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THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church 2006 Sunday 9th July Third SessionMinistries Committee
The report of the Ministries Committee was presented by the Convener, Mr John Ellis, and members of the Committee.
Mr Ellis responded to a number of questions and comments and moved adoption of Resolution 24:
Resolution 24
General Assembly
i) agrees that the Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee should be renamed the Leadership in Worship Committee and be given the following remit:
a) To support Lay Preachers b) To support other lay people involved in leading worship c) To encourage members of congregations to become more involved in leading worship
ii) requests the Nominations Committee to propose, as soon as possible, an initial list of names to serve on this Sub-Committee, including at least one Assembly Accredited Lay Preacher.
Mr Ellis responded to a question and Resolution 24 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 25:
General Assembly approves the following procedures in respect of changes to ministerial service:
1 Statement of Reasons
A Minister/CRCW who decides to move or resign should be asked by the Synod Moderator to make a written statement about the reasons for that course of action. A copy of this statement should be sent by the Moderator to the Secretary for Ministries.
2 Move from one pastorate or post to another within the United Reformed Church
a) Where a Minister is moving from one pastorate or post to another, they should discuss with the Moderator whether there are particular reasons behind the move which should be shared with the local church/post that is entering a vacancy.
b) In the case of termed appointments for CRCWs and those in Special Category Ministry, most moves come at the recognised end of that appointment. The same procedure should nonetheless be followed to help with reflection on the ministry.
c) When a Minister is changing pastorates because of difficulties, some form of counselling or debriefing should be offered through the Moderator.
3 Move away from ministerial service in the United Reformed Church without resignation from the Roll of Ministers/list of CRCWs
a) Some Ministers and CRCWs move out of posts under the auspices of the United Reformed Church in order to exercise another form of service. If the Minister/CRCW wishes to remain on the Roll/list, their move should be subject to the concurrence of the Church.
b) In such a case, the Minister/CRCW should provide a copy of their stated reasons for wishing to move out of URC ministerial service to the appropriate Council of the Church (currently District Council) and seek concurrence with the proposed move.
c) If concurrence is granted, the Minister/CRCW would remain on the Roll of Ministers/list of CRCWs and his/her name would continue to appear in the Yearbook. He/she would be under the oversight and care of the Synod in which they reside. The Minister/CRCW would be eligible to seek a future pastorate/post within the United Reformed Church upon request to the Moderators.
d) If concurrence is not granted and the Minister/CRCW proceeds with the move, the District should send a report of the District decision to the Accreditation Sub-Committee. This report should:
i)set out details of the post the Minister/CRCW has accepted; ii) the reasons why the District did not consider it appropriate to give concurrence.
If the Accreditation Sub-committee gives approval for the move, the Minister’s/CRCW’s status would remain as in (c) above.
If the Accreditation Sub-Committee upholds the decision of the District, the Minister/CRCW would be deemed to have resigned from the Roll of Ministers/list of CRCWs. His/her name would no longer appear in the Yearbook. If a Minister/CRCW does not receive concurrence and was removed from the Roll/list, he/she would have the right of appeal to the Ministries Committee.
e) The Ministries Committee copy of the Minister’s/CRCW’s statement should be added to their file, together with a record of whether the move was with or without the concurrence of the Church.
f) If a Minister/CRCW is already outside a post under the auspices of the United Reformed Church and moves to a fresh sphere of service, the same procedure should be followed if they wish to remain on the Roll/list.
4 Resignation from the Roll of Ministers/list of CRCWs
a) When the resignation of a Minister/CRCW from the Roll/list is accepted, his/her written statement should be added to his/her Ministries Committee file.
b) This statement should be consulted if the former Minister/CRCW seeks reinstatement to the Roll/list at some future date.
c) If a Minister/CRCW were not prepared to give reasons for their resignation this fact should be noted on their file.
Following debate, to which Mr Ellis responded, Resolution 25 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 26:
Resolution 26
General Assembly approves the adoption of the following procedure for the duty to consider extension of full time stipendiary service by a Minister of Word and Sacraments or a Church Related Community Worker beyond the retirement age set by the United Reformed Church.
1 In the month of a Minister’s 64th birthday the payroll office shall confirm the expected date of retirement as the end of the month in which he/she is 65.
2 If a Minister does not wish to retire on that date he/she must apply for an extension of full time service for a maximum of three years.
3 He/she shall speak to the Synod Moderator and thereafter submit an application for an extension of full time service to the appropriate Council of the Church (currently District Council).
