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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2005

Saturday, 2 July 2005 First Session 

Constitution of Assembly

At 3.30 pm members of Assembly met in the Butterworth Hall of the University of Warwick. The Moderator, the Revd Sheila Maxey constituted the Assembly with prayer, the place and the time having been duly appointed.

The Moderator then called the Assembly to worship, welcoming the Revd David Peel, Moderator-Elect, Revd Jill Thornton, Chaplain to the Moderator-Elect, Revd Alastair Smeaton, Chaplain to the Moderator, and Revd Dr David Cornick, General Secretary.

Past Moderators, Presidents, and Chairmen were then greeted by the Moderator and the Moderator-Elect, as were the local Church guests, introduced by the Revd Elizabeth Welch, Moderator of the West Midlands Synod:

The Revd Mark Bratton – Anglican Chaplain at Warwick University and Area Dean of Coventry South Deanery

The Revd Brian Nicholls – Regional Team Leader of the Heart of England Baptist Association

The Rt Revd Vincent Nichols – the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham

The Revd William Anderson – the Chair of the Birmingham Methodist District

United Kingdom and Ecumenical guests present were introduced by the Revd Elizabeth Nash, Convener of the Ecumenical Committee:

The Revd Llunos Gordon, Union of Welsh Independents

The Revd Martyn Skinner, The Methodist Church

The Revd Iain Hodgins, The Presbyterian Church of Wales

The Rt Revd David Lacy, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

The Revd Ian Hamilton, Chaplain to the Moderator, The Church of Scotland

The Revd Alister Goss, The Church of Scotland

The Rt Revd Dr Harry Uprichard, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

The Revd Dr Donald Watts, The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

The Revd Jan Mullin, The Moravian Church

The Revd John Nockels, The Congregational Federation

The Revd Stephen Matthews, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Free Church of Scotland

The Revd Michael Cleaves, The Baptist Union of Great Britain

The Revd Judith Maizel Long, Assistant General Secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

The Ven Richard Blackburn, The Church of England

The Revd Lindsay Sanderson, Action of Churches Together in Scotland

Dame Anne Doyle, The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

The Rt Revd Onye Obika, Secretary-General of the International Ministerial Council of Great Britain

The Moderator then invited Dame Anne Doyle, representing the ecumenical guests, to greet the Assembly.

Visitors and members from overseas were introduced by the Revd Elizabeth Nash:

The Revd Steven Titus, The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa

Mr Andrew Johnston,  Executive Secretary for Administration, Council for World Mission

The Revd Setri Nyomi, General Secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches

The Rt Revd Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana

The Rt Revd Suputhrappa Vasanthakumar, Church of South India

The Revd Julie Walkup Bird, Presbyterian Church of the USA

The Revd Chen Hsin-Liang, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan

The Revd Chang Jen-Ho, Mission Partner and Chaplain to Taiwanese students in Manchester

The Revd Godwin Odonkor, Mission Partner and the Ghanaian Minister for London

Mr David Jonathan, Mission Partner and Inter-community Relations worker, Grassroots

Four of the above brought a painted letter to both the Moderator and the Moderator-Elect, which was placed in front of the communion table.  The Moderator-Elect then invited the Revd Steve Titus, General Secretary of the United Congregational Church of South Africa, to greet Assembly.

FURY representatives then brought 13 painted letters, which were placed in front of the Bible and Communion Table.

The Chaplain led Assembly in prayer.

The Revd Dr David Peel, was inducted with prayer into the office of Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church.  He signed the Assembly Bible and was presented with an inscribed copy of the Bible by the retiring Moderator of Assembly.  Mrs Patricia Peel was also greeted by the outgoing Moderator. 

The Moderator then thanked Mrs Maxey for her ministry as Moderator and Mr Smeaton for his as Chaplain. The Moderator also greeted and thanked Mr Kees Maxey.

The Roll of Assembly was then placed on the table.

