ASSEMBLY ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE MAY 2007 PROPOSED DELIVERANCE The General Assembly 1. Receive the Report. 2. Approve the Order of Business for the first three days (Order of Proceedings). 3. Appoint Mr Roy Pinkerton to edit the verbatim record (section 6). 4. Resolve that, with effect from 2008, the General Assembly shall meet on the third Thursday of May and authorise the Committee to determine the duration of next year’s General Assembly 5. Approve the amendment of Standing Order 32 anent Corresponding Members as detailed in the Report (section 7). SCOTTISH BIBLE SOCIETY 6. Recognise the Scottish Bible Society as a partner in meeting a fundamental need of the Church at home and overseas. 7. Commend the partnership in serving Priority Areas and use of the Bible Society's imaginative resources. 8. Encourage the Church's support of efforts to meet urgent requests for the Scriptures from people in particular need worldwide; 9. Appoint Rev Andrew F Anderson, Rev H Warner Hardie, Rev Dr Norman Maciver and Rev Andrew McGurk to the Scottish Bible Society's Council of Church Representatives. REPORT 1. The Very Rev Dr Alan McDonald Alan McDonald stands in a distinguished line of Church and Nation Committee Conveners who have been called to the moderatorial chair. A thinker and an activist in the arena where faith and citizenship, theology and politics interact, Alan came to the office with a good track record and an established public profile. A major public policy issue during his year concerned the replacement of the Trident missile system. Few within the Church are more informed on the issues than Alan McDonald and he provided strong, passionate and reasoned Christian leadership in articulating the General Assembly’s settled position that nuclear weapons are an abomination. Indeed, in an ecumenical “first” he and Cardinal O’Brien issued a joint New Year message on the subject. Another great passion of Alan’s is Christian Aid with which he has been much involved over the years. Visits to Christian Aid projects featured prominently in visits to Ghana and North India within full programmes of events arranged by partner churches in these countries. However, at heart, Alan is a parish minister, having served in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and, now, St Andrews, and underlying all that he does is an evident sense of calling and commitment to the life and work of the Church at parish level. This was particularly evident in presbytery visits to Lothian, Dunkeld and Meigle, Gordon and Dumbarton and in the regular round of preaching engagements as congregations marked special anniversaries and occasions. Throughout the year Alan has been supported, as ever, by his wife, Judith. She was able to take time out from her medical practice to accompany him through much of the year, a year made even more memorable by the birth of their first grandchild, Maisie who, most thoughtfully, arrived when her grandparents were within easy visiting distance. Gladly, we record our gratitude to Alan and Judith for all that they have given of themselves over this past year. 2. Presbytery Representation The Presbytery returns show that there are in all the Presbyteries XXXX Charges, whether vacant or not, and that there are XXX other ministers (excluding retired ministers) who are members of Presbyteries. Representation is calculated for each Presbytery in accordance with Act III, 2000, and the total number of Commissions is made up as follows: XXX Ministers, XXX Elders and XX Deacons. 3. Business Committee In terms of Standing Order 15 it is proposed that the Convener and Vice-Convener of the Assembly Arrangements Committee, respectively the Rev William C Hewitt and the Rev A David K Arnott, act as Convener and Vice-Convener of the Business Committee. The names of others nominated to serve on this Committee will be found in the Order of Proceedings. 4. Assembly Services The Assembly Service has been arranged in St Giles’ Cathedral on Sunday 20 May at 10 am with the Gaelic Service on the same day at 12.30 pm in Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Church. The Assembly Communion Service will be held on Monday 21 May at 9.30 am in the Assembly Hall. 5. Assembly Arrangements The Committee keeps Assembly Arrangements under constant review and has engaged with the various Councils and Committees over the past year on options for presentation of their reports, eg conference sessions, PowerPoint, video etc. In these discussions the Committee is clear that its role is to arrange and not manage the business of the Assembly and that it is for individual Councils and Committees to take the initiative. The Committee is also clear that the development of different styles of presentation must be consistent with clear reporting and accountability to the Assembly with adequate opportunity for questions and debate. One area which has developed over recent years has been the “Assembly Fringe” which comprises a