Hotline
Welcome to the 2003 edition of
Assembly Hotline. Keep up to date with the events and background to the
General Assembly as it meets in Portsmouth from July 5th - 8th.
[ Saturday News ] [ Sunday News ] [ Monday News ]
Moderator's Election
Sunday 6th July
The Revd Sheila Maxey, who retires this year as Secretary for Ecumenical
Relations, was elected Moderator of the General Assembly for the year
2004/5.
 Yardley
Hastings
Sunday 6th July
After a long and detailed debate centred around three alternative
motions, General Assembly declined to accept the proposals of a task group
appointed to consider the future of the National Youth Resource Centre at
Yardley Hastings. Assembly instead adopted a resolution calling for the
re-instatement of some form of the 'Ginger Group' concept - teams of young
people who give up to a year of their time and are used as resources by
local churches, districts and synods. One consequence of the adoption of the
resolution is that the buildings at Yardley Hastings will cease to be used
for their present purpose.
Read the text of Resolution 12c here.
 Sabbatical Leave
Sunday 6th July
The Revd Bill Mahood introduced a resolution calling for the church to
offer equal access to sabbaticals for stipendiary clergy who have reached
the age of 60, who are currently offered only two months sabbatical study
leave after seven years of ministry rather than the usual three. He found
himself feeling less valued by the church than he once had been, though no
doubt that was not the intention. He felt that ageism had crept into the
church’s policy unnoticed and the issue should be revisited. John Proctor,
convener of the Training Committee told assembly that several members of the
committee shared Bill Mahood’s concern and the committee would be happy to
be instructed to reconsider the issue.
Read the text of Resolution 1
here.
Doctrine & Worship
Sunday 6th July
The Revd Dr John Young introduced the report of the Doctrine, Prayer and
Worship Committee. He also presented the Moderator with a copy of part one
of the Church’s new book of worship and members of the Committee then
introduced some of its contents to the Assembly. New features include an
order for daily worship, offered for use by individuals and groups, based
around the Lord’s Prayer. Four varied texts are included for Holy Communion
and committee members read a sampling of prayers. A wide range of resources
is also included for morning worship other than communion. The intention is
that those who lead worship will choose materials to fit the needs of the
occasion rather than following a set form. Other notable features include
more resources for a service of healing and a quiet, reflective form for
evening worship. The ‘book’ consists of a loose leaf folder with a first set
of printed materials (more will follow next year) but is augmented by a
large body of material on CD.
Buy the new book of worship
here.
Moderators' Report
Sunday 6th July
The Revd Elizabeth Welch introduced the report from the 13 synod
moderators, based around the theme of The Great Feast. Were we, she asked,
too often satisfied with a spirituality which fell far short of the riches
God offered us and the world. The report contains a variety of examples of
the ways in which local churches are spiritually nourished and considers
what is distinctive about a spirituality of the United Reformed Church. The
Moderators hope that the report will provoke a debate on our spirituality
within the church which would be as important as any consideration of church
structures.
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