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Children have a say at top Church gatheringThe General Assembly of the United Reformed Church takes place in Edinburgh this weekend (July 11-14), with a full children’s assembly alongside the adult gathering for the first time. Following a successful experiment last year, more than fifty children from across England, Scotland and Wales will discuss some of the same issues as the adults, and the adults will take account of their views, at what is the top decision-making meeting of the Church.
Both events are being held at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh; in all, nearly 400 adults will attend, plus young people, guests and visitors from overseas. It will be the last annual General Assembly of the Church, future meetings will be held only every two years.
Jo Williams, children’s worker in charge of the children’s gathering, said: ‘We believe children are full partners with adults in the life of the church. And that means taking their views seriously. Children aren’t the church of tomorrow, they are the church of today’. The children will discuss what prevents people from coming to church, including disability, and they will have the opportunity to learn sign language.
Issues under discussion by adults will include increasing representation by black and multi-ethnic members on the councils of the Church, and a call by Church Action on Poverty for all churches to pay employees a ‘living wage’. The General Assembly will use consensus decision-making extensively for the first time. The Revd John Marsh will be inducted as Moderator; he was as ordained in 1967 and retired from active ministry in 2005; his last pastorate was in Norwich.
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