Nominations

This committee nominates to Assembly the names of people to serve as conveners and secretaries of all Assembly committees, and as members of those committees. It suggests names of the United Reformed Church representatives on other bodies. It also recommends the people to make up appointment groups for synod moderators and Assembly appointed staff.

Committee Members

Convener: Revd Dr Stephen Orchard [2006] Secretary: Revd Hazel Martell [2005]

Synod Representatives:

I Revd Peter Poulter II Revd Ruth Woolaston III Mr Donald Swift IV Mr John Seager

V Mrs Irene Wren VI Mr Simon Rowntree VII Revd Elizabeth Caswell VIII Revd Roz Harrison

IX Mr Graham Rolfe X Revd Martin Hazell XI Mrs Christine Meekison XII Dr Jean Sylvan-Evans

XIII Revd John Arthur with the Immediate Past Moderator and General Secretary.

1. ASSEMBLY STAFF APPOINTMENTS

1.1 The Nominating Group, convened by Revd Peter Noble, recommended the appointment of Mr John Brown to serve as Secretary for Youth Work for 5 years from 1 January 2004 until 31 December 2008.

1.2 The Review Group, convened by Revd David Jenkins, recommended the re-appointment of Revd Arnold Harrison to serve as Moderator for Yorkshire Synod from 1 September 2004 until retirement on 29 February 2008.

2. ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES and Sub-COMMITTEES

Notes:

1 The Moderator, the Moderator-elect, the immediate past Moderator and the General Secretary are members ex officio of every Standing Committee.

2 Officers and members appointed since Assembly 2003 are indicated by one asterisk (*), two asterisks (**) denotes those whom Assembly 2004 is invited to appoint for the first time. (#) indicates a Convener Elect who will become Convener in 2005. (‹) indicates a Secretary Elect who will become Secretary in 2005.

3 The date in brackets following the names indicates the date of retirement, assuming a full term.

4 Many committees have cross-representation [e.g. the Ecumenical Committee has representatives from Doctrine, Prayer & Worship, Church and Society, Youth and Children’s Work etc.] These are internal appointments and are not listed here.

5 In accordance with the decision of General Assembly 2000 some nominations have been made by the National Synods of Wales and Scotland.

2.1 ASSEMBLY ARRANGEMENTS

Convener: Mr William McVey [2006]

Secretary: Office & Personnel Manager

Synod Representative for forthcoming Assembly

Synod Representative for previous Assembly who is then replaced after ‘review’ meeting by Synod Representative for Assembly two years hence.

Moderator, Moderator-elect, General Secretary, Clerk to Assembly

2.1.1 Tellers for Election of Moderator for 2006**

Revd Roz Harrison [Convener], Mrs Val Morrison, Revd Martin Hazell

2.2 CHURCH and SOCIETY

Convener: Revd Martin Camroux [2006]

Secretary: Secretary for Church and Society

Revd Alan Paterson [2005] Revd Owiny Laber [2005] Mr Geoffrey Duncan [2006]

Mr Simon Loveitt [2006] Revd Tjarda Murray [2007] Mrs Glenna Paynter [2007]

Miss Emma Pugh [2007]

2.3 COMMUNICATIONS and EDITORIAL

Convener: Revd Martin Hazell [2007]

Secretary: Secretary for Communications

Revd Bob Maitland [2005] Mr Peter Knowles [2005] Revd Martin Truscott [2005]

Ms Eleri Evans [2005] Mr Philip George [2006] Revd Martin Whiffen [2007]

Revd Paul Snell **[2008] Revd Janet Sutton **[2008] Ms Julia Wills **[2008]

2.4 DOCTRINE, PRAYER and WORSHIP

Convener: Revd John Young [2005]

Secretary: Secretary for Ecumenical Relations and Faith & Order

Revd Dr Robert Pope [2005] Revd Alistair Smeaton [2005] Revd Prof Alan Sell [2007]

Revd Geoffrey Clarke [2007] Revd Hilary Collinson [2007] Revd Dr Susan Durber #[2009]

Miss Sarah Lane [2007] Dr John Turner [2007] Mrs Chris Eddowes **[2008]

