Table 9: Ethnic diversity In the name of the TrusteesJOHN CHALMERS, Convener

NORMA ROLLS, Vice-ConvenerJAMES McNEILL, Administrative Trustee


References[1] Elders figures are calculated from all

congregations. Due to a largenumber of unions and nil returns, the5% percentile reads 0 elders.

[2] “Adapt and be Flexible - the MissionDoesn’t Stop!” The Scottish Churchand the COVID-19 Pandemic. BrendanResearch, 2020. p11.www.brendanresearch.com/projects/sclf-acts-covid19 Lastaccessed 12 April, 2021.

[3.] Whilst the congregational surveyuses the BAME terminology, in lightof recent work undertaken andgrowing understanding the term‘Ethnic Minorities’ will be used in thefuture.


http://www.brendanresearch.com/projects/sclf-acts-covid19

http://www.brendanresearch.com/projects/sclf-acts-covid19


MinutesIndex1. Minute of Ministries Appeal Panel 29 October 2020 .................................................922. Minute of Ministries Appeal Panel 16 December 2020...............................................93



Minute 1MINUTE OF MINISTRIES APPEAL PANEL29 OCTOBER 2020On the twenty ninth day of October 2020the Ministries Appeal Panel met viaMicrosoft Teams and was duly constitutedwith prayer.Sederunt: Mr Robin Stimpson (Convener),

Rev Catherine Collins, Mr Andrew Gibb, Mrs Isabell Montgomerie

The Appellant was accompanied.For the Faith Nurture Forum: Rev AnnInglis, Presbytery Assessor and Ms KayCathcart, Education and Training SecretaryIn attendance: Rev Dr George J Whyte,Principal Clerk and Ms Christine Paterson,Depute ClerkIntroductions were made and the Convenerexplained the purpose of the hearing.The Ministries Appeal Panel took upconsideration of an Appeal in terms of theSelection and Training for Full-TimeMinistry Act (Act X 2004), sections 21 and22, against a decision of the InterimProbationary Review Panel on 4 February2020 to terminate the Appellant’scandidature for full-time ministry of wordand sacrament.Parties were heard.Questions were asked.Parties made closing statements.It was agreed that the Panel’s decisionwould be intimated to the parties by email.The Grace was said.Parties withdrew.Following deliberation the MinistriesAppeal Panel resolved unanimously touphold the appeal and quash the decisionof the Interim Probationary Review Panelto terminate the Appellant’s candidature.The Panel directs that a further Interim

Probationary Review should be held andthat new decision-makers should carry outthis Review on behalf of both thePresbytery and the Faith Nurture Forum.The Panel took the view that there wereirregularities of process in that (i) theAppellant had been given insufficient time(five days) to consider reports which hadbeen provided to him prior to the Review,and (ii) evidence produced by the Appellantat the Review had been “laid on the floor”and not considered in detail during theReview, which meant that there had beenno opportunity to discuss it with theAppellant. These irregularities of processmay also constitute a breach of theprinciples of natural justice.The Panel did not find it proved that therewas any bias on the part of the InterimProbationary Review Panel. The Panel didnot take a decision on whether or not thedecision had been influenced by anyincorrect material fact.The hearing was closed.

ROBIN STIMPSON, Convener GEORGE J WHYTE, Clerk



Minute 2MINUTE OF MINISTRIES APPEAL PANEL16 DECEMBER 2020On the sixteenth day of December 2020 theMinistries Appeal Panel met via MicrosoftTeams and was duly constituted with prayer.Sederunt: Mr Robin Stimpson (Convener),

Mr Andrew Gibb, Rev Leslie Milton, Mrs Isabell Montgomerie

For the Faith Nurture Forum: Rev AlastairDuncan, Admissions Conference Director,and Rev Dr Lezley Stewart, Recruitmentand Support SecretaryIn attendance: Rev Dr George J Whyte,Principal Clerk and Ms Christine Paterson,Depute ClerkIntroductions were made and the Convenerexplained the purpose of the hearing.The Ministries Appeal Panel took upconsideration of an Appeal in terms of theAdmission and Re-Admission of MinistersAct (Act IX 2002) against a decision of theAdmissions Conference on 6 October 2020not to accept the Appellant as anAdmissions Candidate for Ministry in theChurch of Scotland.Parties were heard.Questions were asked.Parties made closing statements.It was agreed that the Panel’s decisionwould be intimated to the parties by email.Parties withdrew.Following deliberation the MinistriesAppeal Panel resolved unanimously todismiss the appeal and to uphold thedecision of the Admissions Conference notto accept the Appellant as an AdmissionsCandidate for Ministry in the Church ofScotland.The Ministries Appeal Panel did not identifyany incorrect material fact which

influenced the decision, nor did theMinistries Appeal Panel identify anyirregularities in the process or breach of theprinciples of natural justice which affectedthe decision reached.The Grace was said.The hearing was closed.

ROBIN STIMPSON, Convener GEORGE J WHYTE, Clerk



Standing OrdersPlease also see the amendments for the online General Assembly which are proposed to these Standing Orders by the Assembly Business Committee, which areto be moved on the first day of the Assembly, a print of which follows at the end atpage 117.

I. Commissions...................................................................................................................... 95

II. Conduct of Business.......................................................................................................... 95

III. Members not Commissioners.......................................................................................... 98

IV. Committee Reports and Overtures................................................................................ 101

V. Conduct of Cases............................................................................................................. 103

VI. Order of Debate ............................................................................................................. 106

VII. Committees and their Membership............................................................................... 111

VIII. Alteration and Suspension............................................................................................ 117



Standing OrdersI. COMMISSIONS

1. Roll of Presbytery. EachPresbytery Clerk shall, by 15 December ofeach year, transmit to the Clerks ofAssembly the number of charges,appointments and deacons specified insections 2 and 4 of Act III 2000 (asamended) – all as at 30 Novemberimmediately preceding.2. Presbyterial Representation. TheClerks of Assembly will thereafter intimateto Presbyteries what will be theirrepresentation in the ensuing Assembly.Any queries shall be settled by theAssembly Business Committee at therequest of the Clerks. The decision of theAssembly Business Committee shall besubject to review by the Assembly onPetition by the Presbytery concerned.3. Question Arising. Should therearise between the month of December andthe opening of the Assembly any questionregarding representation not provided forin these Orders, the Assembly BusinessCommittee shall have power to disposethereof.4. Transmission of names anddetails of Commissioners. The names, inalphabetical order, full postal addresses,email addresses, charges and types ofcommission (ie minister, deacon or elder)of Commissioners from Presbyteries, shallbe transmitted by Presbytery Clerks to theClerks of Assembly not later than 31January in each year so far as they havebeen elected by that time. In transmittingthe names of Commissioners to the Clerksof Assembly, the Clerk of each Presbytery iscertifying that to the best of his or herknowledge the Elders named therein arebona fide ruling Elders and arecommissioned by the Presbytery.5. Committee on Commissions. TheCommittee on Commissions shall consistof the Clerks and the Convener of theAssembly Business Committee; the

Principal Clerk shall be Convener. TheCommittee shall prepare and circulate alist of Commissioners for submission to theAssembly. Along with the said list a copy ofthe Standing Orders of the GeneralAssembly shall be made available to eachmember. The Clerks shall arrange toforward to each Commissioner, at leastone week before the opening day of theAssembly, an electronic copy (unless a hardcopy has been previously requested) of thevolume of Reports and ProposedDeliverances and a copy of all AssemblyPapers then available.6. Objections. During the sittings ofthe Assembly, the Committee onCommissions shall, if called upon, or if itshall appear to it necessary or expedient soto do, hear any person whose Commissionis objected to in support of his or herCommission, and also any person orpersons who may object to suchCommission, and the Committee onCommissions shall have power to settleany such matters.7. Late Commissions. It shall becompetent at any time prior to the openingof the Assembly to lodge with the Clerks ofAssembly Commissions which have notpreviously been transmitted to them; andthe Committee on Commissions shallsettle any queries as to whether or notsuch Commissions are valid. Once theAssembly has opened and the Roll ofCommissioners has been laid on the table,no further Commissions may be received.8. Number not currently used.

II. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS(a) OPENING SESSION9. Convening. The Commissionerselected to serve in the Assembly shallconvene on the day and at the hour fixedfor the meeting of the Assembly, and, afterprayer by the Moderator of the precedingAssembly, the List of Commissioners shallbe laid on the table.



