NI Presbyterian mutual society, Short of funds for withdrawal?

Dr._Who_2

What is being said is correct - unless the General Assembly decides to hold a private session all meetings are open to the public. Only voting members can sit in the body of the hall and I would imagine that the stewards would check voting tickets at the doors for this. Members of the public can sit in the gallery - anyone who is not a member of the Assembly i.e. Minister/Rep. Elder should contact the Clerk about the possibility of speaking: as I understand it anyone who isn't a member of the Assembly can present a "Memorial" requesting a particular course of action to the Assembly and it's prayer, as they say, will either be granted or not granted. However, I think that memorials need to come through a Presbytery - however, while Presbyteries met last night, a special meeting of Presbytery could be called to get something through. I might try and put some wording for a suitable memorial on here so that people can see what it looks like.
Just on the public presence in the galleries - you have heard me say before about silence and I know that some, understandably, don't agree with me and I can fully see why, so don't attack me. The danger woudl be that, in the event of a protestful gallery, the Moderator could order the galleries to be cleared - would we need to call in the PSNI in full riot gear for this!!

Dr._Who_2

If you go to PCI web-site and click on "General Assembly" this will take you to 2008 Assembly where you can view/download Reports and Daily Minutes - 2009 isn't available yet although I would imagine that Assembly Reports will be out soon. By the way - click on Daily Minutes for Thursday (sixth session) - scroll down to the afternoon session when Board of Mission in Ireland was resumed, having previously gone into "lapsed business", to bottom p.54 & top p.55 - appointment of BMI - read the (a) line - ex officio members - and tell us if you can spot "Presbyterian Mutual Society Agent". Have fun.

fivealive_2

D.A. wrote: »

I think this is unlikely. Maybe someone who knows more about it than me could clarify.

As far as I can see, the Business Board (guess who the convenor of that is ;-) ) arranges the order of business for Assembly week, but I think it would be unlikely that they would hold this debate in closed session, particularly if it still comes under the Board of Mission in Ireland (does it?). Normally if I'm not mistaken, the only closed sessions are for the Judicial Commission.

I think what may have been said at Presbytery is that only members of Assembly can vote on or speak in this debate (as is normal with all Assembly business). Anyone else can (as previously stated) listen to the debate from the gallery.

Two things you all need to do though:
1. Find out who will be representing your congregation at the General Assembly (normally the minister plus a couple of elders);
2. On the PCI website, it says that the Business Board "may give permission to speak to persons who are not members of Assembly". I would suggest you, as a group, get your request in ASAP! If the Business Board turn you down, then they will just look petty (again).

Good luck! Remember that the General Assembly represents YOU, so use it!

My sources have given me D.A.'s version of events but if you want to be sure you could ring Church House, 90322284, ask for the Clerk's office and ask one of the secretary's to provide the information. My kids are off school so I would never get peace to have a sensible telephone conversation. If any of you has time to do this please post the answer on here to save a riot?

pensiongone

Dr._Who wrote: »

t
Just on the public presence in the galleries - you have heard me say before about silence and I know that some, understandably, don't agree with me and I can fully see why, so don't attack me. The danger woudl be that, in the event of a protestful gallery, the Moderator could order the galleries to be cleared - would we need to call in the PSNI in full riot gear for this!!

What authority does the Moderator have to clear the galleries in the event of a dignified AUDIBLE protest? I do hope you are having a joke about the PSNI in riot gear. The sight of hundreds of pensioners being escorted from the building by riot clad PSNI officers in front of the TV cameras, will be enough to finish PCI off altogether. Silence in this situation has got us precisely NOWHERE!!

Mixedup

Just got a peep at the May 2009 Presbyterian Herald.
Extract from Page 4

Business at the Assembly.

Clerk of the Assembly Rev Dr Donald Watts is on record as saying that the last six months have been among the most difficult in the recent history of the Presbyterian Church as it has dealt with events surrounding the Presbyterian Mutual Society.
The Church's response to the crisis at the PMS will be reported to the Assembly by the General Board and the Moderator's advisory committee on Tuesday afternoon (4.00PM). Members of the Assembly will have the opportunity to debate how the Church has handled the matter but with no executive or administrative authority over the Society, its affairs are unlikely to be discussed in detail.

crazymess

Surely the General Assembly etc etc Church House the whole lot realise that there is a real human problem affecting many members of their Church and to whom they promoted these people to save within the PMS - unauthorised financial advice -

We are tired of hearing that the PCI has no executive or administrative role in the PMS - we know this now -

HOWEVER -

IS IT NOT HIGH TIME THAT ALL OF THOSE IN CHURCH HOUSE, SUGGEST THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THAT IN THE PROBABLE EVENT OF A HUGE DEFICIT IN THE RETURN OF OUR MEMBERS' SAVINGS - WE WILL STEP IN - AND SORT THIS PROBLEM OUT. SURELY THEY ARE WELL AWARE BY NOW THERE IS A HUGE BLACK HOLE THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED - YOU DO NOT NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE ADMINISTRATOR SENDS OUT HIS REPORT IN SEPTEMBER - START NOW BY RE-BUILIDNG THE PEOPLE AND THE CHURCH.

Restore confidence - tell the people you will help - Savers have lost six months of their lives over this whole debacle. All they want is to know is that the PCI will help with the shortfall.

We know you in Church House did not run the affairs of the PMS - stop using this line - but you promoted us to SAVE IN THE PMS so therefore are guilty by association.

When are they going to stop hiding behind the Solicitors and start to help the people that are helping to fund their POSITIONS IN CHURCH HOUSE.

warmhands.coldheart

Just checking if this big Assembly meeting was today as all seems quite on the PMS Front

joylikes2shop

I don't know where everyone's gone recently but here's an article to read while we're waiting for someone to post something interesting....

http://www.lisburntoday.co.uk/news/MP-URGES-PEOPLE-WHOVE-LOST.5245241.jp

D.A.

I didn't particularly want to say this, but is it just me, or is anyone else getting the feeling that Dr Watts has too much power over too many areas in PCI? If I'm not mistaken, in many ways he actually controls more than the Moderator himself...

crazymess

D.A. wrote: »

I didn't particularly want to say this, but is it just me, or is anyone else getting the feeling that Dr Watts has too much power over too many areas in PCI? If I'm not mistaken, in many ways he actually controls more than the Moderator himself...

Think you are right - seems to be a on every Board within the PCI -

Hey - where has Jon-Groovy gone???