Revd Jason McCullagh **[2008] Revd Peter Trow **[2008]

2.5 ECUMENICAL

Convener: Revd Elizabeth Nash** [2009]

Secretary: Secretary for Ecumenical Relations and Faith & Order

Revd Bryan Shirley [2005] Revd Cecil White [2005] Revd Rowena Francis [2006]

Mr Malcolm Porter [2006] Revd Lindsey Sanderson [2006] Mrs Ann Shillaker [2007]

Mrs Pat Gurr **[2008]

Revd Stuart Jackson representing the National Synod of Wales

Revd Mary Buchanan representing National Synod of Scotland

2.5.1 ECUMENICAL – INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE Sub-Committee

Convener: Revd Chris Baillie [2007]

Secretary: Secretary for International Relations

Revd Birgit Ewald [2005] Mrs Heather Barnes [2006] Revd Nigel Uden [2006]

Mrs Eileen McIlveen [2007] Revd Michael Thomason [2007]

2.6 EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Convener: Revd Wilf Bahadur [2006]

Secretary: Revd Derek Hopkins [2008]

Ms Gloria Bujan [2005] Mr Derek Estill [2006] Mr Alan Hart [2006]

Revd Sue MacBeth [2007] Dr Ruth Shepherd **[2008] Mrs Louise Sanders **[2008]

2.7 FINANCE

Convener: The Treasurer

Secretary: Financial Secretary

Mr John Woodman [2005] Ms Alison Holt [2006] Revd David Dones [2007]

Mrs Marie Whitman [2007] Mr Errol Martin **[2008] Mr Graham Law **[2008]

Convener of the URC Trust

2.8 INTER-FAITH RELATIONS

Convener: Revd Dr John Parry [2007]

Secretary: Mrs Jean Potter [2008]

Miss Marie Williams [2005] Revd Peter Colwell [2006] Dr Iain Frew **[2008]

Revd Helen Pollard **[2008]

2.9 LIFE and WITNESS

Convener: Revd Brian Jolly [2006]

Secretary: Secretary for Life and Witness

Revd Kenneth Forbes [2005] Revd Peter Hurter [2005] Revd Linda Elliott [2006]

Mrs Sheila Brain [2007] Mr Colin Ferguson [2007] Revd Ian Fosten [2007]

Revd Michael Hodgson [2007] Revd Kate Gray **[2008] Mr Emmanuel Nkusi **[2008]

2.9.1 LIFE and WITNESS – STEWARDSHIP Sub-Committee

Convener: Mr Ray McHugh[2008]

Secretary: Secretary for Life and Witness

Mr Mick Barnes [2005] Revd David Legge [2006] Mrs Jackie Haws [2007]

Mrs Susan Wilkinson [2007] Revd John Durrell **[2008]

2.9.2 WINDERMERE ADVISORY GROUP

Convener: Mr Jim Wilkinson [2005]

Secretary: The Director of Windermere

Dr Peter Clarke [2005] Revd Bernard Collins #[2009] Mrs Irene Wren **[2008]

Convener of Windermere Management Committee, Convener of Life and Witness Committee,

Representative of Carver URC

2.10 MINISTRIES

Convener: Mr John Ellis [2006]

Secretary: Secretary for Ministries

Mrs Alison Biggs [2005] Revd Stuart Brock [2005] Revd Pauline Barnes [2006]

Mrs Joan Trippier [2007] Revd Paul Whittle [2007] Revd Terry Oakley **[2008]

Convener of National Assessment Board

2.10.1 MINISTRIES – ACCREDITATION Sub-Committee

Convener: Revd Ken Chippindale [2005]

Secretary: Secretary for Ministries

Revd Keith Argyle [2005] Mrs Sheila Telfer [2005] Mrs Judith Booth [2006]

Revd Adrian Bulley [2007] Revd Tony Wilkinson [2007] Revd Gwen Collins **#[2009]

2.10.2 MINISTRIES – CRCW Programme Sub-Committee

Convener: Revd Bob Day *[2008]

Secretary: The CRCW Development Workers

Mr Chris Lawrence [2005] Revd John Burgess [2006] Mrs Janet Holden [2006]

