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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2006
Saturday, 8th July 2006 Second SessionThe Assembly approved the minutes of Friday 7th July, first and second sessions.
Catch the Vision
The General Secretary and members of the Steering Group reported on the Catch the Vision process.
The Revd Elizabeth Welch took the Chair.
The General Secretary responded to a number of questions and comments.
The Revd Elizabeth Caswell resumed the Chair.
The General Secretary moved adoption of Resolution 44:
Resolution 44
General Assembly resolves that there shall be one level of council between the General Assembly and the local church.
Resolution 44 was carried.
The General Secretary moved adoption of Resolution 45:
Resolution 45
General Assembly resolves that as from General Assembly 2007, there shall be one level of council between the General Assembly and the local church, the thirteen ‘new Synods.’
Two synods, Eastern and Thames North, who had rejected the resolutions, were invited to make statements.
After some debate, the Revd Tim Jackson proposed that the resolution be now put, seconded by Ms Morag McLintock. The Assembly agreed by more than the required two-thirds majority.
Following the General Secretary’s response, a vote was taken, and Resolution 45 was carried.
The General Secretary moved adoption of Resolution 46:
Resolution 46
General Assembly resolves that, as from 2007, General Assembly shall meet every two years.
Following debate, the Convener of the Assembly Arrangements Committee responded, a vote was taken, and Resolution 46 was carried.
Assembly Moderator 2007-8
The Revd Roz Harrison, Convener of Tellers for the election of the Moderator of General Assembly, reported that 342 votes had been cast, 2 papers had been spoiled, and that the Revd Principal Stephen Orchard had been duly elected as Moderator of General Assembly 2007-8.
North Western Synod
The North Western Synod made a presentation of its life and work.
Training Committee
The report of the Training Committee was presented by the Convener, the Revd John Humphreys.
Mr Humphreys presented the Training Committee review and responded to a number of questions and comments.
Mr Humphreys moved adoption of Resolution 35:
Resolution 35
General Assembly in pursuance of the Training Committee’s report urges: a) Training Committee to continue promoting the development of partnerships in pursuit of Assembly’s commitment to integrated and dispersed Christian education, nurture and training for the whole people of God in line with the principles agreed by Assembly in resolution 51 of 2005. b) the Synods in England to participate as proactively as possible in the development of the ecumenical Regional Training Partnerships for the training and nurture of the whole people of God in line with the policies agreed by General Assembly and specifically resolution 35 of 2005.
Resolution 35 was carried.
Mr Humphreys moved adoption of Resolution 36:
Resolution 36
General Assembly in line with the Training report, welcomes the commitment of the Northern, Scottish and Westminster Colleges to act for the United Reformed Church in a new role as resource centres for learning and to undertake dispersed, integrated training and Christian education for the whole people of God. General Assembly agrees to keep its relationship with these resource centres for learning under ongoing review and asks the Training Committee to report on them to the Assembly of 2012.
Resolution 36 was carried.
Mr Humphreys moved adoption of Resolution 37:
Resolution
37
a) General Assembly agrees that Northern, Westminster and the Scottish Colleges acting as resource centres for learning, are to have sole responsibility for ensuring the delivery of initial ministerial education (Education for Ministry 1). Northern College will continue to have sole responsibility for initial training of Church Related Community Workers. This will apply to all candidates recommended for training in the 2006/7 candidating process and thereafter.
b) General Assembly instructs the Training Committee to work with those Synods which have students currently training in institutions affected by resolution 37a (including those sent by the 2005/2006 candidating process) in order to secure their continuing care and the satisfactory completion of their ordination (Education for Ministry 1) training.
On the motion of the Clerk, the Assembly agreed by the required two-thirds majority, to continue the session in Committee.
The Revd Elizabeth Welch spoke in favour of retaining the Queen’s Foundation for EM1 training.
The Assembly adjourned.
Saturday July 8th 2006 Third Session
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