Day four of General Assembly took place on 15 July and begun with worship and a Bible study followed by the question “To which new thing might God be calling?” asked by the Revd Stephen Ansa-Addo, Chaplain to the General Assembly Moderator.
The Bible reading was from Isaiah 43 where God says: “I am about to do a new thing”.
Dr Lisa Adjei of Christian Aid and the Sankofa Collective preached. Looking at the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, she likened them to pineapple upside down cake. Jesus turns the tables on what people know the world to be, on what it means to live a blessed life. Jesus announces that the Kingdom of God is already among those who are disadvantaged. Missionaries don’t take the Kingdom of God abroad – they witness the fact that the Kingdom of God is already there.
Dr Adjei pointed to three things that Jesus did that we are called to do too:
- We must reorder power. Jesus changes who is at the centre of the story. Every person – including those we like and those we don’t – is made in the image of God. The Black Lives Matter movement was necessary because empire created a world where black lives were treated as if they didn’t matter. Dr Adjei said that since then many white people have said to black people, ‘Teach me’ but they also need to say, ‘Lead me’.
- We must reimagine. Dr Adjei quoted Akan phrase from Ghana, ‘Sankofa’. It can literally mean ‘Go back and get it’, but is also about learning from the best of the past and restoring what has been lost.
Jesus talked about not putting new wine in unshrunk cloth because fermentation creates pressure which exposes the flaws that are there.
We have been racially discipled by society, said Dr Adjei, and must reimagine a new way. We need to imagine what reconciliation would really look like.
Dr Adjei saluted the role of young people as elders in the URC, which recognises that they have a contribution now, not just in the future.
- We must renew. Dr Adjei quoted Vanessa Machado de Oliveira saying that the world as we know it is ending and we must embrace the new world. We must stand alongside those who have been on the outside.
She closed with questions for Assembly members and for the URC:
What does God call you to reorder? What power does God call you to give away or to share? What are you called to reimagine? Who are you called to stand in costly solidarity with?
Session 11
Welcome to the new local church
Northstowe Church Network (LEP) was welcomed at Assembly as a local United Reformed Church, you can watch a video about it here;
Moderator-Elect Acceptance Speech
The Moderator-Elect of the URC General Assembly 2025-26, Ms Catriona Wheeler addressed Assembly. She thanked members for expressing their trust in her and spoke of her joy that so many people have offered their support since her election.
Ms Wheeler described recent experiences of finding herself in two quite different churches. While walking through Hamburg, she heard a calling bell to a service in a beautiful Baroque church, where Evensong was led in German but with a visiting choir singing in English. Here she worshipped with tourists and other visitors.
Shortly after, she stopped for a short rest outside a churchyard while cycling in Sweden. She sat, overlooking beautiful rural scenery. A member of the church invited her inside, where she was struck by the church’s simplicity and the quiet conversation of congregation members preparing for worship.
God “invites us in” in so many ways, Ms Wheeler said – a bell, a warm voice… God is in the wide, open spaces and in busy city streets.
Ms Wheeler said that, through the support of others and through prayer, she will discern how God can use her “as together we face a somewhat uncertain future and work through the Church Life Review”. Concluding, she quoted Psalm 115: “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”
Remaindered business
Paper A8 Retired Ministers Benevolent Fund
General Assembly accepted the recommendations to establish a Retired Ministers’ Benevolent Fund with an initial budget of £39,000 per annum, following work instigated by the 2023 General Assembly.
“We believe all retired ministers should be treated fairly and equally wherever they live in the UK,” the report said, … “and commend the work done by the group who prepared the statement of principles and criteria.”
“We should start somewhere and build on the experience,” said Vaughan Griffiths, Deputy URC Treasurer and member of the Pastoral Reference Welfare Committee, who introduced the resolution.
The proposals that were accepted were:
- a) adopting the principles reported by the working group to the 2023 Assembly;
- b) that annual Christmas gifts to retired ministers, or their widows/widowers, would be administered at Synod level;
- c) that a benevolent fund for supporting retired ministers should be run centrally for the kind of exceptional situations outlined in the principles in Appendix II of the paper;
- d) that the work of administering this fund be undertaken by the Pastoral Reference Welfare Committee;
- e) that the funding be via a designated fund for this purpose, funded from existing designated or restricted funds;
- f) that a review is carried out in Autumn 2025.
