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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2006 Sunday 9th July Second SessionWest Midlands Synod
The West Midlands Synod made a presentation of its life and work.
The Moderator greeted the Revd Bernard Thorogood, former General Secretary and the Revd Kathleen Hendry, celebrating the 75th anniversary of her ordination.
Training Committee
The Moderator reminded the Assembly that it was still in Committee under Standing Order 5a.
The Assembly continued to address 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.
Assembly debated the Resolution fully, along with two tabled amendments.
The Moderator declared the Committee stage to be at an end, and Standing Orders were reinstated.
The Revd Elizabeth Welch moved adoption of the amendment to Resolution 37, paragraph a:
a) ‘General Assembly agrees that Northern, Westminster, the Queens Foundation, and the Scottish College 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.’
The amendment fell.
The Revd Adrian Bulley moved adoption of the amendment to Resolution 37, paragraph a:
a) ‘General Assembly agrees that Northern, Westminster, the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme (STETS) and the Scottish College 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.’
The amendment fell.
Resolution 37 was put before the Assembly.
The Resolution was carried.
The Revd Sheila Maxey took the Chair.
The Revd Dr Walter Houston moved adoption of Resolution 61:
Resolution 61 General Assembly, mindful of the past contribution of Mansfield College Oxford to ministerial education and the advancement of theological learning among Congregational and Reformed Churches in this country and worldwide; recognizing the College’s desire to continue to be of service to the Church in the educational field; and appreciative of the resources in personnel and learning materials available there and in Oxford University; encourages the Training Committee to continue its discussions with the College to identify and implement appropriate ways of enabling it to make a distinctive contribution to the educational work of the United Reformed Church.
Seconded by the Revd Michael Hopkins.
Resolution 61 was carried.
Assembly Arrangements Committee
The report of the Assembly Arrangements Committee was presented by the Convener, Mr William McVey.
Mr McVey moved adoption of Resolution 43:
Resolution 43
Assembly agrees that General Assembly in 2008 will meet at the Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh from 10th to 13th July.
Resolution 43 was carried.
Mr McVey moved adoption of Resolution 51:
Resolution 51
General Assembly adopts the criteria for representation at General Assembly with effect from the Assembly in 2008 as set out below:
Representation at General Assembly shall consist of: Those who are members of the United Reformed Church, with the exception of those appointed from categories specified in paragraphs seven and eight below who need not be members of the United Reformed Church.
In compliance with Trustee law, members of Assembly must be at least 18 years of age. Should a Synod or other body entitled to appoint, appoint someone under 18 years of age that person shall have full speaking rights only.
1. Representation of Local Churches at each Assembly: this shall be based on the latest regional membership (Synods1) of the United Reformed Church. A total number of such places as determined by Assembly on the advice of Mission Council shall be available; these will be allocated on the basis of the proportion of members of the United Reformed Church in each region to the total membership of the United Reformed Church.
1.1 Within the places for each region, two places shall be reserved for young people (those 26 years of age and under). If these places are not filled from within the region they may be offered to young people from another region. Remaining young people’s spare places may not be utilised by anyone over 26 years of age.
1.2 After the deduction of the two places for young people, any odd number of places shall be increased to the next even number.
1.3 In addition to the number of places calculated under the formula, including the young people’s places, the Synod of Scotland shall retain their six additional places in accordance with the agreement. When necessary, the number of places for the Synod of Scotland under the formula shall be increased to the next even number before the addition of the six extra places.
2. The representation from each region shall be balanced equally between Ministers and lay. Any shortfall in one category of representation must be balanced by a reduction in the other category of representation. No substitute is allowable from the other category.
3. In conjunction with maintaining the balance between lay and ordained people, each region must decide for itself who can best reflect the needs and life of the church at that time in their region. However, regions are reminded of the equal opportunities policy of the church.
4. Representation shall normally be for a complete cycle of four years – this will enable representatives to attend two consecutive meetings of the biennial General Assembly.
5. Each region shall be also entitled to the attendance of their Moderator; this is in addition to the places under the formula, the even-number additions, and the Synod of Scotland additional places.
5.1. If a region’s Moderator is, for the time being, an Officer of Assembly2, the Moderator-Elect, or a past Moderator entitled to attend Assembly, then an alternate may be appointed by the region.
