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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2003

Sunday, 6 July 2003 First Session

The Chaplain led opening worship; Bible study was led by the Revd Lance Stone.

Synod Presentation

The North Western Synod made its presentation.

Doctrine, Prayer and Worship

The Revd John Young presented the report of the Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee. Members of the committee introduced the newly-pubished service book, Worship: from the United Reformed Church. Mr Young presented a copy of the book to the Moderator.

Synod Moderators’ Report

The Revd Elizabeth Welch presented the report of the Synod Moderators.

The Moderator, on behalf of Assembly, thanked the Moderators for their report, and for their work throughout the year. He greeted the Revd Graham Cook and the Revd Malcolm Hanson, who would shortly be retiring as Moderators of Mersey and East Midlands Synods respectively.

The Revd John Waller took the Chair.

Standing Orders

The Assembly Clerk moved adoption of Resolution 29:

Resolution 29 Alterations to Standing Orders

General Assembly resolves to alter the second sentence of Standing Order 5c to read. “This rule does not apply to debates on amendments or alternative motions since the Assembly needs to decide the final form of a motion before it can responsibly vote on deferral.”

Resolution 29 was carried.

The Revd William Mahood, on behalf of Eastern Synod, moved adoption of Resolution 1:

Resolution 1 Sabbaticals

General Assembly notes that the present policy of the Training Committee is to allow only a reduced sabbatical period (two months instead of three) for ministers who have reached the age of sixty, is concerned that this conflicts with equal opportunities principles, and asks the Training Committee to reconsider the policy with a view to allowing the full sabbatical period for such ministers.

This was seconded by the Revd Peter Ball.

After brief discussion, Resolution 1 was carried.

The Revd Alasdair Pratt resumed the Chair.

Election of Moderator of General Assembly 2004 – 2005

The Assembly Clerk explained the voting procedure.

The Moderator led the Assembly in prayer and the vote was taken.

Yardley Hastings Task Group

The Assembly Clerk explained the procedure for dealing with business under Standing Order 3k.

The Revd John Humphreys presented the report of the Yardley Hastings Task Group and moved adoption of Resolution 11:

Resolution 11 Yardley Hastings 1

General Assembly thanks God for all who have been involved in the life of the National Youth Resource Centre, Yardley Hastings, for their commitment and inspiration.

Resolution 11 was carried.

Mr Humphreys sought Assembly’s permission to withdraw Resolution 12A and replace it with a re-worded Resolution 12A. Assembly agreed.

The Revd John Humphreys, on behalf of the Task Group, moved adoption of Resolution 12A:

Resolution 12A Yardley Hastings 2

The General Assembly instructs the Youth and Children’s Work Committee and General Secretariat to oversee the implementation of the proposals recommended in the Task Group report so that:

a) the Centre be renamed the “Yardley Hastings Centre for Youth and children’s Ministry (United Reformed Church)”

b) the positions of Centre Minister and Centre Manager be discontinued and the positions of Centre Director and Centre Chaplain be created

c) the Centre Management Committee be discontinued and an executive Committee be created

d) further work may be done about the suggestion for the re-location of Assembly staff for youth and children’s work and proposals brought to a future Assembly.

e) the appraisal and review process timetabled in section 6 of the Task Group report is implemented

f) the ‘greater vision’ contained in Appendix VIII is given to the General Secretary to consider as a part of the review of the life of the United Reformed Church commissioned by Mission Council in October 2002.

The Revd Elizabeth Caswell, on behalf of the Task Group, moved adoption of Resolution 12B:

Resolution 12B Yardley Hastings 2

The General Assembly instructs the Youth and Children’s Work Committee and General Secretariat to implement the closure of the National Youth Resources Centre Yardley Hastings and cessation of use of the Yardley Hastings United Reformed Church buildings by the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church.

The Revd Adrian Bulley, seconded by the Revd Ronald Forster, moved adoption of Resolution 12C:

Resolution 12C Yardley Hastings 2

General Assembly reaffirms its declaration 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’ (resolution 2002:41a), and to this end:

a) calls upon the Youth and Children’s Work Committee to use the model of the Ginger Group teams and work with others in drawing up plans for the development of a team to become a resource to local churches, District/Area Councils and Synods in the stimulation and support of youth and children’s ministry, such a team to be appropriately managed and supported, and based in a central location or locations

b) instructs the Youth and Children’s Work Committee and General Secretariat to work with the Centre Management Committee, the local church and the Northamptonshire District Council to implement the closure of the National Youth Resource Centre Yardley Hastings and cessation of use of the Yardley Hastings United Reformed Church buildings by the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church.

For the debate, the Moderator restricted the time of speeches to three minutes.

The Revd John Johannsen-Berg, seconded by the Revd Peter Flint, moved an amendment to resolution 12C:

Clause (b): insert after ‘closure’, ‘or alternative use’.

insert after ‘United Reformed Church Buildings’, ‘for Youth and Children’s purposes’

A vote was taken and the amendment fell.

Mrs Melanie Frew, seconded by the Revd Jane Wade, moved an amendment to Resolution 12A:

Clause (e), add: ‘unless by January 2005 utilisation and budgets have made very significant development towards their target levels, then 12B.’

There being insufficient time for further debate, the matter was deferred and Assembly adjourned.

Sunday 6 July 2002 Second Session