Mr Peter Twilley [2007] Revd Tracey Lewis** [2008]

2.10.3 MINISTRIES – LAY PREACHING Sub Committee

Lay Preaching Commissioner: Dr Philip Theaker [2007]

and four members elected by the Lay Preacher Commissioners Consultation

2.10.4 MINISTRIES – MAINTENANCE OF MINISTRY Sub-Committee

Convener: Revd John Piper [2007]

Secretary: Financial Secretary

Mr Patrick Hickey [2007] Mrs Lyn Allford **[2008] Mr David Hayden **[2008]

Mr David Taylor **[2008]

The Treasurer, Convener of Pensions Executive

2.10.5 MINISTRIES – RETIRED MINISTERS HOUSING – Sub-Committee

Convener: Revd David Bedford * [2009]

Secretary: Secretary Retired Ministers’ Housing Society Ltd

Mr Malcolm Lindo [2007] Mrs Edith Tolley [2005] Mrs Pauline Mewis [2006]

Revd Elizabeth Caswell [2008] The Treasurer

Note: Properties are managed by a Company viz: RETIRED MINISTERS HOUSING SOCIETY LTD.

Details of the Members of the Board etc may be obtained from the Secretary: Mr Tony Bayley at Church House

2.10.6 NATIONAL ASSESSMENT BOARD

Convener: Mrs Darryl Sinclair [2005]

Retiring 2005 Prof David Cutler#, Revd Rachel Poolman, Dr Jean Stevenson, Mrs Joyce Sutcliff

Retiring 2006 Revd Thomas Heggie, Revd Michael Mewis, Revd Peter Poulter, Revd Hilma Wilkinson

Retiring 2007 Revd Diana Cullum-Hall, Miss Sarah Dodds, Revd Roy Fowler, Mrs Wilma Frew, Mrs Pat Poinen, Revd Nigel Uden, Revd Simon Walkling

Retiring 2008 Mrs Judith Harris, Mrs Barbara Lancaster, Dr Cameron Wilson

Retiring 2009 Mrs Tina Ashitey**, Dr Peter Clarke**, Mr Hugh Abel**

2.11 NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

Convener: Revd Dr Stephen Orchard [2006]

Secretary: Revd Hazel Martell [2005]

Revd Elizabeth Brown **‹[2009]

Synod Representatives: Revd Peter Poulter [1], Revd Ruth Wollaston [2], Mr Donald Swift [3], Mrs Val Morrison [4], Mrs Irene Wren [5], Dr Anthony Jeans [6], Revd Elizabeth Caswell [7], Revd Roz Harrison [8], Mr Peter Pay [9], Revd Martin Hazell [10], Mrs Christine Meekison [11], Dr Jean Silvan Evans [12],

Revd John Arthur [13], with the Immediate Past Moderator and the General Secretary.

2.12 PASTORAL REFERENCE COMMITTEE

Convener: Revd Keith Forecast [2007]

Secretary: Deputy General Secretary

Mrs Irene Brunskill [2005] Revd David Grosch Miller [2007] Revd Meryl Court **[2008]

Mrs Sharn Waldron **[2008]

Convener of Welfare Sub-Committee The Treasurer The General Secretary

2.12.1 PASTORAL WELFARE Sub-Committee

Convener: Revd Alan Wharton [2007]

Secretary: Mrs Judy Stockings

[ex officio Financial Secretary, The Treasurer, Convener Pastoral Reference Committee]

2.13 RACIAL JUSTICE

Convener: Revd Andrew Prasad [2007]

Secretary: Secretary for Racial Justice

Revd John Campbell [2005] Mrs Sandra Ackroyd [2007] Mrs Elaine Patrick [2007]

Revd Norman Setchell [2007] Revd Carla Grosch Miller *[2007] another** [2008]

another **[2008]

2.14 TRAINING

Convener: Revd John Humphreys [2007]

Secretary: The Secretary for Training

Revd Principal John Dyce [2005] Mrs Susan Brown [2006] Revd Sue Henderson [2006]

Revd Malachie Munyaneza [2006] Mrs Valerie Burnham [2007] Dr Ian Morrison [2007]

