Rev Dr David Allen, Acting Clerk of the General Assembly, was speaking as the church continues to be subject to a significant PSNI investigation following serious failings in central safeguarding functions for children and vulnerable adults from 2009 to 2022.
Moderator Rev Trevor Gribben resigned in November in the wake of the issues, with police saying they had 101 referrals to investigate.
The Charity Commission also opened a statutory inquiry, led by former senior PSNI officer Jim Gamble and his organisation INEQE.
Elders and ministers from some 500 congregations will meet on Tuesday in Belfast for the four day Annual General Assembly - the principal decision making forum of the church.
Rev Allen said: “Since the close of our last General Assembly in June 2025 we have seen extraordinary times in the life of our Church, times of our own making, which have led to this third meeting in 12 months, which I think is unprecedented."
This includes two special meetings of the General Assembly called over the church’s safeguarding failings, he said.
"In a statement that was read to congregations [in November], I apologised to the Church saying that ‘these failures are inexcusable, and no excuse is being made for them.’
"That will always remain the case, and seven months on a good part of the focus of year’s General Assembly will be taken up with developments around safeguarding and other related matters."
Among the issues in the Annual Report which are up for discussion are the protocol for suspending ministers; strategic reform of the church; political developments on assisted suicide; reforms of Religious Education in NI schools; the impact of giving towards Christian Aid in the wake of a report on LGBT issues and the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).
Reports will also be considered from three internal bodies set up in the wake of the crisis - the Safeguarding Development Committee; the Statutory Investigations Advisory Task Group and the General Assembly Governance, Culture and Integrity Task Group.
On Wednesday afternoon Dr Murray will also lead the installation for his successor as moderator, Rev Dr Richard Kerr from Templepatrick Presbyterian Church.
The Assembly will be asked to appoint Rev Jonathan Boyd, minister of Killyleagh Presbyterian Church, as Clerk of the General Assembly. If appointed, he lead the of the new Senior Leadership Team (SLT) which was set up in the wake of the safeguarding crisis, and is seen as trying to decentralise and professionalise administration from the top leadership of the denomination.
The SLT will include the Clerk of the General Assembly, the Deputy Clerk, and the new position of Director of Operations, which has been filled by ex-Financial Secretary of the church by Ken Swarbrick.
The Assembly will also be asked to appoint Dr Allen to the new post of Assistant Clerk, with specific responsibilities for strategic reforms of the church.
The General Assembly will take place in Assembly Buildings, Belfast from Tuesday to Friday.
The public gallery is open for all public sessions.
Proceedings can be seen live at www.presbyterianireland.org/ga26 where the Annual Report can also be downloaded.