As a church, we are at an important time in the life of the United Reformed Church. Together, as God’s Church, we are exploring our future path. At this juncture, there are exciting opportunities to be part of groups and committees which will be key in affecting change and shaping our joint life and the Church.
These opportunities fall into two key areas: –
- Church Life Review Task Groups.
- New Nominations Committee
Church Life Review – Task Group opportunities
We are seeking immediate nominations and applications for convenors and members of the Church Life Review Task groups.
Together, as God’s Church, we are exploring our future path.
The Church Life Review (Phase 1) paved the way for three important task groups to help discern our next steps. Information about Phase 1 and all Church Life Review papers can be found here.
You can find a summary of all the Church Life Review resolutions agreed by General Assembly here.
General Assembly 2023 agreed three separate task groups will:-
a) Develop models for future employed, lay workers,
b) Devise options for providing HR, Health and Safety, Safeguarding and similar support to local churches
c) Create models for the effective and faithful use of our gifts and resources
These task groups, instigated on the strength of General Assembly resolutions, will be integral to the design of future services and structures. Their work will form Phase 2 (design) of the Church Life Review.
Each task group requires people with specific gifts, skills and knowledge, together with the enthusiasm to make a difference, and make lasting change.
We are inviting nominations and applications for people who have a close affiliation with the URC (including those worshipping in LEPS) to become part of the journey, and above all, to discern, encourage and assist the URC to become God’s church for tomorrow.
We expect the groups to remain in place for up to two years, before Phase 3 will implement their recommendations. They will meet regularly, sometimes the work will be pacy, and there will be some full day or residential events.
The adverts and supporting information for each group can be found at:
Resource Sharing (Finance) Task Group:
- Resource Sharing Group Terms of Reference (Word | 42kb)
- Resource Sharing Group Volunteer Opportunity (Word | 42kb)
Support Services Task Group:
- Support Services Task Group Terms of Reference (Word | 84kb)
- Support Services Task Group Volunteer Opportunity (Word | 44kb)
Lay Workers (employed) Task Group:
- Lay Workers Task Group Terms of Reference (Word | 52kb)
- Lay Workers Task Group Volunteer Opportunity (Word 46kb)
Being involved with the Church Life Review offers a unique opportunity to be part of the URC’s future ways of being church. Above all, it is to discern, encourage and assist the URC to become God’s church for tomorrow
Nominations Convenor
We are seeking immediate nominations and applications for convenor of the new Nominations Committee.
The United Reformed Church is a paradoxical church at a crossroads. There is therefore an interesting and exciting journey of change ahead; and the Nominations will play a vital part in shaping and equipping the church not just for the journey of change but for a fresh chapter in the life of URC. Being convenor of Nominations at this seminal time is therefore an opportunity to make a significant contribution.
General Assembly in 2023 reimagined the nominations committee and approved new Terms of Reference. As a result, serving on this committee both as Convenor and as members is a very different proposition and heralds a new, more streamlined approach, supported by safer recruitment practices for volunteer positions.
Convenor of Nominations Committee information:
- Nominations Convenor Role Description (Word | 53kb)
- Nominations Committee Terms of Reference (Word | 42kb)
- Nominations Committee Member Role Description (Word | 50kb)
Additional Information
- Generic Task Group Convenor Role Description (Word | 51kb)
- Generic Task Group Member Role Description (Word | 44kb)