Hotline

Welcome to the 2007 online edition of Assembly Hotline. Below you will find a record of the main events and decisions from the United Reformed Church General Assembly, which met at the University of Manchester on July 7th - 10th.

Every year a 2-sided A4 print version of Hotline is sent to Local churches. Click here if you would like to download a copy of this leaflet.

A summary of business from the Tuesday of Assembly appears below.

For a summary of Saturday’s business, please click here.
For Sunday's summary, please click here.
For Monday's business, please click here.
 

Tuesday 10th July

Peacebuilders Project

The Moderator introduced the work of Peacebuilders – Children for Peace, a Pilots, United Reformed Church, and Methodist initiative working together with others in India, that encourages children to explore the ingredients of peace and how to take steps towards it.

Assembly was asked to draw or write a message of peace to be distributed among the Synods. These messages were collected by Members of the Children’s Assembly and will be displayed at Autumn Synods.

Resolution 41 Heritage Lottery Funding

 

It was accepted, reluctantly, that some local churches will need to apply for Lottery funding, for the upkeep of church buildings listed as of historic interest. Whilst re-affirming its concern about the impact of the Lottery, General Assembly revised advice given in 1995, which urged churches and church members to disassociate themselves from it.

The Revd Simon Loveitt

Simon Loveitt, Convener of the Church and Society Committee, reminded Assembly that it had agreed last year that its stance on the Lottery should be reviewed. Whilst it was possible to obtain some other funding for Grade 1 listed buildings (Category A in Scotland), Lottery funding represented almost the only source of public money for those listed as Grade 2 – and most listed United Reformed churches were in this category.

He sought to reflect the range of views that were held about the issue. Some felt that Lottery funding was now effectively government funding and we harmed ourselves un-necessarily by standing on our conscience; others felt that Lottery money was often used for dubious purposes, so it would be better that some should be used for God’s work. Other denominations – by and large – had come to that conclusion. However, for some church members, the Lottery was gambling and gambling was a social evil that could blight the lives of gamblers and their families.

The Revd James Breslin, Assembly Clerk, said that before the 1995 resolution, his church had applied for a Lottery grant to do work on a building in a state of severe disrepair. The church had been restored, which meant it was able to do a huge amount of work in the centre of Newcastle. “I deplore the institution of the Lottery,” he said, “but as William Booth, founder of The Salvation Assembly once said, ‘give me your dirty money and I’ll clean it for you.”

The resolution accepting that some churches will need to make application for lottery funding for the upkeep, repair and alteration of listed church buildings and, in that respect, revising the 1995 advice to have nothing to do with the Lottery, was carried

Resolution 49 - Climate Change

Melanie Frew

Developed countries are a western-world minority. But our desire for a modern lifestyle has come at a cost, mainly being borne by the world’s poorer nations, said Melanie Frew, Convenor of the Commitment For Life sub-committee. She spoke of the world suffering from a fossil fuel “hangover” – but we were not the ones suffering. She said that during Assembly, each person present would consume as much energy as someone living in Mali did in a year.

Reducing our carbon footprint was not difficult. She suggested that small congregations might occasionally meet in someone’s home, rather than heating the church. Large churches could explore different means of heating and providing power for the building. The United Reformed Church should lead by example in ensuring a future for our children’s children.

The climate change resolution recognised that all of society, including the United Reformed Church, should shrink its carbon footprint and asked Church and Society to develop plans to cut carbon emissions across the whole Church. It also called upon local churches to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation to sustain and renew the life of the earth.

Speaking as a theologian, the Revd Dr Neil Messer said the contributions the church could make included the practice of repentance and the virtue of hope. When faced with a big problem like climate change, the church could either say there is nothing we can do, or fall into a furious activism that would exhaust us. We could offer the community a recognition and willingness that we’ve done things wrong in the past and need to do things new in the future. We could entrust the world to God’s living care and that would set us free. The resolution was carried.

To support the Christian Aid Cut the Carbon March petition text the word CUT to 84880.

Resolution 58 - Representation of Black and Minority Ethnic Constituencies

The resolution asked that, from 2010, Synods shall include not less than one, and preferably two representatives from black and minority ethnic constituencies. Where they were unable to fulfil this commitment, the places would be offered to those in other synods.

General Secretary the Revd Dr David Cornick said the United Reformed Church declared it was a multicultural church in 2005 and this resolution tried to put this into practice. This was to liberate and “help us be what we said we are”.

Assembly was divided over the resolution with some unhappy about having to find black and minority ethnic people from a mainly white constituency. After a lengthy and difficult debate the outgoing Racial Justice and Multicultural Ministry committee reluctantly withdrew the motion. David Cornick said that the new Department of Mission would take the issue to the 2008 Assembly. Resolution 24 was carried and was referred to Synods as it is a Constitutional Amendment (see Monday evening’s report).


Resolution 60

Peter Pay and Colin Ferguson from Wessex Synod moved a resolution giving thanks to God for the work of District Councils over the last 35 years and expressed deep appreciation for the faithful service of so many members of the United Reformed Church in the running of these Districts. 

The resolution was passed with warm applause.

Section O Cases

David Cornick reported that three cases had been heard by Section O panels at a cost of just over £6,000. Christopher Elliot and Simon Thomas had been deleted from the Roll of Ministers.

Address to the Throne

The Address to the Throne was carried. Click here to read a copy of the letter. Please note that 1953 has been changed to 1952 and that 55th year has been amended to 56th year.

Moderator of General Assembly 2008 - 2009

The Rev John Marsh was elected as the next Moderator of General Assembly.

In his acceptance speech, he thanked Assembly for the opportunity of being Moderator in an all-embracing church. He accepted the post with anxiety and trepidation.

“We are in the midst of enormously changing times. God’s tomorrow means we have to be open, sensitive and prepared to move forward,” he said.

He explained that his ministerial experience was with five local pastorates over 38 years, and that he was largely unfamiliar with the national workings of the church.

He said he would need help, but knew as a part of a conciliar church he could look to others. Being God’s people is a shared matter, he continued.

He noted the Children’s Assembly that represented the rainbow of humanity in the URC.

He said it was moving to be part of an Assembly that could discuss sensitive issues such as sexuality and assisted dying, with compassion and truth and awareness.

“I want to be a Moderator to simply encourage, to be a little bit broken, a bit uncertain, to cast myself upon your kindness and God’s grace. And I will offer a ministry of spiritual encouragement, for all congregations in all their diversity.”

All this was based on his personal faith journey with a Lord who called him to this life and ministry. He prayed for God’s profound encouragement for Stephen Orchard’s year of office, for local churches, and for himself.

Vote of thanks

The North West Synod was warmly thanked for hosting the General Assembly.

2008 Assembly

The 2008 Assembly will meet at the Herriot Watt University in Edinburgh on the 11th to 14th July 2008.

 

  

Highlights

Catch the Vision

Read all the 'Catch the Vision' material

Photo diary

Highlights of the Assembly in pictures

Profile

The new Moderator

Moderator's Address

Stephen Orchard's address to the General Assembly

Prayers for Assembly
 

Have your say

Send us your comments on this year's business