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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2002
Saturday 6 July 2002 First SessionThe Chaplain led opening worship; Bible study was led by the Revd Glyn Jenkins. Reception of Ecumenical Guests
The Moderator greeted the Rt Revd Dr Finlay McDonald, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, with Mrs McDonald, the Very Revd Dr Alastair Dunlop, immediate past Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, with Mrs Dunlop and the Revd Kevin Davies of the Union of Welsh Independents.
The Convener of the Assembly Arrangements Committee moved that Assembly meet for the following session thirty minutes before the appointed time in order to deal with remaindered business. This was agreed. Church Changes
The General Secretary moved adoption of Resolution 9:
Resolution 9 Closure of Local Churches
General Assembly receives notice of the closure of the local churches listed below and gives thanks to God for their worship, witness, and service throughout their history. Bucklow Hill North Western
Resolution 9 was carried
The General Secretary moved adoption of Resolution 8:
Resolution 8 New Churches
General Assembly receives the churches listed below as local churches and mission projects of the United Reformed Church. St John's, Fagley, Bradford Yorkshire
Resolution 8 was carried.
The Moderator received representatives of the new churches:
St John's, Fagley, Bradford Mrs Dorothy Perrot
The Moderator invited Synod Moderators to introduce the ministers and Church Related Community Workers (CRCW) who had been ordained or newly-commissioned since the previous meeting of the Assembly. Each of those present was greeted in turn and the Assembly welcomed them with applause:
Northern Synod (Moderator: Revd Peter Poulter)
Revd Sián Collins Kenton and Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
North Western Synod (Moderator: Revd Peter Brain)
Revd Carole Gotham Stockport East Pastorate
Mersey Synod (Moderator: Revd Graham Cook)
Ms Linda Granville CRCW - South Wallasey Ecumenical Group
Yorkshire Synod (Moderator: Revd. Arnold Harrison)
Revd Heather Pollard Denholme Edge, Riddlesden and Trinity, Keighley
East Midlands Synod (Moderator: Revd Malcolm Hanson)
Revd Andrew Berry Melton Mowbray with Freeby, Leics
West Midlands Synod (Moderator: Revd Elizabeth Welch)
Revd Bob Ash Pype Hayes and Coleshill (unable to be present) Eastern Synod (Moderator: Revd Elizabeth Caswell)
Revd Lyn Fowkes Brentwood and Ingatestone
South Western Synod (Moderator: Revd Ray Adams)
Revd. Nick Adlem Tiverton Group, Devon East
Thames North Synod (Moderator: Revd Roberta Rominger)
Revd Bruce Allinson Stepney Meeting House & St. Paul's, Cubitt Town, Lea Valley
Southern Synod (Moderator: Revd Nigel Uden)
Revd Les Mather St Andrew's URC & Willington UB, Eastbourne
Wales Synod (Moderator: Revd Peter Noble
Revd Peter Barclay Nunn Wrexham Group
Synod of Scotland (Moderator: Revd. John Arthur)
Revd Janet Adamson Dunfermline and Coaltown
The Moderator greeted the new ministers and CRCW's, and invited the Chaplain to lead the Assembly in prayer.
The General Secretary named those ministers who were celebrating ministerial jubilees during the year:
The Revd Kenneth J H Hibberd and the Revd Leslie C Green who were present were greeted by the Moderator. The Assembly applauded them warmly and agreed that the Moderator should write to those not present to convey its greetings.
Synod Presentation
The Moderator invited the South Western Synod to make its presentation.
South Western Synod Moderator
The Moderator greeted the Revd David Miller, Moderator of the South Western Synod from September 2002.
