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Church and Society Committee finishes
with a flourish

A final flourish has brought to a close the life of the body which, throughout the history of the United Reformed Church, has challenged church members to respond to issues of social justice. The Church and Society committee combined its final meeting with a gathering of members and staff, past and present.  

John Reardon, who was first ever secretary for Church and Society, said ‘I did it for 18 years, and I would have done it for ever. It was a wonderful job. Some of the richest experiences of my life were while working for Church and Society’.

Simon Loveitt, who serves as final convenor until General Assembly this year, paid tribute to all those who had served Church and Society. He said quality work had consistently been produced, which challenged the Church and individual members, to live the gospel and speak out on injustices.  He offered special thanks to Wendy Cooper who has been administrator since 1981. Without her dedication, he said, the work of Church and Society would often have ground to a halt

Other convenors present were John Johansen-Berg, Mary Ede, and Malcolm Johnson. Others unable to attend were Raymond Clarke, Gabrielle Cox and Martin Camroux. All five committee secretaries attended, together covering the entire period from 1972 to 2008. 

The original remit of Church and Society was to raise awareness, share information and encourage reflection and action on matters of justice and peace, healing and reconciliation. More recently that was expressed as demonstrating the relevance of faith to the world today, through involvement in issues of equality and justice; by petitioning those in power and by energising and affirming local congregations.

From July, Church and Society issues will come within the remit of the new Mission Committee, which will also embrace Ecumenical Affairs, International Church Relations, Commitment for Life, Racial Justice and Multicultural Ministry and Life and Witness. Church and Society also works closely with Baptists and Methodists in a Joint Public Issues Team.

The five Church and Society secretaries, together covering 36 years. From left to right, John Reardon, Peter Brain, Andrew Bradstock, Stuart Dew and Frank Kantor, pictured with Administrator, Wendy Cooper.