10. Election of Moderator. Theelection of a Moderator shall then bemade.11. Her Majesty’s Commission. HerMajesty’s Commission to the Lord HighCommissioner shall then be read andordered to be recorded.12. Her Majesty’s Letter. HerMajesty’s Letter to the Assembly shall thenbe read and a Committee shall beappointed to prepare an answer thereto.13. Standing Orders. The StandingOrders shall be laid on the table.14. Committee on Commissions. TheReport of the Committee on Commissions(SO 5) shall be called for and disposed of.15. Order of Business. The Assemblyshall appoint a Procedure Committee, theConvener and Vice-Convener thereofnormally to be the Convener and Vice-Convener respectively of the AssemblyBusiness Committee. The AssemblyBusiness Committee shall prepare andsubmit at the opening session an Order ofBusiness for the first two days.(b) PROCEDURE COMMITTEE16. The Procedure Committee shallconsist of the Convener and Vice-Convener, plus the Moderator, the Clerks,the Procurator and the Law Agent.17. First Meeting. The ProcedureCommittee shall meet on the opening dayof the Assembly as intimated andthereafter as business may require. At itsfirst meeting it shall consider the DraftOrder of Business which shall have beenprepared by the Assembly BusinessCommittee for the business of theAssembly subsequent to the first two days,and shall be wholly responsible therefor.18. Selection Committee.Commissioners to the General Assemblyshall be free to nominate othercommissioners to serve on the SelectionCommittee. The names of those proposedshall be brought before the first meeting of

the Procedure Committee which, in turnand without being limited to those namesproposed by commissioners who are notamong its members, shall nominate aSelection Committee of twentycommissioners, including a Convener andVice-Convener, whose function it shall beto select and submit to the Assembly fortheir approval names of persons to serveon all Special Commissions andCommittees appointed during the sittingsof the Assembly. Such persons need not becommissioners.19. Communications. All lettersaddressed to the Moderator for thepurpose of being communicated to theAssembly shall, in the first instance, be laidbefore the Procedure Committee, whichshall advise the Moderator as to theirdisposal.20. Paper through Boxes. Requestsfor permission to distribute materialthrough Members’ boxes should besubmitted to the Assembly BusinessCommittee before the commencement ofthe Assembly, and requests receivedthereafter shall be submitted to theProcedure Committee. Any otherCommittee concerned should be informedand supplied with copies, if available, ofthe material to be distributed.(c) DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES21. The Lord’s Supper. The Assemblyshall celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’sSupper at a time appointed by the GeneralAssembly at its opening session.22. Acts of Worship. The Moderatorshall be responsible to the Assembly forthe conduct of all acts of worship, andshall consult the Assembly BusinessCommittee or the Procedure Committeeanent any proposed innovation in suchconduct.(d) MISCELLANEOUS23. Minutes. The minutes of eachday’s proceedings, if available, togetherwith the Agenda for the following day or



days, intimations of meetings ofCommittees, and Notices of Motion, shallbe circulated as the “Assembly Papers”,and shall be made available for allmembers. The Minutes, being taken as readand full opportunity having been given forcorrection, shall be approved as available.It shall always be in order at the close ofany particular item of business to movethat the Minute thereanent be adjustedand approved. Before the dissolution of theAssembly a small Committee, appointedfor the purpose, shall be authorised toapprove the Minutes not already approvedby the Assembly.24. Quorum. The quorum of theAssembly shall be thirty-one, of whom notless than sixteen shall be Ministers. AnyMember may at any time call the attentionof the Moderator to the fact that there isnot a quorum present, and if, on a countbeing made, it is found that such is thecase, it shall be the duty of the Moderatorto suspend or adjourn the session.25. Tellers. The Assembly BusinessCommittee shall submit for the approvalof the Assembly at their first session aproposed Panel of Tellers. (See SO 105.)26. Acts of Assembly. The Committeeon Commissions (SO 5) shall arrange forthe text of the Acts of Assembly to befinalised and shall include in the AssemblyPapers of the penultimate day an InterimReport thereon, which shall be consideredon the last day of the Assembly.27. Examination of Records. Minutesof the Standing Committees of theAssembly shall be examined by the LegalQuestions Committee. The Committeeshall report thereanent to the GeneralAssembly.

28. Returns to Overtures.(a) A Committee on Overtures and

Cases, consisting of the Clerks,Procurator and Law Agent of theChurch (with the Principal Clerk asConvener) shall advise anyCommittee or individual on theprocedure to be followed in respectof measures requiring process underthe Barrier Act.

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

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, it is opento the General Assembly to declineto consider any motion of which itbelieves inadequate notice has beengiven, considering the nature of itscontent.

(d) Measures remitted to Presbyteries byan Overture under the Barrier Actshall be accompanied by a note ofthe voting figures in the GeneralAssembly, the text of the relevantReport and a note by the Clerksexplaining any technical or legalmatters contained in the Overture.

(e) All Presbyteries shall make a returnin respect of every Overture sentdown under the Barrier Act. Thereturn shall be made upon theschedule sent electronically to thePresbytery Clerk for the purpose,transmitted to the Clerks ofAssembly, and then submitted to theCommittee on Overtures and Cases.The Committee shall classify thereturns and make a report to thenext Assembly. It shall be the duty ofthe Committee to report not only thenumber of Presbyteries for andagainst an Overture, but also thenumbers voting in the Presbyteries asreported in the schedule.



(f) The Report of the Committee shallinclude the text of such Overtures ashave been approved by a majority ofPresbyteries.

(g) The Assembly Business Committeeshall ensure that the Committee’sReport classifying returns is taken bythe General Assembly no later thansession 2 thereof, and in any casebefore any debate that in the opinionof the Committee on Overtures andCases would more usefully followconsideration of the Committee’sReport.

(h) The Report of the Committee shallbe given in to the Assembly by thePrincipal Clerk, with the reply to thedebate on the merits of the measuregiven by the relevant Convener. Bothshould be available to answerquestions, as appropriate.

29. Special Commissions andCommittees.Special Commissions or Committees willonly be appointed where the GeneralAssembly has no existing StandingCommittee to which the matter underconsideration can, in all the circumstances,properly be remitted. In normalcircumstances, business proposed byCouncils or Committees of the GeneralAssembly or proposed by Commissioners inthe course of debate shall be remitted toone or more of the appropriate StandingCommittees listed in SO 113. When, fromtime to time, a Standing Committeerequires to co-opt relevant expertise inorder to fulfil the work remitted to it bythe General Assembly, it shouldacknowledge the same in its Report to theGeneral Assembly.30. Closing of Assembly.When the business set down for the lastday of the Assembly has been disposed of,the Assembly shall be closed by addressesby the Moderator to the Assembly and tothe Lord High Commissioner, and by an

address by the Lord High Commissioner tothe Assembly, during an act of worship,and dissolved according to the practice ofthe Church.

III. MEMBERS NOT COMMISSIONERS(a) MEMBERS ex officiis31. These are the Moderator of theAssembly, on election, and theimmediately preceding Moderator, theClerks, Procurator, and Law Agent, andalso the Convener and Vice-Convener ofthe Procedure Committee upon theirelection.They have all the rights and privileges ofCommissioners.(b) CORRESPONDING MEMBERS,DELEGATES AND VISITORS – DEFINITION32. Corresponding Members.Representatives of Departments andStanding Committees as stated in SO 33.Delegates from other Churches.Representatives of other Churches whocome in response to an invitation from thePrincipal Clerk sent at the request of theFaith Impact Forum or from theCommittee on Ecumenical Relations totheir Church to send a delegate ordelegates to the General Assembly andwho are duly accredited by the Courts orequivalent authority of their Churches.Visitors. Visitors from other Churches whocome with a Letter of Introduction fromAssembly or Presbytery Clerks orequivalent officer of their Church.33. Corresponding Members1. (a) Each of the following bodies

shall have the right to appointfor each day of the GeneralAssembly, one member orstaff-member to act as aCorresponding Member: FaithNurture Forum, Faith ImpactForum, Social Care Council,Ecumenical Relations



Committee, General Trustees,Church of Scotland Guild,Trustees of the Housing andLoan Fund, the Legal QuestionsCommittee, the NominationCommittee, SafeguardingCommittee, Stewardship andFinance Department, theChurch of Scotland PensionTrustees and the TheologicalForum.

(b) Each such body will advise theAssembly Business Committeenot less than one week beforethe commencement of theGeneral Assembly of the nameof the Corresponding Memberappointed for each day. Thenames of CorrespondingMembers appointed under thisStanding Order shall beincluded in the AssemblyPapers.

2. The Chief Officer, the Head of FaithAction, the Heads of the FaithNurture Forum and Faith ImpactForum, the Secretary of the SocialCare Council, the Ecumenical Officer,the Editor of Life and Work, theGeneral Treasurer, the Head ofHuman Resources, the Convener ofthe Nomination Committee, theScottish Churches’ ParliamentaryOfficer and the Head ofCommunications shall beCorresponding Members when notCommissioners.

3. The Assembly Trustees, (includingthe Chair of the General Trustees asan Assembly Trustee ex officio), beingthe Charity Trustees of theUnincorporated Councils andCommittees of the GeneralAssembly, shall also beCorresponding Members when notCommissioners.

34. Status. Corresponding Membersof Assembly shall be entitled to attend all

sessions of the same and to speak on anymatter before the Assembly affecting theinterests of their Council or Committee,where applicable, but shall not have theright to vote or make a motion.(c) YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES35. Status(i) One person between the ages of

eighteen and twenty-five on theopening day of the General Assemblyshall, if possible, be appointed byeach Presbytery to serve as a YouthRepresentative; each Representativeshall be involved in the life of acongregation within the bounds ofthe Presbytery and be regularlyinvolved in the life and worship ofthe Church of Scotland. The ministerof the congregation shall provideconfirmation of this involvement ifasked by the Faith Nurture Forum.

