Standing Committee & RB
Representative Body News September 2026
The September meeting of the Representative Body was convened in person in Church House, Rathmines at 10:30am on Tuesday 15 September 2026. In his report as Chair of the Executive Committee, Mr Lyndon MacCann paid tribute to his predecessor Ms Hilary Prentice for her work and commitment to the role over the past number of years. He welcomed Mr Adrian Clements back to Church House as Interim Chief Officer, and Mr Barry Cosgrave as Interim Head of Property and Trusts. It was reported that the work of the RCB Campus Review Group is ongoing, and the search for a new RCB office in Belfast continues.
Mr Mike Johnson reported on proposals that the Minimum Approved Stiped (MAS) would increase to £39,658 in Northern Ireland, and €48,042 in the Republic of Ireland. It was also proposed that no change me made to the existing locomotory allowance rates. Both of these recommendations were approved.
Mr Adrian Robinson delivered a report from the board of the Clergy Pensions Fund, highlighting the efforts made to reduce the gap between MAS and the pensionable stipend. He reported that owing to positive solvency, the pension fund’s solvency levy is to be reduced to 0% from January 2027.
Ms Julie Bond, Head of Finance and IT, reported on the ‘Total Return’ policy that is applied to the general funds of the RCB. Ms Bond reported that the value of General Funds had increased significantly in recent times, but that the longer–term sustainability of the funds required a reduced withdrawal rate. A new maximum withdrawal rate of 3.5%, reduced from 3.9%, was approved.
In appointments, Mrs Heather Pope was appointed as Chair of the Library and Archives Committee. The Ven. Mark Harvey succeeds the Ven. Paul Thompson on the Stipends Committee, and Mr Marcus Daly SC will succeed the late Mr Justice Declan Budd as a member of the Legal Advisory Committee.
The meeting closed with the Grace.