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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2002
Saturday 6 July 2002 Second SessionThe Chaplain led the Assembly in prayer.
The Clerk presented the minutes of Friday 5th July. The Assembly approved the minutes subject to minor corrections. Training Committee
The Moderator invited the Revd John Proctor, Convener, to present the report of the Training Committee. In doing so, Mr Proctor welcomed the Revd Roy Lowes, Secretary for Training, and thanked the Revd Lesley Husselbee and the Revd Jean Black for their contribution to the Committee's work.
Mr Proctor responded to a number of questions.
With the permission of the Assembly the Revd Dr David Thompson moved adoption of Resolution 52 in the following slightly amended form:
Resolution 52 Training Committee
General Assembly reappoints the Revd John Proctor to the Dunn Chair of New Testament Language, Literature and Theology at Westminster College for seven years from 1 September 2003. The Revd Ruth Ball seconded the Resolution.
Resolution 52 was carried and the Moderator greeted Mr Proctor.
Ministries Committee
The Moderator ruled that all speeches during debates on the business of the Ministries Committee would be limited to three minutes.
The Moderator invited the Revd Graham Long to present the report of the Ministries Committee.
Having responded to a number of questions and comments on the report, Mr Long moved adoption of Resolution 31:
Resolution 31 Assembly Welcome for Ministerial Transfers
Assembly agrees that from General Assembly 2003 it will receive and welcome alongside all newly ordained ministers of Word and Sacraments and newly commissioned church related community workers all those ministers from other churches who have been received onto the roll of ministers of the United Reformed Church. After brief debate, Mr Long responded and the Moderator invited the Assembly to vote:
Resolution 31 was carried.
Mr Long moved adoption of Resolution 32:
Resolution 32 Future Patterns of Ministries
General Assembly
1 welcomes the interim report of the Future Patterns of Ministries Working Party of Ministries Committee (Appendix 6)
2 remits it to local churches, districts and synods for consideration and response by the end of April 2003
3 requests Ministries Committee to present a further report to General Assembly in 2004 in the light of the responses received and the additional work to be done on outstanding issues. Mr Long responded to a number of points raised in debate, and the Moderator invited the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 32 was carried.
With the permission of the Assembly Mr Long moved Resolution 33 in the following corrected form:
Resolution 33 Certificates of Limited Eligibility
General Assembly authorises the Ministries Committee, through the Accreditation Sub-Committee, to grant Certificates of Limited Eligibility to ministers of other churches in order that they might serve local pastorates and posts in the United Reformed Church and receive a stipend from the Maintenance of the Ministry fund, on the following terms:
With permission, the Revd Christine Craven, Secretary for Ministries, replied to comments. She indicated that it would be possible, on an individual basis, for appointments to be renewed at the end of the twelve month period.
Resolution 33 was carried.
Mr Long moved adoption of Resolution 34
Resolution 34 Church Related Community Workers
General Assembly agrees to make the following changes to the Basis of Union:
Affirmations to be made by church related community workers at commissioning and induction.
NOTE: The service will also include the reading of the Statement contained in Schedule D, and provision will be made for a statement to be made concerning the circumstances of the call. Church related community workers may also make a personal statement about their faith and sense of calling After the statement has been read the presiding minister shall then ask one of the following sets of questions: Either: VERSION I
1. A.B., Do you confess anew your faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
I do.
2. Do you believe that the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments, discerned under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the supreme authority for the faith and conduct of all God's people?
I do.
3 Do you believe that Jesus Christ, who was born of Mary, lived our common life on earth, died upon the cross, and who was raised from the dead and reigns for evermore, is the gift of God's very self to the world? Do you believe that through him God's love, justice and mercy are revealed and forgiveness, reconciliation and eternal life are offered to all people? And will you faithfully proclaim this Gospel?
By the grace of God this I believe and this I will proclaim.
4. Do you believe that the Church is the people gathered by God's love to proclaim the reconciliation of the world to God through Jesus Christ?
