The Revd Lindsey Sanderson led worship on the last morning of General Assembly 2023. The Revd Yufen Chen read Ephesians 4. Assembly then sang a hymn written specially by the Revd Dominic Grant in response to the discussions of the last four days.
Session ten
Moderator-Elect 2023-2024 acceptance speech
“Have we not seen assembly charting a clear course to uphold the dignity and integrity of humankind in all its multi-faceted, colour-filled, relational wonder?”
So began the acceptance speech by the Revd Timothy Meadows, Moderator-Elect for the office of the United Reformed Church General Assembly Moderator 2024-2025.
“The United Reformed Church continues to embrace a diverse creation. Calling the church to be and practise the ways of grace. In short, we respond to the Spirit’s beckoning; what does it mean to love as God loves? We have chosen to be a witness by speaking compassionately into the fear and division of this world. More than that, we have not limited our witness to the secular. The wider church is invited to step beyond borders to encounter a fully exalted humanity in Jesus who took the form of a servant not bound by power and privilege.
“What does it mean to love like God loves, in our assembly, councils, synods and local churches? I am looking forward to walking that direction of travel with you in the next few years. As God’s covenanting and covenanted people.
“I am honoured and already feel the weight of this new adventure. I accept your call to be
Moderator of General Assembly 2024 – 2025. I look forward to the chance to meet and listen to you. Let’s all keep travelling together, lift God’s people up and recognise the Christ among us. Please, I ask for your prayers and guidance with big doses of grace. My sincerest thanks to you all.
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.
The Revd Timothy Meadows
Nominated by the Mersey Synod, Tim comes from an Appalachian-mountain family in the USA. He studied history and music at Bethany Lutheran College in Lindsborg, Kansas and then completed post graduate theological education at Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
He grew up in a non-denominational congregational church which believed a personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ was very important.
He 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 served as a Case Management Supervisor at AID Atlanta until 1995 and his work was focussed on children and families living with HIV/AIDS as well as providing pastoral care for the dying and bereaved, before accepting a call to begin a new congregation in Memphis, Tennessee, focussed on advocacy and providing a witness for peace and justice.
He acted 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.
In Autumn 2014, he accepted the call to serve Allerton, Stoneycroft, St. Stephen’s United Reformed Churches in Liverpool. In Mersey Synod, he has served with Synod Executive, in its Ministries Committee and has been a representative to Mission Council and the General Assembly.
Nationally, he has been a member of the Faith and Order Committee and am presently an URC ecumenical representative to the Church of England.
Tim and his partner Chris, with a bulldog called Winnie, have been together for twenty-eight years, and married for thirteen. They have two grown children who live in the USA.
Miscellaneous items
Resolution: Moderator of Synod of Scotland
The Revd Adrian Bulley, Deputy General Secretary (Discipleship) announced that the Nominating Group was unanimous in its decision to nominate the Revd Lindsey Sanderson as the next Moderator of the National Synod of Scotland. Adrian shared that the groups was “hugely impressed with the gifts and graces that Lindsey brings”.
Paper B1 CYWC: Recognition of Children’s, Youth and Family Ministry
Presented by the Revd Paul Robinson and Dr Sam Richards, Paper B1 set out the broad context and landscape of the church’s children’s and youth work ministry.
By outlining how around 83% of people at Assembly would have been introduced to faith in Jesus before the age of 25, and how many remain a part of the Church for the rest of their lives.
Paul emphasised how important children’s and youth ministry is, with more than 30,000 children and young people with a connection, in some form, to local URC congregations. Although this may seem large, it also represents decline. There’s not many with more young people connected with them compared to five, 10, 20 years ago.
In addition to this, the paper outlines that there is a large number of “unsung heroes” fulfilling a vital and fruitful ministry. The underlying consideration behind Resolutions 11-13 is how best can those working in this ministry be acknowledged and valued, and how best can they be encouraged to explore their call and gifts?
Resolution 11 then invites General Assembly to recognise and celebrate the ministry of the 6,000 or so individuals who volunteer regularly in our churches with children, young people and families.
Resolution 12 invites General Assembly to acknowledge the ministry of those children’s, youth and family leaders within local churches – by this the paper means those who offer a strategic leadership role within local churches. This is often a volunteer or an employed children’s or family worker. For example, it was acknowledged how Yorkshire Synod has developed, with the Ministries Committee, a recognition and accreditation scheme for such individuals that highlights and recognises standards of experience, qualifications and work, much like the equivalent ‘Locally Recognised Worship Leader’ scheme.
Training opportunities have been developed with Youthscape and other avenues are being sought.
Resolution 11 passed and then a lively debate took place around Resolution 12 which included points around the level of accreditation; concern around Synods developing their own schemes, and whether it would not be best to have a similar standard across Synods; the word family being difficult to some people.
