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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2005
Sunday, 3 July 2005 First Session
Opening worship was conducted by the chaplain; Bible study was led by the Revd Dr Israel Selvanayagam, Principal of the United College of the Ascension, Birmingham.
The Northern Synod made its presentation.
Mr John Ellis, Convener of the Ministries Committee, presented the Equipping the Saints report. He responded to a number of questions, and moved adoption of Resolution 25:
Elders and Ecumenism
General Assembly reaffirms the place of Elders in the work of the United Reformed Church as described in paragraph 23 of the Basis of Union. Assembly requests that District and Area Councils seek to ensure that even when the precise processes and title set out in paragraph 23 are not used, some leaders of each congregation cover the functions of Elders and can properly be recognised as Elders for the purposes of the wider councils of the Church.
After brief discussion, Resolution 25 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 26:
Election of Elders
Given the importance of Elders in the leadership of United Reformed Church congregations and the need for ecumenical partners to respect the office, Assembly urges every local church to use a selection process for Elders which reflects the significance of their appointment.
Resolution 26 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 27:
Elders and Wider Church Representation
General Assembly, recognising that an Elder is part of the leadership of the whole Church as well as of the local congregation, requests the explicit involvement of the wider Church in the induction of Elders.
Resolution 27 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 28:
Personal Development of Elders
To promote the development of the gifts and skills of Elders, Assembly requests:
Synods to ensure the provision of locally based opportunities for the development of Elders in local churches or groups of churches; and each local church to set aside time and resources at least once a year specifically for the development of the gifts and skills of Elders.
Resolution 28 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 29:
Collaborative Leadership
General Assembly urges local churches and groups of churches to develop collaborative leadership patterns, and wherever possible to do so ecumenically.
After discussion, Resolution 29 was carried.
Election of Moderator of General Assembly 2006/7
The Assembly Clerk explained the voting procedure. The Moderator led the Assembly in prayer and ballot slips were collected.
The Revd William Mahood took the Chair.
Mr John Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 30:
Deployment
General Assembly, recognising that the number of Ministers of the Word and Sacraments continues to fall much more rapidly than the number of congregations, requests Synods, District and Area Councils to deploy Ministers in ways which show imagination and flexibility, and in particular:
a) to focus on present and future opportunities not historical patterns; b) to look at leadership needs and resources in each congregation, accepting that not every congregation has or will have a Minister directly providing their day-to-day leadership; c) to take account of the deployment plans of sister denominations; d) to take account of the service offered by self-supporting Ministers; e) to take account of the Church’s policy on Local Church Leaders as agreed at the 1998 meeting of the Assembly; f) to remember the possibilities provided by the Special Category Ministry scheme.
The Revd Alistair Smeaton moved adoption of the following Amendment to Resolution 30:
to replace the words ‘not every congregation has or will have a Minister directly providing their day-to-day leadership’ with ‘there may be variation in the way that elders and ministers of Word and Sacrament share in the pastoral oversight and leadership of local churches.’
The Amendment was seconded by the Revd Timothy Key.
After response by the Convener, a vote was taken and the amendment fell. Resolution 30 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 31:
Ministry and Mission Fund Report
General Assembly resolves that a report showing how the Ministry and Mission Fund contributions have been used should be sent each year to every local church.
Resolution 31 was carried.
The Moderator, on behalf of the Assembly, thanked the Convener and members of the Equipping the Saints working group for their work.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 32:
Ill-health retirement
General Assembly
a) consents to the use of Rule 44 of the United Reformed Church Ministers’ Pension Fund (the Scheme) such that any member of the Scheme who in future retires on ill-health grounds shall be paid a pension based on their full prospective years of pensionable service up to their normal retirement date; and
b) requests that comparable grants are paid to those who have retired on ill-health grounds since January 2004.
Resolution 32 was carried.
The General Secretary presented the report of the Catch the Vision group.
After announcements by the Convener of the Assembly Arrangements Committee, the Assembly adjourned.
Sunday
3 July 2005 Second Session
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