6. Other members of General Assembly shall include: The Officers of Assembly The Moderator-Elect The immediate past Moderator of the General Assembly, the previous past Moderator of General Assembly and an additional past Moderator The Convener of each of the standing committees of General Assembly A staff representative and a student representative from each of such recognised theological colleges as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine A serving URC Chaplain to the forces of the Crown
7. Other members of General Assembly shall include: Assembly-appointed staff in such number as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine Representatives of FURY in such numbers as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine A representative of the Council for World Mission
8. Further, as members of General Assembly, there may be invited: Representatives of ecumenical partners in the United Kingdom in such number as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine Representatives of our worldwide partners in such number as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine
9. There shall also be invited to attend as guests of the General Assembly, representatives of: Such local ecumenical partners in the region in which the Assembly is being held as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine Such ecumenical partners in the United Kingdom as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine. Such of our worldwide partners as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine Others agreed by Mission Council on an occasional basis
Following debate, Mr McVey responded to a number of questions, and after further debate, Resolutions 51 and 52 were, on the advice of the Assembly Clerk, remaindered until a later session of Assembly.
The Revd Elizabeth Caswell resumed the Chair.
Synod Resolution
On behalf of the East Midlands Synod, the Revd Elizabeth Nash moved adoption of Resolution 1:
Resolution 1
General Assembly acknowledging the importance of discerning the mind of Christ in the councils of the church and believing that the current procedures used in making decisions are not necessarily the best, instructs Mission Council
a) to explore consensus procedures for decision making at Assembly level and bring detailed proposals to General Assembly in 2007 and b) to explore ways in which background information on key resolutions can be made available to local churches sufficiently in advance of Synod and General Assembly meetings to allow issues to be discussed so that representatives can be aware of the views of the wider membership.
Seconded by Mrs Irene Wren.
Following debate, it was proposed that the resolution be now put.
Assembly agreed by more than the required two thirds majority.
The proposer responded to the debate, and Resolution 1 was carried.
Mr McVey presented an amended version of Resolution 51.
Resolution 51
General Assembly adopts the criteria for representation at General Assembly with effect from the Assembly in 2008 as set out below:
Representation at General Assembly shall consist of: Those who are members of the United Reformed Church, with the exception of those appointed from categories specified in paragraphs seven and eight below who need not be members of the United Reformed Church.
Subject to clarification of Trustee Law, all those appointed by a synod or other body, shall have full voting rights, regardless of age.
1. Representation of Local Churches at each Assembly: this shall be based on the latest regional membership (Synods1) of the United Reformed Church. A total number of such places as determined by Assembly on the advice of Mission Council shall be available; these will be allocated on the basis of the proportion of members of the United Reformed Church in each region to the total membership of the United Reformed Church.
1.1 Within the places for each region, two places shall be reserved for young people (those 26 years of age and under). If these places are not filled from within the region they may be offered to young people from another region. Remaining young people’s spare places may not be utilised by anyone over 26 years of age.
1.2 After the deduction of the two places for young people, any odd number of places shall be increased to the next even number.
1.3 In addition to the number of places calculated under the formula, including the young people’s places, the Synod of Scotland shall retain their six additional places in accordance with the agreement. When necessary, the number of places for the Synod of Scotland under the formula shall be increased to the next even number before the addition of the six extra places.
2 The representation from each region shall be balanced equally between Ministers and lay. Any shortfall in one category of representation must be balanced by a reduction in the other category of representation. No substitute is allowable from the other category.
3 In conjunction with maintaining the balance between lay and ordained people, each region must decide for itself who can best reflect the needs and life of the church at that time in their region. However, regions are reminded of the equal opportunities policy of the church.
4 Representation shall normally be for a complete cycle of four years – this will enable representatives to attend two consecutive meetings of the biennial General Assembly.
5 Each region shall be also entitled to the attendance of their Moderator; this is in addition to the places under the formula, the even-number additions, and the Synod of Scotland additional places.
5.1 If a region’s Moderator is, for the time being, an Officer of Assembly2, the Moderator-Elect, or a past Moderator entitled to attend Assembly, then an alternate may be appointed by the region.
6 Other members of General Assembly shall include: The Officers of Assembly The Moderator-Elect The immediate past Moderator of the General Assembly, the previous past Moderator of General Assembly and an additional 2 past Moderators The Convener of each of the standing committees of General Assembly A staff representative and a student representative from each of such recognised theological colleges as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine A serving URC Chaplain to the forces of the Crown
7 Other members of General Assembly shall include: Assembly-appointed staff in such number as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine Representatives of FURY in such numbers as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine A representative of the Council for World Mission
8 Further, as members of General Assembly, there may be invited: Representatives of ecumenical partners in the United Kingdom in such number as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine Representatives of our worldwide partners in such number as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine
9 There shall also be invited to attend as guests of the General Assembly, representatives of: Such local ecumenical partners in the region in which the Assembly is being held as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine Such ecumenical partners in the United Kingdom as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine. Such of our worldwide partners as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine Others agreed by Mission Council on an occasional basis
It was moved that the Resolution be not put. The motion fell.
