The
Review
Special General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
18 December 2025
A repentant Assembly
In response to the failings in safeguarding announced by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland on Wednesday 12 November 2025, a special meeting of the General Assembly was held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, on Thursday 18 December 2025. The calling of a Special Assembly was the first act of Dr Richard Murray upon returning to the office of Moderator on 1 December 2025. The entire Assembly was both in public and livestreamed, although senior members of a PSNI investigation team and the Department of Health had previously set parameters that meant that while members were not prevented from speaking about safeguarding matters, nothing could be said publicly that would compromise their investigation. In practice, this meant that no details of any specific past failings could be shared, beyond what was already in the public domain. To facilitate debate the General Council brought a report to the Special Assembly which was divided into four sections which addressed
the area of safeguarding along with particular circumstances relating to the Church’s ongoing life and work as it seeks to move forward and respond to the situation it is in. The report adopted a posture of repentance saying: “This is a shameful position for part of the church of Jesus Christ to be in. In light of this, there is no alternative but for the Church to adopt a posture of a broken and contrite heart, i.e., a recognition of the need for repentance, humility and lament.” The full report of the Special General Assembly, and the supplementary report can be accessed on PCI’s website, presbyterianireland.org/specialga25
Focus on worship Worship was the first focus of the day, with the Moderator, Dr Richard Murray, leading a prayer meeting for delegates from 9–10am. The Assembly then began at 11am with a morning service of worship, where the Moderator addressed the House. Former Moderators Dr Sam Mawhinney, Dr Rob Craig and Dr Frank Sellar also took part, leading in prayers and reading Scripture.