United Reformed Church

Assembly committees

Assembly committees carry out the specialist work of the General Assembly. They also implement the policy of the Assembly and advise the Assembly on matters which may need its decision. Many committees relate to local churches and other Councils of the Church.

A summary of each committee is shown below. The full list of committees, sub-committees and task groups is downloadable at the bottom of this page.

General Assembly United Reformed Church

  • Convenor: The Revd John Bradbury
  • Moderator: The Revd Neil Thorogood [2026-2027]
  • Immediate-Past Moderator: Ms Catriona Wheeler [2025-2026]
  • Clerk: The Revd Sarah Moore [2030]
  • Honorary Treasurer: Mr Alan Yates [2029]
  • Business Committee Convenor: Mrs Irish Sirmons [2029]

The Business Committee has strategic and operational oversight of the work of General Assembly and Assembly Executive, including at times working under its delegated authority.

  • Convenor: Mrs Irish Sirmons (2029)
  • Secretary: The Revd Dr John Bradbury (The General Secretary)

Paper A1 of the 2025 Book of Reports explains that new members are to be appointed to this committee with the expectation that the recruitment will be completed by late autumn 2025. Until that point, General Assembly has delegated authority to take any necessary urgent decisions to:

  • Convenor: Mrs Sarah Lane Cawte (Mission Focus - 2027)
  • Secretary: The Revd Jenny Mills (Deputy General Secretary - Faith in Action)

Ministries Committee is responsible for the Ministry of Word and Sacraments, Church Related Community Work, Assembly Accredited Lay Preaching, Assembly Accredited Lay Pioneering, Eldership and Stepwise, together with such other ministries and learning programmes as may from time to time be entrusted to it by the General Assembly. Through its main committee and sub-committees, it is concerned with facilitating the ministry of the whole people of God in the United Reformed Church by promoting the policies of the Church, advocating ministry in its widest sense, supporting ministry in its varied forms, and facilitating formation, training, learning and development throughout the life of the Church.

  • Convenor: Ms Elizabeth Hall (2030) subject to AE appointment
  • Secretary: The Revd Nicola Furley-Smith (Deputy General Secretary - Ministries)

Download the Ministries Committee Terms of Reference (PDF | 129kb)

The resources committee has key responsibilities across a number of interlinked and interdependent operational areas of the denomination - including Finance, Compliance, Central properties, Church House operations, Database, Website and Human Resources.

  • Convenor: The Revd Michael Hopkins (2028)
  • Secretary: Mrs Victoria James (The Chief Operating Officer)

Download: Resources Committee Terms of Reference (Word | 56kb)

Pensions Committee is a sub committee of Resources Committee. Pensions Committee works with the Ministers Pension Fund Board on matters relating to the Ministers Pension, and manages the relationship between the Church and external pension providers, AON and TPT.

  • Convenor: The Revd Dr Janet Tollington (2030)
  • Secretary: Pensions Manager

Download: Pensions Committee Terms of Reference (Word | 42kb)

Remuneration Committee is a sub committee of Resources Committee and handles matters relating to lay staff salaries and benefits including considering role evaluations, and costs of living rises.

  • Convenor: Mr William McVey
  • Secretary: Mrs Maxine Parker (Head of People & Benefits)

Download: Remuneration Committee Terms of Reference (Word | 27kb)

The safeguarding committee monitors the implementation of the URC Safeguarding Policy Statement as agreed by the General Assembly, and makes recommendations to Assembly Executive and General Assembly as appropriate. It does this by monitoring compliance against the safeguarding policy across churches and synods and devising strategies to address identified weaknesses. The committee additionally advises on training and good practice guidance, ensuring that the denomination is aware of current safeguarding legislation and reporting responsibilities, and forging strong relationships with ecumenical partners to foster a robust safeguarding framework.

  • Convenor: The Revd Roger Jones (2026)
  • Secretary: Ms Sharon Barr (Designated Safeguarding Lead)

The Church Life Fund is a transformative commitment across the United Reformed Church, providing over £3 million a year to equip local churches to do what they do best: being close to their neighbourhoods with open doors, open hearts, and open minds.

  • Convenor: The Revd Phillip Brooks (until 2029)
  • Secretary: Mr Myles Dunnett (Director of Strategy and Programming)

Download Church Life Fund Committee Terms of Reference (PDF | 198kb)

This committee addresses issues of faith and order on behalf of the URC, advising the Church’s officers and committees and responding to concerns raised throughout the Church. It participates in ecumenical discussions, and publishes occasional materials related to faith and order questions.

  • Convenor: The Revd Dr Robert Pope (until 2030)
  • Secretary: The Revd Andy Braunston (The Minister for Digital Worship)
  • Email: [email protected]

This committee nominates to Assembly people to convene and to serve on all Assembly committees, suggests names of URC representatives on external and ecumenical bodies and proposes names for appointment groups for synod moderators and certain central staff.

  • Convenor: Mrs Victoria Blunt (until 2028)
  • Secretary: The Revd Jenny Mills (Deputy General Secretary for Faith in Action)

To find out more, visit the Nominations Committee page

Documents

  • Convenor: Mr Richard Nunn (2027)
  • Secretary: Mr John Sampson (Chief Finance Officer)

List of Committess

United Reformed Church