Synod
Resolutions
Resolution 1 Detention without trial
General Assembly
notes with concern the actions of Her Majesty’s Government in introducing
‘detention without trial’ for UK citizens and passport holders and calls for the
rapid repeal of the relevant legislation.
Proposer:
Revd Andrew Francis
Seconder: Miss Sara Crabb
1.1 For many years the UK
has had various legislative powers to detain foreign nationals without trial. In
January 2005 the Home Secretary introduced the possibility of ‘detention without
trial’ for both UK citizens and UK passport holders. Various of these proposals
became law in March 2005. At its meeting in March 2005 the South Western Synod
of the United Reformed Church recognized all such detention to be wrong and asks
that General Assembly debate the issue and take appropriate action.
Resolution 2 Saying sorry
General Assembly
resolves to appoint someone who would apologise officially on behalf of the
United Reformed Church to those people who have been sexually abused by members
of the United Reformed Church.
1.1 During 2004 East
Midlands Synod embarked on a series of training days for ministers and church
members to consider the report on sexual abuse produced by Churches Together in
Britain and Ireland called ‘Time for Action- a new dawn for
survivors’. Following one such day, members from Oadby church in Leicester
wanted to take this issue further. They considered that the United Reformed
Church should be a church which:
-
listens to and
respects people who are survivors of abuse
-
is ready and willing
to say sorry when its own members have been the abusers,
-
recognises when it
has failed to be a safe church.
Although the Charter for
a Safe Church covers many related points it does not specifically express this
concern.
So the East Midlands
Synod agreed to bring this resolution to Assembly. This resolution is not about
issuing a press release but about engaging with those who have been sexually
abused. It does not envisage a new or a paid appointment, but it will need
someone who has both skills and understanding.
Resolution 3 Age Discrimination
General Assembly
notes the intention of the Equal Opportunities Committee to review the current
Equal Opportunities policy and instructs the committee to give particular
attention to issues relating to age discrimination and the implementation of
Assembly Policy in this area.
Proposer: The Revd Martin
Hazell
Seconder: Mr Douglas
Hogge
1.1 Thames North Synod
welcomes the review by the Equal Opportunities Committee and believes that the
EU Directive on retirement age, which comes into effect in November 2006,
challenges present employment practice within the United Reformed Church of
requiring employees, and stipendiary ministers, to retire at the age of 65.
During a debate at Synod, it was noted that since 1994 (amended to include ‘age’
in 1998) the United Reformed Church has had a policy of not discriminating on
the basis of age and this resolution asks the committee to help the church find
ways of more fully implementing this policy.
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