ASSEMBLY

DAY 1 – SATURDAY 19 MAY – 9.30AM

SESSION 1

Opening of the General Assembly

1 Constitution of Assembly.

2 Roll of Commissioners laid on the table.

3 Election of Moderator and Prayer of Consecration.

4 Commission to the High Commissioner to be read, and order given for recording it

5 Her Majesty’s Letter to be read and order given for recording it.

6 Address by the High Commissioner and Reply by the Moderator.

7 Address by Retiring Moderator

8 Appointment of Committee to prepare Answer to Her Majesty’s Gracious Letter.

9 Report of Standing Committee on Commissions.

10 Submission of Standing Orders.

11 Appointment of Committee for arranging Order of Business.

12 Appointment of Panel of Tellers.

13 Appointment of Committee to prepare Minute on Deceased Ministers, Missionaries and Deacons.

14 Intimation of arrangements for celebration of Holy Communion on Monday 21 May, at 9.15am

Circulation Break

SESSION 2

1 Presentation of Delegates and Visitors.

2 Report of the Assembly Arrangements Committee.

3 Report of the Scottish Bible Society and

Presentation of Bible to Moderator.

4 Report of the Delegation of the General Assembly.

5 Minutes of the Appeal Hearing before the Judicial Commission

6 Minutes of the Ministries Appeal Panel

7 Report of the Committee on Overtures and Cases.

8 Report of the Committee on Classifying Returns to Overtures.

Lunch

SESSION 3

1 Report of the Legal Questions Committee.

2 Joint Report of the Ministries Council and the Legal Questions Committee.

Circulation Break

SESSION 4

1 Report of the Council of Assembly – except Strategic Plan and National Office Building

2 Joint Report of the Council of Assembly, the Legal Questions Committee, the Mission and Discipleship Council on the resourcing of Local Church Review.

DAY 2 – SUNDAY 20 MAY

10.00 am – Assembly Service (St Giles’).

12.30 pm – Gaelic Service (Greyfriars’ Kirk).

1.00 pm – 6.00 pm – ‘Heart and Soul 2018’ Princes Street Gardens.

DAY 3 – MONDAY 21 MAY – 9.15AM

SESSION 5

HOLY COMMUNION

Circulation Break

SESSION 6

1 Constitution of Assembly.

2 Report of the Business Committee.

3 Reply to the Queen’s Letter

4 Report of the World Mission Council

5 World Mission Council – Special Report on Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Lunch

SESSION 7

1 Report of the Council of Assembly – Strategic Plan

Circulation Break

SESSION 8

2 Report of the Council of Assembly – National Offices

DAY 4 – TUESDAY 22 MAY – 9.15AM

SESSION 9

1 Constitution of Assembly.

2 Minutes.

3 Report of the Ministries Council

Circulation Break

SESSION 10

Ministries Council – contd

Lunch

SESSION 11

1 Report of the Ecumenical Relations Committee

Circulation Break

SESSION 12

1 Report of the Panel on Review and Reform

2 Report of the Safeguarding Committee

3 Report of the Iona Community Board.

4 Report of the Church of Scotland Guild.

DAY 5 – WEDNESDAY 23 MAY – 9.15AM

SESSION 13

1 Constitution of Assembly.

2 Minutes.

3 Report of the Church and Society Council – Part 1 Circulation Break

SESSION 14

Church and Society Council – Part 2

Lunch

SESSION 15

(Order of the Day 2pm – Stevenson Prize???) Church and Society Council – Part 3

Circulation Break

SESSION 16

1 Report of the General Trustees

DAY 6 – THURSDAY 24 MAY – 9.15AM

SESSION 17

1 Constitution of Assembly.

2 Minutes.

3 Report of the Committee on Chaplains to Her Majesty’s Forces.

Circulation Break

SESSION 18

1 Report of the Social Care Council

Lunch

SESSION 19

1 Report of the Theological Forum.

2 Overture – Presbytery of Melrose and Peebles on the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Circulation Break

