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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2002
Sunday, 7 July 2002 Second SessionSynod Resolutions
The Revd Michael Davies, on behalf of the Southern Synod, moved the adoption of Resolution 3: Resolution 3 Advocacy for Christian Stewardship
General Assembly, mindful of the United Reformed Church's need to complement spending cuts with increased giving, instructs the Life and Witness Committee to give priority to the development and promotion of stewardship, and, subject to the availability of funds additional to the 2003 Budget, to proceed as soon as possible with the appointment of one or more advocates for this work; and resolves that from 2004 onwards the post(s) shall be included in the United Reformed Church budget.
The Resolution was seconded by Mr Ian Chalmers.
After debate, Mr Hamish Martin proposed the following amendment:
Delete from "stewardship" and insert, "and invites each synod to proceed as soon as possible with the appointment of an advocate to proceed with this work from within their existing resources."
This was seconded by the Revd John Johansen-Berg
After debate, the Moderator called upon the Assembly to vote on the amendment
The amendment was not carried.
The Revd Ruth Crofton proposed that the Resolution be now put.
This was seconded by Mr Matthew Prevett.
The Assembly agreed and on being put to a vote, Resolution 3 was not carried.
The Revd Adrian Bulley, on behalf of the Wessex Synod, moved adoption of Resolution 6:
Resolution 6 Inter-Synod Sharing
Assembly gives thanks for the new spirit of sharing which has arisen in the life of the United Reformed Church from the consultation between the synods. It asks the Resource Sharing Task Group to initiate a consultation between the synods on the advisability and possibility of a more complete sharing of the financial resources of the synods, with a view to a more radical and equitable distribution of such resources across the whole church. The Resolution was seconded by Mr Graham Rolfe.
After brief discussion, the Moderator called upon the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 6 was carried.
Mr John Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 56.
Resolution 56 Ethical Investment
General Assembly agrees with Mission Council that the present URC guidelines on ethical investment cannot be a "final position" and welcomes the commitment of the Ethical Investment Advisory Group to take the lead in further work.
Assembly requests the Ethical Investment Advisory Group:
(i) to give regular attention to:
(a) the more detailed research and policies of some sister churches;
and
(ii) to bring recommendations to the 2003 meeting of the General Assembly through Mission Council.
The Resolution was seconded by the Revd Martin Camroux.
After debate, Mr Graham Stacy proposed that the Resolution be not put.
This was seconded by the Revd Bentley Webster.
The Moderator declined to accept this Resolution.
Thereafter, the Revd Dr Alan Spence proposed that the Resolution be now put.
This was seconded by the Revd Dr Richard Goldring.
Assembly agreed.
Mr Ellis responded, and the Moderator called upon the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 56 was carried.
Reception of Ecumenical Guests
The Moderator greeted a further ecumenical visitor:
The Revd Peter Sulston Co-ordinating Secretary for Inter-Church and Other Relations, the Methodist Church Reception of World Exchange Programme Students
The Moderator welcomed six overseas students:
Pedro César Miyares Pompa (Cuba) Ecumenical Committee
The Revd John Rees, on behalf of the Ecumenical Committee, moved adoption of Resolution 50:
Resolution 50 Conversations on the Way to Unity
General Assembly receives with gratitude Conversations on the Way to Unity, the report of the informal conversations between the Church of England, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church and commends it for study throughout the Church in conjunction with the study of an Anglican-Methodist Covenant. General Assembly invites synods, district councils and local congregations to send comments to the Secretary for Ecumenical Relations by 31 March 2003. After debate, Miss Iona Hine moved that the Resolution be now put.
This was seconded by Mr Tim Bellis.
The Assembly agreed
Mr Rees responded to questions and the Moderator called upon the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 50 was carried.
The Revd John Rees on behalf of the Ecumenical Committee, moved adoption of Resolution 53:
Resolution 53 Anglican-Methodist Covenant
The General Assembly welcomes the request from both the Methodist Conference and the Church of England General Synod to study and comment on An Anglican-Methodist Covenant and instructs the Ecumenical Committee to arrange for wide consultation and to bring proposals for a United Reformed Church response to the General Assembly of 2003. After brief debate, during which the Rt Revd David Hawtin and the Revd Peter Sulston outlined the background of the Covenant, Mr Rees responded to questions and the Moderator called upon the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 53 was carried.
Synod Resolutions
The Revd Murdoch McKenzie, on behalf of East Midlands Synod, moved adoption of Resolution 2:
Resolution 2 Standardising the administration of LEPs
General Assembly, concerned that, while unity at local level is enabling mission, the lack of co-ordination between denominations at national level is making it more difficult, calls upon the Ecumenical Committee to work with our ecumenical partners to establish:
a) a single point of contact for national approval of constitutions for new LEPs and amendments to constitutions of existing LEPs, and
b) a single form which satisfies all
denominations' needs for statistical information. The resolution was seconded by Mrs Irene Wren.
After debate, the Revd Peter Brain proposed that the Resolution be now put.
This was seconded by Mr Peter Lyth. Assembly agreed.
Mr McKenzie responded to questions, and the Moderator called upon the Assembly to vote.
Resolution 2 was carried.
Synod Presentation
The Moderator called upon Wessex Synod to make its presentation.
The Assembly adjourned.
Sunday 7 July 2002 Third 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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