The Revd Roberta Rominger moved the amendment that the sentence re Forces Chaplains be moved from the end of para 6 to the end of para 8.
After debate the amendment fell.
Mrs Helen Lidgett moved the amendment:
‘Assembly agrees to delete “Assembly-appointed staff in such number as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine”
Seconded by the Revd Michael Hopkins.
The amendment fell.
The Assembly Clerk proposed an amendment to delete ‘2008’ and replace with ‘2010’; seconded by the Revd Michael Hopkins.
The amendment was carried.
The General Secretary moved that the motion be now put. Many members seconded. Carried by more than the requred two thirds majority..
The Substantive Motion was then moved:
Resolution 51
General Assembly adopts the criteria for representation at General Assembly with effect from the Assembly in 2010 as set out below:
Representation at General Assembly shall consist of: Those who are members of the United Reformed Church, with the exception of those appointed from categories specified in paragraphs seven and eight below who need not be members of the United Reformed Church.
Subject to clarification of Trustee Law, all those appointed by a synod or other body, shall have full voting rights, regardless of age.
1. Representation of Local Churches at each Assembly: this shall be based on the latest regional membership (Synods1) of the United Reformed Church. A total number of such places as determined by Assembly on the advice of Mission Council shall be available; these will be allocated on the basis of the proportion of members of the United Reformed Church in each region to the total membership of the United Reformed Church.
1.1 Within the places for each region, two places shall be reserved for young people (those 26 years of age and under). If these places are not filled from within the region they may be offered to young people from another region. Remaining young people’s spare places may not be utilised by anyone over 26 years of age.
1.2 After the deduction of the two places for young people, any odd number of places shall be increased to the next even number.
1.3 In addition to the number of places calculated under the formula, including the young people’s places, the Synod of Scotland shall retain their six additional places in accordance with the agreement. When necessary, the number of places for the Synod of Scotland under the formula shall be increased to the next even number before the addition of the six extra places.
2 The representation from each region shall be balanced equally between Ministers and lay. Any shortfall in one category of representation must be balanced by a reduction in the other category of representation. No substitute is allowable from the other category.
3 In conjunction with maintaining the balance between lay and ordained people, each region must decide for itself who can best reflect the needs and life of the church at that time in their region. However, regions are reminded of the equal opportunities policy of the church.
4 Representation shall normally be for a complete cycle of four years – this will enable representatives to attend two consecutive meetings of the biennial General Assembly.
5 Each region shall be also entitled to the attendance of their Moderator; this is in addition to the places under the formula, the even-number additions, and the Synod of Scotland additional places.
5.1 If a region’s Moderator is, for the time being, an Officer of Assembly2, the Moderator-Elect, or a past Moderator entitled to attend Assembly, then an alternate may be appointed by the region.
6 Other members of General Assembly shall include: The Officers of Assembly The Moderator-Elect The immediate past Moderator of the General Assembly, the previous past Moderator of General Assembly and an additional 2 past Moderators The Convener of each of the standing committees of General Assembly A staff representative and a student representative from each of such recognised theological colleges as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine A serving URC Chaplain to the forces of the Crown
7 Other members of General Assembly shall include: Assembly-appointed staff in such number as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine Representatives of FURY in such numbers as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine A representative of the Council for World Mission
8 Further, as members of General Assembly, there may be invited: Representatives of ecumenical partners in the United Kingdom in such number as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine Representatives of our worldwide partners in such number as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine
9 There shall also be invited to attend as guests of the General Assembly, representatives of: Such local ecumenical partners in the region in which the Assembly is being held as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine Such ecumenical partners in the United Kingdom as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine. Such of our worldwide partners as the Assembly on the advice of Mission Council may from time to time determine Others agreed by Mission Council on an occasional basis
Resolution 51 was carried.
Resolution 52
General Assembly agrees that the total regional representation at General Assembly, with effect from the Assembly in 2008, shall be set at 200 members before taking into account the additional members for the Synod of Scotland and the Moderator of each Synod. Minor adjustment shall be permitted to produce an even number of representatives in each region.
Mr Colin Ferguson proposed an amendment to replace ‘200’ with ‘250’. Seconded by the Revd Alasdair Pratt.
After debate, the amendment was carried.
The amended Resolution 52 was put to the vote:
Resolution 52
General Assembly agrees that the total regional representation at General Assembly, with effect from the Assembly in 2010, shall be set at 250 members before taking into account the additional members for the Synod of Scotland and the Moderator of each Synod. Minor adjustment shall be permitted to produce an even number of representatives in each region.
It was moved that the Resolution be now put: carried by more than the required two thirds majority.
