It has been announced that the Revd Richard Church, currently moderator of the North Western Synod of the United Reformed Church, is to become the URC’s deputy general secretary (discipleship).

His appointment is the final appointment to the newly reshaped general secretariat and Richard will join the Revd John Proctor, general secretary, Ms Francis Brienen, deputy general secretary (mission) and Mrs Jane Baird, deputy general secretary (administration & resources).

The general secretariat’s role is to maintain a strategic overview of the development, order, and wellbeing of the United Reformed Church; the team is led by the general secretary with each of the three deputy general secretary posts having responsibility for a specific part of that work.

Speaking of this appointment, Mr Proctor said: “Richard Church has exercised an energetic, imaginative and effective ministry, in local churches and in synod posts, over more than thirty years. He is highly regarded in this denomination, and will be an excellent addition to the general secretariat. Colleagues will welcome him warmly to Church House, although his new ministry will surely spread much more widely too, as he helps people right across the URC to develop and deepen our Christian discipleship. We can greet this appointment with joy, and expect to be stirred and challenged.”

Richard added: “Disciple making and disciple equipping is at the heart of the Christian life, and it has certainly been at the centre of my life and ministry. This new role will enable me to work with the team at Church House, and the wider denomination, to further develop discipleship with the United Reformed Church. It’s an exciting time of change for our denomination and I am delighted that I will be part of that.”

Photograph shows Ms Francis Brienen, The Revd Richard Church, Mrs Jane Baird, and the Revd John John Proctor, from left to right