I do. 5: Are zeal for the glory of God, love for the Lord Jesus Christ, obedience to the Holy Spirit and a desire for the salvation of the world, so far as you know your own heart, the chief motives which lead you to enter this ministry?
They are.
6. Do you promise to live a holy life, and to maintain the truth of the gospel, whatever trouble or persecution may arise?
Relying on the strength of Christ, I do.
7. Do you promise to care for, to challenge and to pray for the community,
By the grace of God, I do.
8. Do you promise as a church related community worker of the United Reformed Church to seek its well-being, purity and peace, to cherish love towards all other churches and to endeavour always to build up the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church?
By the grace of God, I do.
9. Will you undertake to exercise your ministry in accordance with the statement concerning the nature, faith and order of the United Reformed Church?
I will, and all these things I profess and promise in the power of the Holy Spirit. Or: VERSION II
1. A.B., will you confess anew your faith?
I confess anew my faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2. What leads you to this ministry?
So far as I know my own heart,
3. Will you faithfully fulfil the duties of your charge?
By the grace of God I promise to care for, to challenge and to pray for the community, Mrs Margaret Carrick Smith moved an amendment, that the word "endeavour" be inserted into Response 7, Version I, and Response 3, Version II before the words "enable the church" in each case.
The amendment was seconded by the Revd Dr David Thompson.
Mr Long indicated willingness to accept the amendment, and further proposed the insertion of the word "endeavour" before "to enable" in paragraph 22. The Assembly agreed.
Following discussion, the Moderator invited the Assembly to vote on the substantive motion:
Resolution 34 Church Related Community Workers
General Assembly agrees to make the following changes to the Basis of Union:
a) Add to the sentence at the end of paragraph 20: "and in the case of church related community workers be termed commissioning."
b) Insert the following paragraph after paragraph 21 and renumber the existing paragraphs 22-25 as 23-26:
22. Some are called to the ministry of church related community work. After approved preparation and training, they may be called to be church related community workers in a post approved by the United Reformed Church, and are then commissioned and inducted to their office to serve for a designated period. This commissioning and induction shall be in accord with Schedules D & F. Church related community workers are commissioned to care for, to challenge and to pray for the community, to discern with others God's will for the well-being of the community, and to endeavour to enable the church to live out its calling to proclaim the love and mercy of God through working with others in both church and community for peace and justice in the world.
c) In the footnote to the paragraph currently numbered 24, which will become paragraph 25, replace "The provisions of paragraph 24" with "The provisions of paragraph 25".
d) In the note at the start of Schedule B, replace
"22" with "23".
Affirmations to be made by church related community workers at commissioning and induction.
NOTE: The service will also include the reading of the Statement contained in Schedule D, and provision will be made for a statement to be made concerning the circumstances of the call. Church related community workers may also make a personal statement about their faith and sense of calling After the statement has been read the presiding minister shall then ask one of the following sets of questions: Either: VERSION I
1. A.B., Do you confess anew your faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
I do.
2. Do you believe that the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments, discerned under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the supreme authority for the faith and conduct of all God's people?
I do.
3 Do you believe that Jesus Christ, who was born of Mary, lived our common life on earth, died upon the cross, and who was raised from the dead and reigns for evermore, is the gift of God's very self to the world? Do you believe that through him God's love, justice and mercy are revealed and forgiveness, reconciliation and eternal life are offered to all people? And will you faithfully proclaim this Gospel? By the grace of God this I believe and this I will proclaim.
4. Do you believe that the Church is the people gathered by God's love to proclaim the reconciliation of the world to God through Jesus Christ?
I do.
5: Are zeal for the glory of God, love for the Lord Jesus Christ, obedience to the Holy Spirit and a desire for the salvation of the world, so far as you know your own heart, the chief motives which lead you to enter this ministry?
They are.
6. Do you promise to live a holy life, and to maintain the truth of the gospel, whatever trouble or persecution may arise?
Relying on the strength of Christ, I do.
7. Do you promise to care for, to challenge and to pray for the community,
By the grace of God, I do.