Paul and Sam addressed these points after which Resolution 12 passed unanimously.
Resolution 13 asks General Assembly to discern and give a clear steer, on a matter of principle on what God is saying in regard to whether the denomination should consider introducing a new, formally recognised ministry that would sit alongside that of Ministers of Word and Sacraments and Church Related Community Workers or not.
Paul outlined the benefits and challenges of offering such a formal ministry such as enabling Synods to plan strategically and respond to places and contexts and recognised training and professional development versus potential conflict for existing workers and the potential to create an unhealthy hierarchy. Paul explained how it will take time and energy and involve the work of several General Assembly committees to develop even a proposal, and if this is not of God and would later be disregarded by Assembly, this would be a significant waste of resource at a time when our resources and capacity are being stretched.
Paul explained that the wording of Resolution 13 is such so that Assembly could provide a clear steer by either supporting or rejecting the resolution. If the resolution was supported, the Children’s and Youth Work Committee will work with other committees to explore what would be needed to develop a formal ministry and bring proposals back to General Assembly 2024. If the resolution does not attract support, the committee will still support the work of all those within the church who work amongst children, young people and families.
Some called the paper exciting and that it would hopefully address the lack of workers, staff or volunteers in this area; others queried what else would the Church spend its money on, that it was right to spend money on developing ministry for children, the age of which most come to learn about faith.
The paper was remaindered and returned in session ten where Paul thanked all for their contributions to the discussion phase of the presentation of the paper and further talks. In light of those discussions, Paul presented an amended version of the resolution which now reads:
That General Assembly is minded that there should be a formal ministry of URC Children’s Youth and/or Family Minister and asks the Children’s and Youth Work Committee, the Ministries Committee and the Education and Learning Committee to consider what would be needed to introduce such a ministry and bring proposals to General Assembly 2024.
Assembly showed they were in favour of the amendment, which was then passed.
Paper N1/N2a Church Life review – Introducing “the story and principles”
The Revd Dr John Bradbury, URC General Secretary, introduced the first of several sessions addressing the findings of the Church Life Review Group (CLRG). The CLRG was established by the 2021 General Assembly to examine the structures, resources, and work of the denomination. “We see the Church as facing a Kairos moment”, the group reported, “where it has an opportunity to try different ways of being the Church and bring new energy to its mission”. The key question that formed itself for the CLRG was: “What enables local United Reformed Churches to flourish, and how might the United Reformed Church most effectively use the financial resources it has to enable that flourishing?” (This question is also the theme of a discrete resource produced by the group for prayer, study and reflection: Flourishing Churches through Good Governance.)
Dr Bradbury reflected on the great changes that have happened within the life of the URC, and society, over the past 51 years, and the sense that the world is so different it can feel like we are in exile. He quoted words of Jeremiah (29: 5-7), in which the prophet encourages the exiles from Jerusalem to plant gardens, and build new homes and relationships in the place they now find themselves. Dr Bradbury said the group had set out to plant seeds and propose strands of work that could take the group’s findings forward. The CLRG had not tried to set a Church-wide mission strategy but, instead, produced some resources, research and evidence “to help us shape our discernment here about what we do next”. The process was framed by the URC’s belief that primarily the mission of the Church is discerned and lived out locally, in ways appropriate to the immediate context of a congregation. In a Church short of people, how can financial resources best be stewarded to give local congregations the human resources they require to flourish.
One way in which the concept of flourishing was explored was through the URC’s partnership with the think tank Theos. Noting that the CLRG’s job had not been to make decisions for the Church but to engage in deep and careful listening, Victoria Turner introduced Dr Nathan Mladin, senior researcher at Theos, and author of The United Reformed Church: a paradoxical Church at a crossroads (available as a downloadable PDF). He said that one of his report’s most striking findings was the commitment of local congregations to their communities. Outreach embedded in the community, researchers found, is the number one priority for 71% of congregations – ahead of pastoral care. The report’s authors also perceived a culture of listening, inclusivity and discernment in the URC, and Dr Mladin held up as two notable examples what he called “the institutional space” made for young people, and the work of CRCWs.
Dr Mladin said that barriers to flourishing include “congregational overstretch”. The Church’s volunteer base is ageing and thinning – getting increasingly tired: a threat to thriving and future growth. This was also seen as related to a reduction in ministerial support; whereas churches that are doing well are those where ministers have been present for a long time, “growing with their congregation”. Covid was mentioned as having an impact on church life, and on finances (e.g. where premises are hired out). Buildings, said Dr Mladin, are both “a blessing and a curse” – frequently a precious gift to the wider community, but also often large, old, and no longer fit for purpose.
On the URC’s structures, the Theos report reinforces the CLRG’s overall finding that “our existing structures are failing us”. They are perceived as overly bureaucratic, and the research revealed a “communicative disconnect” between local congregations, synods and Church House.
