Assembly Trustees Update June 2022

  • The trustees met on 9 June with new Convener Rev David Cameron in the chair
  • With the convener of the Assembly Business Committee and the Principal Clerk, the trustees considered the Deliverances from General Assembly. They received an update on Presbytery Reform from the Principal Clerk and paid tribute to him on his penultimate day in the office before retiring
  • Vice Convener David Harrison outlined the role of the Trustees' Finance Group which now had a permanent status. The Trustees noted the Management Accounts to 30 April and the additional risk of inflationary pressures. The contributions from congregations so far in the year were comparable to 2021.
  • PMPIG (FNF's Presbytery Mission Planning Implementation Group) is meeting with the General Treasurer and the Chief Officer to discuss the tie in with Giving to Grow. The Faith Nurture Forum would be convening monthly to approve plans.
  • The Trustees noted the strength of feeling at the Assembly about ministers' welfare, specifically around rising manse energy costs at manses as articulated in a section of the Deliverance. They noted that congregations' responsibility to look after manses, and the issue of improving manses, was different from the immediate problem of energy costs. The deliverance was remitted to the Finance Group which was to meet later in June.
  • The Trustees noted that the hybrid working trial for staff within the CSC would continue for 6 months
  • The Trustees noted the recent award of Funds through the Small Grants Fund. The Pioneer Mission Fund was launched in April. Congregations can donate into this Fund and expressions of interest have been received both in terms of donations and applications.
  • The Trustees continued to consider a Strategic Framework and noted that an updated Operational/Business Plan would be coming soon
  • The Trustees agreed that online would continue to be the main way of holding Trustee meetings with occasional ‘on site' meetings
  • The next meeting of the trustees will be on 11 August.