4 On receipt of the application, the Council shall consult with the Minister, Moderator, Elders of the Church/es/post and the Church Meeting(s), where the Minister is in a pastorate, to see whether or not the individual circumstances warrant an extension of full time stipendiary service. The circumstances to be considered shall include:
5 If the
Council agrees with the request, the Minister’s application, together
with an account of the particular circumstances and a record of both the
local church’s/post’s support and that of the appropriate Council, will
be sent to the Secretary for Ministries for a decision by the
Accreditation Sub-Committee. In reaching this decision the
Accreditation Sub-Committee shall consider the individual circumstances
alongside the overall responsibility of the United Reformed Church to
monitor Minister numbers so that: a) the financial responsibility to support the ministerial work force is not threatened; and b) the introduction of newly ordained and commissioned ministers is not curtailed.
6 The Secretary for Ministries shall inform the appropriate Council and the Minister of the decision of the Accreditation Sub-Committee. If the decision is to accept an extension then a new date of retirement shall be agreed.
7 A year before the revised date of retirement, the payroll office shall once again write to the Minister and if a further extension of full time stipendiary service is requested the United Reformed Church must consider the request. The procedure set out above will therefore be repeated.
Following brief debate, Resolution 26 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 27:
Resolution 27
General Assembly adopts the following procedure for return to work after ill-health retirement of Ministers and Church Related Community Workers.
When a Minister or CRCW who has previously retired on grounds of ill-health wishes to return to work:
i) The Minister/CRCW will inform the Moderator of the Synod in which they are living.
ii) The Moderator will: a) Inform the Secretary for Ministries b) Arrange for a Synod interview with the Minister/CRCW to assess personal and spiritual readiness to return to work and assess any further training needs. The council of the Church that gave concurrence for retirement of that Minister/CRCW should be consulted, as well as the Moderator of the Synod.
iii) The Secretary for Ministries will arrange for medical references to be gathered. These will include a report from the Minister’s/CRCW’s own doctor and if applicable his/her consultant and an independent medical/psychiatric assessment paid for by the United Reformed Church. The United Reformed Church’s medical referee, or whomsoever the referee names as a specialist in each individual case, will conduct this assessment.
iv) A recommendation will be sent by the Synod to the Secretary for Ministries following the Synod interview.
v) The Secretary for Ministries will take the medical and Synod reports to the Accreditation Sub-Committee who will then take the decision as to whether the Moderators may introduce the Minister’s/CRCW’s name to a local church or post, subject to the completion of any agreed training programme.
vi) The local church or post will be made aware by the Moderator that the individual is returning to work after retirement on the grounds of ill health.
vii) The Minister will remain in receipt of the pension and, where applicable, in Church housing until he/she receives a call.
viii) If there has been no call by a local church after a year the situation will be reviewed. This review will involve a meeting between the Minister and the Moderator in the first instance. Following that meeting the Moderator will advise the Accreditation Sub-Committee as to whether the Minister’s name should remain available for introduction to a pastorate.
ix) Should the original health problem recur to the point where early retirement on the grounds of ill health becomes necessary, there should be a streamlined procedure for approving retirement on the grounds of ill-health. There will normally be no further opportunity to return to ministerial service.
Following brief debate, Resolution 27 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 28:
Resolution 28
General Assembly agrees the following changes to the Plan for Partnership in Ministerial Remuneration.
Deletions are shown in [square brackets] and additions are shown in italics.
5.4.1 Those in full-time service over the age of 65 years [and 6 months], except those approved by the Ministries Committee (para 5.2.2)
6.1.3 Maternity/Adoption/Paternity provisions: details of arrangements for [maternity pay and] parental leave and pay can be obtained from the MoM office.
6.1.4 Jury Service: ministers who are called for Jury Service should inform the MoM Office as soon as possible to enable the loss of earnings declaration to be completed in advance.
6.1.[4]5 Pulpit supply fees: when the MoM Office has been advised that a minister remunerated under the Plan in unable to work due to ill-health or is on [maternity] parental leave or is on Jury Service or is absent on a sabbatical term which lasts for a period of more than four weeks or is suspended under the Section O Process or is the Moderator of the General Assembly, the actual pulpit supply costs incurred by the church arising because of the absence will be reimbursed to the limit shown in Appendix A. In group pastorates and part-time pastorates, reimbursement will only be in respect of services which would have been conducted by the absent minister. Claim forms for the reimbursement of pulpit supply costs can be obtained from the MoM Office.