(ii) A further ten persons between theages of eighteen and twenty-five onthe opening day of the GeneralAssembly shall be appointed asYouth Representatives to eachAssembly, such Representatives tobe selected by the Faith NurtureForum in terms of a processprescribed by that Forum and thenames passed to the Clerks ofAssembly by 31 March each year.

(iii) Youth Representatives shall beentitled to speak and move motionsbut not to vote:during debates on Committeereportsduring debates on Overtures

(iv) Youth Representatives shall not beentitled to speak, move motions orvote:during debates on Petitions or casesduring debates on matters affectingGeneral Assembly procedure orStanding Orders



(v) Youth Representatives shall not bemembers of the Commission ofAssembly.Oversight

(vi) The Faith Nurture Forum shall takeresponsibility for YouthRepresentatives and shall extend tothem appropriate hospitality.

(d) DELEGATES AND VISITORS36. Reception. Delegates from otherChurches shall be received and welcomedby the Moderator. The Assembly BusinessCommittee is authorised, afterconsultation with the Faith Impact Forumand the Ecumenical Relations Committee,to recommend to the Moderator to invitetwo specified delegates to convey greetingsbriefly after all the delegates have beenreceived and welcomed by the Moderator.37. Status.(i) Delegates to the Assembly shall have

the right to attend all sessions and tospeak on all matters before theAssembly, except when theAssembly are exercising judicialfunctions, but shall not have theright to vote.

(ii) Visitors shall have the privilege ofseats in the Assembly but withoutthe right to speak or vote. As in thecase of Delegates, the officials of theFaith Impact Forum, the EcumenicalRelations Committee, or otherrelevant Council or Committee shallextend appropriate hospitality toVisitors.

38. Oversight. The officials of theFaith Impact Forum, the EcumenicalRelations Committee, and other Councilsor Committees which may be interested inDelegates, shall see that Invitations toAssembly functions are procured for theDelegates, and that the Members ofAssembly shall do everything in theirpower to make the visits of all theDelegates pleasant and profitable.

(e) NON-MEMBERS39. Guest Speakers. Where anyCommittee wishes that one of its membersor staff members, not being a Member ofAssembly, should have an opportunity ofaddressing the Assembly in connectionwith the discussion of its Report, theConvener shall seek the permission of theModerator; for the avoidance of doubt,such permission may be sought during adebate. Where any Committee wishes thata person, not being a Member of Assemblyor member or staff member of thatCommittee, should address the Assembly,the Convener shall submit the name ofsuch person for approval to the AssemblyBusiness Committee before the Assemblyopens, or to the Procedure Committeeduring the sittings of the Assembly, andthe decision of the Assembly BusinessCommittee or Procedure Committee shallbe final, unless the Assembly themselvesshall resolve in terms of SO 129 hereof todispense with the observance of StandingOrders in respect of that particular matter.40. Conference Sessions. TheAssembly Business Committee, or theProcedure Committee, in consultation withother Councils and Committees asappropriate may invite the GeneralAssembly to meet in conference sessionsand arrange for guest speakers to addresssuch sessions. Councils and Committeesshall also be free to invite guests, whomthey consider to have a particular interestin the matter under discussion, toparticipate in the debate. When theGeneral Assembly is meeting in conferenceno resolutions shall be framed or decisionstaken. Expert speakers invited to addressthe conference shall be allowed amaximum time of fifteen minutes. Allother speeches shall be limited to fiveminutes.



IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS ANDOVERTURES

(a) REPORTS41. Transmission. Reports of allCommittees reporting to the Assemblyshall be transmitted to the Clerks ofAssembly not later than the first Mondayafter the third Tuesday in February eachyear provided that, by arrangement withthe Clerk of Assembly, a Statement andProposed Deliverance on the Budget of theChurch, report on Congregational Statisticsas reported by Kirk Sessions throughPresbyteries and report on Statistics ofMinistry may be submitted at a later date,but in time to be included and circulatedwith the Reports. All Reports shall beaccompanied by the Deliverance to beproposed to the Assembly, and when theProposed Deliverance exceeds two sectionseach section shall be numberedconsecutively.42. Circulation of Reports andProposed Deliverances. It shall be theduty of the Clerks to arrange for all suchReports and Proposed Deliverances to becirculated in the authorised form to eachMember of Assembly at least one weekbefore the day of meeting. All Reports sodistributed shall be held as read. EachCommittee shall immediately after therising of the Assembly furnish the publisherof the Reports with the number requiredfor circulation.43. Oral Reports and Reports of Sub-Committees. Oral Reports shall not bereceived, and no Sub-Committee shall giveany Report to the Assembly.44. In Retentis. Reports shall not beengrossed in the Minutes, but a copy ofeach Report certified by one of the Clerksas being that given to the Assembly, shallbe kept in retentis; and the Reports thuscollected shall be preserved among theother Records of the Assembly.45. Questions on Reports. After theDeliverance on the Report of any

Committee has been moved and secondedthe Assembly, before dealing with anyother motions or amendments thereon,shall have opportunity for asking questionson the Report, this being without prejudiceto the right of Members to put questions,with the leave of the Assembly, at anysubsequent stage.46. Questions requiring Notice. Itshall be in order to ask questions of theConvener regarding any matter in the careof the Committee to which no reference ismade in the Report but in such casestimeous notice shall be given to theConvener.47. Deliverance. The final Deliveranceof the Assembly upon the Report of anyCommittee shall follow immediately afterthe consideration of that Report, except inthe event of a special reason for thecontrary having been approved by theAssembly and recorded in the Minutes.48. Late Reports. Reports ofCommittees appointed during the sittingsof Assembly, if they propose any motionnot already circulated to Members, shall besubmitted to the Clerks of Assembly atleast one day prior to their beingconsidered, and included in the “AssemblyPapers”.(b) OVERTURES49. Transmissions. All Overtures fromPresbyteries passed on or before 24 Aprilshall be sent to the Clerks of Assembly notlater than that date in each year. Overturesfrom Commissioners shall be lodged withthe Clerks not later than noon on the thirdlast day of the meeting of the Assembly,unless the Assembly for special reasondecide otherwise.50. Circulation of Overtures. TheClerks shall arrange for the circulation ofOvertures to Commissioners, at theexpense (if any) of those promoting them,either with the papers for Cases or in the“Assembly Papers”.



51. Form. Overtures should contain abrief statement of the matter to bebrought before the Assembly togetherwith a Proposed Deliverance, of which thefirst section shall be “The GeneralAssembly receive the Overture”.52. When Taken. Overtures relatingto matters under the care of theCommittees of the Church whose reportsare on the Agenda for one of the first twodays of the Assembly shall be assigned bythe Assembly Business Committee (unlessthe Committee on Overtures and Casesdecides not to transmit) to the place in thediscussion at which they shall beintroduced to the Assembly. In other casesthis shall be done by the ProcedureCommittee. When the ProposedDeliverance of an Overture is capable ofbeing treated as a counter-motion oramendment to the Proposed Deliveranceof a Committee, or as a new section ofsuch Proposed Deliverance, it shall be sotreated.53. Grouping. Overtures on the sameor cognate subjects shall be grouped by theAssembly Business Committee orProcedure Committee of the Assembly andonly one speaker shall be heard introducingeach group.54. Introduction. An Overture from aPresbytery may be introduced by anymember of that Presbytery, speciallyappointed for the purpose, at the bar; or byany one of its Commissioners to theAssembly in his or her place as aCommissioner.(c) GENERAL55. Matters Relating to Stipend. Itshall not be competent for the Assembly,without due notice of motion in the handsof Commissioners in proper form (forexample as a Proposed Deliverance, Noticeof Motion or Crave of a Petition), to debateany proposal which might impact directlyon or which might bring about bindingchanges to the terms and conditions of

ministers which relate to stipend or stipendscales.56. Proposals with BudgetaryImplications. Prior to making anyproposal, Commissioners should give dueconsideration as to whether this will incurthe use of additional resources or affectthe incoming resources for the Church’swork, ie whether the proposal hasbudgetary implications. Advice on anyproposal can be sought from the GeneralTreasurer. A proposal with budgetaryimplications must be in the hands ofCommissioners in proper form (forexample, as a Proposed Deliverance, Noticeof Motion, or Crave of a Petition).Specifically, to ensure sensible budgetcontrols:(a) Any proposal which involves new or

additional expenditure whether of aone-off or recurring nature, must beaccompanied by a statementspecifying where funding will befound, whether by a reduction ofexisting costs; funding external tothe Church or by an increase in thetotal amount to be met bycongregations.

(b) Any proposal which results in apotential reduction in income,including a reduction in the total tobe met by congregations, must beaccompanied by a statement ofwhere replacement funding will befound or expenditure reduced tocompensate for the reduction in theincome.