Paper A9 Conflicts of Interest policy
General Assembly adopted the Conflicts of Interests Statement and the policy for General Assembly committees, along with instructing the committees of the Assembly to work within the policy. It also encouraged Synods, Trusts, local churches and the URC Trust to review, amend or adopt its own conflicts of interest policy.
The aim of the statement was to manage conflicts of interest effectively across the URC, where there are numerous independent yet related entities, councils and committees. Conflict of interest management is important but complex, the paper said.
Victoria James, Chief Operating Officer, said that the managing of conflicts of interest is very important, and has significantly evolved of late.
The statement and policy are available to read on the URC website.
Paper I3 – the Gaza Crisis
The Mission Committee brought Paper I3 about the Gaza Crisis to General Assembly.
The report came after much careful work, research, conversation and discussion, the Convenor of the Mission Committee reported. The committee hoped that in bringing the resolutions, it was responding because peaceful solutions are not yet within reach. And the resolutions were not just a reaction to the events in Gaza in October last year.
“The paper should be viewed as a reflection of the differing views within the denomination, an analysis of work undertaken by URC members and leaders, and recommendations for next steps,” the report said. “We are observers who wish, insofar as this is within our gift, to bring about peace and justice for Israelis and for Palestinians.”
“We are a church,” the convenor continued, “and not a single-issue campaign group – we have a wider role. The letter of James reminds us that faith without action is dead.”
The Legal Advisor said the URC goes to great lengths to ensure resolutions are factually accurate, because of reputational issues which can lead to other issues, including financial issues. As abhorrent as the events in Gaza and Israel in October have been, he said, there has not been any declaration of illegality by any court. And because of this, we need to be careful with our language in the resolutions.
After time to reconsider some of that wording over many sessions, the amended resolutions were passed.
General Assembly:
- Denounces the illegal and deadly attacks by Hamas on Israeli citizens on 7 October 2023, including the holding of hostages, for which Hamas and all those responsible should be held accountable in accordance to international law.
- Denounces the deadly attacks on Palestinian civilians in Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force, and its destruction of civilian infrastructure and essential services, for which those responsible should be held accountable with international law.
- Called for an immediate, permanent ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli Defence Force, and for the immediate de-escalation of hostilities regionally.
- Called on the UK Government to observe obligations under the International Arms Trade Treaty to cease arms sales to Israel, and to monitor existing embargoes on arms sales to nations that might be supporting Hamas militarily.
- Denounces all acts of antisemitism in the UK while expressing deep concern over its unacceptable rise in communities and extended a hand of solidarity to Jewish neighbours.
- Denounce all acts of Islamophobia in the UK, while expressing deep concern over its unacceptable rise in communities and extended a hand of solidarity to our Muslim neighbours, and encouraged every local church and Synod to reach out in friendship and welcome local faith communities.
- Encouraging learning and deeper awareness, it instructed the Mission Committee with Education and Learning and Youth Assembly to consider how best to resource the URC with better understanding, relating to:
- Christian Zionism and Supersessionism
- The Balfour Declaration
- Antisemitism and Islamophobia
- Peace, violence, security, and related topics
- Because of the breaches of international law, requesting URC Synod Trusts, URC Trusts and Pensions Funds to avoid knowingly investing in Israeli registered companies until such time as Israel once again abides by international law in respect of its obligations towards the Palestinian territory.
- The full text of the amended resolutions can be found in the minutes of the General Assembly.
Miscellaneous items
Address to the throne
The Revd Fiona Bennett, former General Assembly Moderator, delivered the Address to the Throne to Assembly, after which Assembly voted to approve the Address. It was then signed by the Moderator and Clerk and sent to the King.
The Address to the Throne is an opportunity to present an alternate view of society, to set before the country’s monarch what the URC cares about, and what we are aiming to do as a people seeking God together. It points the way, we hope, to Christ and a coming kin-dom of justice and joy. Each year, the Address is sent to the King’s Private Secretary, and we request that it is “laid before the King”.
This year’s address reads as follows:
“To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty:
“The General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, meeting in Derbyshire, sends loyal greetings to Your Majesty. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Creator and Christ Jesus our Lord.
