Presbyterian Church in Ireland safeguarding crisis: Elders debate modern management structure
The most significant debate in the Presbyterian Special Assembly today was whether to adopt a more modern senior management structure - or whether this might undermine the principles of Presbyterianism.
In the wake of the current safeguarding crisis in the church there have been calls to decentralise power and control in the church and increase accountability.
As such, the church proposed a new Senior Leadership Team, consisting of a Clerk of the General Assembly, Deputy Clerk and creating a new role of Director of Operations. However, there was significant pushback.
Ian Montgomery, an elder from Carryduff, expressed concern that delegates had only been given 24 hours to consider the plans.
He feared the church was being asked to become "more and more a business" and that power would increasingly be removed from the assembly of elders and ministers and that decisions would instead come "from above".
He had "a slightly suspicions mind" that this could result in "controlling debate and dissent" and could risk "cover up".
Trainee minister Ellis Hanlon from Mourne failed to see how "Senior Leadership Team" was biblical and posed the question: "What is a senior presbyterian".
Elder Robert McClure from Newtownhamilton agreed, saying that Presbyterianism had local courts (Presbyteries) made up of equals, lead by a local moderator who is "first among equals".
"We do not believe in senior presbyterians" he said.
However Allen McAdam, an elder from Monaghan, argued that a more business-like approach was critical
As a management consultant he said it was crucial that charities have a CEO who reports to the board, and warned of the danger of "trying too hard to be democratic".
Graeme Kennedy, minister of Kirpatrick Memorial in east Belfast, also advocated in favour of the new structure.
He was very much recognised that there were "senior" members of the church whose experience and wisdom were greatly needed "to guide us through these troubled times".
Mr McClure proposed changing the title to Senior Administrative Team, but elder Jonathan Boyd from Ballygawley rejected this as word play, citing the song, "you say potato, I say potato...".
The Senior Leadership Team was also backed by Michael McClenahan, principal of Union Theological College, and current Financial Secretary Ken Swarbrick and elder Jon Curry from Magherafelt.
The assembly overwhelmingly backed the new Senior Leadership Team structure.