Resolution 52, as amended, was carried.
Resolution 56
General Assembly resolves to amend the Basis and Stucture of the United Reformed Church as follows. To amend paragraph 2.(5) of the Structure of the United Reformed Church to read:
2.(5) The General Assembly which shall embody the unity of the United Reformed Church and act as the central organ of its life and the final authority, under the Word of God and the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit, in all matters of doctrine and order and in all other concerns of its common life shall consist of:
(a) Such number of representatives of synods (ministerial and lay in equal numbers) as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine. These numbers shall be calculated proportionately to the total membership of each synod, as recorded in the year book of the United Reformed Church (at present this calculation shall be such as to produce a total of synod representatives not exceeding 200.)
(b) among the representatives of synods shall be included at least two from each synod aged 26 or under, at the date of appointment. Should a synod prove unable to make such an appointment it may appoint from another synod but these persons must be 26 or under at the date of appointment.
(c) The moderators of the General Assembly and of the synods, [The Moderator elect of the General Assembly] such other officers of the General Assembly as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine (The Assembly has determined that the Clerk of Assembly, the General Secretary and the Deputy General Secretary shall be members of Assembly).
(d) Where the Moderator of synod is an officer of the Assembly, a committee convener or otherwise entitled to membership of the assembly, the synod concerned shall appoint a substitute as its representative.
(e) The convener of each of the standing committees of the General Assembly;
(f) A staff representative and a student representative, being members of the United Reformed Church, from each of such recognised theological colleges as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine;
(g) Such number of representatives from the partner churches of the United Reformed Church outside of Britain and Ireland as the Assembly shall from time to time determine;
(h) Such other ministers and elders of the United Reformed Church as the General Assembly shall from time to time determine (the Assembly has added to its membership one serving United Reformed Church chaplain to the forces, nominated each year by the Organising Secretary of the United Board, in consultation with the three Principal Chaplains, SIX representatives of the Synod of Scotland
(i) The previous two moderators of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church provided that such former moderators are members of the United Reformed Church;
(j) Such number of representatives of the Fellowship of United Reformed Youth, being members of the United Reformed Church, as the Assembly shall from time to time determine (at present two);
(k) Representatives of other denominations in the United Kingdom as the General Assembly may from time to time determine;
(l) A representative of the Council for World Mission.
(m) Such number of Assembly-appointed staff as the General Assembly may from time to time determine.
(In order to comply with Trust and Charity law all members of the General Assembly must be at least eighteen years of age. Where a representative is seventeen years or younger, at the date appointed for the first session of the General assembly, that representative shall have full speaking rights but shall not be entitled to vote)
The General Assembly shall elect a moderator and such other officers as it shall from time to time think desirable. (The Assembly has appointed the following to serve as officers with the moderator: the General Secretary, the Deputy General Secretary, the Clerk of Assembly, The Treasurer and the Convener of the Assembly Arrangements Committee.) It shall also appoint a Mission Council with power to act in its name in matters of urgency between meetings of the General Assembly and to discharge such other functions as the General Assembly may from time to time direct. The General Assembly shall appoint standing committees which subject to the General Assembly shall have charge of the continuing interests of the church. It may also appoint special committees which subject to the General Assembly shall have charge of such matters as the General Assembly may assign to them from time to time. The General Assembly may appoint to any such committee members of the United Reformed Church who are not members of the General Assembly.
A number of legal questions had been raised concerning Resolution 51, and on the advice of the Clerk, Resolution 56 which would have begun the process of amending the structure of the United Reformed Church to comply with Resolutions 51 & 52 was withdrawn until the necessary legal advice was to hand.
Mission Council
The Deputy General Secretary moved adoption of Resolution 14:
Resolution 14
General Assembly agrees to make the following changes to the Structure and the Rules of Procedure of the United Reformed Church:
STRUCTURE – paragraph 5 – Appeals
Paragraph 5(2)
In the opening sentence, after ‘outside paragraph 5(1)’ add ‘or paragraph 5(3)’
Paragraph 5(3)
Add a new paragraph 5(3) as follows
‘Applications for consent to carry out works to buildings coming within the Church’s Control Procedure under the Ecclesiastical Exemption ( Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations for the time being in force and appeals from decisions made thereunder shall be dealt with in accordance with that procedure and not under paragraph 5(2) above’.
The General Secretary moved that: ‘in accordance with Paragraph 3(1) of the Structure, Resolution 14 be referred to Synods with the 31st March 2007 as the final date for responses to the General Secretary as to whether or not this constitutional amendment be proceeded with.’
The Assembly agreed
The Assembly adjourned.
Sunday July
9th 2006 Third Session
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