Revd Rachel Poolman **[2008] Mrs Kate Breeze **[2008] Revd Richard Church **[2008]

2.15 YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S WORK

Convener: Revd Kathryn Price [2006]

Secretary: Revd Steven Faber **[2008]

Mrs Daphne Clarke [2005] Ms Lorraine Downer [2005] Revd John Sanderson [2005]

Mrs Elaine Thomas [2005] Mr Huw Morrison [2006] Mrs Hannah Middleton [2007]

Mrs Doreen Watson [2007] Mr Augustus Webbe [2007] Revd Tim Meachin **[2008]

FURY Chair FURY Council Member

2.16 DISCIPLINARY PROCESS – Commission Panel

Convener: Mrs Helen Brown [2005]

Deputy Convener: Revd David Helyar [2007]

Secretary: Mr Brian Evans [2005]

Revd Alison Hall ‹** [2010]

Members:

retiring 2007

Dr Noreen Baillie Miss Ina Barker Mr Keith Brookes Revd Ken Chippindale

Revd Jessie Clare Mrs Janice Cockcroft Miss Kathleen Cross Revd Alison Davis

Revd John Du Bois Mr Ralph Forsyth Mrs Wilma Frew Revd Joan Grindod-Helmn

Mr Alan Hart Revd Peter Killick Miss Elizabeth Lawson QC Revd Julian Macro

Revd Ted Marley Revd Denise Megson Mrs Sheila Pratt Mr Nicholas Pye

Revd Michael Rees Revd Dr David Thompson Mrs Shelagh Tweed

retiring 2009 **

Mr Martin Ballard Revd Jim Brown Mrs Ruth Clarke Mr Peter Jolly

Mr Peter Mann Mrs Vera Maskery Revd Shelagh Pollard Revd Raymond Singh

Mr Don Taylor Mrs Lynne Upsdell Revd Joan Winterbottam Ms Elizabeth Whitten

3 MISSION COUNCIL

Mission Council acts on behalf of General Assembly. It consists of the Officers of Assembly, the Provincial Moderators and three representatives from each Synod together with the Conveners of Assembly Committees.

Northern Synod Revd John Durell, Revd Colin Offor, Mrs Susan Rand

North Western Synod Miss Kathleen Cross, Mrs Janet Eccles, Revd Chris Vermeulen

Mersey Synod Revd Martin Hardy, Mrs Wilmer Prentice, Mr Donald Swift

Yorkshire Synod Mrs Val Morrison, Revd Pauline Loosemore, Mr Roderick Garthwaite

East Midlands Synod Mrs Ann Ball, Mrs Barbara Turner, Mrs Irene Wren

West Midlands Synod Mrs Melanie Frew, Revd Simon Helme, vacancy

Eastern Synod Mr Mick Barnes, Revd Victor Ridgewell, Miss Joan Turner

South Western Synod Revd Roz Harrison, Mrs Janet Gray, Revd Richard Pope

Wessex Synod Revd David Bedford, Mrs Glennis Massey, Revd Clive Sutcliffe

Thames North Synod Mrs Helen Clapp, Revd Dr Roger Scopes, Revd Jane Wade,

Southern Synod Dr Graham Campling, Revd Lesley Charlton, Mr David Howell

National Synod of Wales Mrs Janet Gray, Mr Stuart Jones, vacancy

National Synod of Scotland Mrs Helen M Mee, Revd Alan Paterson, vacancy

4 TRUST BODIES

4.1 UNITED REFORMED CHURCH TRUST

Convener: to be advised

Secretary: Mr Tony Bayley

Directors

Mr Peter Ward [2005] Revd Leslie Watson [2006] Revd Paul Bedford [2008]

Mrs Fiona Smith [2008] Mr Malcolm Littlefair [2009] Dr Geoffrey Sides *[2009]

Mr Ernest Gudgeon **[2010] Mr Donald Swift **[2010]

[ex officio Financial Secretary, General Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Secretary-Retired Ministers’ Housing Society]