“In a time of trial and concern for you and your family, we assure you of our continued prayers as you and the Princess of Wales recover from cancer treatment. We were heartened that, alongside outpourings of sympathy from the British people, many were inspired through your example to undergo medical tests themselves, with the potential for lives to be saved through early intervention.
“Words from St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians – ‘if one member suffers, all suffer with it’ – resonate with us today. Deepening geopolitical unrest has been a source of grave concern for our Church. We have been horrified by news from Church partners in Myanmar, where attacks have resulted in the loss of life and the destruction of homes and church buildings. We are earnestly calling for non-violent international intervention to restore a democratic government.
“Our General Assembly is supporting peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza. The richness of our relationships with the Palestinian and Israeli peoples has compounded both our shared sense of grief and our desire for solutions that affirm human dignity and the right for all to live in peace. Recognising Your Majesty’s commitment to positive interfaith dialogue, we were gladdened by the announcement of Your Royal Patronage of the Council of Christians and Jews, an organisation with which the URC has close links.
“The United Reformed Church continues to address the complexities of racial justice. We remain committed to becoming an anti-racist church, with a denomination-wide training programme that stimulates a deeper understanding of the issues. A delegation visited Jamaica in April to deliver an apology for our Church’s historic involvement in transatlantic slavery. Described as a ‘profound act of healing’ by the Moderator of General Assembly, we seek to embody these words with positive acts that seek to repair justice through how we use our resources, including the creation of mentoring projects for young Black men living in Great Britain and through increased collaboration with partners in Africa and the Caribbean.
“The URC has a strong history of supporting those in our urban and rural communities experiencing food poverty and destitution, social isolation, homelessness, or who are seeking asylum. We lament the enduring nature of these issues caused by world events and the decisions of successive governments that have failed to prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable. After the recent General Election, we are encouraging our local churches to commit to praying for Your Majesty’s Government, and to develop meaningful relationships with the Member of Parliament for each constituency, for the good of the whole community.
“In the face of an undeniable existential crisis for life on Earth as we experience it today, many of our local churches are wrestling with how to affordably adapt their buildings and practice for the benefit of all people and our planet’s natural environment. A concern for our global neighbours, together with a faith in the One who inspires us to service and sacrifice, gives us the determination to keep challenging ourselves and others to act decisively to protect our world, to reduce our carbon footprint and to be a prophetic voice when other institutions have been reluctant to take action.
“As we strive for all this, we are encouraged to find expressed in Your Majesty’s words and actions a similar unwavering commitment to service, to caring for the vulnerable, of maintaining flourishing partnerships and to cherishing our environment, informed by your own faith and experience. May God guide and uphold Your Majesty as you also seek to do the will of Christ, who strengthens us.
‘You, Creator God, have written
your great name on humankind.
For our growing in your likeness,
bring the life of Christ to mind
that, by our response and service,
Earth its destiny may find’.”
from For the Healing of the Nations
by URC minister and hymnwriter Fred Kaan
©1968 Hope Publishing Company
Closing act of worship including the Induction of the Revd Tim Meadows as General Assembly Moderator, 2024-2025
“Will you undertake to exercise your ministry in accordance with the statement concerning the Nature, Faith and Order of the United Reformed Church?
“I will, and all these things I profess and promise in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
With this final induction affirmation, followed by promises by members of the General Assembly and prayers, the Revd Timothy Meadows was inducted as the Moderator of the General Assembly 2024-2025, during an act of worship at the close of the 2024 General Assembly.
Inducting Tim, the outgoing Moderator, the Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, declared: “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and representing the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church I declare Tim to be inducted as Moderator of General Assembly. May you continue to walk in the way of Christ, following in his footsteps. ‘Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever.’”
“This is really something else. Recently one church person asked me if the URC could not find any British people to do the job. To which I replied, ‘whatever gave you that idea, I’m from Liverpool, can’t you tell from my accent?!
“I originally come from rural America, where Christianity was instilled in me from a very early age. I am well-appointed with the evil exacted on the queer community by society and the church, although that is not the impetus of my moderatorial year.
“The AIDS pandemic has left trauma. It wasn’t long ago, and it still exists, and I stand here on the ashes of thousands. I come with a lesson for us all. The forces of religious extremism with right wing politics is in the rise on our lands, and the global church is split. I dare say ecumenism is no longer about denominations but political affinities.