SESSION 20

1 Report of the Church of Scotland Pension Trustees.

2 Report of the Housing and Loan Fund.

3 Report of the Church Hymnary Trustees.

4 Report of the Church of Scotland Trust.

5 Report of the Church of Scotland Investors Trust

DAY 7 – FRIDAY 26 MAY – 9.15AM

SESSION 21

1 Constitution of Assembly

2 Protestations called for.

3 Report on the Printing of Acts.

4 Draft Minutes of Sederunts not yet submitted to be read if required.

5 Report of the Nomination Committee.

6 Report of the Selection Committee.

7 Report of the Mission and Discipleship Council.

8 Report of the National Youth Assembly 2017.

Lunch

SESSION 22 – 3pm

1 Constitution of Assembly

2 Report anent Deceased Ministers,Missionaries and Deacons.

3 Appointment of Committee to revise Minutes.

4 Act Appointing Commission of Assembly.

5 Act Appointing diet of next General Assembly.

6 Presentations to the Moderator.

7 Moderator addresses the General Assembly.

8 The High Commissioner addresses the General Assembly.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

9 Dissolution of the General Assembly.

THE BENEDICTION

Fringe Diary

Saturday May 19 2018

Event: Council of Assembly

Place: Quaker Meeting House Hall, 2 Victoria Terrace

Time: 12.30pm-2pm

All are welcome to join the Council’s Fringe event hosted by the Stewardship and Finance Department. Learn more about how the Church’s Ministry and Mission is funded and some of the financial issues facing both the national and local Church. There will be a question and answer session and a sandwich lunch will be provided.

Please email your questions in advance to amacintosh@churchofscotland.org.uk

Monday May 21 2018

Event: World Mission Council

Place: St Columba’s by the Castle

Time: 12.30pm to 1.45pm

Across the world, partners are living out their calling to witness to their faith in very diff erent environments from our own, and often living alongside other faiths – in harmony, or uneasily, or in anxiety, or in fear. Our Christian partners have diff erent attitudes, forged from their own history, particular traditions, and experience, and these need to be considered as we engage with them as part of the world church. Come and hear the voices of some of our Assembly visitors as they share some their stories of how their churches seek to live and work in an interfaith context. Snack lunch provided.

Event: St Andrews University Alumni

Place: Quaker Meeting House Library, Victoria Terrace

Time: 12.30pm to 2pm

A sandwich lunch for all St Mary’s College (St Andrews University) alumni attending the General Assembly.

Event: Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees

Place: 1st Floor Hall, Quaker Meeting House

Time: 12.30-2pm

Hear from Wendy Young (Worship and Theology Partnerships, Christian Aid Scotland and Vice-Convener of the Church and Society Council) and get your copy of Wendy’s new paper Shoulder to Shoulder, a theological reflection on migration.

Meet David Bradwell, refugee co-ordinator, and find out about the work of Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees, the Church of Scotland-led partnership working with Scotland’s main Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Interfaith organisations.

Learn about With Refugees Scotland, a new network of congregations and faith based organisations working together to respond to refugee issues, and how you can get involved.

Event: SPILL THE BEANS: Bringing the Scriptures to life with the Spill the Beans Resource Team

Place: Riddell’s Court Library

Time: 12.30pm to 2pm

In 2018/19 the team behind the Spill The Beans worship and age group resources will be embarking on a journey through the Bible stories that are less well travelled by either the Revised Common Lectionary or Narrative Lectionary. Join us to meet members of the team and find out how Spill The Beans resources can enliven worship and lead you to explore the depth and breadth of the Scriptures. Lunch is provided.

Event: Walking Together with Young People

Place: General Assembly Hall

Time: 6pm to 7.30pm

During this General Assembly in the Year of Young People, there will be a special youth- led evening of Celebration and Inspiration.

Commissioners and others are welcome.

Tuesday May 22 2018

Event: Go For It and Priority Areas Present Narratives of Hope

Place: St Columba’s by the Castle

Time: 12.30pm

Come and be inspired by the stories of the work being done in Priority Areas parishes and projects that Go For It has funded while enjoying a buff et lunch. Through photographs, video and in conversation, you will find out about the work being done across Scotland by both of these initiatives, and how your congregation might be supported to make a diff erence. Lunch and refreshments provided.

