It comes after “significant failings” were identified in the central administration of the Church’s safeguarding processes.
In a statement, Right Reverend Dr Richard Murray confirmed the move on his first day back in office, writing to all ministers on Monday to say the Assembly will take place on Thursday 18 December at Assembly Buildings in Belfast.
The Church has been dealing with the fallout from what it previously described as “serious” safeguarding administration failures, revealed last month, which led to the Moderator Trevor Gribben stepping aside.
Under Church rules, Dr Murray – who previously served as Moderator – was required to return to the role.
In a letter addressed to “dear brothers and sisters”, he said his first act would be to convene the special Assembly to allow the denomination to address the failings and focus on those affected.
“As members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland family you will be aware of recent events in our denomination concerning the discovery of significant failings in the central administration of our safeguarding,” he wrote.
“This has led to the stepping aside of our Moderator and as a result, as the previous Moderator, I have the responsibility under The Code, the Constitution of our Church, to return to office.”
He confirmed he had formally reassumed the position on 1 December and said the Church must now come together to “grieve and lament” the failings uncovered.
“The purpose of this General Assembly is that we come together as a family before God to grieve and lament for our failings,” he wrote.
“At the same time, we also want to be particularly mindful of those who have been harmed as a result of our central failings.”
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Right Reverend Dr Richard Murray.
News Catch Up – Monday 1 December
The special Assembly will open with a worship session at 11am, followed by a lunch break, and a formal business meeting beginning at 1.30pm.
A report from the Church’s General Council along with related resolutions will be discussed in the afternoon session. All sessions will be livestreamed and will be open to the public and the media, the Moderator confirmed.
Dr Murray urged ministers to make attending a priority and to pray for those affected.
“Please make this General Assembly a priority and come to it prayerfully so that we may seek the face of God together,” he said.
“Please pray for those who have been hurt by the failings that we have uncovered, and pray that they will have the courage to seek the help and support they need.”
He added that the Church remains “shocked, shaken and deeply humbled” by the failings and said the Assembly would provide an opportunity to seek a way forward.
“Our prayer is also that God would have mercy upon us in the midst of this storm that has not only shocked us, but shaken and deeply humbled us,” he wrote.
The General Assembly on 18 December will mark the first major public meeting of Church leaders since the safeguarding failures were disclosed and is expected to set the course for the denomination’s next steps.