Finally, Dr Mladin suggested three pathways to flourishing that the URC might consider:
- Recover a holistic understanding of mission
- Raise up catalytic leaders/mission enables/pioneers
- Ramp up discipleship
Questioned about the sample size for his research, Dr Mladin said that the data is based on 402 questionnaire responses, regarded as statistically healthy number. He was also asked whether the Church has lost touch with the “Trinitarian relationality” that informs our own relationships but said this was not an area covered by the report.
The Revd Steve Faber spoke to the question of finances, to the experiences of local congregations, and the wider issue of sharing resources. He said anecdotal evidence confirms that the URC is an aging denomination, where small congregations have limited capacity within the existing membership to manage an increasingly complex compliance culture. The CLRG’s Flourishing Churches through Good Governance resource pack invites each local church to consider “the particular pressure points that are affecting their ability to be effective in worship and witness in their own local context”. For some, the answer might be to let go of their premises – perhaps moving from a Victorian church building into somebody’s living room.
Mr Faber was clear that the pack is not a “how-to” manual on closing small churches but, nevertheless, many churches are struggling to meet the requirements of charity legislation, which includes appointing the legally required number of office holders. “We think this is a bad witness as well as being a significant reputational and legal risk to the Church.”
Mr Faber also touched on questions of money, which have been addressed in detail by Moore Kingston Smith Nonprofit Advisory. They have produced a combined financial analysis of synods and General Assembly, after mapping accounting across the URC’s 14 legal entities and 13 synods. Mr Faber noted that the denomination as a whole has resources to the value of one-third of a billion pounds, but that much of this is either in the form of bricks and mortar or tied into long-term investments that provide the income which underpins day to day work.
He ended by saying the purpose of the Church is to draw disciples of Christ together, and equip it to go out and confidently share the Gospel. He suggested that “when we are so focussed on maintaining the local branch of an institution, rather than being a local expression of the Body of Christ … we have, to all intents and purpose, stopped being the Church.”
Dr Bradbury concluded this first presentation by the CLRG saying their report is a work in progress, containing proposals for future work. Specifically, focussed work needs done on sharing of resources, on how local churches can best be equipped by central support functions, and on developing models of employed lay work.
During a short time of questions, one speaker asked whether a desire for ecumenical relationships had perhaps weighted the report findings, and was there a danger that this might impact the URC’s own identity negatively? Mr Faber responded that it’s important to work together where we can, but he also observed that “tying two sinking ships together doesn’t make a life raft”. Dr Bradbury added that a lot of ecumenical work happens on the ground, where one-third of URC congregations are in Local Ecumenical Partnerships. At national level, the ecumenical map looks very different from when the URC was formed in 1972, but ecumenism nevertheless remains “part of our life force”.
Another speaker articulated the challenge of communicating the report’s findings to local congregations. Another suggested the report didn’t say enough about worship, to which Dr Bradbury responded that, after hours of interviews, hardly anything had been said about worship. He suggested that what was not heard in the Theos interviews is as important as what was. A final speaker welcomed the CLRG’s overall report, saying it asks what we do with what we’ve got, and not what should we do with what we haven’t got.
Church Life Review Group 2: Establishing the groundwork
Ms Victoria Turner, the Revd Steve Faber and the Revd Dr John Bradbury returned to the stage to begin presenting the CLRG’s resolutions to Assembly.
Asking Assembly to commend the five reflections on the theology of money for prayer, reflection and study, Ms Turner asked whether our financial resources are a blessing or a burden. She said, knowing what we have is important but how we offer them to God in worship and witness is more important still. Assembly accepted this resolution. Ms Turner then asked Assembly to commend the Theos report to local churches and synods for prayer, study and reflection. The resolution was accepted.
Mr Faber asked Assembly to commend the resource Flourishing Churches. The Revd Simon Walkling, Wales Synod, asked whether the report was available in a format appropriate for older congregations; whether the CLRG accepted that we operate as family units rather than parts of an organisation; and whether enough consideration had been given to how the report would be shared by synods. He sensed a “veiled threat” in the suggestion that synods could take control of local assets. He asked how a synod might take control of a church’s assets if the church is unwilling to hand them over. Mr Faber responded by saying that work would be done on the format of the report; he felt enough work had been done on acknowledging the deep family ties felt by local congregations; and he said the report encourages conversations with local churches, rather than threatening a takeover.
Jo Harris, a former Youth Assembly Moderator, asked how children could be involved in decision-making around this subject. Mr Faber acknowledged there isn’t anything specific in the report on this, but (noting the 2022 resolution encouraging churches to hear the voices of children) hoped that this would be part of local discussions.
