Chapter Five - The General Assembly

In the exercise of its administrative (or executive) function the General Assembly takes oversight of all its lower courts. In exercising this oversight the General Assembly:

1. takes care to see that the functions and duties assigned by the law of the church to the lower courts are not interfered with;
2. deals with any irregularity or default of duty revealed by the review of the records of Presbyteries;
3. considers whether the rules of the church in relation to lower courts is in need of amendment and, if of this opinion, proceeds by regular process.

The General Assembly also exercises oversight of all its own commissions, committees and officials.

The General Assembly gives such directions, counsel and advice and administers such correction to the bodies and officials referred to above whenever it considers it appropriate.

1. The General Assembly each year calls for, examines and approves the records of the presbyteries within its jurisdiction and the records of all its committees and boards.
2. All records not in active use, in which the last entry is more than seven years old, are to be deposited in the church archives.
3. The Assembly may also call for specified information concerning their affairs from sessions and boards of management.
4. To effect the examination of records envisaged in clause (a) above the Assembly appoints each year a committee entitled the Records Committee.

For greater efficiency or to meet changing needs in the church or the community, the General Assembly from time to time:

1. appoints new committees or commissions, discharges existing ones, or varies their membership and duties; (see rule 5:22)
2. appoints, re-appoints, and dismisses officials or varies the terms of their appointment (having regard to any contractual obligations involved);
3. establishes new offices and appoints persons to them and appoints such additional permanent or temporary officials as it considers necessary. (see rule 5:19, 36(a))

On the nomination of the Theological Education Committee the General Assembly appoints the professors and lecturers in the Theological College as provided for in the relevant regulations.

In the course of the exercise of its administrative function the General Assembly may find facts which might support a charge being made against a minister or communicant member of the church. If it decides to take up such cases the General Assembly deals with them in accordance with the Code of Discipline of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. (see GAA Code Chapter 8)

The General Assembly forms Presbyteries within its jurisdiction, names them, fixes their bounds, appoints a time and place for their first meeting and in each case appoints a minister from within the bounds to convene, constitute and preside over the first meeting of a Presbytery until a moderator is elected (see rule 4:2).

Only the General Assembly may alter the bounds of a Presbytery or effect an amalgamation of Presbyteries. It ordinarily does so either:

1. at the request of one or more Presbyteries concerned; or
2. on the recommendation of a commission or committee appointed or instructed to consider the matter.

In the case of (b) above, the commission or committee must consult with the Presbyteries concerned before making a recommendation to the Assembly.

The General Assembly has the right to request a levy from each congregation for the raising of funds for its own needs, and it may appoint special collections to be made throughout the church for purposes which it approves or determines.

Subject to the provisions of any relevant trust deeds, and of the Presbyterian Trusts Act 1890, the General Assembly retains final administrative authority over all funds gathered or held by its committees in its name and over all other property held by such committees. From time to time the Assembly issues directions and authorisations concerning such funds and property as it considers appropriate.