The Assembly Trustees shall have the rightto comment upon any proposal in category(a) or (b) before any decision is taken.57. Declaratory or Interim Act. Thedraft of any proposed Declaratory orInterim Act, as also the draft of anyOverture which it is proposed to transmitto Presbyteries in terms of the Barrier Act(other than any Overture circulated in thevolume of Reports), shall be circulated toMembers and laid on the table of the



Assembly at least one day before a Motionfor the passing of such Declaratory orInterim Act, or for the transmission of suchOverture to Presbyteries, is made in theAssembly.

V. CONDUCT OF CASES58. Commission of Assembly. Therules of procedure for the AppealsCommittee of the Commission ofAssembly shall be as set out in Schedule 2to the Appeals Act (Act I 2014). StandingOrders 59 – 61 apply where a matter isbeing brought before the Commission ofAssembly in terms of those powers of theCommission of Assembly not beingexercised by the Appeals Committee, orbefore the General Assembly, being apetition, a reference or an appeal on amatter of doctrine. In Standing Orders 59 -61 references to the General Assembly shallbe taken to refer where appropriate to theCommission of Assembly and all referencesshall be so construed mutatis mutandis.(a) LODGING OF PAPERS59. Appeal; Dissent and Complaint;Petition. The papers in all cases intendedto be brought before the Assembly,whether Appeals or Dissents andComplaints against the judgement ofinferior courts, or Petitions, should belodged with the Clerks of Assembly notlater than 24 April, and must be lodged notless than fourteen days before the openingsession of Assembly; except in the case ofjudgements pronounced within sixteendays of the meeting of Assembly, in whichcase they shall be lodged within forty-eighthours of the judgement being pronounced.60.(a). Reference. In the case of Reference of

a matter from an inferior court forthe judgement of the Assembly thesame limits as to time for lodging ofpapers in the case shall apply as in SO59.

(b). Reference of Matter PreviouslyConsidered. Where the matter of aReference has previously been underconsideration of the Assembly, theReference shall state the date whenthe matter was previously before theAssembly and shall narrate theAssembly’s Deliverance thereon.

61. Answers. It shall be competent forall parties claiming an interest in thesubject matter of an Appeal, Dissent andComplaint or Petition to lodge Answersthereto complying with the requirementsof this SO 61. Answers may be lodged anytime after the Appeal, Dissent andComplaint or Petition is received by theClerks, but not later than seven days beforethe opening meeting of Assembly. Answersshall be in the form of articulate numberedAnswers to the narrative contained in theAppeal, Dissent and Complaint or Petition,indicating in particular matters of fact thatare admitted and denied, and shall setforth a concise statement of theRespondent’s case, together with a cravespecifying the action the Assembly areinvited to take thereanent.(b) PROVISION OF PAPERS62. Circulation. It shall be the duty ofthe Clerks on receiving papers that are tocome before the Assembly in connectionwith cases to arrange to have thesecirculated to Members in authorised form.63. In Private. Papers relating tobusiness dealt with by Presbyteries inprivate, or which the Committee onOvertures and Cases (SOs 70 - 71) considershould be taken in private, shall becirculated separately and may be dealtwith by the Assembly in private.64. Cost of Circulation of Papers. Incases of discipline brought before theAssembly by the Judicial Commission, byReference from a Presbytery, or bycomplaint by a minority of the Court, theexpense of circulation (if any) shall beborne by the Assembly BusinessCommittee; in other circumstances by the



Complainer or Appellant. In all other casesthe expenses of circulating papers (ifany)for the use of Commissioners shall beborne by the party having interest in thesame or desiring a Deliverance from theAssembly.65. In Retentis. A copy of everycirculated paper shall be kept by the Clerksof Assembly to be retained among theRecords of Assembly.(c) CIRCULATION OF PAPERS66. Date of Dispatch. A copy of allpapers transmitted to the Clerks ofAssembly not later than 24 April shall beforwarded by them to each Member ofAssembly at least one week before theopening day of the Assembly.67. In Private. The Clerks of Assemblyshall not issue in advance to Members thepapers in cases which they think require tobe conducted in private, until speciallyinstructed by the Assembly so to do; butshall report such cases to the Convener ofthe Procedure Committee, for theinformation of that Committee,immediately after its appointment.(d) INTIMATION TO PARTIES68. Appeal; Dissent and Complaint.In all cases coming before the Assembly byAppeal or Dissent and Complaint it shall bethe duty of the Clerks of Assembly toinform the parties on both sides as soon aspossible of the time at which such case islikely to be taken by the Assembly. Suchintimation shall, unless in a specific casethe Assembly determine otherwise, beregarded as sufficient notice.The Clerks shall further be bound, onapplication made to them for the purpose,to supply a copy of all papers circulated inpursuance of the foregoing Orders to theopposite party or parties in any case, or tohis or her or their duly accredited Agents.69. Petition. In every Petition it shallbe the duty of the Petitioner to make suchintimation of the Petition as may be

necessary having regard to the nature ofthe Petition. Such intimation shall be madenot more than seven days later than thetime when the Petition is lodged with theClerks of Assembly as provided in SO 59above; and along with the Petition thereshall be lodged a certificate signed by thePetitioner or his or her Agent setting forththe names of the parties to whom suchintimation has been made or is to be made.The Assembly may refuse to dispose of anyPetition if in their opinion sufficientintimation thereof has not been made.(e) TRANSMISSION TO ASSEMBLY70. Committee on Overtures andCases. All papers lodged with the Clerks incases of every sort in terms of theforegoing Orders shall be laid by thembefore the Committee on Overtures andCases, which shall consider the same andreport to the Assembly.71. Decision not to Transmit. If theCommittee on Overtures and Cases shalldecide not to transmit to the Assembly anypapers in cases duly lodged with the Clerksof Assembly it shall report the same to theAssembly at their first Session, or at theSession next after such decision, with itsreasons for not transmitting the papers,and parties shall be entitled to be heardthereon at the bar of the Assembly.Intimation of a decision not to transmitpapers shall be made to the partiesconcerned as soon as possible, and in timeto allow of their being represented at thebar when the decision not to transmit isreported to the Assembly.72. In Private. The ProcedureCommittee shall, in its first Report, specifyany case which in its judgement requires tobe conducted in private, and any casewhich does not appear to it to be of thatcharacter although the Clerks of Assemblymay have reported it as such. TheAssembly shall thereupon determine by aspecial Deliverance, at what stage in theproceedings the papers in such a case shallbe issued to the Commissioners. In every



case which the Assembly appoint to beconducted in private the instruction toissue the papers shall be accompanied by aspecial exhortation to the Commissionersto keep them private.73. Proposed Legislation. AllOvertures from Presbyteries or fromCommissioners which propose theintroduction of new or the amendment ofexisting Acts (or Regulations) shall containthe precise terms of the legislation whichthey propose; and the Committee onOvertures and Cases shall not transmit tothe Assembly any Overture which isdeficient in this respect, provided alwaysthat the Clerks and Procurator shall beavailable to assist with the framing of suchproposals(f) HEARING OF CASES74. Announcement. Before partiesare heard in any contentious case the Clerkshall read the following announcement, viz– “The Commissioners are reminded thatjustice requires that all the pleadings at thebar should be heard by all those who votein this case, and that their judgementshould be made solely on the basis of thepleadings.” Immediately before a vote istaken in such a case, the Clerk shall readthe following further announcement, viz –“The Commissioners are reminded thatonly those who have heard all thepleadings at the bar are entitled to vote inthis case.”75. Appeal; Complaint; OneAppellant. In cases brought before theAssembly by Appeal, where there is onlyone appellant (or one set of appellantsconcurring in the same reasons of Appeal)and only one respondent (or one set ofrespondents concurring in the sameanswers to the reasons of Appeal) the casefor the appellant (or set of appellants)shall be stated by him or herself or by his orher counsel, who at the same time shallsubmit such argument upon the case as heor she shall think fit. The party or counselso stating the Appeal shall be followed by

the respondent or his or her counsel wholikewise shall submit such arguments uponthe case as he or she shall think fit. At theclose of the statement for the respondentthe appellant shall be entitled to be againheard, and the respondent shall also beentitled to be heard in answer to thesecond speech for the appellant and if, inhis or her final answer, the respondentshall state any fact or submit anyargument not adverted to in his or heranswer to the opening statement for theappellant, the appellant shall be entitled toa reply upon the new matter introduced inthe final answer for the respondent. Withthe exception of this right of reply, solimited, more than two speeches shall notbe allowed to any party at the bar.76. Appeal; Complaint; More thanone Appellant. In such cases as thosereferred to in SO 75 if there is more thanone appellant (or set of appellants)insisting on the Appeal, or more than onerespondent (or set of respondents)supporting the judgement appealedagainst, (a) on different grounds, or (b) inseparate reasons or answers, eachappellant shall be entitled to open andstate his or her separate case, and eachrespondent shall be entitled to make his orher separate answer, and the debate shallbe closed with a reply for the severalappellants; provided always that it shall becompetent to the parties, with consent ofthe Assembly to make any arrangement forconducting the debate other than hereinprescribed, if it shall have the effect oflimiting, further than is herein done, thenumber of speeches to be made from thebar.77. Appeal; Complaint; Who mayappear. Any Member of an inferior courtwhose judgement is brought under reviewof the Assembly may appear at the bar insupport of the judgement; but, whenCommissioners have been speciallyappointed by the inferior court to supportits judgement, the Assembly shall not hearany Member of such court other than the