Youth and Children's Work Committee
The Moderator explained the way in which the business of the committee would be taken, and ruled that all speeches during the debate on Resolutions 41 to 48 would be limited to three minutes. The Assembly agreed that Resolution 41 be taken in two parts, with part (b) to be taken after all the other resolutions relating to the Review. The Moderator then invited the Revd Kathryn Price, Convener, to present the report of the Youth and Children's Work Committee. In presenting the report, Ms Price thanked her predecessor, the Revd Derek Lindfield, for his support and encouragement. Ms Price asked the Assembly to note that there was regular ecumenical representation on the committee, and that it also included a representative of the Youth and Children's Work Trainers (YCWT).
The Revd Elizabeth Caswell, convener of the Review Group, introduced the Review of Youth and Children's Work in the United Reformed Church and moved adoption of Resolution 41(a):
Resolution 41(a) Policy for youth and children's work
General Assembly recognises that the prime venue for work with children and young people is the local church.
After considerable debate the Revd Dr Michael Jagessar proposed an amendment as follows:
Insert the words "in community" after "local church".
Mr John Ellis proposed that the amendment be not put. This was seconded by the Revd Dr David Thompson. On a vote this was lost.
Mrs Caswell indicated that she would be willing to accept the amendment, and the Assembly agreed. The substantive resolution was therefore before the Assembly.
The Revd Bill Mahood proposed and the Revd Michael Hodgson seconded that the resolution be now put.
The Moderator ruled that it would be unfair to take this motion because notice had been given of an amendment.
The Revd Malcolm Hanson then proposed the following amendment:
Add at the end: "within the context of a national strategy and the provision of supportive
resources."
After debate, the Moderator invited the Assembly to vote on the amendment.
The amendment was carried.
The Moderator invited the Assembly to vote on Resolution 41(a) as amended:
General Assembly recognises that the prime venue for work with children and young people is the local church in community, within the context of a national strategy and the provision of supportive resources.
The Resolution as amended was carried.
Ms Price moved adoption of Resolution 45:
Resolution 45 National Youth Resource Centre, Yardley Hastings
General Assembly asks the Youth and Children's Work Committee to work with the Centre Management Committee, the local church and the Northamptonshire District Council to implement the recommendations in the review report regarding Yardley Hastings, seeking help as necessary from Mission Council.
After considerable debate, Mr John Brown moved the following amendment:
Delete "asks" and replace with "agrees to set up a task group"; move "the Youth and Children's Work Committee" to after the words "to work with"; replace the word "implement" with the words "appraise the National Youth Resource Centre and explore the future role of Yardley Hastings in the light of"; delete the words "regarding Yardley Hastings"; and add at the end "and to bring proposals for decision to the next meeting of General Assembly"
The amendment was formally seconded by Mr Andrew Grand.
After debate the Revd Kenneth Summers proposed that the amendment be now put. This was seconded by the Revd Michael Harrison.
On a vote this was agreed.
The Assembly then voted on the amendment and the amendment was carried.
Debate resumed on the substantive resolution. The Revd Phillip Nevard proposed the following amendment:
"Delete 'next', and replace with '2004'."
This was seconded by Mr Paul Franklin.
After discussion the amendment was not carried.
After further debate Mr Tim Bellis proposed and Miss Amanda Wade seconded that the resolution be now put. This was agreed.
Ms Price replied to the debate, and the Assembly voted on the substantive Resolution 45:
"General Assembly agrees to set up a task group to work with the Youth and Children's Work Committee, the Centre Management Committee, the local church and the Northamptonshire District Council to appraise the National Youth Resource Centre and explore the future role of Yardley Hastings in the light of the recommendations in the review report, seeking help as necessary from Mission Council, and to bring proposals for decision to the next meeting of the General Assembly."
Resolution 45 as amended was carried.
The Chaplain led the Assembly in prayer, and the Assembly adjourned.
Saturday 6 July 2002 Second Session
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Dates of Sessions
Thursday 4 July 2002 First Session
Friday 5 July 2002 First Session
Friday 5 July 2002 Second Session
Saturday 6 July 2002 First Session
Saturday 6 July 2002 Second Session
Sunday 7 July 2002 First Session
Sunday 7 July 2002 Second Session
Sunday 7 July 2002 Third Session
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