Dr Bradbury said one recurring theme within the CLRG’s consultations had been a quiet underlying conversation about the place of synods within the denominations. He said there are still those who lament the loss of District Councils. Others wanted synods to be abolished, arguing that the URC is now so small that everything should be centralised. However, he believed that synods are “vital sinews” that hold local churches together. “If we need economies of scale, we believe that is much more a question about Trust Companies, not about the ecclesial vocation of oversight and support to local churches in their mission, ministry and evangelism.” Assembly agreed with the CLRG that the role of synods should be affirmed.
Mr Faber spoke to the values and principles the CLRG recommended to underpin future use and sharing of financial resources across synods and the General Assembly, bearing in mind appropriate charity law and other regulations. These were listed in Resolution 47. He said, it is not good enough to continue to build up reserves for a rainy day. “… the Church is not facing a brief shower but a prolonged downpour, and the roof is full of holes. We believe that we cannot afford to keep saving, and we need to start spending our reserves – wisely and carefully – in order to provide for the work of the Church.”
In response to a question, Mr Faber said that the “wise and careful decision-making” would be made by those committees under whose remit the spending would fall.
A speaker from the synod of Wales felt Assembly was being presented with segments of the report “to tick”, without being given an opportunity to debate whether the values and principles were in fact those of the URC. Mr Faber replied that this was the opportunity for such debate. The proposed values and principles had been arrived at out of a long process of discussion but there was no intention to stifle debate at Assembly. The same questioner also queried the appropriateness of using the image of “family” for the URC, given the complexity of modern families. Mr Faber accepted the point but noted that being part of the URC is itself complex and sometimes difficult – just like being part of a family. Regarding finances, Dr Bradbury noted that the Assembly is “perilously close” to the limit of its reserve funds (it is required to hold a certain level of funds to cover e.g. pension guarantees). Funds raised by the sale of redundant properties go to synods, not to Assembly funds.
In the end, the values and principles were accepted unanimously.
Resolution 48 asked for the appointment of a task group on resource sharing, to report to the 2024 Assembly. Mr Faber said, our structures don’t encourage sharing between synods where, for wider economic reasons, one synod may have accrued a large amount of reserves while another was cash poor. A task group would look at how to remove barriers in order to facilitate financial support across synod boundaries. In response to a question, Mr Faber said that being part of an LEP or other area wouldn’t preclude a congregation from making decisions in response to URC principles. One speaker asked about the make-up of the proposed task group; Mr Faber said that funding had been found to bring proper legal and financial advice into such a group.
Another speaker asked about the scope of the work – would it encourage local churches to share with other local churches in a comparable way? Mr Faber said “we would love them to”; however, in the Assembly setting, it was only feasible to aim such a resolution towards synods.
The Moderator of Eastern Synod, the Revd Lythan Nevard said: “The URC is not fair; the fact that we’ve not done this before is something we should repent of, but now we’re here – hallelujah!” The Moderator of Thames North, one of the wealthiest synods, concurred. He hoped the work wouldn’t be too complicated and could move as fast as possible. The resolution was passed unanimously.
Assembly was next asked to empower the Business Committee, in consultation with the Nominations Committee, to set up a task group to explore ways in which the URC might offer consistent, locally accessible support functions for local churches in areas including (e.g.) finance; property; health and safety; human resources; and safeguarding. After some debate, an amendment to the resolution, saying the group would ideally report to the 2024 General Assembly, went to a counted vote. The resolution was passed: 126 in favour; 54 against.
In passing, Dr Bradbury noted that setting this and other work in progress “is the easy part”. Once the various proposed working groups report back, then very hard decisions will have to be made. He raised the possibility of an extraordinary General Assembly to address such tough choices.
One speaker welcomed the way that the resolutions under scrutiny were hanging together in a way that encourages collaboration and sharing. He and others cautioned that this work has to be done well – and Dr Bradbury agreed. It was not just about setting up websites with online information, he said; “the support we need has to be local and has to be human”. He also addressed the question of liabilities of trustees – something that prevents some people stepping up as post-holders. He proposed the idea of providing indemnity, but this was a topic for further conversation. One speaker asked, should sharing policies also incorporate deployment strategies? Dr Bradbury accepted the idea but recognised that it would involve resolving the different ways synods operate deployment.
PLATO is a grouping of Property, Legal and Trust Officers. They used to provide a handbook (no longer updated) that local congregations could source for advice, procedures and best practice. The CLRG proposed that an online replacement be set up; and that there be capacity to do the liaising with synods to ensure that proposed PLATO policies are ones for which each synod is prepared to carry liability. Muna Levan-Harris from Thames North said that a good deal of consultation and discernment with the 13 synods would be required in order to consolidate different regional approaches on any given topic into a single policy.