variety of events, many held at lunchtime. These include book launches and presentations on different issues and provide opportunities for commissioners to meet together less formally and free of the pressure of regular business. In recognition of the value of such gatherings the Committee has again timetabled the Assembly on the basis of a 90 minute lunch break from 12.30 to 2 pm on Monday to Thursday. As in previous years the possibility remains of business being completed by lunchtime on Friday, though Friday afternoon remains available should the timetable slip earlier in the week. 6. General Assembly Dates Over the past year the Committee has given thought to the pattern whereby the General Assembly meets from a Saturday until the following Friday. This pattern was introduced in 1978 and replaced an arrangement under which the Assembly opened on a Tuesday and closed the following Wednesday. Not only was the new plan intended to be more economical of time and cost, it was also designed to make it easier for elders in employment to attend. The thought was that people would find it simpler to take a whole week off work than to take days from two working weeks. It is a matter of debate as to whether this purpose has been achieved. However, one difficulty which has persistently dogged the current arrangement is that many commissioners do not appear until the Monday, when they feel the real business begins. The Committee acknowledges this and has come to the view that the General Assembly should revert to a midweek to midweek pattern. A survey was undertaken of elders who attended last year’s General Assembly and this indicated that all but one of those who responded would have been just as able to attend midweek to midweek. (An analysis of the responses can be found at Appendix B). The Committee also noted that reports to last year’s General Assembly, the first following the re-structuring, were both fewer in number and shorter than usual. It remains to be seen whether this pattern will continue, but the question has been raised as to whether it might be possible to reduce the Assembly by a day. The Committee seeks powers to take that decision in light of the experience of this year’s Assembly. The Committee, therefore, recommends that, with effect from 2008, the General Assembly should open on a Thursday and conclude the following Tuesday or Wednesday. The outline timetable might be as follows: Thursday morning: Formal Opening followed by business Thursday afternoon: Business Thursday evening: Social and fringe events Friday morning: Holy Communion followed by business Friday afternoon: Business Friday evening: Reception of Delegates and Visitors/Address by retiring Moderator Saturday morning: Business Saturday afternoon: Garden Party Saturday evening: Business (if required) Sunday morning: Assembly Service Assembly Gaelic Service Sunday afternoon: Celebration Event in the Assembly Hall Monday morning: Business Monday afternoon: Business Monday evening: Social and fringe events Tuesday morning: Business Tuesday afternoon: Formal closing of the Assembly (If judged prudent in light of this year’s timings the Assembly could continue until Wednesday, with business on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning and the closing session on Wednesday afternoon.) The present pattern is that the Assembly meets on the third Saturday of May. The Committee suggests that the new pattern should be to begin on the third Thursday of May. 7. Corresponding Members Following the restructuring the Committee recommends that the Safeguarding Committee be added to bodies listed in Standing Order 32(a) which appoint corresponding members to the General Assembly. The work of this Committee was previously reported on by a Joint Boards Group with the former Board of Parish Education as the lead Board. 8. Assembly Hall The Church continues its partnership with Edinburgh First, the accommodation and conference agency of the University of Edinburgh, in the letting of the Assembly Hall. Following the great success of the Festival Fringe let to ‘Assembly Theatre’ in 2005, a similar arrangement was made in 2006 under the name ‘Assembly @ Assembly Hall’, and again it constituted by far the single largest let of the Hall during the year. Over the last year Edinburgh First has developed the marketing of the Hall to emphasise its suitability for events of many sizes.  Though seating up to 1300 delegates, the Hall can be creatively set up and lit so that it provides a more intimate and flexible space for much smaller numbers.  By reflecting this potential in marketing literature, Edinburgh First has managed to diversify the use of the Hall, and hopes that in time this will help to expand the business further. In 2006 the direct costs of letting the hall were more than covered by letting income and produced a small contribution to the running costs (roof repairs, insurance, depreciation, general repairs, etc) which are met by the Church with grant assistance for major work from Historic Scotland. 