The Assembly Trustees
The constitution and remit of the Assembly Trustees was amended and agreed by the General Assembly in May 2019 and then further amended by the General Assembly in May 2022 and May 2023.
The constituent committees and groups of the Office of the Assembly Trustees include the Central Services Committee, Trustees' Governance Group, Finance Group, Seeds for Growth Committee, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Group and any ad hoc groups created by the Trustees. The Audit Committee advises and assists the Assembly Trustees in the oversight of financial reporting, systems of internal control and risk management.
Central Services Committee
The Central Services Committee is a constituent committee of the Assembly Trustees, reporting to the General Assembly through the Trustees. The Central Services Committee oversees the delivery of central services to departments within the Church Offices, to the Standing Committees of the General Assembly and, where appropriate, to the statutory corporations, presbyteries and congregations of the Church.
The Committee acts as one of the employing agencies of the Church and oversees all aspects of staff appointments and staff terms and conditions of service. It is also responsible for negotiating with the Employee Council Committee and bringing forward to the Assembly Trustees recommendations in respect of staff remuneration.
The Committee comprises the Convener, Vice-Convener and Administrative Trustee of the Assembly Trustees and two other Assembly Trustees. Meetings are attended by the Chief Officer, the Solicitor and the Head of HR. Budgetary and financial advice is given by the General Treasurer or a staff team member of the Stewardship and Finance Department.
The Trustees
There are twelve appointed Trustees except in time of vacancy. In addition to appointed Trustees, the Convener of the Assembly Business Committee of the General Assembly shall be a Trustee by virtue of office. The Church of Scotland General Trustees shall appoint one of their members as a representative who shall be entitled to attend all meetings as a corresponding member but without a right to vote or make a motion, such member being eligible to serve for a maximum period of three years.
Rev David Cameron
ConvenerMinister of New Laigh Kirk, Kilmarnock who brings both parish ministry experience and an understanding of the challenges facing the National Church as Trustee and Convener of a number General Assembly, Presbytery Committees and Local Community Organisations.
Ann Nelson
Administrative TrusteeAnn is retired from life as a lawyer and in public service. After 40 years in Davidson's Mains in many roles including elder, home is now Minnigaff and church is Penninghame St John’s, Newton Stewart.
Rev Barry Hughes
Barry is the Minister at St Mark’s Raploch, a Priority Area parish in Stirling. He was previously an Ordained Local Minister in Peebles, and worked for 25 years in the financial services industry. He also has extensive experience in the voluntary sector, principally with Scouts Scotland.
David Harrison
Vice ConvenerMember at Garelochhead, Deputy Chairman of Loganair with significant experience as a Finance Director, Chief Executive and Executive Chairman.
Geoff Miller
Geoff is a member at Burntisland Parish Church and has been involved in various Churches over many years as Elder, Session Clerk, Treasurer, Resources Convener and other leadership roles. He has been involved in restructuring Church management and in local Church partnership working. Geoff recently retired as Group Finance Director of an employee-owned international manufacturing Group and is currently its Non-executive Chairman.
Ian Forrester KC LLD
Ian, elder in St Andrew’s, Brussels, trained as a lawyer in Scotland, New York, and Brussels. He practised as a KC in European law cases for many years until being nominated to be the UK judge on the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg, hearing appeals against EU acts. He has returned to the Bar as a practitioner after his mandate was ended by Brexit in 2020.
Jean Couper CBE
Member at Cathcart Trinity Church, Glasgow, and previously an Elder at Orchardhill Parish Church, management consultant specialising in strategic HR, with board experience of numerous public, private and third sector organisations.
Jennifer MacDonald
Jennifer is a member at Tillicoultry Parish Church, is employed as an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion project manager and mentors young people in their career paths.
Miranda Heggie
Miranda is a member of St Giles cathedral, Edinburgh, and has served on various committees there including the Nominating Committee and the Neighbourhood Group. Prior to returning to Edinburgh in 2022, Miranda spent four years in Birmingham where she was an active worshipper with her local Church of England church and a member of its Parochial Church Council.
Rev Norman Smith
Norman is Clerk to Lothian and Borders Presbytery. Previously minister of Granton Parish Church, Edinburgh; Convener of the Mission and Discipleship Council and New Charge Development as well as a former director of Fresh Expressions UK, Norman brings significant experience of developing mission at all levels of the church.
Philip Ziegler
Professor of Christian Dogmatics at the University of Aberdeen and associated with the Session of the Cathedral Church of St Machar's, Phil has many years' experience in ecumenical and theological education for ministry in the Kirk and before that in the United Church of Canada.
Assembly Trustee updates
- February 2024
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- June - July 2023
- April and May 2023
- February and March 2023
Webinar Wednesday 10 May 2023: Assembly Trustees Report to the General Assembly
As part of the run up to the General Assembly, the Assembly Trustees hosted a webinar to present an overview of the Assembly Trustees Report and to explore the challenges and opportunities facing the Church over the forthcoming months. A copy of the wording used in the presentations from David Cameron, Convener of the Assembly Trustees and Dave Kendall, Chief Officer is provided below. Please refer to the General Assembly 2023 webpages for more information.
- Presentation by Rev David Cameron, Convener of the Assembly Trustees
- Presentation by Dave Kendall, Chief Officer