Meeting in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, approximately 1,000 ministers and elders from the Church’s 500-plus congregations across Ireland will meet together for worship, prayer, celebration and discussion.
This year’s Assembly takes on a new look having introduced a number of significant changes to the times that it meets and its membership. Today will be first to have business take place into the evening, which it is hoped will enable more people to attend.
Also for the first time churches have been able to send an additional member of their congregation, aged 30 or under, to sit and deliberate. It is hoped that this will enable younger voices to be heard during the Assembly’s deliberations. This evening’s business will close at 9pm following the Report of the Linkage Commission.
In his address last night Dr. McMullen unveiled his theme for the year ‘Building Relationships’, saying that he was “simply overwhelmed to have been called to the moderatorial chair.” He also described how the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has been for him “a sacred place of unnumbered blessings.”
Talking of the Church, the Omagh born minister said, “My limited horizons have been expanded by those who are full of evangelical zeal and fervour; those who stretch minds as they illuminate theological truth, or speak courageously in the public square; those willing to venture beyond their comfort zones to reach out in a deeply divided society; those who have a strong social conscience and endless capacity for others…”
In developing his theme for the year, Dr. McMullen said that it came with a strapline that he took from 2 Corinthians 5:15, ‘For Christ’s love compels us’. Written by the apostle Paul, the Moderator said that the Paul proclaims “what should be the motivation for everything we are, think, say and do: the all-consuming, all-constraining, all-compelling, all-commanding love of Jesus Christ.”
Reception of delegates
Following the first four items of today’s business - reports from the General Assembly Business Committee and the Church’s 19 presbyteries, Trustees and General Council - the Moderator will receive the delegates from both local and overseas denominations. Many guests have travelled thousands of miles to attend, including delegates coming from as far South Sudan, Malawi, Kenya, India, Zambia, and Pakistan. Rt. Rev. John Gondwe, Moderator of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Synod of Livingstonia, will speak on behalf of his colleagues.
Local representatives will also be received by Dr. McMullen. These will include guests from the Church of Ireland, the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Religious Society for Friends and the Irish Council of Churches. The Church of Scotland delegation will be led by its recently installed Moderator, Rt. Rev. Susan Brown, who will also address the Assembly.
Following the reception of delegates the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated, which is also open to members of the public – the first of a number of public acts of worship that will take place throughout the week.
Public square
A large portion of the afternoon’s discussions will focus on issues in the public square. With Northern Ireland still having no functioning executive, the General Assembly will be asked to express its ‘deep concern and frustration about the prolonged absence of an executive, the resulting stagnation in public policy and the effects on the most vulnerable in society’. It will also be asked to repeat its call for all involved in the political process to find a resolution that establishes good and stable government based on good working relationships.
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Euthanasia and assisted suicide will also be discussed, with a substantial paper being brought forward for consideration. Although both are currently illegal in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, a number of high profile ‘right to die’ cases in recent years have reignited debate about end of life issues, including whether doctors should be permitted to assist a patient commit suicide.
Members of Assembly will be asked to ‘strongly oppose any legislation which allows assisted suicide and/or euthanasia’. Members of Assembly will also be asked to ‘strongly commend palliative care, calling on the governments in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to ensure the adequate resourcing of both research and delivery in this important area’.
Education also features with resolutions on the important role Religious Education has to play in the spiritual, moral and intellectual development of children. The General Assembly will also be asked to note its concern over ‘the low morale and sense of disillusionment amongst governors, principals and teachers’, caused by the financial situation in schools and the uncertainty for the future of education in Northern Ireland. Members of Assembly will be asked to ‘call upon politicians to set aside their differences to enable an Executive to be formed, to provide the clarity so urgently needed on an agreed way forward for the education system in the province’.
People Matter to God
The Council for Social Witness will present the first ‘alternative presentation’ to the Assembly entitled ‘People Matter to God’. The first of two such presentations, it is designed to give particular insight into the work of the Church in different areas of its social ministry. The Council is responsible for delivering an effective Social Witness service on behalf of the Church and to the wider community in partnership with appropriate organisations.
The Alternative Presentation will feature a ‘news reporter’, writer and broadcaster Ruth Sanderson, who will present a report on the Council’s work from behind a news desk.
Featuring video clips from both the ‘news studio’ and outside venues, the report will highlight Domestic Abuse and Domestic Violence, with an ‘expert panel’ on hand to answer questions on social care issues from the Assembly floor. Members of the panel will include the Council for Social Witness’s Residential and Supported Services Manager, Linda Wray, and the Health and Social Care Board’s Regional Adult Safeguarding Officer, Joyce McKee.
The day’s business will conclude at 9pm, following a Report from the Linkage Commission, which acts on behalf of the General Assembly in allocating ordained ministry and related financial resources to congregations.
The report details the congregations, over 40, that were granted Leave to Call a new minister, 3 new linkages between congregations that were agreed the terms of the amalgamation of two congregations agreed at last year’s General Assembly.
Details of each day’s business of the 2018 General Assembly can be found at www.presbyterianireland.org/GA18. Resolutions and reports before the General Assembly can be found in the 2018 Blue Book here.
Most of the public sessions will be streamed live via this website. All public session proceedings can also be followed via live Twitter feed @pciassembly using the hashtag #PCIGA18.