4.2 THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH MINISTERS’ PENSION TRUST LTD

– BOARD MEMBERS

Chairman: to be advised

Secretary: Financial Secretary

Members of URC: Mr Richard Nunn [2005] Mr Philip Sheridan [2006]

Mr Brian Moere [2008] Mr Michael Goldsmith [2009]

Members of Fund: Revd Kenneth Graham [2005] Revd Gwen Thomas [2007]

Revd Michael Davies [2008] Revd Graham Spicer **[2009]

[ex officio Financial Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Convener MoM sub-committee, Convener MoM Pensions Executive]

4.3 CONGREGATIONAL MEMORIAL HALL TRUST

Revd Peter Grimshaw Revd Dr Peter Jupp Mr Hartley Oldham

Mr Graham Stacy Dr John Thompson another

4.4 THE AUSTRALIAN FRONTIER SERVICES CHARITABLE TRUST

Mr Clem Frank

Mr Brian Wates – joint appointment with Uniting Church in Australia

5. Representatives of the UNITED REFORMED CHURCH to Meetings of SISTER CHURCHES

Presbyterian Church in Ireland Revd Alasdair Pratt

General Synod of Church of England Revd Fleur Houston

Methodist Conference Revd Elizabeth Nash

General Assembly of Church of Scotland [note 5] Revd Alasdair Pratt, Revd John Arthur, Revd Mary Buchanan

Presbyterian Church of Wales [note 5] Revd Alasdair Pratt

Union of Welsh Independents [note 5] Revd Stuart Jackson

Congregational Federation Revd Richard Mortimer

Church in Wales Governing Board [note 5] Revd Stuart Jackson

United Free Church of Scotland [note 5] Mr Alan K Smith

Provincial Synod of the Moravian Church Revd David Tatem

6. Representatives of the UNITED REFORMED CHURCH on ECUMENICAL CHURCH BODIES

The following have been nominated as United Reformed Church representatives at the major gatherings of the Ecumenical Bodies listed.

Note: A list of representatives to other ecumenical bodies, commissions and committees, co-ordinating groups and agencies, who are appointed by the relevant committees, will be distributed to all members of General Assembly. Additional copies are available, on request, from the Secretary for Ecumenical Relations.

6.1 Council for World Mission Assembly 2003

Revd David Coleman, Mrs Olive Bell, Ms Catherine Lewis-Smith

Secretary for International Relations

6.1.1 CWM European Region Meeting 2003 – 2006

Revd David Coleman, Mrs Olive Bell, Ms Catherine Lewis-Smith, Secretary for International Relations,

Deputy General Secretary

6.2 WARC General Council 2004

Ms Sarah Hall, Ms Emma Pugh, Revd David Pickering, Secretary for International Relations, General Secretary

6.3 Churches Together in Britain and Ireland – Assembly 2002

General Secretary, Convener of the Ecumenical Committee

Secretary for Ecumenical Relations, Secretary for Church and Society

Revd Ray Adams, Miss Nikki Andrews, Mrs Ruth Clarke, Miss Lorraine Downer, Mrs Wilma Frew,

Mrs Katalina Tahaafe-Williams, Mrs Jackie Yeomans, Revd John Young.

6.3.1 Churches Together in Britain and Ireland – Church Representatives Meeting

General Secretary Mrs Wilma Frew

6.4 Churches Together in England – Forum 2003**

General Secretary, Secretary for Ecumenical Relations, Mr Mark Argent,

Revd Bernie Collins, Miss Alison Micklem, Mr Dan Pipe, Revd Peter Poulter, Revd Andrew Prasad, Mrs Helen Renner, Revd Kirsty Thorpe, Mrs Darnett Whitby-Reid

6.4.1 Churches Together in England – Enabling Group

Secretary for Ecumenical Relations

6.5 ACTS (Action of Churches Together in Scotland) see Note 5

Central Council

Revd John Arthur

6.6 CYTUN (Churches Together in Wales) see Note 5

Council The Synod Ecumenical Officer (alternate Synod Moderator)

Mrs Jackie Yeomans (alternate Mrs Eileen McIlveen)

6.7 FREE CHURCH COUNCIL for WALES see Note 5

Synod Ecumenical Officer (alternate Synod Moderator)

