Worship on the final morning of Mission Council began with worship led by the Revd Elaine Colechin, Chaplain to Nigel Uden, Moderator of the General Assembly. The Revd Susan Durber led the third Bible study from Philippians, about cultivating the virtue – or receiving the gift – of perseverance, as Paul urged on the church facing dispiriting difficulties in Philippi.
Session nine
Commissioning head of communications
On Sunday morning, Andy Jackson, an ordained United Reformed Church elder and past Fury chair of 1994-95, was commissioned as Head of Communications for the URC. Introducing Andy to Mission Council, the Revd Nigel Uden, Assembly Moderator, underlined the importance of communication at the heart of the Church’s role in the world.
The other Assembly Moderator, Derek Estill, led Mission Council in the statement of the nature, faith and order of the URC. Mr Jackson affirmed his faith and commitment, and Mission Council made promises of support. Mr Uden led Mission Council in prayer for Mr Jackson.
Andy was warmly applauded by Mission Council and formally welcomed to his role by Jane Baird, Deputy General Secretary for Admin and Resources, Peter Knowles, convenor of the communications committee, Ann-Marie Abbasah, communications officer, and Derek Estill, Moderator of General Assembly.
Session ten
Paper R2: Learning from the Past Case Review
The resolution from Paper R2, which thanked those who had contributed to the past case review and the authors of the learning group report, and instructing the safeguarding advisory group to implement the report’s recommendations, was passed.
Paper R3: Vetting, disclosure and barring checks
The resolutions from Paper R3 were also passed, with the agreement that the table of roles within the church that are eligible for a criminal record check, would always need to be revised and updated.
The first resolution affirmed the church’s commitment to guarding the safety of all who are involved with its life and work and to follow current best practice in safeguarding.
The second resolution approved the principles set out in the paper for shaping a new code of practice around vetting, disclosure and barring checks (known as DBS/PVG checks) and safer recruitment procedures.
The third resolution directed the safeguarding advisory group to advocate the principles and practices across the church, and to share these in the next edition of Good Practice.
The safeguarding advisory group also proposed that external contractor Due Diligence Checking Ltd (DDC), which already provides a criminal record checking service for the URC, takes over the checks of all paid and voluntary roles and positions.
DDC has set up a page on its website containing further information and guidance for local churches, trustees, verifiers and other staff responsible for completing online and paper DBS and PVG applications.
Paper I2: Walking the Way: Living the life of Jesus today – Entering a new phase
Paper I2: Walking the Way: Living the life of Jesus today – Entering a new phase
Francis Brienen, Deputy General Secretary (Mission) presented an update and three draft resolutions on the URC’s focus on lifelong Christian missional discipleship – Walking the Way: Living the life of Jesus today. Ms Brienen advised that it has been well received across the URC and synods are responding in some way to the call of equipping people to recognise and respond to God’s call in everyday life.
She explained that in north Wales, 40 people gather in ‘home’ groups working, eating and playing as encouraged by Andrew Roberts’ book Holy Habits. In another part of the country, someone who is ‘hanging onto the church by her fingertips’ has organised a book group. They are reading and enjoying Holy Habits. In another synod, a group is being creative to take things even further.
‘We are seeing growth in practical and encouraging ways,’ she said.
Ms Brienen went onto explain that the first phase of Walking the Way sought to spread the message in practical ways and through resourcing. For example, by the distribution of an introductory leaflet, prayer cords, the URC Daily Devotions, and the promotion of the book Holy Habits and accompanying booklets – including a series of URC-specific videos on each of the ten habits, and the online resource map on the Walking the Way web pages. But for 2019, the focus will be less on sharing the message and resourcing, and more about building on existing work going on across the URC.
She added that the steering group is working with the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) to pilot an accompaniment programme for local churches in two synods.
She also highlighted that funding, from the Council for World Mission (CWM), for Walking the Way will stop after 2020. ‘How we sustain and maintain lifelong and whole life discipleship are the key questions,’ she added. ‘Not only to sustain it but ensure that it stays the main focus.’
The resolutions passed by consensus.
M1: Listening in the URC: A discussion starter
The Revd Nigel Uden, Moderator of General Assembly, presented paper M1 at midday on Saturday, proposing a listening project throughout the United Reformed Church. Taking inspiration from the Zulu community listening process Indaba, Mr Uden spoke of the value of making time and space ‘to listen to one another and to God in one another’.
Members of Mission Council discussed the proposed project in groups and gave notes to Mr Uden. Responding to these comments on Sunday afternoon, Mr Uden said that they had made a number of things clear:
- Listening matters;
- Anything taking the form of an initiative is not desirable;
- The most important place for listening is in the local context. ‘We do not exist to do things for the local without being aware that we are each ourselves the local, or without speaking to the local’;
- We need to listen to both younger and older.
Mr Uden concluded that there is work for the Assembly Moderators to do together with Alan Yates, immediate past Moderator, and he undertook to report back to Mission Council.
Reporting by: Steve Tomkins, Editor of Reform magazine; Ann-Marie Abbasah, Communications Officer; Andy Jackson, Head of Communications
Picture: Andy Jackson, being commissioned into the post of Head of Communications by the Revd Nigel Uden
