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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2004

Sunday July 4 2004 Second Session

The Assembly Clerk presented the minutes of Saturday 3rd July; the Assembly approved the minutes subject to minor corrections.

Synod Presentation

The Yorkshire Synod made its presentation.

Ministries

Mr John Ellis, on behalf of the Ministries Committee, moved adoption of Resolution 27:

Resolution 27

Equipping the Saints

General Assembly:

a) welcomes the report Equipping the Saints;

b) challenges every congregation to respond locally to recommendations 1 and 2;

c) invites comments on recommendations 3 to 13 from churches, Area/District Councils and Synods to be sent to Ministries Committee by 31st December 2004; and

d) requests further work to be done by Ministries Committee in co-operation with the Catch the Vision Review Group and others so that formal proposals can be brought to the 2005 meeting of General Assembly.

Mr Ellis responded to a number of questions and comments.

Resolution 27 was carried.

The Assembly Clerk, on behalf of Mission Council, moved adoption of Resolution 12:

Resolution 12

New changes to Section O Part II

General Assembly agrees to make the following changes to Part II of the Section O Process for Ministerial Discipline:

Section A

Change the heading of Section A from ‘Introduction’ to ‘General’ to avoid confusion with the Introduction to the whole of Section O, which is being re-instated.

Paragraph B.6.2

Alter the wording in the brackets at the end of the paragraph to ‘(see also Paragraphs B.8.2 and B.11)’.

Paragraph B.8.1

At the end of the paragraph, add the following words: ‘(as to the contents of the written notice of suspension, see also Paragraph B.11)’.

Paragraph B.11

Add a new B.11 as follows:

‘The Notice of Suspension, whether issued under Paragraph B.6.2 or Paragraph B.8.1, shall inform the Minister that, in accordance with these Rules of Procedure, any conduct on his/her part which breaches or contravenes Paragraph 4 of Schedule E to the Basis of Union may be taken into account by the Assembly Commission in reaching its decision under Paragraph 10 of Part I.’

Paragraph B.12

The existing B.11 to become B.12

Paragraph C.1.6

Add a new Paragraph C.1.6 as follows:

‘On receipt of the Minister’s response under Paragraph C.1.2 and any documents which may accompany it, provide the Mandated Group with copies thereof.’

Paragraph C.1.7

Add a new Paragraph C.1.7 as follows:

‘In any case arising as a consequence of a Notice of Reference back, where comments are received from either of the parties as a result of the invitation contained in Paragraph C.1.3, provide the other party with copies thereof.’

Paragraph E.3.1

Replace the existing Paragraph E.3.1 with the following:

‘E.3.1

Unless the case is subject to compulsory adjournment under Paragraph E.7, the Secretary of the Assembly Commission shall as soon as practicable after the appointment of the Assembly Commission:

E.3.1.1 provide the Convener and the other members of the Assembly

Commission with (i) copies of the Referral Notice, (ii) the Minister’s response under Paragraph C.1.2 and (iii) any documents which may accompany it and

E.3.1.2

in the case of any Assembly Commission appointed as a consequence of a Notice of Reference back, provide the Convener and the other members thereof with copies of (i) the Notice of Reference back, (ii) the documents, statements and information delivered to the previous Assembly Commission in accordance with these Rules of Procedure and (iii) any comments received from the parties as a result of the invitation contained in Paragraph C.1.3 and

E.3.1.3

consult with the Convener and the other members of the Assembly Commission and, where possible, with the Parties as to a suitable venue, date and time for the Hearing and, having so consulted, decide thereupon.

‘Paragraph G.6

Delete the words ‘The Moderator of the General Assembly shall be the Convener of the Appeals Commission but s/he…’ and replace them with the words ‘The Convener of the Appeals Commission..’.’

Resolution 12 was carried

The General Secretary moved adoption of Resolution 14:

Resolution 14

Ratification of Westminster College Bursar

(Resolution 8 2003)

General Assembly agrees to ratify its decision of July 2003 to make the following changes to the Structure of the United Reformed Church about the role of the Bursar of Westminster College.

Delete ‘and Bursar’ from General Assembly function (vi) and replace ‘Board of Studies’ and with ‘Board of Governors’ in that same function so that it reads:

‘… to make regulations respecting Theological Colleges belonging to the United Reformed Church, to appoint the principal, professors and other members of the teaching staff, and Board of Governors, and to superintend their work’.

Resolution 14 was carried.

The Moderator welcomed Lord Dafydd Ellis Thomas, Presiding Officer of the National Assembly of Wales, and invited him to address the Assembly.

Moderator 2005-2006

Mr Donald Swift, Convener of Tellers for the election of the Moderator of the General Assembly, reported that the Revd Dr David Peel had been duly elected as Moderator of General Assembly 2005-2006.

On behalf of Mission Council, Mr John Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 6:

Resolution 6

Non–stipendiary Church Related Community Workers

General Assembly agrees to extend the principles of Non-Stipendiary Ministry to CRCW ministry. The Assembly resolves that:

a) non-stipendiary CRCW candidates would be expected to follow the same training path as stipendiary CRCWs;

b) the minimum age for commencement for training for non-stipendiary CRCW candidates shall be 21 years of age.

After discussion, Resolution 6 was carried.

On behalf of Mission Council, Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 7:

Resolution 7 Basis of Union

General Assembly resolves to amend the Basis of Union and Structure of The United Reformed Church as follows:

a) Add to the end of paragraph 22 of the Basis of Union (as agreed by General Assembly in 2003):

b) Amend paragraph B2(3)(A)(iii) on page B6 (July 2000 edition of the Manual) to read:

“to appoint, or to concur in the appointment of, non-stipendiary ministers to their particular service and to review this service at stated intervals;”

Resolution 7 was carried.

The General Secretary proposed that:

‘In accordance with paragraph 3(1) of the Structure, Resolution 7 be referred to synods with the 31st March 2005 as the final date for responses to the General Secretary as to whether or not this constitutional amendment be proceeded with.’

The Assembly agreed.

Assembly Worship including Holy Communion

The Moderator, assisted by the Chaplain, presided as the Assembly celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Commemoration of Ministers and Missionaries

The act of worship included the commemoration of the following ministers and missionaries of the United Reformed Church who had died since the previous General Assembly.

Ministers who had served at home and as missionaries overseas and had died since Assembly 2003:

Raymond William ARNOLD

William Frederick AUSTIN

Percy Noble BROWNE

Cedric William CARR

Charles Henry COUPLAND

Derek Pitt CHURCHWARD

Elizabeth DAVIES

John Graham FARMER

Leslie FIDGEN

Basil FILBY

Douglas MacKenzie GORDON