The Draft Proposal

Task Group Insights: Key Reflections

The General Assembly is a cornerstone of our Presbyterian identity, designed to reflect our polity. However, the context in which we operate has shifted. Presbyteries are increasingly functioning on a regional level, shaping a different expression of our shared life. Yet, the current methodology of General Assembly highlights these differences rather than uniting us.

Decision-making at Assembly has become the primary focus of our time together, often fostering an oppositional stance rather than a posture of listening and shared discernment. This dynamic can make certain issues or proposals feel unsafe to bring forward, leaving Assembly vulnerable to lobbying within the PCANZ. This suggests a flaw in our discernment process.

Beyond decision-making, implementation is inconsistent or, at times, nonexistent. The structure of the National Church allows some decisions to be enforced while others are overlooked, often without consideration of their financial or practical implications.

A significant shift has been the strengthening of regional life. However, this comes with the risk that Presbyteries become increasingly disconnected from Assembly and the Council of Assembly. While Presbyteries serve as intermediaries between local and national systems, they remain largely unlinked in communication and decision-making. This disconnect is compounded by a lack of storytelling that explains the reasoning behind decisions, contributing to an erosion of trust and transparency. Without a sense of connection, it is unsurprising that our national Presbyterian identity appears to be fading.

Yet Assembly is more than a decision-making body. Worship and resourcing are essential components. Gathering in worship should remind us of our shared identity and set the tone for our time together. Worship is all-encompassing and should define our life as a gathered Church.

There is also a clear hunger for resourcing across the PCANZ. The strong attendance at the 2022 ONE Conference and the widespread engagement with KCML workshops reflect this need. However, the nurturing of spiritual life primarily happens outside of Assembly. The decisions made at Assembly should serve as a means of discernment, shaping how we resource and equip the Church moving forward.

Future (In)Coming

Given these challenges, how can we best prepare for the future? The broader context in which we operate suggests that our current model of General Assembly is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many parishes. Additionally, shifts in leadership—driven by Aotearoa’s growing ethnic diversity and the declining number of people entering ordination training—must be taken into account.

General Assembly plays a vital role in the life of our Church. Rather than making minor adjustments, we propose a model that will serve us well into the future. A key component of this approach is refocusing Presbyteries as regional expressions of the national Church. Our recommendation is as follows:

General Assembly meets every three years in a smaller format.
Presbyteries take on the initial discernment work through a process of diverse consultation and listening.
Decisions and outcomes from Presbyteries are then brought to General Assembly for further discernment.
A consensus model of decision-making is fully implemented, as affirmed by the unanimous vote at GA00. If consensus cannot be reached, we recognize that further discernment is needed rather than forcing a decision.

These proposals are represented in the flowchart below:

We believe this model allows the entire body of the PCANZ to engage in meaningful discernment, amplifying diverse voices—particularly at the Presbytery level. While this may seem like a significant shift, aspects of this process can be trialed as part of GA 2025, including:

Online pre-Assembly dialogue groups to encourage early engagement.
Online pre-Assembly meetings of commissioners, moderated by the current Moderator, with a structured approach:
1. Meeting 1: Presentation of proposals; commissioners submit questions for consideration.
2. Meeting 2: Responses to questions; further feedback opportunity.
3. Meeting 3: Revised proposals presented; items move to a fast-track for GA decision-making.

Additionally, we propose a shift toward a smaller Assembly in a smaller venue to help manage costs, aligning with the trend we are already seeing. It is to be noted that for GA25 Local Arrangements and ABWG have worked to shift the venue for Assembly into a local church context. The hope is that this will assist in alleviating some of the financial burden on parishes to send commissioners to Assembly.

Financial Considerations

Transparency around the General Assembly budget must be improved. Assembly should be empowered to make decisions regarding its operating budget. As a workgroup, we have experienced firsthand the challenges caused by delays between Assembly decisions and the financial constraints that hinder implementation.

To address this, we recommend:

Adding a 10% contingency to the budget to enable timely implementation of Assembly decisions.
Adopting a distributed cost model through Assembly assessment to ensure sustainability.

By embracing these changes, we can create a model for General Assembly that is both financially viable and more deeply rooted in collective discernment, strengthening the national and regional life of the Church.

Key Structural Changes

One of the most immediate changes in moving to a three-year General Assembly cycle would be the term length of the Moderator. We envision the Moderator playing a more active role between Assemblies, particularly in moderating online pre-Assembly meetings.

Additionally, the process for submitting and reviewing proposals would need to be adjusted. Key changes include:

Shifting proposal deadlines to allow Presbyteries adequate time for discernment before submission.
Empowering Presbyteries to determine which proposals advance to the Assembly Business Workgroup (ABWG).
Refining ABWG’s role to focus on coordinating Presbytery outcomes and deciding whether proposals proceed to a pre-Assembly Zoom meeting or directly to Assembly.

Enhancing Reports & Proposal Presentations

Future Assemblies should reconsider how reports and proposals are presented. Reports, in particular, could be delivered in more engaging formats, allowing them to reach a wider audience beyond the Assembly floor.

Hybrid Assembly Model

A legislative change would be required to enable a hybrid model for Assembly. Current regulations restrict us to either fully in-person or fully online gatherings. A hybrid approach would provide greater flexibility and accessibility.

ONE Conference & Resourcing the Church

We recommend that ONE Conference run concurrently with or alternate to Assembly, playing a key role in resourcing and nurturing the spiritual life of the Church. This shift would also create new opportunities to strengthen connections with the international Presbyterian community.

To support this, we propose that Council of Assembly allocate an appropriate budget for ONE Conference, ensuring:

The provision of qualified staff to coordinate the event.
The engagement of high-quality speakers to equip and inspire the Church.

Implications for the Council of Assembly

These changes would inevitably impact the role of Council of Assembly (CoA) in relation to General Assembly. However, we believe this shift would:

Improve the implementation of Assembly decisions, ensuring greater follow-through.
Increase transparency, particularly regarding how Assembly decisions impact the budget.

By making these adjustments, we can create a more sustainable and effective model for Assembly, better equipping the Church for the future.

We value your input

These proposed changes represent a significant shift in how we gather, discern, and make decisions as a Church. As we seek to shape a model that reflects our shared values and serves the Church well into the future, your voice is essential.

We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, and feedback on these proposals. Your insights will help us refine and strengthen this vision together.

How to Provide Feedback:

Talk to your Presbytery leadership about how these changes might impact your local context.
Send us your feedback directly here.
Join an online discussion session where we’ll explore these ideas further—details to come.

Let’s discern this together as a Church. We look forward to hearing from you!

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