Existing Paragraphs 6.1.5, 6.1.5.1, and 6.1.5.2 are re-numbered 6.1.6, 6.1.6.1, and 6.1.6.2 respectively.
Existing Paragraphs 6.1.6 and 6.1.6.1 are re-numbered 6.1.7 and 6.1.7.1 respectively.
7. HOLIDAY [PROVISION] ENTITLEMENT
7.1 Ministers/CRCWs are entitled to 5 weeks holiday in each calendar year and one further Sunday away from the pastorate. When a minister/CRCW only serves for part of a year the holiday provision should be pro rata. One week of holiday may be carried forward to the following year. Holiday entitlement is not affected by sick leave, parental leave, Jury Service, in-service training courses or sabbatical leave. Such periods of leave/absence may result in more than one week’s holiday being carried forward into the following year.
APPENDIX A – APPROVED RATES UNDER THE PLAN
6.1.1[Maximum part-time stipend 75% of full time]
Resolution 28 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 29:
Resolution 29
General Assembly resolves to amend the Rules of the United Reformed Church Ministers’ Pension Fund, with effect from 5 December 2005, so that the following definition is added to the definitions section of the Rules:
‘Civil Partner: in respect of a member, a person who has entered into a civil partnership with the member which is recognised under the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (and which has not been dissolved or annulled by a court).’
The following Rule is also added as a new Rule 49:
‘A member’s Civil Partner shall be treated for the purposes of the Rules as if he or she were the member’s spouse but only in respect of:
benefits that are attributable to Pensionable Service from 5 December 2005, including that day, or, in the case of money purchase AVCs, to contributions payable on or after that date; and
benefits that are not attributable to Pensionable Service and are payable as a result of the member’s death on or after 5 December 2005.
The pension sharing appendix shall be deemed to be amended to the extent required to comply with the Civil Partnership Act 2004.’
Following debate, Resolution 29 was carried, with four abstentions.
The Revd Elizabeth Nash moved adoption of Resolution 62:
Resolution 62
General Assembly instructs the Ministries Committee to re-examine Rule 49 of the United Reformed Church Ministers’ Pension Fund, to consider the emendation of this rule so that a member’s Civil Partner might be treated in all respects as though he or she were a spouse, and to report accordingly to Mission Council.
Seconded by the Revd Terry Oakley.
Proposed by Revd Nigel Warner that the Resolution be not put. There were several seconders.
The motion was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 30:
Resolution 30
General Assembly resolves to amend the Rules of the United Reformed Church Ministers’ Pension Fund, with effect from the date of this resolution, so that the Rule 20 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
‘Ill-health Retirement
1.1 In the event that a member retires before normal pension age on account of incapacity to undertake the duties of a stipendiary minister or CRCW due to ill-health duly certified to the satisfaction of the Pension Trustee in accordance with the requirements of Rule 20.2, he/she shall be entitled to an immediate pension which shall be calculated as provided in Rule 18 but by reference to the member’s full prospective Pensionable Service up to normal pension age.
1.2 An ill-health pension shall only be put into payment if the Pension Trustee has received evidence from a registered medical practitioner that the member is, and will continue to be, unable to carry on his or her occupation because of physical or mental impairment.
1.3 The Pension Trustee shall review the state of health of any member who receives a pension under this Rule 20 at regular intervals and at least once every five years, except where the Pension Trustee considers this inappropriate (for example, in cases of severe ill-health or when the time for review is within twelve months of the member reaching normal pension age); and the member shall submit to any medical examinations which the Pension Trustee may require in order to carry out such a review.
1.4 If any member who has been granted an ill-health pension recovers sufficiently and undertakes remunerated employment, that member must advise the Pension Trustee accordingly.
1.5 The Pension Trustee may vary or suspend any pension payable under this rule if the Pension Trustee considers that the member no longer satisfies the condition described in sub-rule 20.2 for the payment of an ill-health pension.
1.6 Provision for dependent children may be payable (see Rule 48).’
Resolution 30 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved adoption of Resolution 31:
Resolution 31
General Assembly resolves to make the following amendments to the Rules of the United Reformed Church Ministers’ Pension Fund, with effect from 6 April 2006.
1. Early Leavers
To add the following definition to the definitions section of the Rules, as follows:
‘Cash Transfer Sum: means the cash equivalent of the member’s benefits calculated by the Actuary in accordance with the statutory provisions prevailing from time to time.’