Commissioners so appointed, unless anyMember not so appointed but wishing tobe heard can show a separate and peculiarinterest to support the judgement; and inall such cases it shall be competent to theAssembly to limit the number of Membersof an inferior court who shall be heard insupport of the judgement under review.78. Dissents and Complaints. In SOs75 to 77, “Appeal” includes “Dissents andComplaints” and “Appellant” includes“Complainer”.79. Petition. In cases brought beforethe Assembly as the court of first instanceby Petition, the party promoting theapplication shall be entitled to be heard insupport of the same; and the Assemblyshall also hear an answer from any party atthe bar claiming to be heard whom it shallconsider to be a proper respondent, andthe debate at the bar shall be closed with areply from the person promoting theapplication.80. Reference. In cases broughtbefore the Assembly by reference from aPresbytery the reference shall be stated tothe Assembly by a Member of the referringcourt, specially appointed for the purpose,at the bar if not a Commissioner, or in hisor her place as a Commissioner if aCommissioner from the Presbytery. TheAssembly shall thereafter hear the partiesin the case referred in such order as thenature of the case may seem to require,keeping in view the regulations in SOs 74 to79.81. Readjustment Cases. In casesarising from Act VII, 2003, when a requestfor determination follows a decision of thePartnership Development Committee notto concur in the judgement of a Presbytery,the Convener, or other member of the saidCommittee, shall be heard at the bar if nota Commissioner, or in his or her place as aCommissioner if a Commissioner,immediately after the request fordetermination has been stated. After theinitial statement and the response by the

said Committee when applicable, theGeneral Assembly shall hear at the barsuch parties in the case as are notrepresented by Commissioners, in suchorder as the nature of the case may seemto require.

VI. ORDER OF DEBATE(a) ORDER OF THE DAY82. When the Assembly have resolvedthat a case or other piece of business shallbe taken up at a certain hour mentioned inthe Order of Business, such case or otherpiece of business shall be taken not laterthan the hour fixed and the business beforethe Assembly, if not finished at the hournamed, shall be adjourned, provided that,in the case of an Order of the Day followingthe Report of the Faith Impact Forum, suchunfinished business shall not be taken up.If, in the opinion of the Moderator, itwould be in accordance with the generalconvenience of the Assembly, theModerator may allow the transaction ofthe business then actually under discussionto continue for a period of not more thanfifteen minutes beyond the specified time,but no fresh business shall be commenced.(b) MOTIONS83. TIME-BOUNDOn the motion of the ProcedureCommittee or moved as part of thedeliverance of the Assembly BusinessCommittee, the General Assembly mayresolve that the Report and draftDeliverance relating to a particular Councilor Committee’s Report be taken in a time-bound process of debate and decision. Sucha motion shall be moved at least 24 hoursin advance of the presentation of theReport concerned.Having so resolved the General Assemblyshall operate the following timetable:-



(a) Start times shall be allotted tospecified Sections of the Report andto the related sections of the draftDeliverance. Discussion of anySection of the Report shall notcommence later than its allottedstart time, but may begin earlier ifdebate of the previous Section hasbeen completed.

(b) If discussion and debate of aparticular Section of the Report hasnot been concluded within itsallotted time, then furtherconsideration of associated sectionsof the draft Deliverance shall besisted and the General Assemblyshall take up the next Section of theReport.

(c) If, at the close of the debate on thelast Section of the Report, there isstill time before the Order of the Dayrequires to be implemented orbusiness is due to conclude, then theGeneral Assembly shall return forfurther debate of any outstandingsections of the draft Deliveranceremaining relative to each Section ofthe Report.

(d) If the Order of the Day or anticipatedclose of business is imminent, thenany outstanding sections of the draftDeliverance shall be voted uponwithout debate, except that othermotions circulated in the DailyPapers shall also be taken, withoutdebate, the Convener simply havingthe right to indicate whether or notthe Council or Committee is willingto accept the motion.

(e) Where motions appearing in theDaily Papers do not relate directly tothe Report and draft Deliveranceproposed by the Council orCommittee, they will be taken eitherat the end of the appropriate Section,if there is time available according tothe allotted timetable, or at the endof the appropriate Section when theprocedure leading to the Order of theDay (or close of business) is beingimplemented.

84. Right to Move. Any Commissionerto the Assembly may make a motion uponany matter coming regularly before theAssembly; and on rising to do so he or sheshall read the terms of the motion havingpreviously handed the same in writing onthe form provided to the Assembly Officeor other point of collection intimated tothe General Assembly. It shall be in orderto move a motion regarding any matter inthe care of a Committee to which noreference is made in the Report of thatCommittee, provided that reasonablenotice has been given in writing to theConvener before presentation of theReport. The mover of any counter-motionor amendment may reply to the discussionof his or her motion, immediately beforethe Convener closes the debate.85. Withdrawal. When a motion hasbeen duly seconded it shall not becompetent to withdraw it, or to make anyalteration upon it, without the permissionof the Assembly.86. Priority of Deliverance over othermotion. The Deliverance on the Report of aCommittee shall take precedence of anyother motion on that subject.87. Committee Convener. TheConvener of a Committee when aCommissioner, on giving in the Report ofthat Committee, shall move theDeliverance proposed in terms of SO 41. AConvener, when not a Commissioner, shallbe allowed to submit the Report of theCommittee, and to give explanations in the



subsequent discussion. In such a case thePrincipal Clerk, whom failing, the DeputeClerk, shall formally move the Deliverance.In all cases the Convener shall have theright of replying to the debate.88. Introducer of Overture. TheIntroducer of an Overture, if aCommissioner, shall move the Deliverance;and if he or she is not a Commissioner thePrincipal Clerk, whom failing the DeputeClerk, shall formally move the Deliverance.The Introducer, whether a Commissioneror not, may answer questions or giveexplanations in the course of the debateand, if a Commissioner, may reply to, thediscussion immediately before the relevantConvener closes the debate.89. Notice of Motion. Commissionersare encouraged to give advance Notice ofmotions. Any Commissioner may, duringthe sittings of the Assembly, give advancenotice of Motion on any subject due tocome regularly before the Assembly, otherthan a contentious case. Notices of Motionso given in shall, if received in time to doso, be included in the “Assembly Papers”not later than the day on which thebusiness is to be taken. Such circulatedNotice of Motion shall confer no right ofpriority of moving same, the Moderatorbeing the sole judge of the order in whichMembers are entitled to address theAssembly.(c) THE DEBATE90. The Chair. Every speaker shalladdress the Assembly through theModerator, and the correct address is“Moderator”.91. In Support. When a motion ormotions have been made and seconded,any Member (including a formal seconderin terms of SO 95) may take part insubsequent debate.92. Speeches. (1) Except as provided inSOs 84 and 87, no Member may speaktwice on the same question except inexplanation, and then only by special

permission of the Assembly. (2) Membersshall make relevant declarations of interestwhere the topic of debate makes itappropriate to do so.93. Point of Order. Any Member mayrise to speak to a Point of Order. A speakeris not to be interrupted unless upon a callto order. When so interrupted he or sheshall cease speaking, and shall resume hisor her seat until the Point of Order isdecided. The Member calling to order shallstate the grounds for so doing; and thespeaker who has been interrupted maybriefly reply in explanation, to show thathe or she is not out of order, but no otherMember may speak to the Point of Orderunless with the permission or at therequest of the Moderator, with whom thedecision of the point rests, though theModerator may put the point to a vote ofthe Assembly.94. There shall be no right of reply to adebate except as provided for by SOs 84and 87.95. Limits. All speeches shall belimited to 5 minutes, with the followingexceptions:(i) COMMITTEES Convener giving in the

Report of his or her Committee andmoving thereon (seconding to beformal) 15 minutesConvener responding to a question 4minutes

(ii) OVERTURES Introducing an Overtureand when the Introducer is aCommissioner, moving thereon 10minutesMover of other Motions in relation toOverture (seconding to be formal) 10minutes

(iii) PETITIONS Speeches of Petitioners 10minutes

96. No Time Limit. The time limitsshall apply, except in the following cases:



(a) when the Assembly are debatingspecific proposals for change underBarrier Act procedure;

(b) when the Assembly are exercisingjudicial functions;

(c) in Petitions when, for special reasons,the Committee on Overtures andCases reports that the circumstancesdemand an extension, and when theGeneral Assembly adopt thatopinion;

(d) in any other matter when theAssembly Business Committee (inrespect of the Order of Business forthe first two days) or the ProcedureCommittee (in respect of the Orderof Business for the subsequent days)declares that, in its opinion, suchmatter is of exceptional importance,and when the Assembly adopt thatopinion.

