Boards and Agencies of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

The General Board

Convener: Dr Donald Watts

The General Board is the most widely representative body under the Assembly, with over 160 members. This includes Assembly Conveners and Presbytery Clerks. This Board deals with both routine and exceptional matters that fall between meetings of the General Assembly; and may issue public statements on behalf of the Church. It may also deal with matters that concern two or more Boards, or matters that do not fall within the boundaries of a particular Board's work. It can call ministers to work as chaplains in hospitals, prisons and the Armed Forces and assesses the suitability of all appointments outside the Church's jurisdiction to which a minister may be called by some other Board.

The work of the General Board is shared by seven committees:

Church and Society Committee Conveners: Rev. Dr. Lesley Carroll; Rev. Alan Boal

Church Relations Committee Convener: Rev. Allen Sleith

Doctrine Committee Convener: Prof. Patton Taylor, Principal of Union College

Priorities Committee Convener: Rev. Dr. Donald Watts

Moderator's Advisory Committee Convener: Rev. Dr. Donald Watts

Recognised Ministries Committee Convener: Rev. Dr. Donald Watts

Global Concerns Committee Convener: Rev. Charles McMullen
This committee overseas the work of three panels: Peace and Peacemaking, Environment and Race Relations.

Reception of Ministers and Licentiates Committee Convener: Rev. Ivan Patterson