Finally, Ms Turner asked Assembly to accept Resolution 51, which would set up a working group to examine models of, and infrastructure to support, employed lay work, and to ask how mission and ministry could be encouraged in the development of new URC communities of discipleship and worship. She said: “we are overly reliant on volunteers, and our ministers of Word and Sacrament are stretched”. Exploring the kinds of lay employment needed would have major operational implications, so would require to be resourced well. Potential funds are available to support thorough, focussed research and consideration. Responding to questions, Dr Bradbury said this work wouldn’t re-invent that already being done by the Ministries committee on lay ministry; and that such employed lay work might evolve out of contexts that are not formal church communities. It was later agreed that the Mission and Discipleship Departments would engage with taking this work forward.
Some speakers felt there was insufficient clarity about what was meant by ministry and leadership in local churches; was ministry of Word and Sacrament to be included, for example? Dr Bradbury agreed that it is an uncomfortable reality to say that we can’t exercise ordained ministry fully and need lay people to do some of it for us. Nevertheless, he said, it’s important to provide the structures to enable such a possibility. The proposal was later amended to refer to “lay work”, with a recognition that the working group will need to consider how new lay roles are structured and managed.
Church Life Review Group 3: Creating new structures
Turning to Paper N2 – “Church Life review Structures” – the Revd Steve Faber reiterated that our committee structures are struggling. Around 450-500 individuals are required to fill URC committees. Resolution 52 presented principles which would underpin decisions about committee structures. These would include an aim of reducing the number of committees to create a structure proportionate to the current size of the URC. He noted, for example, that we have experts doing some of our work for us who don’t necessarily require committees to direct them.
Why reduce the number of committees, asked one youth representative, rather than widening the pool from which members can be drawn? Mr Faber said we almost have more people on committees than the number doing the work, so this was about “right-sizing” for the size of denomination. He also acknowledged that it is important for committees to have young people represented, but they also have to be representative of the entire Church membership.
The Convenor of Education and Learning, Mr Alan Yates, asked whether consideration had been given to the processing of business in preparation for General Assembly, given committees already struggle to prepare reports and information. Dr Bradbury said that the implications of the proposed restructuring were still unfolding; however, he thought committees might need to be more intentional in the future about the planning of their work, with some work ready to present and other work still in progress.
Responding to questions about “scalability”, Mr Faber said that though the Church’s membership is reducing quite rapidly at present, “that’s not an inevitability” – and so if work grows in certain areas, then the committee structure can be grown again accordingly. The presenters were asked whether committees might not receive more aid if it was easier to find out what they were doing. Dr Bradbury said communication is always a live issue; reports to General Assembly are an important source of information, and so is the always-evolving website.
Mr Yates felt that “we are doing organisational work before we’ve done process design”. By reducing the number of committees, there will be fewer convenors and secretaries, so who was going to do the work? Mr Faber said the CLRG was proposing a framework within which more discussion could take place.
One speaker asked queried the proposal that “General Assembly will only exercise the functions of the life of the Church that are more appropriately carried out at local or synod level”. What is the Assembly doing at the moment that could be done at local or synod level, she asked. A former moderator said that there needs to be a culture change within local congregations as well as Assembly – they need to articulate their perspective more clearly, and committee structures need to be such, in order that the Church’s work can grow from grass roots rather than be top-down.
A representative who described himself as “a grumpy old Calvinist” – pointed out that the present report didn’t talk about Jesus; and that the Theos report only mentioned Jesus five times (two of which were invitations to talk about Jesus!). He said he warmly embraced the CLRG’s proposals “if they give us more time to talk about Jesus”.
The URC Youth Equalities and Diversity Representative was concerned about the potential reduction of opportunities for young people to be involved in with committee life of the Church. Ms Victoria Turner replied, saying the CLRG’s proposals don’t question the wealth of talent within the URC, but that we are still working within structures inherited from 1972; and it was important to refocus on the local church. She reaffirmed the ability of Youth Assembly to feed directly into General Assembly. Mrs Helen Lidgett also noted that a later resolution would instruct URC Youth (and others) to appoint a “Nominations Champion” responsible for “assisting with the dissemination of opportunities for service within their respective networks”. Resolution 52 was passed by Assembly.
Resolution 53 proposed amendments to the composition of the Business Committee. There was a range of questions about the amendments, and some pastoral concern for the amount of work being asked of what is a relatively small committee. Dr Bradbury confirmed that an “independent convenor” wouldn’t be the Moderator and would be distinct from other members of the committee. He confirmed that those overseeing the business of Assembly are also expressing strategic oversight of the wider life of the Church; and he addressed the pastoral concern by saying that, though this was something to keep an eye on, the Business Committee was currently being asked to remit a lot of work to other working groups, which seemed to be a manageable task.
