The General Assembly, recognising the advantages to be obtained from the use of modern technology in conducting the business of Church courts, committees and boards hereby enact as follows:
1. Technology such as video conferencing may only be used for the conduct of meetings where all members of the court, committee or board have reasonably ready access to such facilities.
2. The minutes of a meeting conducted by video or telephone conferencing shall indicate the location of the meeting as being that of the chairman or convener and should also note that some members were present by way of video or telephone link.
3. The sederunt of a meeting conducted by video or telephone conferencing shall be read out by the secretary or clerk once all participants have joined the meeting.
4. It is preferable that matters requiring a vote to be taken be held over until a subsequent face to face meeting. If a vote needs to be taken on a particular matter, at the instruction of the chairman or convener, the secretary or clerk shall record the vote of each member in turn and after totalling the votes, advise the board or committee accordingly and record in the minute as normal.
5. All members of courts, committees or boards must ensure that normal rules governing confidentiality are adhered to in the conduct of meetings held by telephone or video conferencing.
6. Any decisions relating to the business of a court, committee or board, taken outside of a formal meeting (for example, decisions taken following email consultation) must be recorded formally in the minute of the next meeting.