7. United Reformed Church Representatives at formal bi-lateral and multi-lateral committees

7.1 METHODIST/URC Liaison Committee

The Secretary for Ecumenical Relations together with: Ms Rachel Greening, Revd Peter Poulter, Revd Roy Fowler, Revd Harry Lanham, Mr Kevin Lewis

7.1.1 HEALTH and HEALING DEVELOPMENT GROUP

Revd Brenda Russell, Dr Margaret Moore, Mrs Jackie Ballard, Revd Delia Bond

7.2 Anglian/Moravian Contact Goups

Revd David Tatem

7.3 ENFYS (The Commission of Covenanted Churches in Wales) see Note 5

Synod Moderator Synod Ecumenical Officer Mrs Ann Shillaker

Revd Dr Robert Pope

7.4 SCOTTISH CHURCH INITIATIVE FOR UNION [SCIFU] see Note 5

Synod Moderator Revd Alan Paterson Synod Ecumenical Officer

Secretary for Ecumenical Relations

8. URC Representatives on Governing Bodies of Theological Colleges etc.

8.1 Mansfield College

Ministerial and Educational Training Committee Professor Malcolm Johnson [2006]

Revd Rachel Poolman [2006]

Convener of the Training Committee

Secretary for Training

8.2 New College London

Foundation Trustees:

Mr John Smethers [2006]

Mr Graham Stacy [2007]

Mr Philip Wade [2007]

alternate Mr Colin Howard *[2008]

8.3 Northern College

Secretary for Training

Revd David Jenkins [2005]

Mr Bill McLaughin [2005]

Miss Margaret Atkinson [2007]

Mrs Helen Brown [2007]

Revd Dr Robert Pope *[2007]

Council of the Partnership for Theological Education, Manchester Secretary for Training

8.4 Westminster College: Board of Govenors

Convener: Revd Dr David Thompson [2008]

Clerk: Revd Clifford Wilton [2006]

Mrs Sally Abbott [2006]

Revd Craig Muir [2009]

Mr John Kidd [2009]

Mr Brian Long **[2010]

another **[2010]

Secretary for Training

8.4.1 Cheshunt Foundation

Mr David Butler

8.4.2 Cambridge Theological Federation

Convener Westminster College Governors

8.5 Homerton College Trustees Mr John Chaplin [2005]

Mrs Elisabeth Jupp [2006]

Lady Sally Williams [2007]

Revd Dr David Thompson [2008]

8.6 Queen’s College, Birmingham Revd Elizabeth Welch

another **

Secretary for Training in attendance

8.7 Aberystwyth (Memorial College) Mr Leslie Jones

9. GOVERNORS of COLLEGES and SCHOOLS with which the United Reformed Church is associated

9.1 Caterham School

Revd Nigel Uden **[2007]

Mr John Mathias **[2008]

9.2 Eltham College

Revd Derek Lindfield [2007]

9.3 Walthamstow Hall

Miss Margaret Vokins

9.4 Milton Mount Foundation

Revd George Thomas [2006]

Mrs Clare Meachin [2006]

Revd David Cuckson [2006]

Mr Graham Rolfe **[2008]

another **[2010]

9.5 Silcoates School

Dr Peter Clarke [2005]

Revd Arnold Harrison [2005]

Revd Brenda Hill [2006]

Dr Clyde Binfield [2007]

Mr David Figures [2007]

9.6 Taunton School

Revd David Grosch-Miller

9.7 Wentworth College

Revd Brian Rawling

9.8 Bishops Stortford College

Revd Nigel Rogers

10. Miscellaneous

The United Reformed Church is represented on a variety of other national organisations and committees as follows:

