Information for GA 2023 Commissioners

Assembly Hall And Dk Speech

These notes providing information and advice for Commissioners, Delegates and other GA participants will be updated regularly as we prepare for General Assembly 2023.

Reports

Individual reports to be presented at this year's General Assembly are now available on our Reports and Additional Documents page. The full Volume of Reports and the Proposed Deliverances are available on our Publications page.

Presbytery Commissions

Details of Commissioners were due from Presbyteries by 31 January. Commissioners may participate in Assembly either in person or online. There are no restrictions on numbers engaging in either form.

In sending details of their Commissioners to the Office of General Assembly (OGA), Presbyteries should ensure that the following information is included:

  • If a Commissioner is attending in person or online (see below as to any changes)
  • If a Commissioner has been nominated to be a member of the Commission of Assembly
  • If a Commissioner would be willing to be considered as a Communion Assistant (elder only)
  • If a person has mobility/access requirements
  • If a Commissioner is attending for the first time
  • Any other specific requirements to enable participation in the Assembly.

Hybrid meeting of the General Assembly

As agreed at GA 2022, Assembly Business Committee and Legal Questions Committee have reviewed the arrangements for a hybrid meeting of the GA. Participants may choose to be in person in the Assembly Hall or online. There are no restrictions to the numbers participating in either way. Participants will not be able to change the way in which they engage in GA after Friday 28 March save that an in-person Commissioner who becomes ill may notify the OGA that they wish to switch to be an online participant.

Communion arrangements

Holy Communion will be celebrated on Monday 22 May at 9.15am. Those engaging in General Assembly online are invited to have communion elements with them and share in this.

Commissioner expenses

Expenses rates for those participating in the Assembly Hall at the 2023 General Assembly will be up to £75 per night for accommodation and up to £15 a day for out-of-pocket expenses. When Commissioners are staying with family or friends a total allowance of up to £80 may be claimed towards a token gift for hosts. Attendance at 13 of the 17 sessions will be required for any expenses to be authorised.

GA accommodation, travel and out-of-pocket expenses are usually claimed following the GA, but where accommodation expenses have been paid in full earlier in the year, these can be reimbursed early on production of receipts forwarded to Alan Ritchie at the Finance Dept. If accommodation is shared among two or more attendees, please indicate the name and numbers of those sharing when claiming; or if another is claiming your accommodation, include their name and Commissioner number.

The Assembly Hub

All Commissioners and other GA participants will have access to the Assembly Hub. While the Hub may be useful to participants in the Hall, in person Commissioners are not obliged to use it. Online Commissioners do need to use the Hub. User name and password will be allocated, providing access to all information (including Zoom links) and facilities required by online commissioners. All information required by GA participants will be linked from the Hub.

The General Assembly on the Church of Scotland website and social media

Information about the GA is available on the Church's main website. News and information regarding the GA will be on the Church's various social media channels.

The GA proceedings will be publicly live-streamed, do publicise this to your congregations.