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 2026)
• Co-Secretary: The Revd Andy Braunston
• Co-Secretary: Lindsey Brown
• 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)

Documents

• Download the latest Nominations List July 2023 (PDF | 65kb)

This committee considers the cases of ministers who are referred to it, usually by synods, often at times of difficulty. It also deals with welfare and emergency matters including the use of welfare funds. Its work is necessarily confidential and is reported in general terms only, directly to the General Assembly.

• Convenor: The Revd Dr Elizabeth Welch (2027)
• Secretary: Deputy General Secretary (Discipleship)

This committee works with the whole Church to encourage growth in discipleship, evangelism and witness, and to focus our task of ‘being Christ’s people, transformed by the Gospel, making a difference to the world’ (General Assembly 2007). The committee therefore seeks to support local churches in their mission and evangelism, and to sustain and develop the Church’s external relationships. It brings together the work of ecumenical, international and interfaith relations, racial justice and intercultural ministries, and public affairs (church and society). It oversees Commitment for Life, through which the URC contributes to international development, attends to the sending and receiving of mission personnel, particularly through the Council for World Mission, and seeks to support our people in their interfaith contact and conversation.

• Convenor: Sarah Lane Cawte (until 2028)
• Deputy Convenor: The Revd Wilbert Sayimani (2027)

The committee is responsible for the ministry of word and sacraments, church related community work, eldership and lay preaching. It oversees admissions, numbers and accreditation of new personnel, central care and conditions of service, chaplaincies in industry, colleges and universities and the armed forces, and the Special Category Ministry scheme. It has concern for the pastoral support of people who serve in all these spheres, and for their supervision, appraisal and accountability.

• Convenor: The Revd Mary Thomas (2026)
• Secretary: Secretary for Ministries

The committee encourages and enables relevant training and learning throughout the whole Church. To this end it seeks to influence the ways we think about learning and the ways we do it, the content of courses, and the deployment of resources. It supports and helps other Assembly committees and the synods in training and development matters and it also maintains oversight of the initial and continuing development of ministers of word and sacraments, CRCWs and lay preachers.

• Convenor: Pippa Hodgson (2027)
• Secretary: Secretary for Education and Learning

This committee supports, encourages and promotes work among children and families, young people and young adults. It gives oversight to URC Children and URC Youth, and provides a programme of opportunities, resources and events with the support of Synod Children's and Youth Development Officers (CYDO) and other lead staff. It works to facilitate the involvement of children and young people at every level throughout the church.

• Convenor: The Revd Samantha Sheehan (until 2028)
• Secretary: Head of Children's and Youth Work

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)
• Designated Safeguarding Lead

The committee plans and budgets for meetings of the URC’s General Assembly and of its executive body, the Assembly Executive. It is responsible for practical arrangements and for the planning and ordering of business.

• Convenor: The Revd Mark Robinson (2025)
• Secretary: General Secretary

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

It has replaced a number of other committees that now fall under the resources committee remit – including the Finance, Communications, Church House Management Group, and the Human Resources Advisory Group.

• Convenor: The Revd Michael Hopkins (2028)

The role and remit of the equalities committee is to remind the denomination that equality is enshrined in its theology, life and work – and to challenge the practice of the URC Church where appropriate. The committee does this by developing detailed equalities policies and monitoring their implementation and effectiveness, reporting regularly to General Assembly. It also has oversight of training programmes in inclusion and equalities.

• Convenor: The Revd Naison Hove (2026)
• Secretary: The Revd David Salsbury (2027)

• Convenor: The Revd Dr Janet Tollington (2026)
• Secretary: Pensions Manager

• Convenor: Mr William McVey
• Secretary: Deputy General Secretary (Administration and Resources)

• Convenor: Mr Richard Nunn (2026)
• Secretary: Ms Sandi Hallam-Jones