(d) DEALING WITH MOTIONS97. Character of Motions. Motionsshall be considered as belonging to one ofthe following categories, and shall be dealtwith as prescribed, viz:1. The original Motion.2. Counter-Motions – being Motions

contradictory or negative of theoriginal Motion or of a substantialpart of the original Motion.

3. Amendments being Motions notsubstantially contradictory of theoriginal Motion or Counter-Motion,but for making deletions, alterations,or additions thereto withoutdefeating its main object.

4. Amendments of amendmentsalready moved and seconded.

98. Moderator to Judge. TheModerator shall be judge of the category towhich any Motions shall be considered tobelong, and the ruling of the Moderatorshall be final.

99. Grouping of Amendments. Whento any Proposed Deliverance there has beengiven notice of amendments which differfrom each other only slightly in theirgeneral tenor, the Moderator shall decidewhether or not to permit more than one ofsuch amendments to be moved.100. Voting on Amendments. Whenan amendment (Category 3) has beenproposed it shall be disposed of by theAssembly before any other counter-motionor amendment is proposed. However, itshall be in order for an amendment of anamendment (Category 4) to be proposed,seconded and debated, after which theModerator shall take a vote “For” or“Against”. When all such Category 4motions have been so disposed of, theAssembly shall complete its considerationof the original amendment (Category 3)and the Moderator shall take a vote “For”or “Against” the original amendmentamended or unamended as the case maybe. For the avoidance of doubt, it isaffirmed that the order of debate forCategory 3 and Category 4 motions shall bethe same except as herein provided andthat the provisions of SO 87 shall apply toboth.101. Voting on Motions. After allamendments, if any, have been disposedof, the Moderator shall take a votebetween all Motions in Categories (l) and(2), and in doing so shall adopt thefollowing procedure. A vote shall be takenin one of the methods provided below,between all the Motions in the order inwhich they were made, beginning at thefirst. Each Commissioner may vote for oneMotion only. If, on the numbers beingannounced, one Motion has obtained aclear majority of votes, all the otherMotions shall fall; but if no Motion hasobtained a clear majority, the Motionhaving the smallest number of votes shallbe struck off and a vote taken between theremaining Motions; and the Assembly maydetermine.



102. Voting for Appointments. In thecase of voting for appointments to vacantoffices in the Church, where there are morethan two nominations the Assembly shallvote separately on all the names proposed,and, unless there be a majority in favour ofone over all the others combined, the onehaving the lowest number shall bedropped, and the Assembly shall again voteon those that remain.103. Deliberative Vote. The Moderatoror Acting Moderator in the Chair shall haveno Deliberative Vote.104. Casting Vote. If in any divisionthere shall be an equality of votes for twoproposals before the Assembly, theModerator shall have power to give adeciding vote; and if in the course of thevoting as provided in SOs 100 and 101above, there should be an equality of votesfor the two Motions having fewest votes,the Moderator shall have power to give adeciding vote and the Motion for which theModerator shall vote shall be retained forthe purpose of the next vote of theAssembly.(e) TAKING THE VOTE105. The Moderator may, in anycircumstances and at his or her solediscretion, ascertain the mind of theAssembly by asking the Commissioners tostand in their places, and shall intimate tothe Assembly on which side there is in hisor her opinion a majority. Unless theopinion of the Moderator so intimated is atonce challenged, it shall become thedecision of the Assembly. If anyCommissioner challenges the opinion ofthe Moderator, the Assembly shall proceedto take an electronic vote using a systemapproved by the Assembly BusinessCommittee. Alternatively, it shall be opento the Moderator, again at his or her solediscretion and in any circumstances, toascertain the mind of the Assembly byrecourse to the use of electronic voting.After all votes have been counted theModerator shall intimate the result of the

voting which will become the decision ofthe Assembly. In no circumstances shall asecond vote be taken on a matter whichhas already been the subject of a vote byelectronic voting. The ProcedureCommittee shall ensure thatCommissioners are familiar with themethod of electronic voting and willappoint tellers to assist Commissioners,where necessary, with the process ofcasting votes and to assist the Assemblywith the process of voting by paper ballotwhich shall be a competent alternative tothe taking of a vote by electronic means inthe event of a failure in the electronicvoting system.(f) DISSENTS106. Entering. Any Commissionerdissatisfied with a judgement of theAssembly, which has not been unanimous,has the right to enter his or her dissentagainst it; but no dissent can be given inuntil the matter to which it refers has, forthat session, been disposed of, the Minuteadjusted, and the Assembly is ready toproceed to other business.107. Adhering. When a dissent hasbeen entered, it is in order for any otherCommissioner present when thatjudgement was pronounced to adhere tosuch dissent. No other’s adherence may beentered.108. Reasons. A person dissenting maydo so with or without giving in reasons ofdissent. If he or she dissent for reasonsgiven in at the time, or to be afterwardsgiven in, such reasons shall, if received bythe Assembly as proper and relevant, andprovided they are given in before the closeof the next session (or, when made on thelast day of the Assembly, before the closeof the same session), be recorded in theMinutes.109. Answers. If the Assembly appointa Committee to prepare answers toreasons of dissent, the Report of theCommittee shall, except on the last day ofthe Assembly, be in the “Assembly Papers”;



and, as approved by the Assembly, shall beincluded in the Minutes, if the reasons ofdissent have been so circulated.110. Record of Dissents. Reasons ofdissent and answers thereto when notentered in the Minutes, shall be kept in aseparate Record of Dissents.

VII. COMMITTEES AND THEIRMEMBERSHIP

(a) COMMITTEES111. Committees. The Committees ofthe General Assembly shall be those listedin SO 113 together with such ad hocCommittees as the General Assembly mayappoint from time to time. Clerical servicesfor the ad hoc Committees shall normallybe provided by the staff of the PrincipalClerk’s Department.112. Quorum. Save for the JudicialProceedings Panel and those bodies whereprovision is already made for a quorum, thequorum of Standing Committees of theGeneral Assembly listed in SO 113 shall bethree. When a meeting ceases to bequorate, business must be suspended. Thequorum shall apply also to sub-committeesand other bodies constituted from therelevant Standing Committees where suchsub-committees and other bodies havedecision-making powers, but nototherwise.113. Membership. The StandingCommittees of the General Assembly shallhave membership as follows, GeneralAssembly appointments being made on thenomination of the Nomination Committeeexcept where otherwise stated.1. Assembly Business

Committee..................................16/17Convener, Vice-Convener, 2 membersof the Legal Questions Committee(Convener and another memberinvolved more in judicial matters tobe nominated by the Legal QuestionsCommittee), a further 6 membersmade up of ministers and elders with

experience of the General Assembly,with the following members exofficio: the Moderator and theModerator Designate, the PrincipalClerk, the Depute Clerk, the Solicitor,the Procurator and the GeneralTreasurer. The Convener and Vice-Convener are also to serve asConvener and Vice-Convenerrespectively of the ProcedureCommittee.

2. Assembly Trustees....................... 1412 trustees appointed in accordancewith the Constitution and Remitapproved at the General Assembly of2019 (from which shall be drawn theConvener, Vice-Convener, andAdministrative Trustee), plus 2 exofficio members: the Convener of theAssembly Business Committee andthe Chair of the General Trustees.

3. Audit Committee………...……......…6Convener, who shall not be anAssembly Trustee, three votingmembers appointed by the GeneralAssembly through the NominationCommittee, all of whom shall beindependent of the UnincorporatedEntities and at least one of whomshall have recent and relevantfinancial experience, and twoadditional voting members beappointed by the Assembly Trustees.The quorum shall be three votingmembers, at least one of whom is aTrustee member. The Chief Officerand the General Treasurer shallattend without a right to vote ormake a motion. In addition, otherofficials, as required by theCommittee, may be in attendancefrom time to time without a right tovote or make a motion.Representatives of the External andInternal Auditors, shall be entitled toattend all meetings but without aright to vote or make a motion.



4. Church of Scotland Investors TrustTrustees are appointed as required,by the General Assembly on thenomination of the Trust.

5. Church of Scotland TrustTrustees are appointed as required,by the General Assembly on thenomination of the Trust.

6. Committee on Chaplains to HMForces…..……..........................………18Convener, Vice-Convener and 16members appointed by the GeneralAssembly. There are also 2 non-voting members: one representativefrom and appointed by each of theFaith Nurture and Faith ImpactForums.

7. Delegation of the GeneralAssembly……..............................……4The Clerks of Assembly, the PrincipalClerk as Chairman, the Procuratorand the Solicitor of the Church, exofficiis.

