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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2005

Sunday, 3 July 2005 Second Session   

After meeting in groups to discuss the Catch the Vision report, the Assembly resumed in plenary session and the Assembly Clerk presented the minutes of Saturday 1st July. With minor alterations the Assembly approved the minutes.

Moderator 2006-2007

Mrs Val Morrison, Convener of Tellers for the election of the Moderator of the General Assembly, reported that 343 votes had been cast, 3 papers had been spoiled and that the Revd Elizabeth Caswell had been duly elected as Moderator of General Assembly 2006-7.

National Synod of Scotland

The Synod of Scotland made its presentation.

Ecumenical and International Guests

On behalf of the Assembly, the Moderator welcomed:

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

The Revd Ian Hamilton            Chaplain to the Moderator, Church of
                                            Scotland
The Ven. Richard Blackburn    Archdeacon of Sheffield, Church of
                                             England
The Rt Revd Onye Obika         Secretary General, International Ministerial
                                             Council of Great Britain
The Revd Llunos Gordon         Union of Welsh Independents             

Resolutions

The Revd Ray Adams, on behalf of Mission Council, briefly introduced Resolution 6, which was formally moved by the Revd Peter Poulter and Mrs Sheila Brain. With the consent of the Moderator a personal statement was made by the Revd Moira Kerr.

Resolution 6

Declaration of a Safe Church – a Charter for Action

General Assembly

a)  accepts the Declaration of a Safe Church

b)  instructs all General Assembly committees to operate within it;

c)  urges synods, district councils and local churches to affirm the declaration, resolve to apply it in all aspects of their life and work; and synods to report their response to Mission Council by March 2006.

Following discussion, the Revd Peter Poulter responded, and Resolution 6 was carried.

The Revd Claire Downing, on behalf of East Midlands Synod, moved adoption of a revised Resolution 2:

Resolution 2

Saying sorry

General Assembly, noting the actions of the Methodist Church with regard to those who have been sexually abused, instructs Mission Council to prepare recommendations for similar actions on the part of the United Reformed Church and to bring them to the Assembly of 2006.

Seconded by Mrs Irene Wren.

Following discussion, Resolution 2 was carried.

Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee

The report of the Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee was presented by the Convener, the Revd John Young.  The Moderator, on behalf of the Assembly, thanked the Mr Young for the report and for his Convenership of the Doctrine, Prayer and Worship Committee.

Training Committee

The Convener of the Training Committee, the Revd John Humphreys, moved adoption of Resolution 35:

Resolution 35

Partnership within the Hind Process

General Assembly, recognising that the Training Committee is working within a climate of considerable change,

a)  encourages the Committee to continue in constructive partnership with the Church of England’s training review ‘Formation for Ministry within a Learning Church’ (known as ‘the Hind process’) and its subsequent implementation, and

b)  emphasises the need for the Committee to safeguard

     i. the aims and parameters of its own programmes in any
       arrangements to subsume them in new ecumenical provision; and

     ii. the financial resources and commitments needed to sustain them.

The Revd Roy Lowes, Secretary of the Training Committee, responded to a number of questions, and Resolution 35 was carried.

Pastoral Reference Committee

The report of the Pastoral Reference Committee was presented by the Convener, the Revd Keith Forecast.

The Assembly adjourned.

Sunday 3 July 2005 Third Session