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Assembly
Arrangements
This Committee plans and
budgets for General Assembly
Committee Members
Convener:
Mr
William M McVey
Secretary:
Mr Hilary Gunn
Moderator, Moderator‑elect, General Secretary, Clerk to Assembly,
Convener of Local Arrangements Committee for the relevant year.
1
General Assembly 2005
The Committee brings a
resolution that the Assembly of 2005 should be held at the University
of Warwick from 2nd‑5th July.
2
Discussion about
General Assembly
2.1
In addition to the
normal work of preparation this year, the Committee has devoted
considerable attention to the financial cost of General Assembly. It
rapidly became apparent that there were very few ways in which a
significant reduction could be achieved immediately in this annual
cost of approximately £200,000.
2.2
The most
significant factors in this cost to the church are: the frequency with
which Assembly is held, and the number of people attending at the
expense of the church. Any change in the frequency of meeting, or any
significant changes in those entitled to attend Assembly, would
require an amendment to the Basis of Union – thus involving a two‑year
process of change, with the result taking effect only in year three of
this process.
2.3
In view of the
wide‑ranging review of church life presently underway, the Committee
was inclined to make suggestions to that process rather than
complicate the situation further in the short term by proposing any
immediate changes. However, alternatives that have already been
considered include: Assembly to be held every third year; a
considerable reduction in the number of representatives at Assembly
from the Districts and/or a different method of allocating that
representation; the abolition of the Synod representatives (who are
currently in addition to the District representatives); a restriction
in the number of former Moderators attending Assembly; a restriction
in the number of staff in attendance; greater use of the United
Reformed Church web‑site for the publication and distribution of
Assembly reports and information; the separate publication of the full
Annual Report and Accounts, with an abridged version in the Assembly
Reports.
2.4
Reluctant
consideration was given to the idea of inviting people to make a
contribution towards the cost of their attendance at Assembly. Mission
Council expressed its opinion by way of a resolution instructing the
Committee to include that invitation in the letter to Districts.
However, the Committee wish to make it quite clear that attendance at
General Assembly is not dependent upon any financial contribution
being made by the person concerned. The Committee is pleased to
encourage generous giving, throughout the church for all purposes, as
our response to the many gifts that God has provided.
3
Our conclusion
about the future of
General Assembly
3.1
The Committee
firmly concluded that considering General Assembly from the financial
aspect was the wrong approach. The cost is important. But the
Committee would first prefer to stimulate a debate about the nature,
form and purpose of General Assembly. From that might then be derived,
amongst other matters, the nature of the representation and the
frequency of meeting. The practical arrangements and the cost would
then become a consequence – rather than a determinant ‑ of the
decisions made about the better ordering of our life and witness as
the United Reformed Church.
4
An additional
voting procedure
4.1
For the first time
at General Assembly, motions may be moved and seconded in competition
with a motion already before the Assembly. The advantage of this is to
allow a preference to be expressed in a complicated matter, without
the risks attached to an “all‑or‑nothing” vote on the issue. The
details of this are set out in Standing Orders, paragraph 3k. The
Clerk to Assembly, Revd James Breslin, will be pleased to guide
members of Assembly in the implementation of this new and useful
device for the better consideration of complicated issues.
5
Future Assemblies
5.1
Planning continues
for General Assembly in its present form for the years to 2005.
Detailed work is already underway on General Assembly 2004, which will
be held at the University of Glamorgan as acknowledgement of the
presence of the United Reformed Church in Wales. Assembly will return
to a geographically‑central location for 2005 – possibly followed by a
regional location (2006) and another central location (2007), before
again possibly visiting Scotland (2008). The suggestions for these
latter locations are dependent upon the outcome of the discussions
about the future of General Assembly.
6
Convener of
Tellers
6.1
The Committee
would like to draw the attention of Assembly to the retirement this
year of the Revd George Thomas as Convener of Tellers. This task is
one that is often regarded by members as being an activity that anyone
could do, and a task that each person is convinced that they could do
better than the current incumbent of the post. In spite of that,
George has, in a calm and discreet manner, brought wisdom and
commitment to a delicate and sometimes difficult job over many years.
The Committee invites Assembly to thank the Revd George Thomas for all
this work.
6.2
The Committee is
pleased to announce that the Revd John Pugh, from the Eastern Synod,
has agreed to take up this responsibility at General Assembly in 2004.
Resolution 15
General Assembly
2005
Assembly agrees that the
General Assembly in 2005 will meet at the University of Warwick
from 2nd‑5th
July.
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