THE FOCUS of the Church of Scotland turns once again to Edinburgh and the General Assembly as almost 1000 commissioners meet this week to consider the affairs of the Kirk, writes the Rev Malcolm Rooney.

The new moderator, the Rev David Lacy, is minister of Henderson Church, Kilmarnock, and one of his first tasks was to welcome the Queen’s representative, Lord MacKay of Clashfern, as the Lord High Commissioner.

In the first report on Saturday, convener of the board of practice and procedure the Rev Bill Hewitt dealt with some of the affairs of the running of the General Assembly, in particular, and the Kirk in general.

Matters dealt with included the eligibility of ministers to attend presbytery meetings and whether or not former moderators should be eligible to attend the assembly.

The assembly agreed any ordained minister actively involved in the life and affairs of the church should be eligible to be a member of presbytery. It was also agreed that all former moderators should be eligible to attend the General Assembly.

In the afternoon, while some assembly members adjourned to Holyrood Palace for the traditional garden party, others sought out televisions to watch the FA Cup final.

In the evening, convener of the council of assembly Mrs Helen McLeod reported that the council was given the major task of effecting the complete restructuring of the central administration within 12 months.

This involved regrouping more than 20 boards and committees into six councils and is now complete.

The staffing structure is also all but complete in the five main councils, with a few posts still to be finalised.

Mrs McLeod said the council was the first to recognise this has been an extremely stressful year for staff—no reorganisation of this kind could be otherwise.

Last year’s assembly had instructed the council to consult with existing boards and committees throughout the process and she said it is expected that there could be around 10-12 redundancies.

Annual cost savings are estimated as at least £500,000, while committee meeting expenses are likely to reduce by about £100,000.

Surrender of the lease of ancillary office accommodation will eventually save £70,000 a year.

Mrs McLeod urged that the assembly be in no doubt of the extra time and energy commitment the restructuring process has placed upon all those involved with it.

Around 140 related meetings have taken place as well as around 180 staff consultations and interviews.

Looking to the future and the Kirk’s budget, she highlighted a number of key questions addressed:

* How many ministers of word and sacrament and other parish staff does the church require?

* How many is it willing to afford?

* How many buildings are really necessary for local mission?

* How can we explore ways to encourage Christian liberality and to generate income from other sources?

The budget proposals being presented support the work of mission and discipleship—a priority agreed by the assembly as having equal status to parish staffing.

In addition it resources world mission and church and society and makes a small contribution to the church’s social work.

It also supports the service departments.

Mrs McLeod said income must be increased or other savings found, either in local expenditure where the number of buildings is an obvious target for reduction, or in parish staffing, if areas of important work were not to disappear altogether.

She said reorganisation was not undertaken for its own sake but to shift resources to the local church, to evolve better decision-making processes, to avoid duplication, achieve better stewardship of time and money and, above all, to be more focused for mission.

During a long subsequent debate the assembly decided presbyteries and kirk sessions should be asked for their views on spending priorities for the church.

The results of this consultation will be considered when the 2007 church budget is determined.

The panel on review and reform’s convener the Rev Ian Gilmour reported his panel’s decision to focus on the importance of vision, arguing that vision inspires and often provides clarity and direction.

He defined vision as an imaginative perception of things, combining insight and foresight.

Mr Gilmour also spoke of the importance of listening to congregations and he asked four questions under the headings of what is the church’s purpose, mission, vision and strategy.

He said that the panel wants to support nurturing, witnessing, worshipping congregations, where members are greeted by smiles, an appropriate welcome and a warm atmosphere.