Retired Ministers’ and Widows’ Fund

Mr Ken Meekison

Mrs Jill Strong

Revd Julian Macro **

Christian Education

Board of Trustees Mrs Patricia Hubbard

Publications Development Group Mrs Rosemary Johnston

Churches Main Committee

Ms Avis Reaney

Mr Hartley Oldham

Congregational Fund Board Revd Margaret Taylor

Revd Eric Allen

Revd John Taylor

Mr Anthony Bayley

Revd David Helyar

Guides’ Religious Advisory Panel Mrs Susan Walker

Pilots Management Committee Mr Huw Morrison

Samuel Robinson’s Charities Mr Tony Alderman**

Scouts’ Religious Advisory Group Revd David Marshall-Jones

United Reformed Church History Society Mrs Mary Davies

Revd Michael Hopkins

Mrs Carol Rogers

Revd Kirsty Thorpe**

Revd Dr David Thompson

Wharton Trust Mr Norman Fabb

Resolution 31: Nominations

General Assembly appoints Committees and representatives of the Church as set out in pp 77–84 of the Book of Reports subject to additions and corrections contained in the Supplementary report before Assembly.

The Appointment of Synod Moderators and the Review of their Appointments

1. In 2001 the Nominations Committee, struck with the contrasting methods of appointment used for senior Assembly appointments, invited the General Secretary to review the appointment of Moderators of Synods. In the course of three appointment procedures carried out subsequently the General Secretary sought confidential comment from all involved in the process and consulted with colleagues in other denominations about comparable procedures. The Nominations Committee received the General Secretary’s report at their October meeting 2003 and resolved to bring proposals to General Assembly in 2004 for a revision of the guidance given for the appointment and review of a Synod Moderator.

2. The review and the proposals for change do not arise from any dissatisfaction with the actual appointments made using the existing guidelines. It is the process itself which is flawed. We could find no-one to advocate keeping so large a group as 20 people to make a recommendation to General Assembly for appointment. The collecting of names to be considered for appointment as a moderator does not conform to the Church’s own equal opportunities commitments. The Review Group, as it is called, even those considering new appointments, has to meet stringent requirements to be representative but there is no requirement that any members be skilled in the way that members of an Assessment Panel are expected to be. The Nominations Committee considered these and other less obvious shortcomings in the present guidelines and decided that they needed to be withdrawn and new ones agreed.

3. Although it is not specifically mentioned in the present guidelines the Nomination Committee presumed that the issues of vocation were determinative in their design. It was agreed that whatever changes were advised in procedures should not exclude from consideration potential candidates who would not initiate an application for a senior post in the Church but would wish the call of God to be mediated to them through other people.

4. The Nominations Committee endorsed the following strengths of the present system.

• its thoroughness and seriousness as a process of discernment and waiting on God

• the bringing together of synod and national minds as is proper in the appointment of church leaders who have both regional and national roles

• wide consultation within the Synod concerned

5. The major changes which the Nominations Committee propose are to introduce an element of advertising and application to the process, to reduce the size of the nominating group, to encourage a greater synod involvement in drawing up a job description and person profile and, finally, to establish a national panel of people from whom the Assembly representatives on the nominating group will be drawn.

6. Consequent upon changes in the appointment procedure the Nominations Committee consider there should be changes in the review process for moderators already in post. Fundamental to this is a need for regular appraisal within the synod. The accumulated experience of such appraisals is then available at the point of review and can be taken into account by both the review group and the moderator concerned. Since the Assembly is the appointing body the ultimate decision on re-appointment should lie with the Assembly and this needs to be reflected in the process of review.

A. New appointments

1. Preparing for meeting

1.1 The Nominating Group for an initial appointment by General Assembly will consist of eight people. Four people, including the Convenor of the Group, will be appointed by the Nominations Committee from a panel elected by the General Assembly. Four people will be appointed by the Synod where the vacancy exists and will be responsible for ensuring that the views of church members throughout the area of the Synod are given proper consideration.

1.2 The General Secretary will normally act as secretary to the Group and will arrange the dates and places of meetings. The beginning of the process will most probably be in the September prior to the Assembly at which the appointment will be made.

1.3 All costs will be met by the synod to which the appointment is being made, except the out of pocket expenditure of those appointed by the Nominations Committee, which will be a charge on the General Assembly. The services provided by the General Secretary and his/her office shall not be a charge on the Group.

1.4 The Synod Clerk will ensure that a comprehensive process of consultation is carried out within the Districts and churches of the Synod and among ecumenical partners before the Group holds its first meeting. The Synod Clerk may serve as a voting member of the Nominating Group.