Representatives of URC Youth expressed their concern that appointees to the Business Committee (“normally under 26”) might reach an age over 26, the cut-off age for membership of URC Youth – and so their ability to represent the Church’s Youth would become restricted. Their concern was echoed by the Revd Sally Foster-Fulton, Moderator of the Church of Scotland, who quoted a saying of Scotland’s Poverty Truth Commission: “Nothing about us, without us, is for us”. Dr Bradbury said he would welcome an amendment, which the Clerk to General Assembly then presented; it ensures that one Business Committee representative “shall be a member of URC Youth” (for the duration of their term). On a vote, the amendment, and the resolution as a whole, was accepted.
Resolution 54 proposed a new process for managing nominations to URC committees. Dr Bradbury said it is vital to incorporate the new principles and values brought by the CLRG into that process. He said we need to have ways that are deeper and wider of drawing on the gifts and graces across the denomination. The CLRG proposed a more focussed nominations committee that will manage the process; a wider network of advocates to encourage people to put their names forward; and the responsibility for drawing up job descriptions and person specifications to be delegated to the appointing committees themselves. The present secretary and convenor of the Nominations Committee, Mrs Helen Lidgett and Margaret Marshall, expressed the strong support for the resolution’s proposals. The resolution was passed unanimously.
A resolution to review the Assembly’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work was brought by Ms Turner. Dr Bradbury asked for the group to be kept small – three skilled members only – but it was minuted that the young people would be listened to carefully and be central to the process. Mr Faber asked for the Faith and Order Committee to be given additional responsibility for worship, adding sincere thanks for the current Worship Reference Group, which would now be dissolved. The Revd Neil Thorogood emphasised that we understand ourselves best in worship, and strongly supported drawing these areas of expertise together. Both resolutions were passed unanimously.
Dr Bradbury withdrew Resolution 58. With the Assembly’s agreement, Mr Faber then asked for Resolutions 59-61 to be merged, proposing the creation of a Resources Committee that will bring together responsibility for the work relating to Church House management, Communications, Finance and Human Resources, which are currently looked after by separate committees. The new resolution also added optional time for the Nominations Committee to bring nominations for the new committee. The Assembly agreed this “in principle” proposal.
Paper E2 – Equalities Committee: Affirming the human dignity of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people
Following a consultation with its facilitation group, General Assembly:
- affirmed the human dignity of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming (GNC) people and asserts their right, within and beyond the URC, to live without threat of violence and hatred;
- committed to furthering the church’s understanding of, and pastoral care for transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people in the church, both locally and across the denomination and requests the Equalities Committee to facilitate this;
- recognised the church’s failure to challenge the assumptions and patterns of behaviour which lead to transphobia and acknowledges that church sometimes perpetuates these patterns;
- supported the right of all to receive affirming non-directive support and healthcare, and to express their sexuality, gender and identity without coercion or the fear thereof.
During the debate on the previous day, General Assembly was reminded that the Revd Clare Downing, as Moderator of General Assembly 2020-2022, endorsed a letter, produced by church leaders, arguing that trans, non-binary and GNC people should be included in the government’s planned ban on conversion therapy.
The Revd Jayne Taylor told Assembly that in 2022, St Columba’s United Reformed Church in Oxford, was the first church in the UK to appoint an outreach worker for the trans, intersex and gender non-conforming communities – Chrissie Chevasutt, funded by the local church, the Wessex Synod Trust, the Legacies Fund and Discipleship Development Fund of the United Reformed Church.
The Revd Jo Clare-Young, representing the Equalities Committee, addressed the Assembly: “I am sure members of Assembly already know that they will never look into the eyes of someone God does not love, that they will never meet someone who is not made in the image of Christ.
“Sometimes though it is needful to remind ourselves and society that a certain group of human beings are just that human – deserving of the love and dignity that we are called to show one another, and that is what this resolution seeks to do.”
In a safe space unstreamed session, one representative shared that: “This is a profoundly important resolution at General Assembly. You are we are because you are. These are not contentious words, these are words that hold us together.”
“This is just like racism, we need to be careful about our language, that doesn’t condemn people,” said another. “This will provide life changing support.”
A minister shared that they had a friend who was at the time transitioning who also babysat her children. They helped them to grow with a healthy attitude to gender: “My daughter has an attitude to gender that blows my mind.”
Another shared that their welcome into the URC was “vibrant, loving and embracing.”
“Even though we’re theologically different, my Moderator and I respect one another. Please remember that we’re all human beings created by God and already in the church, that we love you, and like to think that you love us back.”
After the safe space closed session finished, there were questions on the floor about the definition of the word transphobia, and a reminder that that are those who hold a traditional view of sexuality, and that the breadth of the church won’t agree with it all aspects of the resolution.
Chrissie Chevasutt offered the Assembly opportunities for further conversations with her.
On Monday, John McNeil Scott explained the facilitation group’s revisions included the Crown Prosecution Service definition of transphobia as “any incident / criminal offence which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender.” This definition was removed from the revised resolution.