8. Ecumenical RelationsCommittee.............................10 plusrepresentatives, co-optees andcorresponding membersa) 8 members appointed by the

General Assembly one to beattached, for the purposes ofecumenical accompaniment, toeach of the Faith NurtureForum, the Faith ImpactForum, the Social Care Council,and the Theological Forum.

b) Convener who will act as apersonal support for theEcumenical Officer (EO) andVice-Convener, appointed bythe General Assembly.

c) A representative of the RomanCatholic Church in Scotlandappointed by the Bishops’Conference and 1representative from each of 3

churches drawn from amongthe member churches of ACTSand the Baptist Union ofScotland, each to serve for aperiod of 4 years.

d) The Committee shall co-optChurch of Scotland memberselected to the central bodies ofChurches Together in Britainand Ireland (CTBI), theConference of EuropeanChurches (CEC), the WorldCouncil of Churches (WCC),the World Communion ofReformed Churches (WCRC)and the Community ofProtestant Churches in Europe(CPCE, formerly the LeuenbergFellowship of Churches).

e) The General Secretary of ACTSshall be invited to attend as acorresponding member.

f) For the avoidance of doubt,while only those personsappointed under paragraphs a)and b) above shall be entitledto vote, before any vote istaken the views of membersrepresenting other churchesshall be ascertained. TheConvener shall be entitled tocall a meeting of the votingmembers.

9. Faith Impact Forum………....………15Convener, Vice-Convener and 13members nominated by theNomination Committee andappointed by the General Assembly.

10. Faith Nurture Forum………...………15Convener, Vice-Convener and 13members nominated by theNomination Committee andappointed by the General Assembly.

11. General TrusteesTrustees are appointed as required,by the General Assembly on thenomination of the Trust.



12. Iona Community Board................20Convener and 5 members appointedby the General Assembly;6 members appointed by and fromthe Iona Community, 2 changingeach year;The Leader of the Iona Community;1 member appointed by and from thePresbytery of Argyll.In addition the Board will invite 6member churches of ChurchesTogether in Britain and Ireland (CTBI)to appoint a representative memberto the Board, such members beingeligible to serve for a maximumperiod of 4 years.

13. Judicial Panel20 people being ministers, elders anddeacons nominated by theNomination Committee andappointed by the General Assembly.All members of the Judicial Panelshall be qualified to practise aslawyers or shall be experienced in thelaw and practice of the Church.Notwithstanding SOs 114 and 118, themembers of the Judicial Panel shallinitially be appointed for a term offour years, and shall be eligible forreappointment for further terms offour years.

14. Judicial Proceedings PanelA Panel of ministers, elders anddeacons appointed by the GeneralAssembly who are suitablyexperienced in the law and practiceof the Church and whose numbershall, in accordance with theDiscipline of Ministry Act (Act III,2001), section 1(1)(e), be determined,from time to time, by the LegalQuestions Committee.Notwithstanding SOs 114 & 118,appointments shall be for three yearswith the option of furtherconsecutive terms. In calculatinghow many Panel members may be

appointed, no account shall be takenof any members whose current termhas expired but who are deemed toremain as members of the Panel byoperation of the Discipline ofMinistry Act (Act III, 2001), section1(1)(f).

15. Legal Questions Committee.…….16Convener, Vice-Convener and 10members appointed by the GeneralAssembly, the Clerks of Assembly,the Procurator and the Solicitor ofthe Church.

16. Life and Work Editorial AdvisoryCommittee……............................….9Convener and 7 members togetherwith the Principal Clerk as an exofficio member. The members shouldrepresent a wide range of theologicalopinion and perspectives, with aninterest and particular gifts to offerthe Committee, for examplejournalism, magazine production,former contributors. The Committeemay co-opt members with particulargifts or information.

17. Ministries Appeal Panel……….....….5Convener, Vice-Convener and 3members appointed by the GeneralAssembly. At least 1 member shall belegally qualified, at least 1 shall be aminister and at least 1 shall be anelder.

18. Nomination Committee............... 26Convener, Vice-Convener and 24members appointed by the GeneralAssembly. Notwithstanding SO 118,no member of the Committee,having served a term of 4 years, shallbe eligible for re-election until after aperiod of 4 years, except for specialcause shown. The Convenership ofthe Committee shall be for 3 years.

19. Nomination of the ModeratorCommittee ………................…Up to 15Up to 8 ministers and deacons and upto 7 elders appointed by the General



Assembly, to create a Committeewhich is representative of thediversity of the whole Church. TheCommittee is to be convened by theimmediate past-Moderator of theGeneral Assembly, failing which byanother former Moderator of theGeneral Assembly.

20. Personnel Appeal Group.................88 members appointed by the GeneralAssembly with the Solicitor of theChurch as Secretary. Members shallnot include any former or currentmembers of staff of any of theChurch’s Employing Agencies(including the Social Care Council),nor any current Council orCommittee member.

21. Registration of MinistriesCommittee.….............................…5Convener, Vice-Convener and 3members. 1 member is appointed bythe Legal Questions Committee, 1member by the Faith Nurture Forumand 3 members by the GeneralAssembly. The Convener and Vice-Convener are appointed by theGeneral Assembly from the GeneralAssembly appointees. One or otherof the Clerks to the GeneralAssembly and the Secretary to theFaith Nurture Forum attend theCommittee ex officiis in an advisorycapacity but are not members. TheCommittee is clerked by a personfrom the Faith Nurture Forum who isnot a member of the Committee.

22. Safeguarding Appeal Panel…….….6A Panel of 6 persons appointed bythe General Assembly, being personswith Safeguarding and other relevantexperience, and including at leasttwo persons who shall be qualified topractise as lawyers or who areexperienced in the law and practiceof the Church, and at least twoministers. None of the Panel shall bea current or former employee of any

of the Employing Agencies or acurrent member of the SafeguardingCommittee.

23. Safeguarding Committee….........11Convener, Vice-Convener and 6members appointed by the GeneralAssembly, 1 representative (votingmember) from and appointed byeach of the Faith Nurture Forum, theFaith Impact Forum, the Social CareCouncil, the Solicitor of the Church,the National Adviser (Head ofSafeguarding) as Secretary to theCommittee, the Chief Officer and upto 4 members co-opted by theCommittee for their expertise. Forthe avoidance of doubt it is declaredthat only the following persons willbe entitled to vote: Convener, Vice-Convener, the six Assemblyappointed members and the threerepresentatives from each of theFaith Nurture Forum, the FaithImpact Forum and the Social CareCouncil.

24. Social Care Council.......................12Convener, Vice-Convener and 9members appointed by the GeneralAssembly, with the Chief ExecutiveOfficer of CrossReach as a non-voting ex officio member. At leastone member shall be a Church ofScotland minister.

25. Theological Forum………...........….13Convener, Vice-Convener and 11members appointed by the GeneralAssembly, the membership beingselected to provide an appropriatebalance of (a) ministers of Word andSacrament, (b) members of academicstaff from the Divinity Schools (orequivalent) of Institutions of HigherEducation in Scotland, (c) elders and(d) members drawn from the widermembership of the Church chosenfor their particular expertise,experience or provenance.



26. Trustees of the Housing and LoanFund …………….....................Up to 11Up to 3 ministers and 1 memberappointed by the Faith NurtureForum, who having served a term of4 years shall be eligible for re-appointment for a second 4 yearterm;Up to 4 appointed by the GeneralAssembly on the nomination of theTrustees, who having served a termof 4 years shall be eligible for re-appointment for a second 4 yearterm;Up to 3 appointed by the Baird Trust,for a term of office determined bythat Trust.Any Trustee (other than oneappointed by the Baird Trust) mayserve for up to a further two four-year terms if elected also asChairperson or Depute Chairperson.

(b) MEMBERS114. Period of Service. All Members ofeach of the Standing Committees shallretire after serving for four years, save forthe Faith Nurture Forum and the FaithImpact Forum where the period is threeyears.115. Representatives. Bodies entitledto appoint representatives shall bepermitted to make changes in theirrepresentation for special reasons in anyyear.116. Non-attendance. The name of aMember shall be removed from anyStanding or Special Committee which hasmet three times or oftener between 1 Juneand 1 March unless he or she has attendedone-third of the meetings held within thatperiod. Attendance at meetings of Sub-Committees shall for this purpose bereckoned as equivalent to attendance atthe meeting of the Committee itself.117. Replacement. When a Minister,Elder, or Member of any Standing or