Rule 29 shall be amended so that the words: ‘If a member leaves the qualifying service of the URC’ are deleted and replaced with: ‘If a member leaves Pensionable Service’.
In addition, Rule 29.1.1 shall be amended so that a further sentence is added, as follows: ‘Where a member has at least three months but less than two years qualifying service he/she shall also be entitled to the option of taking a Cash Transfer Sum which may be transferred to any other pension scheme or arrangement duly authorised by law to receive such payment provided that such a transfer would not be an unauthorised payment. A receipt from the receiving pension scheme or arrangement shall be a full discharge of the Pension Trustee’s liabilities in respect of the pension.’
A new sub-rule 29.1.3 shall be added as follows:
‘The Pension Trustee must notify the member of the right to make an election for a Cash Transfer Sum and must inform the member that if he or she does not make an election by the reply date specified in the notification, the Trustee will pay a cash refund (as described in sub-rule 29.1.1). If the member makes an election for a Cash Transfer Sum before the reply date (or any later date allowed by the Pension Trustee), the Pension Trustee must give effect to it. Otherwise, the Pension Trustee must pay a cash refund (as described in sub-rule 29.1.1) to the member.’
2. Commutation
Rule 17.3 (prohibiting the commutation of pension attributable to AVCs made on or after 8 April 1987) shall be deleted, and sub-rule 17.4 shall be renumbered 17.3 and any references to it shall be replaced accordingly.
Rule 26.2 (also prohibiting the commutation of any pension attributable to AVCs made under arrangements first entered into by the member after 7 April 1987) shall be deleted sub-note 26.3 shall be renumbered 26.2 and any references to it shall be replaced accordingly.
3. Pensions for dependent children
Rule 48 shall be amended so that the words ‘PROVIDED THAT a pension shall be paid only until the child attains age 23 if the pension would otherwise be an unauthorised payment under the Finance Act 2004’are added immediately after the words ‘whichever is the earlier’ at the end of the first paragraph.
In addition, Rule 48 shall be amended so that the first line of the third paragraph shall be deleted and replaced as follows:
‘From January 2006 the initial level of the pension in respect of a dependent child or children shall be £929pa for the first dependent child and £471pa per child for any further dependent children.’
4. Other Dependants
The definition of ‘Dependant’ in the definitions section of the Rules shall be deleted and replaced with the following:
‘Dependant: a person who:
(a) was married to the member at the date of the member’s death; or
(b) is a child of the member as described in rule 48; or
(c) in the opinion of the Pension Trustee, at the date of the member’s death, was financially dependent on the member, had a financial relationship with the member of mutual dependence or was dependent on the member because of mental or physical impairment.’
5.General Finance Act 2004 amendments
The schedule summarising the Inland Revenue limits shall be amended so that it is in two parts, with the wording in the current schedule being entitled ‘Part II’ and the following wording added as an introduction to the schedule and as Part I:
‘This schedule is divided into 2 parts:
Part I sets out the overriding tax rules that apply to the Fund with effect from 6 April 2006, and Part II summarises the Inland Revenue Limits that applied to the Fund before 6 April 2006, and which shall be deemed to continue to apply on and after 6 April 2006, subject to the modifications described in Part I.
Part I – Tax Rules
1. Definitions: In this Part I the following words and phrases have the following meanings:
A-Day: 6 April 2006
Authorised Payment: a payment authorised in accordance with section 164 of the Finance Act 2004 (an authorised member payment) or section 175 of that Act (an authorised employer payment).
Finance Act: Finance Act 2004
HMRC: Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
Inland Revenue Limits: the limits which in the opinion of the Pension Trustee would have applied to benefits and contributions, if the tax regime in force before A-Day had continued to apply on and after A-Day, in order not to prejudice the Fund’s exempt approved status under that tax regime, assuming that HMRC practice (as summarised in the practice note IR12 and in HMRC Updates) and any concessions granted in relation to the Fund by HMRC would have continued on the same basis as applied immediately before A-Day. Inland Revenue Limits are summarised in Part II of this schedule.
Unauthorised Payment: an unauthorised payment as defined in section 160(5) of the Finance Act.
2. Overriding effect: This Part I of the schedule overrides any other provisions of the Trust Deed and Rules of the Fund that are inconsistent with it except clause 9 of the Trust Deed (power of amendment) and any other provision conferring a power to modify the Fund.