Assembly voted to take the resolution in parts.
There were several reservations by other representatives on both days about the lack of reference to those who have detransitioned (defined as the cessation or reversal of a transgender identification or gender transition, whether by social, legal, or medical means).
The resolution, taken in parts, was all carried.
“Obviously this is not a comfortable place to be,” Fiona Bennett said. “Conflict is also a gift because with conflict is energy, which offers us the opportunity to hear something new. We see what we can learn from each other. It has been the will of Assembly that we address this resolution at this General Assembly. We should allow this energy to create not to destroy, using the power of God’s spirit.”
Paper G5 – Finance and Ministries: Stipendiary Ministers Target Numbers
Ian Hardy, Treasurer, explained that over the past 20 years the committee has tried to find ways of identifying what has been affordable. However, by 2021 it had become clear that membership number movements were a very imperfect proxy for changes in the level of M&M giving as opposed to using M&M giving itself.
Between 2012 and 2020 membership numbers had dropped by an average of roughly 4.7% each year but but M&M giving had dropped at a much slower rate, averaging 1.4%. In 2016, General Assembly learned of the results of some work undertaken jointly by Ministries and Finance Committee to project both the target number of stipendiary ministers, which the 2012 policy indicated could be afforded, and the actual number of stipendiary ministers predicted to be available for service for the years down to 2025.
Going forward, the trend of M&M giving is now thought to be affordable. A proposal was brought to General Assembly in 2021 to pause using the previous policy, because the impact that was going to be felt by the team’s expenditure was going to affect the numbers of ministers already on stipendiary, let alone those needed to be recruited.
This year, because of the work that’s been ongoing over the past two years in regard to the work around pensions, there’s been limited time to get finance in a position with clear details of the proposed way forward. The paper asks for another 12 months to rectify this.
Amendments were proposed to the resolution adding the words in italics.
General Assembly resolves that going forward the target number of stipendiary ministers should be set so that the direct cost of supporting the ministry from the Assembly budget moves in line with the most recent changes in M&M giving, which are known before the start of each relevant year plus 10%, known before the start of each relevant year. The extra 10% to be achieved by encouraging Synods and local churches to pass on a proportion of the proceeds from sales of redundant manses and churches into the M&M Fund.
The main aim of the paper asks General Assembly to consider replacement of the existing (suspended) policy for calculating the target number of stipendiary ministers and the timing of making such a change so as to ensure that Ministries is not deploying more minsters than can be afforded. The proposals also seek to not have to cut the number of ministers dramatically in order to safeguard the M&M Fund.
After a lively debate, Assembly agreed that more thought needed to go into the amendments and that a facilitation group would be the best way to explore this and to report back later.
The paper was discussed again in session ten where John McNeil Scott said the facilitation group was presenting a new resolution, 24a, which sought to find a way in which the ambition for growth could be captured without transferring risk or making promises where there was no money.
Subsequently, a 24a resolution read:
General Assembly encourages synods not currently supporting the M&M Fund from synod resources to do so, as they are able and those already giving such support to consider increasing the amount.
Resolution 24a was carried. Assembly then addressed Resolutions 24 and 25 both of which were also carried.
Paper G3 – Finance Committee: Retired Ministers Benevolent Fund
Assembly was going to be asked to encourage the Finance Committee to work with other to continue developing and resourcing a URC Retired Ministers’ Benevolent Fund. However, the Treasurer, Mr Ian Hardie, said he wished to withdraw the Resolution on this subject; instead, he had prepared a set of questions around how the Fund will be taken forward, for circulation around the denomination. For clarification, Dr Bradbury assured Assembly that the intention was to consult on how to help people; not whether people should be helped. Assembly agreed to taking this approach.
Address to the Throne
The Revd Clare Downing, immediate past Moderator of the General Assembly, presented the Address to the throne, to King Charles III saying:
“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.
“This is the first time that the General Assembly has met since your Accession to the Throne and Coronation. We assure you of our prayers as you undertake your new role and responsibilities.
“We value the historic right to make an Address to the Throne, and its recognition of this nation’s tradition of religious tolerance. Since becoming King, you have spoken of the importance of freedom of religion and belief, and pledged to protect the diversity of our country and the space for faith in our national life. We welcome and affirm you in this commitment.
“Many around the world do not enjoy this freedom. A record number of people have been forced to flee their homes to escape a fear of persecution because of what they believe or who they are, or because of conflict. The recent sinking of a boat of migrants in the Mediterranean with the loss of hundreds of lives was a tragic reminder of the vulnerable situations faced by many refugees. In this context, the General Assembly expressed its deep concern about current proposals from Your Majesty’s Government to prevent people from seeking asylum in the UK, as contrary “to our commitment to protecting human rights. When the Illegal Migration Bill was introduced to parliament, the Moderator of General Assembly joined other church leaders to observe that ‘If ever there was a contemporary example of ignoring our neighbour and walking by on the other side, this is it.’
