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Assembly Arrangements
This Committee plans and
budgets for General Assembly
Committee Members
Convener: Revd D Alasdair Pratt Secretary: Mr Hilary Gunn
Moderator, Moderator-elect, General Secretary, Clerk to Assembly,
Convener of Local Arrangements Committee for the relevant year
1 Assembly
2002
1.1 In view of the union
with the Congregational Union of Scotland, it seems right to hold a
meeting of General Assembly in Scotland at an early date. The committee,
therefore, brings a resolution that this be at the University of St
Andrews from Thursday, 4th July to Monday, 8th July 2002. In view of the
time and distance involved, it is proposed that this Assembly begins on
the Thursday evening, with a free session built into the programme on the
second or third full day. (Resolution 16)
2 Future
patterns of Assembly
2.1 The committee is grateful to those synods, district councils, Assembly committees and others who responded to our initial requests for views on possible changes to the way Assembly conducts its business. A variety of interesting comments were received but although last year the hope was ex-pressed of bringing a full report to this Assembly, more time is needed for consideration of these comments and for further consultation.
2.2 We do, however, bring
one recommendation that can be introduced immediately and which comes in
response to suggestions from many parts of the church. This concerns the
way committees report to Assembly.
2.3 Under the present
system many committees feel themselves to be restricted by pressures of
time. There is only the autumn in which to follow up on the previous
Assembly and to initiate new work before they have to prepare their report
to the following Assembly. Because of this, and because there is a widely
held view that Assembly attempts to do too much, there is strong support
for the idea that most committees should report only in alternate years.
2.4 The advantages of a
two-year reporting programme are that it would:
a) allow more time to
consider issues, develop ideas and work out programmes;
b) remove the expectation
that committees will produce ‘new business’ every year;
c) reduce the pressure on
other councils and local churches to respond in what is often, at present,
a very tight time-span;
d) allow more time for
debating issues when presenting at Assembly; e) provide opportunity for
greater consultation with and involvement in business by synods and
districts.
2.5 For legal and
administrative reasons a few committees would continue to report annually.
These are: Assembly Arrangements, Finance, Ministries (necessary
administrative matters), Mission Council and Nominations. The Moderators
will also continue to report annually. (Resolutions 17 and 18)
3 Synod Reports
3.1 After consultation with
synod clerks, the General Secretary has arranged a programme whereby
normally only a third of the synods report to Assembly each year.
4 Other
issues
4.1 Assembly works best
when it is not only receiving reports and making decisions, but is a forum
engaging in debate with incisive questioning. Members of Assembly
appreciate it when a wide variety of opinions are expressed. The committee
particularly encourages participation by those who are present for the
first time, as well as those who have been before and speak regularly.
However, concern has been expressed that a few representatives speak too
frequently without always contributing significant arguments that take the
debate forward. It is hoped that no-one who has thoughtful contributions
to offer is deterred or prevented from speaking.
Resolution 16 General
Assembly 2002
General Assembly agrees
that General Assembly in 2002 will meet at the University of St Andrews
from 4th – 8th July.
Resolution 17 Future
Patterns of General Assembly
General Assembly agrees that from 2001
committees will report in alternate years, except where for legal or
administrative reasons annual reports are required, namely Assembly
Arrangements, Finance, Ministries, Mission Council and Nominations.
Resolution 18 Rules of
Procedure
General Assembly agrees to
make the following change to the Rules of Procedure for the conduct of the
United Reformed Church.
In the last line of paragraph 2(3) delete ‘annually’ and add at the end: ‘as and when the Assembly shall direct’.
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