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The purpose of the Committee is:

to encourage and advise the Councils and Committees of the United Reformed Church in their continual study of theology, enabling the Church to reflect upon and express its doctrines;

to participate in and respond to ecumenical and inter‑faith discussions on doctrinal matters;

to produce resources and arrange consultations, in response to requests or on its own initiative, in order to enable the Church in all its councils to grow in faith, devotion and spiritual experience;

to publish regular and occasional prayer and worship materials;

to support and develop ecumenical and international collaborations in the areas of faith and order and spirituality;

to oversee the work of the Prayer Handbook Group and the network for Silence and Retreats.

Committee Members

Convener: Revd John Young

Secretary: Revd Kirsty Thorpe        Staff Secretary: Revd Dr David Cornick

Members: Revd Hugh Graham, Revd Charles Martin, Revd Glyn Millington,

Revd Dr Robert Pope, Mrs Jenny Poulter, Revd Alistair Smeaton.

Representatives of other Committees:  Revd David Bunney (Silence and Retreats Network),

Revd Sally Thomas (Inter‑Faith Relations Committee).

Representatives from other Churches: Revd Stephen Wigley (Methodist Church),

Canon William Croft (Church of England).

1 What are we here for?

1.1 In recent meetings the Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee has given much consideration to its role.  A number of things have given rise to this.  Partly it stems from the prevailing mood of self‑reflection within the denomination as whole.  Furthermore as our Convener is from the Synod of Scotland this has challenged the Committee to explain and account for itself, in response to questions from someone with a new perspective, both sympathetic and critical.  The legacy of working on two recent reports for Mission Council, which were not acted on, also prompted the Committee to reconsider its role. 

1.2 Ecumenical representatives on the Committee have brought some concerns into focus, since they expect Doctrine, Prayer and Worship to be the place where the United Reformed Church does Faith and Order work, and then find this is not always the case.  For instance due to questions of timing and urgency, as well as the infrequency of Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee meetings (January and July), the United Reformed Church doctrinal papers written for the trilateral conversations ‘Conversations on the way to unity’ were only seen by those participating in the talks and not the Committee. 

1.3 Another area of work in which Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee needs to understand its role and communicate well is the consideration of ecumenical texts.  The Advisory Group on Faith and Order comes under the Ecumenical Committee and was formed to make detailed study of these texts, providing a critical resource for that Committee as well as for Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee, which sends a member to it.  It would be unworkable to study complex texts in any other way but to do this work through the Advisory Group on Faith and Order is not without its difficulties.  At times Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee is left wondering how much voice it has in responding to doctrinal issues in ecumenical texts.  Usually the Committee is invited to suggest amendments for a draft response from the Advisory Group on Faith and Order.  This response is then seen by Ecumenical Committee, which has the final say in giving guidance to General Assembly.  The officers of Ecumenical Committee and Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee would like to develop closer working relationships.  This may be helped by the inclusion of Faith and Order concerns in the job description of the new Secretary for Ecumenical Relations.

1.4 In discussing its role the Committee has clearly identified the value of greater inter‑committee working and cooperation, especially to avoid duplication of effort and the possibility of misunderstandings.  Whenever another Committee does work which involves making doctrinal statements the process by which this becomes known to the Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee can quite often be haphazard and unclear.  There is always a tension between using accessible language and using theologically accurate language.  A case in point would be the Committee’s current cooperation with Youth and Children’s Work Committee, which is producing new literature on baptism, for use in local churches.

1.5 Another question with which the Committee regularly wrestles is whether greater clarity on doctrinal issues is desirable or necessary, both for the wellbeing of the United Reformed Church and for its relations with other denominations.  For instance, would it be helpful to publish a list of resolutions on doctrinal matters from past General Assemblies?  Are clearer identity in terms of faith and order, and coherent decision‑making in this area, goals to be pursued or are they at odds with our self‑understanding and ethos?

1.6...... As one step forward in terms of the Committee’s identification of its role and purpose, a new remit has been drafted and can be found at the opening of this report.  The intention is to describe our field of work more succinctly and accurately than the previous version.  The Committee trusts that General Assembly will support this altered remit.

2 Worship

2.1 Great time, consideration and care have gone into the production of new services of worship for the United Reformed Church, especially on the part of the Drafting sub‑committee and its convener, John Reardon.  Whenever work falls behind deadline the dilemma arises as to whether to honour the original timetable, and sacrifice quality, or take longer so as to produce something worthy of the original intention.  The project has encountered a series of obstacles and were the process to begin again now, with the benefit of hindsight, the Committee would do it differently.  Despite the difficulties on the way , we are glad and proud to offer to the churches the services published this year in printed form and on CD Rom, as well as those to come in summer 2004.  The Committee’s membership reflects the breadth of the denomination so we each have texts we favour and others that are less to our taste, just as everyone else will.  Our policy has been to include a variety of liturgical styles while remaining true to the characteristics of Reformed worship.  Experience suggests we should expect some criticism – service books can provoke strong reactions – but we hope for some bouquets among the brickbats!

2.2 The decisions to change to a two‑stage publication, and loose‑leaf binder format, were partly forced on the Committee by circumstances yet they may have been providential.  A binder is much more flexible than a hardback book and allows for the easy addition of other material as the user wants.  Having the printed material available on the accompanying CD Rom, plus a wide range of related worship resources, is also a new and creative venture.

2.3 This summer’s publication consists of four orders of Communion, texts for Baptism, thanksgiving for the birth of a child, Confirmation and membership as well as services for evening worship, daily worship and prayers for healing and laying on of hands.  Next summer the second group of texts and a second CD Rom will appear, including orders for funerals, marriage, rededication, ordination and induction of ministers, ordination of elders, and commissioning of lay preachers and Church Related Community Workers.  The publication will be launched at General Assembly in Portsmouth.

3 Prayer Handbook

3.1 The Prayer Handbook is currently in the throes of reassessing its method of presentation as well as its content and tone.  A loose‑leaf format is being explored and those who would like to buy a Prayer Handbook folder plus annual inserts in future are asked to contact the Prayer Handbook Committee through 86 Tavistock Place before the end of June

4 Doing theology together

4.1 One of the most encouraging parts of the Committee’s work in recent years has been the planning and hosting of evening meetings at General Assembly.  The discussions on ordination and the nature of eldership have demonstrated that there is a thirst for theological debate within the United Reformed Church.  Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee looks forward to returning to this pattern at future meetings of General Assembly.

5 Silence and Retreats

5.1 The Silence and Retreats network reports on its work elsewhere in these Reports.

6 Appreciation

6.1 Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee relies heavily on the wisdom and input of its staff secretaries, two of whom have completed their service in the last year.  We thank John Waller for his support and hard work and also Sheila Maxey who, as Secretary for Ecumenical Relations, has attended our meetings so as to liase between us and Ecumenical Committee.  Hugh Graham and Charles Martin complete their service this summer and we are grateful for their work and for representing the denomination on the Joint Liturgical Group and the Faith and Order Committee of the Methodist Church respectively.  Thanks also go to John Reardon for his work in convening the Drafting sub‑committee of the new service book.