“I am so full of hope. The URC is a safe harbour in a stormy sea. It is a place of grace, and the divine, as we continue to learn to respect each other. I am so deeply grateful to you, that with God, we can face our fears and anxieties head on. As the chaplains said earlier, we have to live into hope.
“The URC is a gift to the body of Christ. Yet our work is far from finished. It was, and is, time to share our faith. Revival and resurrection is in the air. Let’s go out and share our treasure. We are diverse and we are united in being followers of Jesus Christ. Now is the time to recentre on that which we hold most dear, a Jesus-shaped church for all.”
Tim warmly thanked Tessa for her year as Moderator, and the worship from Karen Campbell and the Revd Stephen Ansa-Addo.
The Revd Sarah Moore was inducted as Clerk of the General Assembly. Sarah has been Assistant Clerk for several years and takes over from the Revd Dr Michael Hopkins, the new Moderator for Wessex Synod, who has stepped down from the role after 10 years.
After a series of promises, Tim declared: “Reverend Sarah Moore, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and according to the decision of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, I declare you to be commissioned to serve as Clerk of the General Assembly, and welcome you into this office, in confirmation of which I give you the right hand of fellowship.”
The Revd Jenny Mills was also inducted as Deputy General Secretary (Discipleship).
Address
“We’re a people of the Word,” said the Andrea Heron, who, along with the Revd Andrew Mann-Ray, are the Moderator’s Chaplains for the year. “And we’re coming to visit you!” Andrea added.
In his address, Andrew, a URC minister with the Wolverhampton & Smestow Brook Pastorate, talked about the number of zombie-related movies available now and how students talk often about how they would survive in a zombie apocalypse. This conversation has spread into the church, with questions about the resurrection.
“The resurrection was outside the comfort zones of those who first witnessed it. And Christ’s was not the first in the Gospels: Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter, Jesus raised the widow’s son, and Jesus called Lazarus forth from the tomb. Why was Jesus’s resurrection so mind blowing and awesome, and the disciples not expecting it?”
“In an instant, the resurrection transformed them into confident disciples. I think it’s because as churches we’ve been living in a zombie-like state. We’ve had 2,000 years of experience and witness of and to the resurrection and yet to me it seems we are living as disciples who don’t believe the awesome moment of history.
“If we did, we would be building on those moments of the first Easter morning. We’re going through a Church Life Review because we feel called by God to renew the church, but it also feels like some are trying to preserve the past.
“How many of us wish we could do things differently, but struggle about how to do it? We don’t have to do something because it’s always been done that way, and if were committed to transform the church, we would find ways to make our buildings serve the good news, to listen to people on the edge of our communities, we would find ways to be inclusive and radically welcome, and we’ll see resurrection occur in our church.”
“I encourage us to stop being a church in a zombie-like state. Let’s practice resurrection not resuscitation, to transform us and the way that we do things. The future is filled with hope and possibilities.”
The Revd Timothy Meadows
The Revd Timothy Meadows served with the United Church of Christ, and after accepting a call to the URC, served with Liverpool City Centre, at Stoneycroft, Allerton and St Stephen’s Wavertree, and with a Mersey Synod-directed ministry.
Nominated by the Mersey Synod, Tim was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacraments in 1987 of the United Methodist Church. In his first pastoral appointment, he became involved in ministry beyond the local church including work with the homeless and disadvantaged.
He went on to act as team leader for hurricane relief effort to the Bahamas and to New Orleans, and came to the UK with a partnership between The United Reformed Church and The United Church of Christ.
In 2010, he accepted a call to Special Category Ministry in Liverpool City Centre to establish an ecumenical centre in the city. During which time he served as a Chaplain to Merseyside Police, put in place street pastors for the night-time economy; and offered weekly “Theology in the Pubs” and had group meetings in the local Quaker Meeting House.
Tim was elected as Moderator at the 2023 meeting of the General Assembly and will chair its 2025 meeting, from Friday 4th – Monday 7th July 2025.
General Assembly closed and will meet twice next year (subject to confirmation); the regular meeting from Friday 4 – Monday 7 July at The Hayes, Swanwick, and the extraordinary meeting from Friday 14 – Sunday 16 November at Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes. Please check the URC website and with Synod offices for further details.
Reporting team: Andy Jackson, Ann-Marie Nye, Steve Tomkins, and Laurence Wareing. Photos: Chris Andrews.