3. Registered pension scheme: The Fund is intended to be a registered pension scheme for the purposes of Part 4 of the Finance Act. The Pension Trustee shall not be required to take any action if in its opinion doing so could jeopardise the status of the Fund as a registered pension scheme.
4. Unauthorised Payments: Any provision of the Trust Deed and Rules which would require the Pension Trustee to make an Unauthorised Payment shall be construed as conferring discretion upon the Pension Trustee or managers to make that payment. However, if immediately before A-Day, the consent of the URC, a Participating Body, or any other person, would have been required before the Pension Trustee could make a payment, then the discretion conferred by this paragraph to make a payment of that type may be exercised only with the consent of that person.
5. Pension for life: A pension payable to a member under the Fund must be payable for life and must not reduce in payment, except in circumstances permitted under paragraph 2(4) of schedule 28 of the Finance Act 2004. 6. Inland Revenue Limits: If in the opinion of the Pension Trustee a payment otherwise due from the Fund would cause Inland Revenue Limits to be exceeded, it shall be reduced to the extent necessary to prevent it from doing so in the manner decided by the Pension Trustee. Accordingly, benefits shall not unless the Pension Trustee decides otherwise with the consent of the Assembly exceed the Inland Revenue Limits as summarised in Part II of this schedule. If a combination of payments would cause Inland Revenue Limits to be exceeded, the Trustees shall reduce all or any of them in any manner which they think fit but only to the extent necessary to satisfy the Pension Trustee that Inland Revenue Limits are not exceeded.
7. Approval: Any provision of the Fund that refers to a requirement that Approval must not be jeopardised or prejudiced (whether expressed in those terms or not) or to a requirement that consent or approval must be obtained from the Board of the Inland Revenue as a condition of any payment or action shall be interpreted as follows. The Pension Trustee shall decide whether in its opinion the condition would probably have been met had similar circumstances arisen before A-Day, and if so, the condition will be treated as met. Otherwise, the condition will be treated as not met.
8. Cash sums: The Pension Trustee shall have the power to permit any member or a dependant (including members whose pensionable service ended before A-Day and their dependants) to exchange the whole or part of any benefit otherwise payable under the Fund (including, in the case of the member, benefits payable in respect of his/her dependant) for a lump sum, on terms decided by the Trustee having consulted the Actuary (except to the extent if any) that the Rules provide, separately from this Schedule, for a cash sum to be payable in the circumstances that apply to the member, whether of the same or a different amount, and for a method of determining the terms on which pension is exchanged, in which case the relevant provisions of the Rules shall apply), so long as:
8.1 the cash sum is an Authorised Payment (see in particular Schedule 29 to the Finance Act 2004);
8.2 the exchange is not prohibited by section 91 of the Pensions Act 1995;
8.3 the exchange does not cause a breach of the preservation, revaluation or contracting-out requirements of the Pension Schemes Act 1993.
Subject to paragraphs 8.1 and 8.3, the Pension Trustee may decide to pay benefits as a cash sum without the member’s or dependant’s consent, if it would have had the power to do so under the Rules as they applied on 5 April 2005 or the pension is attributable in the opinion of the Pension Trustee to qualifying service on or after 6 April 2006.
Any restriction in the Rules on the amount of benefit that may be paid as a cash sum shall be ignored and this provision overrides paragraph 6 (Inland Revenue Limits) and paragraph 7 (Approval).’
Resolution 31 was carried.
Mr Ellis moved
adoption of Resolution 32:
Resolution
32
General Assembly resolves to make the following amendments to the Rules of the United Reformed Church Ministers’ Pension Fund, with effect from the date of this resolution.
1. Participating Bodies
The current definition of ‘Participating Bodies’ in the Rules shall be amended by the words:
‘in accordance with rule 14A’, after the words:
‘means such United Reformed Churches or any other body admitted to membership of the Fund’.
A new Rule 14 A shall be added as follows:
14A Participating Bodies
14A.1 A church or other body may participate in the Scheme and so become a Participating Body if it agrees by deed to be bound by the Definitive Deed and Rules as a Participating Body. Participation may take place only if Approval is not prejudiced and with the consent of the Assembly which must also execute the deed. Participation shall start when the deed is executed or on such earlier or later date as may be specified in the deed. The new Participating Body must, unless the URC directs otherwise, agree to nominate the Principal Employer to make decisions for it which relate to the Pensions Act 1995 (in particular the operation of section 16 to 21and section 35) or to the Pensions Act 2004 and any regulations made under either of those Acts under which it is envisaged that one employer in a multi-employer scheme may act for all the employers participating in the scheme.