9. Commissioners’ Subsistence and Travelling Expenses The Board recommends the following rates for payment of expenses: Overnight subsistence Not exceeding £40.00 for each night Daily out-of-pocket Expenses: Not exceeding £15.00 per day Mileage rate, when no public transport is available 25p per mile In the name of the Committee WILLIAM C HEWITT, Convener A DAVID K ARNOTT, Vice- Convener FINLAY A J MACDONALD, Secretary APPENDIX A REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH BIBLE SOCIETY Paul was more dependent than the casual stereotype might suggest – on his companions and local congregations he helped to establish, for instance. They co-operated with him in practical ministry; they supported him while imprisoned. He expressed his appreciation of their ‘partnership in the gospel’ (Phil. 1: 5, NIV). ‘Excellent example’ One growing stimulus of Church/Bible Society partnership is Bibleworld SBS Studios, our travelling classroom. Presbyteries, individual congregations and local church groupings from Ross-shire to the Solway have already harnessed its unique potential. “An excellent example of schools and churches working together (in Bridge of Don) … using state-of-the-art technology” was one primary headteacher’s verdict for the Press & Journal after a two-week joint venture last May (assisted by Aberdeen City Council and launched by its Lord Provost). In UNLOCK Glasgow the relationship is different, with the Bible Society providing partial funding for this project in Priority Areas. (Interestingly, Bibleworld SBS Studios had a successful week in Maryhill during February.) In contrast, Edinburgh Greenside was the location (in March) of the first Bible Encounter Week, a new initiative aimed at making the Bible heard and relevant in local communities. Gap – and knack On behalf of the Church in Scotland, the Bible Society continues to provide specialised support to Churches elsewhere. In Romania, for example, Scottish donations – backed up by a visiting team last October – are helping our Bucharest colleagues fill the spiritual gap in children’s centres, homes for the elderly and remote communities (in the Danube Delta, scene of Europe’s first bird flu outbreak, one village had just a single Bible … used in church by the parish priest). As I discovered for myself recently, Scotland’s long-standing involvement with China now aids the flow of paper to the Amity Press that, in turn, produces 60,000 Bibles per week. Life and Work reminded us in February that Christians there have an uncanny knack of living out the message! During 2006 the Bible Society developed fresh partnerships to better address crisis situations. In Malawi we teamed up with World Vision, the Salvation Army, Child Support Project and World Exchange to enable Scriptures to reach drought victims along with HIV/AIDS sufferers, carers and orphans. Donations via the World Day of Prayer are making a difference to similarly vulnerable people in South Africa (and will do so again this year in Paraguay). Another dimension Last July, Beirut accepted a wave of ‘refugees’ from southern Lebanon as Israel battled with Hezbollah. The Bible Society started delivering relief packs around the capital – and, as Christians here responded, the cease-fire allowed our colleagues to reach those marooned in their villages, or returning to shattered homes. The packs included [literally!] light, warmth, medication – and Scriptures, to touch another dimension of life. I must pay tribute to my predecessor, Doug Campbell, for his enormous energy and imagination during 5½ years of leadership. And, in acknowledging the invaluable role of our volunteers at all levels, we give thanks for the late Rev John McCallum of Noth, who embodied partnership between Church and Bible Society locally, regionally and nationally. ELAINE M DUNCAN, Chief Executive APPENDIX B ANALYSIS OF RESPONSES FROM ELDER COMMISSIONERS CONSULTATION OF ELDER COMMISSIONERS TO 2006 GENERAL ASSEMBLY Tick list circulated to 383 elders I did not require to take leave from employment to attend the General Assembly I did require to take leave from employment to attend the General Assembly I would have been able to attend on a Thursday to Tuesday pattern A Thursday to Tuesday pattern would have prevented my attendance If attending on a future occasion, I would prefer a Thursday to Tuesday pattern If attending on a future occasion, I would prefer a Saturday to Friday pattern 383 elders canvassed 280 elders replied – though not all answered all options 105 did not respond at all 233/280 did not require to take leave to attend 2006 Assembly 34/280 did require to take leave 239/280 could have attended Thursday – Tuesday 1/280 would have been prevented from attending 1/280 indicated would have found it difficult 147/280 would prefer Thursday – Tuesday if attending in future 71/280 would prefer Saturday – Friday if attending in future 53/280 indicated that they would not mind either option