The Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Annual General Assembly opens in Belfast on Tuesday for a four-day session. It is the third gathering of the church’s principal decision-making body in 12 months, a frequency the acting clerk described as unprecedented.

The additional meetings were prompted by serious failures in the church’s central safeguarding functions for children and vulnerable adults between 2009 and 2022. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is conducting a significant investigation and has received 101 referrals.

The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland has opened a statutory inquiry, led by former senior PSNI officer Jim Gamble and his organisation INEQE. In November, Moderator Rev Trevor Gribben resigned in response to the crisis.

Acting Clerk Rev Dr David Allen said the church had acknowledged inexcusable failures and that much of this year’s assembly would concentrate on safeguarding developments.

The agenda includes a protocol for suspending ministers, strategic reform of the church, political developments on assisted suicide, reforms to Religious Education in Northern Ireland schools, and the impact on Christian Aid giving following a report on LGBT issues. The use of non-disclosure agreements will also be discussed.

Reports will be received from three internal groups established after the crisis: the Safeguarding Development Committee, the Statutory Investigations Advisory Task Group, and the General Assembly Governance, Culture and Integrity Task Group.

During the assembly, Rev Dr Richard Kerr of Templepatrick Presbyterian Church will be installed as the new moderator. The assembly will be asked to appoint Rev Jonathan Boyd of Killyleagh Presbyterian Church as Clerk of the General Assembly, leading a new Senior Leadership Team that includes a Director of Operations, filled by former Financial Secretary Ken Swarbrick. Dr Allen is to be appointed Assistant Clerk with responsibility for strategic reforms.

Public sessions are open, and proceedings can be viewed live online.