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General Assembly 2008: New powers for the local church?

General Assembly to be asked to consider radical reform of presbyteries

Greater financial powers for congregations, and greater regional autonomy, are the key recommendations of a highly authoritative Special Commission reporting to this year's General Assembly (15 - 21 May).

Two years ago the Assembly established the Special Commission on Structure and Change under the convenership of the Court of Session judge, Lord Brodie. Its task was to scrutinise recent administrative reforms in the Church of Scotland and assess whether there was too much centralisation, or any loss of influence by local Churches and (regional) Presbyteries. The Commission's report strongly supports the recent reforms, which has improved co-ordination and enabled a more efficient use of the Church's resources, and urges that the current structures should be given some more time to bed down.

However, the Commission has addressed some of the underlying concerns which gave rise to its remit, and its recommendations include three far-reaching suggestions which, if adopted by the Church, would produce profound change.

1. The Commission shares the view, expressed in the Church without Walls Report of 2001, that reform in the central administration of the Church has to be matched by a far-reaching reform of Presbyteries. Presbyteries are currently very varied in size and many have very little specialist staffing. A thorough re-structuring of Presbyteries would enable them to be much more empowered to drive the work of the Church in their local areas, with less reliance on central agencies.

2. The Commission sympathises with the frustrations of congregations (of all sizes and incomes) who feel there is little incentive for improved stewardship when the system of allocations removes such a high proportion of ordinary congregational income. Most of the allocation income is used to fund ministry within the 'giving' congregation and others across the country, with less than a sixth used for other national purposes; but many congregations have local initiatives they would like to be able to fund separately. The Commission is asking for plans to be drawn up to allow these sorts of initiatives to be enabled where there is entirely new, fresh income, and after the routine budget-needs of the whole Church have been met in the usual way.

3. The Special Commission heard some of the current debate about the Church's legal responsibility to provide its ministry throughout the whole territory of Scotland (a responsibility contained in the Church's own constitution). In a changing Scotland and a more secular age, questions have been raised about how the Church preaches the Gospel everywhere, but still exercises the best and most effective targeting of resources where they can do most good. The Commission is calling for a formal debate of these very deeply-felt arguments over the coming years.

Ends

Notes to Editors

A full copy of the report is available on our General Assembly pages online here.

GANR/13/04/08

Tuesday 15 April 2008

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