Moderator:                                                         Revd Dr David Peel

Clerk:                                                                Revd James Breslin

General Secretary:                                             Revd Dr David Cornick

Deputy General Secretary:                                  Revd Ray Adams

Moderators of Synods:
  

I           Revd Peter Poulter

II          Revd Peter Brain

III         Revd Howard Sharp

IV        Revd Arnold Harrison

V         Revd Terry Oakley

VI        Revd Elizabeth Welch

VII       Revd Elizabeth Caswell

VIII      Revd David Grosch-Miller

IX        Revd Adrian Bulley

X         Revd Roberta Rominger

XI        Revd Nigel Uden

XII       Revd Peter Noble

XIII      Revd John Humphreys

Conveners of General Assembly Standing Committees:

Assembly Arrangements:                       Mr William McVey

Church and Society:                              Revd Martin Camroux

Communications and Editorial:               Revd Martin Hazell

Doctrine, Prayer & Worship:                   Revd John Young

Ecumenical/International:                       Revd Elizabeth Nash

Equal Opportunities:                              Revd Wilf Bahadur

Finance:                                               Mr Eric Chilton

Interfaith Relations:                                Revd Dr John Parry

Life and Witness:                                   Revd Brian Jolly

Ministries:                                             Mr John Ellis

Mission Council:                                    Revd Sheila Maxey

Nominations:                                         Revd Principal Stephen Orchard

Pastoral Reference:                                Revd Keith Forecast

Racial Justice & Multi Cultural Ministries: Revd Andrew Prasad

Training:                                                Revd John Humphreys

Youth & Children‘s Work:                        Revd Kathryn Price

Synod Clerks:

I            Revd John Durell

II           Mr George Morton

III          Mr Donald Swift

IV         Mrs Val Morrison

V          Mrs Irene Wren

VI         Mr Bill Robson

VII        Mr Mick Barnes

VIII       Revd Roz Harrison

IX         Mr Peter Pay

X          Revd Martin Hazell

XI         Dr Graham Campling

XII        Revd David Fox

XIII       Dr James Merrilees

Additional Synod Representatives:

I

II            Miss Jennifer Platt

III           Mr Malcolm Evans, Revd Barbara Exley, Revd John Oldershaw

V           Mrs Barbara Turner

VI          Mr Chris Basterfield, Mrs Melanie Frew, Revd Anthony Howells

VII         Mr Andrew Littlejohns

VIII        Mrs Janet Gray, Mr Malcolm Summers

X           Ms Esther Akingbade, Mr Felix Osie

XI          Revd Peter Southcombe, Miss Louisa Weeks

XII         Revd Alison Davis

XIII        Revd Timothy Huc, Revd Dr Irene John, Ms Morag McLintock,
            Revd Leslie Morrison, Mr Simon Peters, Revd John Smith,
            Ms Jen Wilson, Mrs Patricia Young, Miss Sheena Young

Synod Treasurers:

I            Revd David Walton

II           Mr Gordon Eccles

III          Mr Andrew Martlew

IV         Mrs Margaret Atkinson

V          Revd Richard Turnbull

VI         Revd Roger Woodall

VII        Mr Clifford Patten

VIII        Revd Richard Gray

IX          Mr David Butler

X          Mr Michael Gould

XI          Revd John Waller

XII         Mr Paul Roberts

XIII        Mr Tom Woodbridge

Theological College Representatives:

Mansfield College        Revd Dr Walter Houston, Mrs Caroline Vodden

Northern College          Revd Dr John Campbell , Mrs Caroline Andrews,

Queens Foundation                Revd Dr Michael Jagessar, Mr Suk In Lee

Scottish United Reformed        Revd Jack Dyce, Mr Craig Jesson

and Congregational College                    

Westminster College                Revd Dr Janet Tollington, Mrs Sam White

Youth representatives:              Miss Fleur James, Mr Gareth Jones

Assembly Members from Other Churches in the United Kingdom:

Action of Churches Together in Scotland           Revd Lindsey Sanderson

Baptist Union of Great Britain                           Revd Michael Cleaves

Catholic Bishops‘ Conference of                        Dame Anne Doyle

England and Wales

Church of Scotland                                          Revd Alister Goss

Congregational Federation                                Revd John Nockels

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland            Revd Judith Maisel Long

