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Update
Assembly Judicial Commission decision
A copy of a recent appeal decision has been sent to Sessions/Parish Councils and Presbyteries/Union District Councils. A copy is on the Presbyterian website. It led to some people asking me questions and I thought you might be helped by some of the answers.
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Only the Assembly can make Assembly policy decisions. The Judicial Commission interpreted what it determined to be relevant Assembly decisions.
Commission decisions relate to the matter before them, in this case an appeal concerning a person who was not assessed as a student for the ministry. Commission decisions may be used as precedents.
Communication of the decision sought to ensure parties received the decision first, then Sessions/Parish Councils and Presbyteries/Union District Councils. A day after Sessions and Parish Councils should have received the communication, a press release was issued. This was to ensure that the press heard about the decision from the Church rather than in other ways. We will update you on any important developments regarding this matter.
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Nomination of Moderator-Designate
The process for nominating Moderator-Designate will be the same as last time. The last Assembly appointed a Task Group to clarify the process and implement any changes for the upcoming round of nominating. However recommendations from the Task Group involve changes that require consideration by the next Assembly and under the Barrier Act process (a process which requires consideration of proposals by presbyteries and union district councils).
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Sessions and Parish Councils are encouraged to make suggestions for Moderator-Designate to Presbyteries and Union District Councils. Presbyteries and Union District Councils bring one nomination to the Nominating Committee.
Those names are then sent to every Session/Parish Council, Presbytery/Union District Council for final nomination. Please note that every Session/Parish Council has the same vote as a Presbytery/UDC. These nominations are not channelled through a Presbytery/UDC.
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