1.5 The Convenor of the Group and the Synod Clerk will circulate to members of the Group a draft job description and person profile, incorporating the appropriate national and local requirements. The Group will normally approve these by correspondence and will only meet to consider these documents when the Convenor judges there is a serious disagreement. The Synod Clerk will advertise the vacancy in Reform and within the synod. The advertisement should also be posted on appropriate web sites. The advertisement will make it clear that both applications and nominations will be welcomed. The Synod Clerk will oversee the process of issuing details to enquirers. Where the Synod Clerk is advised of a nomination the nominee will be contacted by letter and invited, if willing to be considered, to supply appropriate documentation. All nominees shall receive what is essentially the same letter and be advised who has made the nomination. The closing date for applications will allow details to be circulated to members of the Nominating Group before the short-listing meeting.

2. The meetings of the Nominating Group

2.1 The Nominating Group will agree a short list of applicants to be interviewed. If, in the judgment of the Group, there are no suitable applicants, the Group may re-advertise the post and invite applications from people, or nominations of people, who have not yet been considered.

2.2 The second meeting will carry out interviews with the short-listed candidates and arrive at a name for nomination to the General Assembly. In the event of failure to reach unanimous agreement the support of three Synod and three General Assembly members of the Group is an acceptable basis for a nomination but a simple majority decision is not.

2.3 The Nominating Group will normally bring its recommendation to the Nominations Committee for presentation to the Mission Council in March, there to be confirmed or not. This will enable the General Secretary to arrange preparation for the Moderator-elect and a formal reception at the July General Assembly. However, circumstances may require a different time-table.

B. The re-appointment of a serving Synod Moderator

3. Preparing for meeting

3.1 Before a Review Group is appointed the General Secretary will ascertain from the Moderator concerned whether she/he wishes to be considered for a further period of service. This consultation should take place in time for a Review Group to be formed, consider the matter and reach a conclusion no later than eight months before the end of the current appointment. The Review Group, appointed by the Nominations Committee, will consist of five people from outside the synod concerned. The General Secretary or, in his/her absence, the Deputy General Secretary, will provide services to the Group.

3.2 The synod will appoint its own internal Review Panel, consisting of one representative from each District or equivalent structure under the convenorship of the Synod Clerk. The members of this group would be charged to consult as widely as possible within their constituency. They should meet with the synod Moderator to discover the Moderator’s view of the way his/her work has developed and her/his vision for a possible further period of service. The records of any appraisal system should be made available for such a meeting. The panel will then arrive at the synod’s view of whether an invitation should be issued for a further time of service.

4. The meetings of the Review Group

4.1 The Review Group will receive written submissions from the Moderator and the Review Panel. They will then meet separately with the Moderator and the Review Panel, or its representatives, and interview them on the basis of their submissions. The Review Group will then reach a conclusion on the re-appointment and inform the Nominations Committee who will bring it to Mission Council no later than six months before the conclusion of the appointment.

4.2 If either the synod or those appointed to act on its behalf between meetings (e.g. an Executive Committee) or the Moderator concerned wishes to challenge the decision of the Mission Council they must enter an appeal within one month of the decision being made. The Mission Council shall then appoint a group of five people to hear the appeal and a member of its staff to provide services. The decision of that group will be final.

Resolution 32: Appointment of Synod Moderators 1

Assembly notes the following guidance, adopted by Mission Council, for the Appointment of Synod Moderators and the Review of their Appointments.

Resolution 33: Appointment of Synod Moderators 2

Assembly resolves that the Rules of Procedure governing the appointment of Moderators of Synod be amended to read:

7.4 All appointments by the General Assembly to the office of moderator of a synod shall be made on the nomination of a committee consisting of four members appointed by the synod concerned and four members appointed by the Nominations Committee from a panel elected by the General Assembly. The Nominations Committee shall also name the Convener.

7.5 In selecting this representation the synod and Nominations Committee shall have regard to the need to make their selection both widely representative and possessing the necessary skills.

Note: For the procedure to be followed in the appointment and reappointment of moderators of synod see Minutes of Assembly 2004 [page reference].