International Ministerial Council of Gt Britain       Rt Revd Onye Obika

Presbyterian Church in Ireland                           Revd Dr Donald Watts

Presbyterian Church of Wales                           Revd Iain Hodgins

The Church of England                                     Ven Richard Blackburn

The Methodist Church                                      Revd Martyn Skinner

The Moravian Church                                        Revd Jan Mullin

Union of Welsh Independents                            Revd Llunos Gordon

United Free Church of Scotland                         Revd Stephen Matthews

Assembly Members from Churches outside of Britain and Ireland:

Church of South India                 Rt Revd Suputhrappa Vasanthakumar

Council for World Mission           Mr Andrew Johnston

Presbyterian Church of Ghana     Rt Revd Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso

Presbyterian Church of Taiwan     Revd Chen Hsin-Liang

Presbyterian Church, USA           Revd Julie Walkup Bird

United Congregational Church       Revd Steven Titus

of Southern Africa         

World Alliance of Reformed Churches    Revd Dr Setri Nyomi

Chaplain (URC) to HM Forces in Britain: no representation

Past Presidents, Chairmen and Moderators:

Ms Gwen Hall, Revd Norman Birnie, Revd Arthur Macarthur, Revd John Johansen-Berg, Revd Martin Cressey, Mrs Rosalind Goodfellow, Revd John Francis, Revd Richard Murray, Revd Bernard Waterton, Revd Bentley Webster, Revd Dr Peter Arthur, Revd George Sharpe,  Revd Victor Smith, Revd Alasdair Walker, Revd Dr Philip Morgan, Revd David Dale, Revd Cyril Franks, Revd Edmund Banyard, Revd Keith Forecast, Revd Graham Cook, Revd Malcolm Hanson, Mrs Ruth Clarke, Revd Donald Hilton, Revd Dr Jack McKelvey, Revd John Reardon, Revd Dr David Thompson, Revd David Jenkins, Mrs Wilma Frew, Revd Peter McIntosh, Revd William Mahood, Revd Elizabeth Welch, Revd John Waller, Revd Alasdair Pratt, Revd Sheila Maxey.

District Representatives: (Names appearing with an asterisk were appointed to fill District vacancies cf. Resolution 10 pg. 21 Assembly Record 1978)

Synod I

A:         Revd Barry Hutchinson, Revd Pamela Ward, Miss Rebella
            Sutherland

B:         Revd Gordon Brown, Revd Ann Jackson, Revd Margaret Johnson,
            Mrs Pat Gurr, Miss Sheila Hill, Miss Sara Paton

C:         Revd Norma Leveridge, Revd Jan Maxwell, Mrs Maranny Jones,
            Mrs Jean Lamplugh

G:         Revd Barry Welch, Miss Alison Beecroft

Synod II

J:          Revd Ann Hufton, Revd Alistair Smeaton, Mrs Freda Bradbury,
            Mr Jim Bradbury, Mrs Margaret McQueen

K:         Revd Thomas Carmichael, Revd David Greenwood, Revd Sarah
            Moore, Revd Lena Talbot, Revd Geoffrey Townsend, Mr Derek
            Estill, Mr George Grime, Mr Peter Hunter

L:         Revd George McCleave, Revd Craig Muir, Revd Anne Stokes,
            Revd Kirsty Thorpe,

            Miss Mavis Butterworth, Mr Tim Rudge, Mr James Wickens

M:        Revd Kate Gray, Revd John Piper, Revd Peter Sharp,
            Revd Marion Tugwood, Revd Mike Walsh, Ms Bethan Galliers,
            Mr Michael Aspinall, Mrs Eula Mesquita, Miss Katie Unsworth

Synod III

A:         Revd Ruth Allen, Revd David Coaker, Revd Sally Willett, Dr Roger
            Allen, Mr Robin Hodgkins, Mr John White

B:         Revd Gary McGowan, Mrs Margaret Blair, Mr Richard Lathaen

C:         Revd John Bradbury, Revd Ruth Dillon, Mrs Pat Fagan, Mrs
            Jackie Irwin

