The Presbyterian Church in Ireland opened its annual general assembly in Belfast with senior figures acknowledging extensive damage to the institution's reputation after severe safeguarding failures.

Moderator Rev Richard Murray told delegates on Tuesday that the church had endured a tough seven or eight months, describing the period as extremely difficult. He expressed deep regret that people had been hurt and harmed by the church's failings.

Murray returned to the role of moderator after his predecessor, Trevor Gribben, resigned last November. That resignation followed an admission by the church's safeguarding team that it had failed to deliver an adequate service in a number of situations between 2009 and 2021, including one case as late as 2022. Gribben acknowledged at the time that there had been serious and significant failings in the church's central safeguarding functions.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed in November it was looking into safeguarding concerns within the denomination.

During the assembly, Rev Philip McClelland, clerk of the Armagh Presbytery, raised the issue of spiritual abuse. He defined it as the misuse of spiritual authority by a leader to manipulate, dominate, bully or intimidate others, even if convinced of pursuing biblical goals. He said the effect on genuine victims was devastating.

Rev David Bruce, convener of the church's general council, said the current season of scrutiny would leave the church changed. He expressed hope that it would emerge more humble and said its reputation would need to be rebuilt from the ground up. Bruce committed to ensuring that abuse survivors' stories, needs and voices help shape best practice going forward.

The general council, the church's most senior body after the assembly, reported that its new safeguarding department has delivered training to more than 4,400 youth leaders and elders in recent months. Over 1,000 vetting applications have been processed, but the rate of new applications is outstripping processing capacity.