Special Committee is unable to accept theappointment, or where from any causevacancies occur in Committees during theyear, that Committee, after consultationwith the Convener of the NominationCommittee, may appoint a Member to takethe place of the Member whose retirementhas caused the vacancy. All suchappointments, if for a longer period thanone year, shall be reported forconfirmation through the NominationCommittee to the General Assembly.118. Re-election. A Member retiringfrom 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 untilthe expiry of one year thereafter, unlessthe Assembly are satisfied, on the Reportof the Nomination Committee, oninformation submitted to it by the Councilor Committee concerned, that there arecircumstances which make re-electiondesirable; but where more than onemember is due to retire then not morethan one-half of the retiring members beso re-elected. No Member shall normallyserve for more than two consecutive termsof office. (If possible 20 per cent of theAssembly appointed members of Councilsor Committees should be under the age of35 at the time of their appointment). AMember appointed in the room of onedeceased, resigned or removed, or of oneappointed as Convener or Vice-Convener,shall serve for the remainder of the periodfor which the person was appointed whoseplace he or she takes, and on retiral shall beeligible for re-election if he or she has notserved for more than two years.A retiring Convener shall be eligible for re-election as an additional member of theCouncil or Committee concerned to servefor one year only immediately followingtenure of office as Convener.119. Eligibility. No person shall be aMember of more than three Councils orCommittees at the same time.Appointments ex officio shall not be



reckoned in this number. This rule shall notapply to those for whom the NominationCommittee is prepared to give specialreason to the Assembly for theirappointments to more than threeCommittees.The Nomination Committee shall notnominate for Committees any of its ownnumber except in special circumstanceswhich must be stated to the Assembly.120. Secretaries and Deputes. It shallbe the responsibility of the Secretary ofeach Council and Committee to attend themeetings thereof, to provide informationand advice as requested, and to provide adepute for any meeting that he or shecannot attend. Members of staff shall nothave the right to vote at any meeting.121. Expenses. Expenses incurred byMembers of Committee, consisting oftravel charges and a sum for maintenancewhen required shall be defrayed.(c) CONVENERS AND VICE-CONVENERS122. Appointment. Conveners andVice-Conveners of Councils andCommittees shall be appointed by theAssembly. Conveners shall hold office fornot more than four consecutive years (inthe case of the Nomination Committee,Faith Nurture Forum and Faith ImpactForum, three consecutive years) and Vice-Conveners shall hold office for not morethan three consecutive years, unless theAssembly are satisfied that there areexceptional circumstances which make thereappointment of Conveners and Vice-Conveners desirable. The period ofreappointment shall be for one year only. Ifat the time of their appointment they arealready members of the Council orCommittee another Member shall beappointed in their room for the remainderof the period of their original appointment.123. Replacement. In the event of thedeath, resignation, consistent non-attendance or supervening incapacity of

the Convener or Vice-Convener of anyCouncil or Committee, the bodyconcerned, after consultation with theConvener of the Nomination Committee,may appoint an Interim Convener orInterim Vice-Convener, as the case may be.Such appointment shall be reported by theCommittee to the General Assembly andthe Assembly shall make such order as thesituation may require.NOMINATION COMMITTEE124. List of Nominations. TheNomination Committee shall include in itsReport its list of nominations to besubmitted to the Assembly. The Report, soprepared, shall be included in the Volumeof Reports issued to Members of Assembly.125. Nomination of Conveners. Whenthe Convener or Vice-Convener of aCommittee or Council is completing his orher term of office the Council orCommittee shall be invited by theConvener of the Nomination Committee tosuggest the name of one who may beappointed in succession. The NominationCommittee shall satisfy itself that an openand transparent process has been followedin identifying the Convener or Vice-Convener so suggested.126. Conveners to Attend Meeting.Conveners of Standing Committees shallbe entitled to be present at meetings of theNomination Committee when thecomposition of their respectiveCommittees is under consideration, butnot to vote.127. Amendment to Report. Noamendment to the Report of theNomination Committee shall be in order ofwhich due notice has not been given.All notices of proposed amendments onthe Report, including such as propose theomission or insertion of any name ornames, or the addition of a name or nameswhere the full number eligible has not beennominated by the Committee, must begiven in to the Clerks before midday on the



third day prior to the closing of theAssembly, signed by the Member orMembers giving them.All such notices of proposed amendmentshall, with the names of those signingthem, be circulated in the “AssemblyPapers” issued on the second day prior tothe closing of the General Assembly, andon the morning of the day the Report is tobe called for.

VIII. ALTERATION AND SUSPENSION128. Alteration. Any proposal foralteration of Standing Orders shall beeither (a) on the Report of the LegalQuestions Committee and included in thevolume of Reports or (b) by Overture andthe subject of at least one day’s notice inthe “Assembly Papers”. This StandingOrder shall not apply to SO 113 which maybe amended by the Principal Clerk inaccordance with the decisions of theGeneral Assembly.129. Suspension. It shall always becompetent for the Assembly, on theMotion of any Commissioner and on causeshown, summarily to dispense with theobservance of the Standing Orders, or anypart of them, in any particular case:provided that such Motion shall receive thesupport of not less than two-thirds ofthose voting on the question when putfrom the Chair, and that such suspensionshall not contravene any Act of Assembly.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TOSTANDING ORDERS FOR THE ONLINE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2021The Standing Orders in their current formshall apply save for amendments asfollows which shall, where there is anyconflict with an existing Standing Order,apply in preference:Generally: references to “laid on the table”shall be read as “circulated electronically inadvance”.New Standing Order 8 - Assembly Hub:All Commissioners, Members ex officiis,

Corresponding Members, Delegates,Visitors (if any) and Youth Representativesshall require to use the Assembly Hubsoftware application (the “Assembly Hub”)to participate in the General Assembly. Allsuch persons shall be supplied in advancewith login details to the Assembly Hub andtraining on its use shall be made available.In particular, the Assembly Hub shall beused throughout the General Assembly todo the following:• to follow the business of the General

Assembly, read sections of deliveranceand vote on them;

• to submit notices of motion (to amendan existing section of deliverance, topropose a counter-motion to anexisting section of deliverance, or topropose a new motion);

• to second a notice of motion; and• to indicate a request to speak (ask a

question, make a comment or raise apoint of order).

Amendments to specific StandingOrders:Standing Order 5: No hard copy of thevolume of Assembly Reports, Proposeddeliverances or Assembly Papers shall besupplied; these documents will be suppliedelectronically.Standing Order 15: The Order of Businessshall be prepared and circulatedelectronically in advance.Standing Order 20: No material shall becirculated through boxes.Standing Order 25: No Panel of Tellersshall be appointed.Standing Order 26: The list of Acts ofAssembly shall be circulated electronicallyin advance.Standing Orders 45 & 46: Any person whois entitled to do so and who wishes to ask aquestion or to make a comment on aReport is encouraged to give advancenotice of their intention by entering a



“request to speak” on the Assembly Hubagainst the relevant section(s) ofdeliverance.Standing Order 87: Video recordings of allConveners’ speeches shall be uploaded tothe Church’s website at least one weekbefore the opening day of the GeneralAssembly and shall be available to bewatched there, with all Assemblyattendees encouraged to watch speechesin advance of that Standing Committee’sbusiness slot at the Assembly. Therecordings of Conveners’ speeches will notbe replayed during business sessions of theAssembly. On rising to present the Reportof his or her Standing Committee, aConvener shall state that his or her speechis available to view on the Church’swebsite, shall present a short summary ofkey points from his or her Committee’sReport lasting a maximum of two minutesand shall then state that he or she presentsthe Report and moves the deliverance as awhole, (or, if he or she is not aCommissioner, he or she shall ask thePrincipal Clerk to move the deliverance)with any debate then following.Standing Order 89: Commissioners,Members and Youth Representatives areencouraged to register a notice of motionin advance in the Assembly Hub against asection of deliverance and in any eventbefore the start of the relevant StandingCommittee’s business slot, i.e. beforedebate on the relevant Report starts. Foreach Standing Committee’s business slot,after the Convener has presented theReport and moved the deliverance, andafter questions for elucidation have beentaken, the Moderator shall state, as at thattime, which sections of deliverance havenot had any notice of motion or request tospeak registered against them in terms ofthis Standing Order or Standing Orders 45& 46. The Moderator shall then allow ashort period for any final request to speakto be registered. After that period, theModerator shall confirm in respect ofwhich sections of deliverance there has

been no notice of motion or request tospeak registered and shall confirm thatsuch sections of deliverance have beenagreed to by the Assembly without furtherprocedure. Next the Moderator shallconfirm that where a request to speak ornotice of motion has been registeredagainst a section of deliverance, there shallbe an opportunity for debate in the usualmanner until that section of deliverance isagreed and shall state to which sections ofdeliverance this applies. Debate shall thenproceed in the usual manner according toStanding Orders.Standing Order 95(i): Conveners’ speechesshall be limited to 10 minutes in duration.Standing Order 105: The vote on eachsection of deliverance which is debatedshall be taken and conclusively determinedby using the voting mechanism in theAssembly Hub. The result of the vote shallbe displayed on the livestream andannounced in each case by the Moderator.It shall be at the Moderator’s discretion ineach case to request whether the actualvoting figures are minuted. In the event ofa failure in the technology operating theAssembly Hub, the Assembly shall voteusing Zoom Polls or shall use such othervoting mechanism as may be prescribed atthe time by the Procedure Committee. Inno circumstances shall a second vote betaken on a matter which has already beenthe subject of a vote by electronic voting.Standing Orders 106 - 110: A dissent shallbe entered or adhered to by sending anemail to:[email protected] withthe subject line stating “Dissent against….[insert name of Standing Committee andnumber of relevant section of deliverance].To be recorded in the minute, any suchemail must be received by the Clerks by thetime of close of the last session of theAssembly.


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general assembly 2021 - church of scotland

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