“The call to love and serve our neighbours, locally and globally, is central to our understanding of what it is to be church. The General Assembly reflected on how to live out that calling in an ever-changing society as it discussed the results of a wide-ranging review of church life. It also considered the particular struggles that many in our communities are currently facing as a result of the rising cost of living and deepening levels of poverty in the UK. We are shamed and angered that despite our national wealth, unprecedented numbers have needed to use food banks and warm spaces over the last year. The General Assembly called upon political leaders to make tackling poverty a greater priority.
“As you repeatedly argued as Prince of Wales in recent years, the scale and nature of the challenges of economic inequalities and the climate emergency highlight the need for a paradigm shift in our economic system. In the sermon at your Coronation service, as the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke about the transformative Kingdom that Jesus Christ announced, he pointed out that “the privilege of power brings a duty to serve”. This applies to systems as much as it does to individuals. At a time when our economy holds such power over people’s lives and the life of the planet, it is vital that it serves and enables the flourishing of all life.
“That life of service is, of course, one to which you committed yourself at your Coronation, following the example of Jesus. As those who know the same calling upon our lives, we pray that the God who is love will strengthen, sustain and guide Your Majesty throughout your reign.”
Assembly agreed for the address to be sent to the King.
Moderator’s reflection
As she prepared to hand over to her successor, outgoing Moderator of the General Assembly the Revd Fiona Bennett shared some reflections on her year in the role.
Ms Bennett said she had discovered in a new way a great community of disciples. She had also encountered a wide range of mixed feelings, from acceptance and belonging within the URC to tiredness and a sense of deflation; compounded by the uncertainty facing our planet and institutions. But she felt that she could trust the people she met right across the denomination – not because they were perfect “but because we are whole”.
Ms Bennett had met a community of disciples who, though diverse and eclectic, she perceived as kin. She spoke about three discernible “family features” – which arise out of mission, shared leadership (“we’re a mucking in Church”), and connection.
She said that a call to mission locally and globally is a strong feature of URC kinship. However, though we can articulate why we do mission together, she didn’t think we’re very good at articulating why we worship together, and we need to learn how to do this better. How do we find the words to share our faith story that honestly share our experiences of living as disciples?
Speaking of “shared leadership”, Ms Bennett had developed a strong sense that local churches and individual post holders often believe themselves to be powerless. She said we need to make systems in just and healthy ways work for us to enable flourishing, and not simply feel suffocated by them. “I want to say to every local URC, we have the resources, we have the ability, we have the opportunity and we really and truly do have the permission and the power.”
There is “uncovered treasure” within the URC, she said, which she’d not previously appreciated: creativity, wisdom, compassion, skill, profound insight, a thirst for justice, astounding generosity, and a deep faith in the God we know in Jesus. But for a “mucking-in Church”, she said, as much as we are conciliar, we are not often very connected. We need to be attentive to each other, but it takes effort to do that. In local churches, and within our wider ecumenical relationships. Ms Bennett said we need to get to know each other much better and get to know what resources and opportunities exist throughout the Church, “so that in humility and grace and joy, we can trust and depend on each other to be the interdependent body of Christ, growing and reaching out in the world”.
In closing, Ms Bennett offered thanks to many individuals who have supported her during the year. And she recalled a conversation with Karen Campbell when she said that if her successor as Moderator was a Black woman, she would be beyond happy. “That my sister Tessa has been willing to take up this call and bring her wisdom and courage and grace to this role to serve us all… well, my cup overflows.”
Northern Synod
The Revd Kim Plumpton was officially greeted as the incoming Moderator of the Northern Synod.
Induction of Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson
The Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson has been inducted as the new Moderator of General Assembly. Her induction was part of a joyous closing act of worship led by Karen Campbell, chaplain to the Moderator. The outgoing Moderator, the Revd Fiona Bennett, led Assembly in prayer for Dr Henry-Robinson. The Bible reading was from Isaiah 41.
The Revd Stephen Ansa-Addo reminded members of Assembly that they were ‘saturated by God’s grace’. He invited them to celebrate, ‘participating in the divine dance’. He declared that the induction of Dr Henry-Robinson as Moderator was part of ‘the unfolding of God’s plan for our denomination’.
God’s grace, said Mr Ansa-Addo is a space of acceptance, restoration and vision. He offered the URC the example of Judi Oyama, the 63-year-old skateboarder – may we have the same fearlessness and willingness to take risk.
Reporting team: Andy Jackson, Ann-Marie Nye, Stephen Tomkins, and Laurence Wareing. Pictures by Chris Andrews.