D:         Revd Jenny Morgan, Revd Ian Smith, Dr Janet Large, Mr David
            Powell

Synod IV

A:         Revd David Coote, Revd Graham Maskery, Dr Lesley Coote, Mrs
            Anne Murison

B:         Revd Bob Heathcote, Revd Pauline Loosemore, Mrs Judith
            Garthwaite, Mrs Betty James

C:         Revd Keith Argyle, Revd Dr David Pickering, Dr Moira Gallagher,
            Mrs Sandra Murison

D:         Revd Mirella Moxon, Revd Heather Pollard, Mr Simon Loveitt, Mrs
            Daphne Egan

E:         Revd Gillian Brown, Mrs Margaret Morgan

F:         Revd George Courtney, Revd Timothy Key, Mr John Pulman

Synod V

A:         Revd Brian Norris, Revd Jenny Yule, Mrs Gwen Johnson, Ms
            Tamara Oates

B:         Revd Clare Downing, Revd Jay Phelps, Mr Peter Downing, Dr
            Lesley Moseley

C:         Revd Jane Campbell, Mr Grenville Jackson

D:         Revd Keith Morrison, Revd Ed Rawlins, Mrs Elizabeth Thomson

E:         Revd Peter Blackband, Revd Tim Clarke, Mr John New, Mrs
            Barbara Parker

F:         Revd Janet Conway, Revd Dr Mary Cotes, Miss Ruth Hodgson*

Synod VI

A:         Revd Marion Thomas, Mr Colin Choyce, Mr Geoff Harrison, Mrs
            Margaret Marshall

B:         Revd Shirley Mountcastle, Revd Nick Nicholas, Mr Timothy
            Mullings, Mrs Elinor Nicholas

C:         Revd Jim Brown, Revd Cat Morrison, Mrs Pat Radford, Mrs Helen
            Yare

D:         Revd Simon Helme, Revd Heather Whyte, Miss Charlotte Carter
            -Jones, Mrs Liz Shankland

E:         Revd Jacky Embrey, Revd Roy Fowler, Revd Graham Sweeney,
            Mrs Maureen Thompson, Mr Peter Murphy, Miss Isobel Simmons

F:         Revd Louise Franklin, Revd Graham Spicer, Miss Rachel Grain,
            Mrs Doreen Watson

Synod VII

A:         Revd Alison Chart-Key, Revd Ian Fosten, Mrs Bridget Fosten, Mr
            Ron Wade

B:         Revd Mark Ambrose, Revd Kenneth Forbes, Revd Heather Kent,
            Mr Shannon Craig, Miss Claire Harrison, Mrs Linda Harrison,
            Miss Denise Searle

C:         Revd Michael Rigney, Revd Nigel Rogers, Ms Laura Baker, Mr
            Tony Deighton

D:         Revd David Rees, Revd Victor Ridgewell, Mr Robert Gazely, Mr
            Clive Goodhew

E:         Revd Catherine Ball, Revd Keith Riglin, Revd Eileen Springbett,
            Miss Claire Gouldthorp, Mrs Pat Plumb, Mrs Joan Turner

F:         Revd Thomas MacMeekin, Mrs Ann Stokes

Synod VIII

A:         Revd Paul Snell

B:         Revd Glyn Millington, Mrs Jean Baker

C:         Revd Rose Barrett, Revd Craig Bowman, Dr Wendy Milne, Mr
            Geoffrey Powell

D:         Revd Michael Whitfield, Mrs Marie Whitman, Mr John Willis

E:         Revd Andrew Francis, Revd Michael Hodgson, Ms Sara Crabb,
            Mrs Joan Trippier

F:         Revd Wendy Baskett, Revd Dilys Brace, Revd Ian Kirby, Mr John
            Waines

G:         Revd Barbara Bennett, Mrs Barbara Madge

H:         Mrs Shirley Paton

J:          Mrs Peggy Gray, Revd Martyn Skinner

Synod IX

A:         Revd Clive Sutcliffe, Revd Margaret Tilley, Mrs Brenda McCarron

B:         Revd Terry Hinks, Revd George Thomas, Mrs Christine Hardwick,
            Mr Josh Thomas

