Chapter Five - The General Assembly

The General Assembly ordinarily meets once a year. Each Assembly, before it dissolves, fixes the date and place of the next General Assembly.

An urgent meeting of the General Assembly may be convened by the moderator, at his discretion, following request from at least ten persons entitled to be members of Assembly and representing at least three Presbyteries. The moderator's circular convening the Assembly must be sent not less than seven days prior to the date of meeting.

Action can only be taken at such a meeting:

1. in relation to matters specified in the moderator's circular;
2. if there is a quorum present; and
3. when the action of the moderator in convening the meeting has first been approved by a majority of the members present.

A quorum for any meeting of the Assembly shall be sixteen members, representing at least four Presbyteries. Of these members at least eight must be ministers.

The General Assembly appoints a Business Committee to arrange the order of its business, guide the Assembly on matters of procedure and perform other functions as set out in its regulations. The same committee also acts in connection with the ordinary Commission of Assembly.

For the consideration of a matter involving a variety of details, or for other reasons, the Assembly may resolve to meet as a committee of the whole, in which sufficient of the ordinary rules of debate are suspended so as to permit freer discussion (see rule 7:83). Resolutions framed or decisions made in committee are reported to the Assembly when it resumes. They are usually adopted by the Assembly without further discussion, but the right of members to dissent, or to appeal, against the decision made by the Assembly on the report is in no way impaired.

The procedure of the Assembly is governed by those parts of the following which are applicable to the Assembly:

1. the rules for church courts (see chapter 6);
2. the procedure and rules of debate contained in the standing orders of the General Assembly (see chapter 7);
3. other relevant sections of this chapter.

The Assembly exercises a discretionary power of procedure in respect of any matter falling within its jurisdiction for which no specific procedure is provided above. Care is taken that substantial justice is done to all interests concerned.

As provided in rule 5:78, a special committee consisting of the clerks and the law agent advises the Assembly on procedure in matters of a judicial character and places before the Assembly a suggested course of action for each case.

Congregations, boards of management, Sessions and Presbyteries do not normally meet during the sittings of the Assembly or of the Commission of Assembly. The Assembly, or the Commission of Assembly, may grant permission to meet, but only for urgent reasons. (see rule 6:13)

When the business of the General Assembly is finished the minutes of the last sitting are read and confirmed, or remitted to a special commission with power to correct and confirm them. The moderator then announces the date and place of the next General Assembly, briefly addresses the court, and declares in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King and Head of his church, that the Assembly is dissolved. After praise and prayer he closes the meeting with the benediction. (see rule 6:17(c))