14A.2 a participating body (other than the URC) withdraws from the fund on the withdrawal date which is the earlier of the following dates:
14A.2.1 the date specified in a written notice from the Participating Body to the Pension Trustee that the Participating Body is terminating its liability to contribute to the Fund and withdrawing from membership of the Fund;
14A.2.2 the date specified in a written notice from the URC to the Trustees, copied to the Participating Body, that the Participating Body is to terminate its contributions to the Fund and to withdraw from the Fund; or
14A2.3 the date that the Participating Body goes into liquidation, is dissolved or ceases to carry on business.
14A.3 If there is any doubt if and when the Withdrawal Date has occurred, this is decided by the Pension Trustee. The Participating Body has no further liability under the Trust Deed and Rules of the Fund after the Withdrawal Date (except for paying any arrears of contributions due before the Withdrawal Date) but this does not affect any continuing liability imposed by the Pension Schemes Act 1993, the Pensions Act 1995, the Pensions Act 2004 or the Finance Act 2004 or any other legislation or legal requirement.
14A.4 Effect on Members in Pensionable Service: Each Member employed by the withdrawing Participating Body and who is in service in membership of the Fund on the Withdrawal Date is deemed to have left service on the Withdrawal Date and his or her benefits are calculated accordingly under the Trust Deed and Rules.
14A.5 Pension Trustee’s powers: On, or at any time following, the Withdrawal Date, the Pension Trustee may make a transfer payment under Rule 36 to secure benefits from an Assurance Company for all or any of the Members who are or were employed by the Participating Body which has withdrawn from membership of the Fund. Otherwise, benefits are payable under the Fund in accordance with the Trust Deed and Rules.
Rule 15.2 shall be amended by the addition of the following words after the first sentence:
‘The Participating Bodies shall contribute to the expenses of administering the Fund including such share of the Fund’s Pension Protection Fund levy as the Assembly shall determine from time to time on the advice of the Actuary.’
2. Winding-up
Rule 35.1 shall be amended so that the following words are added at the end of it as follows:
‘On the determination of the Fund, the Fund shall be wound up in accordance with Rule 35.2 except if, and to the extent, any statutory priority order overrides it.’
Resolution 32 was carried.
The Moderator thanked Mr Ellis as he finishes his period of service as Convener of the Ministries Committee.
Synod Resolution
On behalf of the Wessex Synod, the Revd Ruth Whitehead moved adoption of Resolution 2:
Resolution
2
General Assembly notes a) that in many of our Districts we are reducing the number of stipendiary ministers and so are finding it increasingly difficult to provide leadership in all of our churches b) that the Charity Commissioners allow charities to use their assets for activities which further the aim of the charity c) that the Anglican church benefits from the possibility of finding non stipendiary ministers for churches by offering ‘house-for-duty’ Assembly instructs Mission Council to investigate the possibility of changing United Reformed Church regulations to allow flexibility in the provision and payment for housing of Non-stipendiary Ministers.
Seconded by Mrs Margaret Telfer.
After brief debate, Resolution 2 was carried.
Catch the Vision
The Assembly moved into committee mode to discuss Resolution 47 and it implications for the Basis of Union and the Structure of the United Reformed Church. The Clerk highlighted a number of minor errors and alterations to the proposed revision of the Basis of Union and Structure of the URC.
In reinstating Standing Orders, the Moderator reminded the Assembly that, during the debate in committee, the following had been agreed:
(xv) To receive and decide upon applications of recognition as candidates for the ministry.
(xvi) To receive and forward to the General Assembly, recommendations concerning applications for admission into the United Reformed Church for ministers, probationers or congregations.
The Assembly Clerk moved adoption of Resolution 47:
Resolution
47
General Assembly approves the changes to the Basis and Structure of the United Reformed Church consequent upon its acceptance of resolutions 40, 41 and 43 of 2005, as set out in Catch the Vision Appendix 4, pages 141-160 of the book of Reports 2006.
Resolution 47 was carried.
The General Secretary moved that:
‘in accordance with Paragraph 3(1) of the Structure, Resolution 47 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.
(N.B. A version of the Basis and Structure containing all the changes proposed and agreed at this year’s Assembly is printed as an appendix to this Record of Assembly)
After worship led by the Chaplain, the Assembly adjourned.
Monday July
10th 2006 First Session
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