Event: Trinity College Alumni and Candidates Lunch

Place: The Hub, Edinburgh Festival Centre, Castlehill

Time: 12.30pm to 2pm

Alumni and candidates are warmly invited to The Hub. Please email Beverley.Friend@glasgow.ac.uk to confirm.

Event: Towards a Building Strategy

Venue: Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Street, Edinburgh (1st floor hall)

Time: 12.30pm to 2pm, buff et - 12.30pm, presentation - 1pm

Information: Come and meet the General Trustees as they start to develop a strategy for church buildings. What are the key issues that need to be addressed? What should be the priorities? What should be the outcome? Your opportunity to see if you agree with the direction in which the Trustees propose to travel’

Event: Church Service Society AGM

Place: Greyfriars Kirk

Time: 5.30pm (Presidential address 6pm)

The Rev Scott McCarthy, Langholm Eskdalemuir Ewes and Westerkirk explores Langholm’s Hugh MacDiarmid’s damning verdict on the church ‘The core o’ ocht is only for the few’. Supper after: book with Secretary dgalbraith@churchofscotland.org.uk by May 18.

Event: Guild “Big Sing”

Place: General Assembly Hall

Time: 7pm

On the Tuesday evening of Assembly, the Guild will be hosting its latest “Big Sing at Assembly”.

This will be a great evening, rounding offthe 2015-18 strategy, “Be Bold! Be Strong!” and marking the end of the current three year project partnerships, with all six partners taking part.

An offering will be taken to support the work of our friends in the Synod of Livingstonia of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian. This will support work at the Louden Teacher Training College at Embangweni and a tailoring workshop being developed by the Umanyano, the Women’s Guild in Malawi.

Tickets are available from Guild Office in advance or can be placed in boxes if requested.

Wednesday May 23 2018

Event: It’s the Year of Young People but do we care?

Time: 12noon-2pm (Free Lunch)

Venue: St Columba’s-by-the-Castle

This event will be led by Professor Andrew Kendrick, University of Strathclyde, and CrossReach staff. A chance to explore together the questions:

• can we end child stigma and discrimination in Scotland?

• how can we learn from children and young people’s personal experiences of stigma and discrimination?

• how can we tackle stigma at individual, organisational, and societal level?

Event: Church of Scotland Housing and Loan Fund for Retired Ministers and Widows and Widowers of Ministers

Place: Senate Room, New College

Time: 12.45pm

Ministers and their spouses are very welcome to come along to a brief presentation detailing the assistance offered by the Housing and Loan Fund. Thereafter there will be an opportunity for questions, and also to make individual appointments to discuss personal situations with regard to retirement housing. Light refreshments will be provided.

Event: Place for Hope

Place: Quaker Meeting House

Time: 12.30pm to 2pm

Our churches and faith groups face change, encounter diff erence and experience conflict. In times of change or challenge, we know that practical support can help. We offer learning programmes, facilitated conversations and coaching to enable more open dialogue around important or challenging subjects.

Come and meet some of our team who will share their experiences of peacebuilding and reconciliation, exploring what Place for Hope continues to offer the church and community.

We gratefully acknowledge funding from Ministries Council which means that our core service can be offered without charge (at the point of delivery) to Church of Scotland ministers, congregations and presbyteries. Sandwich lunch provided.

Event: The Irish Gathering

Place: The Harry Younger Hall, 3 Lochend Close, Canongate

Time: 5.30pm for 6pm

Further details are from the Rev William McLaren WMclaren@churchofscotland.org.uk(tel. 01382 459119)

Thursday May 24 2018

Event: ‘Making the invisible visible’

Place: Riddell’s Court Library (Conference Room), 322 Lawnmarket

Time: 12.30pm to 2pm

The Committee on Church Art and Architecture and the Mission and Discipleship Council will be hosting Gardner & Gardner, the artists who are creating an art installation for this year’s General Assembly, who will be exploring some of the possibilities and questions that emerge when the Church mixes contemporary art practice and pioneer ministry. #gardenrandgardener

Event: Investing in Young People

Venue: St Columba’s By the Castle

Time: 12:45pm -1.45pm

An opportunity to explore how the Church, and we as part of it, might better contribute to the full flourishing of Scotland’s young people. Organised by the Church and Society Council.