8. Do you promise as a church related community worker of the United Reformed Church to seek its well-being, purity and peace, to cherish love towards all other churches and to endeavour always to build up the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church?
By the grace of God, I do.
9. Will you undertake to exercise your ministry in accordance with the statement concerning the nature, faith and order of the United Reformed Church?
I will, and all these things I profess and promise in the power of the Holy Spirit. Or: VERSION II
1. A.B., will you confess anew your faith?
I confess anew my faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2. What leads you to this ministry?
So far as I know my own heart,
3. Will you faithfully fulfil the duties of your charge?
By the grace of God I promise to care for, to challenge and to pray for the community, Resolution 34 in its amended form was carried with the necessary two thirds majority.
The General Secretary proposed that "In accordance with paragraph 3(1) of the Structure, Resolution 34 be referred to synods with the 24th March 2003 as the final date for responses to the General Secretary as to whether or not this constitutional amendment be proceeded with." This was agreed.
Mr Long moved adoption of Resolution 35:
Resolution 35 Lay Preaching Strategy Proposal
General Assembly commends the Strategy Proposal of the Lay Preaching Support Committee to District and Area Councils and local churches and urges them to implement the strategy proposal as soon as may be practicable. After brief debate, the Moderator invited the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 35 was carried.
Mr Long moved adoption of Resolution 36:
Resolution 36 Plan for Partnership in Ministerial Remuneration
General Assembly approves and adopts the Plan for Partnership in Ministerial Remuneration as set out in Appendix 5. With permission Mr Geoffrey Wood, Convener of the Maintenance of the Ministry Sub-Committee, responded to a number of questions and comments. Mr Wood assured the Assembly that the Plan was under constant review, and that all the comments made would be considered. Some were already on the Sub-Committee's agenda. The Moderator invited the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 36 was carried.
Consideration of Resolution 37 was deferred to a later session.
Mr Long moved adoption of Resolution 38:
Resolution 38 Ministers' Pension Fund
General Assembly gives its consent for the additional pensions of members of the URC
Ministers' Pension Fund to be augmented under Rule 44, on condition that there are no adverse funding implications. There being no discussion, the Moderator invited the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 38 was carried.
Synod Presentation
The Moderator invited the Northern Synod to make its presentation. Youth and Children's Work Committee (continued)
The Revd Elizabeth Caswell moved adoption of Resolution 42:
Resolution 42 Training for ministers
General Assembly asks the Training Committee to consider and implement the recommendations in the review report which relate to initial ministerial training and the need to provide ongoing CME training opportunities in all aspects of work with children and young people, including contemporary youth culture. After brief discussion, the Moderator invited the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 42 was carried.
Mrs Caswell moved adoption of Resolution 43:
Resolution 43 District/Area Councils and Synods
General Assembly asks Synods and District/Area Councils to consider and, as necessary, to implement the recommendation in the review report regarding their work and to report back to Mission Council in March 2003. After discussion, the Moderator invited the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 43 was carried.
The Revd Kathryn Price moved adoption of Resolution 44:
Resolution 44 Committee structure
General Assembly agrees to change part of the committee structure agreed in 1994 so that Youth and Children's Work Committee is no longer required to send representatives to the Church & Society, Doctrine, Prayer & Worship and Life & Witness Committees. After brief discussion, the Moderator invited the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 44 was carried.
The Revd Elizabeth Caswell moved adoption of Resolution 46:
Resolutions 46 Pilots
General Assembly celebrates the success of the relaunch of Pilots and commends the programme to those churches not yet on board. After brief discussion, the Moderator invited the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 46 was carried.
Ms Price moved adoption of Resolution 47:
Resolution 47 FURY
General Assembly asks the Youth and Children's Work Committee to work with FURY Council to implement the recommendations in the review report regarding FURY, in particular the proposal to build an effective network through District/Area Councils and Synods. After discussion, the Moderator invited the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 47 was carried.
After worship led by the Chaplain, Assembly adjourned.
Sunday 7 July 2002 First 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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