C:         Revd Michael Thomas, Revd David Williams, Miss Ruth Hezlett,
            Mr Roy Markham

D:         Revd David Bedford, Revd David Mather, Revd Stephen Thornton,
            Ms Nikki Andrews, Mr Peter Bulley, Ms Sarah Power

E:         Revd Andrew Lonsdale, Revd Dick Wolff, Mrs Kath Lonsdale, Mr
            Colin Macbean, Mrs Julie McLaren, Mrs Margaret Telfer

Synod X

A:         Revd John Danso, Revd Lynn Fowkes, Revd Kathryn Louch, Mrs
            Sally Abbott, Miss Gloria Osie, Mr Cliff Purchase

B:         Revd Sheena Dickson, Revd Elizabeth Kemp,
            Mr Douglas Hogge, Mrs Janet Hogge

C:         Revd Dr Jim Coleman, Revd Bridget Powell, Miss Shirley Raw,
            Mr Howard Williams

D:         Revd Jeanne Ennals, Revd Neil Thorogood, Revd Mark
            Woodhouse, Mr Robert Harvey, Mr Andrew Jack, Mr Alan Vine

E:         Revd Janet Llewellyn, Revd John Macaulay, Miss Barbara
            Leighton, Ms Margaret Stuart

F:         Revd Phil Nevard, Revd Ann Woodhurst, Mrs Glenys Cockerell,
            Mr Reg Cockerell

Synod XI

A:         Revd Gerald Moule, Revd Barbara Pearson, Revd Bruce Stuart,
            Mrs Sylvia Back, Mrs Jeanette Chamberlain, Mr Benjamin
            Munyaneza

B:         Revd Susan Henderson, Revd Adrian Skelton, Mrs Judith Davey,
            Mrs Judith Johnson, Mr Michael Musgrove, Mr Matthew Prevett

C:         Revd Sue Powell, Revd Raymond Singh, Revd Julian Thomas,
            Miss Lizzie King, Mr Albert Sinclair, Mrs Garcia Yearwood

D:         Revd Peter Clark, Revd Kenneth Thom, Mr Desmond Colechin,
            Mr Matthew Percival

E:         Revd Christine Jefferies, Revd Norman Setchell, Mrs Barbara
            Ellis, Mr John Ellis

F:         Revd Roy Cole, Revd Dr Gerald Munro, Revd Bryan Shirley, Miss
            Hilary Munro, Mrs Christine Robertson, Mr David Walters

G:         Revd Graeme Allan, Revd Simon Franklin, Mrs Maureen
            Lawrence, Mrs Kay McIntosh

Synod XII

A:         Revd Brian Acty, Revd Keith Jones, Mr David Clarkson, Ms
            Naomi Wilkinson

B:         Revd Stuart Jackson, Revd Alan Thomasson, Mrs Gwyneth
            Jarrett, Mrs Joyce Smith-Draper

C:         Revd Paul Floe, Revd Gethin Rhys, Revd Simon Walkling, Mrs
            Barbara Jones, Mr Idris Jones, Dr Jean Silvan Evans

D:         Revd Nick Stanyon, Mr Stuart Jones

E:         Revd Nanette Lewis-Head, Revd Malcolm Shapland, Mr Richard
            Laws, Mrs Barbara Shapland

F:         Revd Stephen Gilbert, Revd Margery Woodland, Mrs Liz Tadd, Mr
            Dennis Woodland

Synod XIII

A:         Revd Linda Rice, Dr Andrew Davidson     

B:         Revd John Sanderson, Mrs Maureen Stewart

C:         Revd Gordon Smith, Mr Douglas Hay, Mr James Mack, Mr Keith
            Muskett*

D:         Revd Thomas Heggie, Mrs Irene Merrilees

E:         Mr George Barclay, Mrs Mary Howat

The Moderator then delivered his address.  This was followed by prayers of Intercession.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was then administered by the Moderator assisted by the Chaplain.

The Moderator pronounced the Blessing and the Assembly stood adjourned.

Saturday 2 July 2005 Second Session