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ResolutionsWe'll keep you informed of the voting at General Assembly 2003 by updating this page with the results as they come in. You can read the contents of the resolutions being debated this year by clicking on the links below:
Resolution 12cGeneral Assembly reaffirms its declaration that ‘the prime venue for work with children and young people is the local church in community, within the context of a national strategy and the provision of supportive resources’ (resolution 2002:41a), and to this end: a) calls upon the Youth and Children's Work Committee to use the model of the Ginger Group teams and work with others in drawing up plans for the development of a team to become a resource to local churches, District/Area Councils and Synods in the stimulation and support of youth and children's ministry, such a team to be appropriately managed and supported, and based in a central location or locations b) instructs the Youth and Children's Work Committee and General Secretariat to work with the Centre Management Committee, the local church and the Northamptonshire District Council to implement the closure of the National Youth Resource Centre Yardley Hastings and cessation of use of the Yardley Hastings United Reformed Church buildings by the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church. Resolution 16 (Amended)Regretting the lack of both “faith input” and promotion of a religious worldview in some schools, Assembly: (i) welcomes the contribution to British education of schools which seek to provide an ethos and religious teaching which promote good relationships in a pluralist society; (ii) recognises that many of these schools have a religious foundation, including those schools linked with the United Reformed Church, and welcomes the example of best practice that can provide; (iii) shares the concern of many people of goodwill about teaching in a minority of so-called “Faith Schools” likely to promote religious or racial intolerance; (iv) calls upon churches to seek links with local schools with the objective of nurturing friendship and understanding as the essence of community; and (v) calls upon churches to support Christian teachers, particularly those engaged in Religious Education, and encourage others to consider teaching as a vocation. Resolution 28General Assembly resolves to proceed no farther with the constitutional proposals regarding an Ecumenical Bishop in Wales. Resolution 29General Assembly resolves to alter the second sentence of Standing Order 5c to read. "This rule does not apply to debates on amendments or alternative motions since the Assembly needs to decide the final form of a motion before it can responsibly vote on deferral." Resolution 30An error crept into the minutes of Assembly relating to Resolution 56 on Ethical Investments. The Correct version should have been : General Assembly agrees with Mission Council that the present URC guidelines on ethical investment cannot be a ‘final position’ and welcomes the commitment of the Ethical Investment Advisory Group to take the lead in further work. Assembly requests the Ethical Investment Advisory Group: (i) to give particular attention to: (a) the more detailed research and policies of some sister churches; (b) the scope for greater URC participation in relevant ecumenical bodies; (c) the option of the day-to-day investment decisions being given to managers explicitly committed to a Christian ethos. and (ii) to bring recommendations to the 2003 meeting of the General Assembly through Mission Council. The Clerk will therefore move that: General Assembly notes the corrected version of Resolution 56 of Assembly 2002. Resolution 31General Assembly draws the attention of the councils and appropriate committees of the church to ‘Faith Stance on the Global Crisis of Life’, invites them (as a matter of priority) to find space to discuss and reflect on it, and instructs the Church and Society and Ecumenical Committees to collate responses to the document for report to the 2004 General Assembly. Resolution 32General Assembly re-appoints Revd Elizabeth June Caswell to serve as Moderator of the Eastern Synod for a further term of 5 years from 1st February 2004 until 31st January 2009. Resolution 33General Assembly appoints Revd Howard Sharp to serve as Moderator of Mersey Synod for seven years from 1st February 2004 until 31st January 2011. Resolution 34General Assembly agrees to make the following changes to the Basis of Union: a) Add to the sentence at the end of paragraph 20: "and in the case of church related community workers be termed commissioning." b) Insert the following paragraph after paragraph 21 and renumber the existing paragraphs 22-25 as 23-26: 22. Some are called to the ministry of church related community work. After approved preparation and training, they may be called to be church related community workers in a post approved by the United Reformed Church, and are then commissioned and inducted to their office to serve for a designated period. This commissioning and induction shall be in accord with Schedules D & F. Church related community workers are commissioned to care for, to challenge and to pray for the community, to discern with others God's will for the well-being of the community, and to enable the church to live out its calling to proclaim the love and mercy of God through working with others in both church and community for peace and justice in the world. c) In the footnote to the paragraph currently numbered 24, which will become paragraph 25, replace "The provisions of paragraph 24" with ""The provisions of paragraph 25" d) In the note at the start of Schedule B, replace "22" with "23". e) Add a new Schedule F as follows: SCHEDULE F (see clause 22 in the Basis of Union) Affirmations to be made by church related community workers at commissioning and induction. NOTE: The service will also include the reading of the Statement contained in Schedule D, and provision will be made for a statement to be made concerning the circumstances of the call. Church related community workers may also make a personal statement about their faith and sense of calling After the statement has been read the presiding minister shall then ask one of the following sets of questions: Either: VERSION I 1. A.B., Do you confess anew your faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit? I do. 2. Do you believe that the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments, discerned under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the supreme authority for the faith and conduct of all God's people? I do. 3. Do you believe that Jesus Christ, who was born of Mary, lived our common life on earth, died upon the cross, and who was raised from the dead and reigns for evermore, is the gift of God's very self to the world? Do you believe that through him God's love, justice and mercy are revealed and forgiveness, reconciliation and eternal life are offered to all people? And will you faithfully proclaim this Gospel? By the grace of God this I believe and this I will proclaim. 4. Do you believe that the Church is the people gathered by God's love to proclaim the reconciliation of the world to God through Jesus Christ? I do. 5. Are zeal for the glory of God, love for the Lord Jesus Christ, obedience to the Holy Spirit and a desire for the salvation of the world, so far as you know your own heart, the chief motives which lead you to enter this ministry? They are. 6. Do you promise to live a holy life, and to maintain the truth of the gospel, whatever trouble or persecution may arise? Relying on the strength of Christ, I do. 7. Do you promise to care for, to challenge and to pray for the community, to discern with others Gods will for the wellbeing of the community? Do you promise to take your part in the councils of the Church and to enable the church to live out its calling to proclaim the love and mercy of God through working with others in both church and community for peace and justice in the world? By the grace of God, I do. 8. Do you promise as a church related community worker of the United Reformed Church to seek its well-being, purity and peace, to cherish love towards all other churches and to endeavour always to build up the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church? By the grace of God, I do. 9. Will you undertake to exercise your ministry in accordance with the statement concerning the nature, faith and order of the United Reformed Church? I will, and all these things I profess and promise in the power of the Holy Spirit. Or: VERSION II 1. A.B., will you confess anew your faith? I confess anew my faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments, discerned under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the supreme authority for the faith and conduct of all God's people. I believe that Jesus Christ, who was born of Mary, lived our common life on earth, died upon the cross, and who was raised from the dead and reigns for evermore, is the gift of God's very self to the world. I believe that through him God's love, justice and mercy are revealed and forgiveness, reconciliation and eternal life are offered to all people. And by the grace of God I promise to proclaim this gospel faithfully. I believe that the Church is the people gathered by God's love to proclaim the reconciliation of the world to God through Jesus Christ. 2. What leads you to this ministry? So far as I know my own heart, I believe that zeal for the glory of God, love for the Lord Jesus Christ, obedience to the Holy Spirit and a desire for the salvation of the world, are the chief motives which lead me to enter this ministry. Relying on the strength of Christ, I promise to live a holy life, and to maintain the truth of the gospel, whatever trouble or persecution may arise. 3. Will you faithfully fulfil the duties of your charge? By the grace of God I promise to care for, to challenge and to pray for the community, to discern with others God's will for the wellbeing of the community. I promise to take my part in the councils of the Church and to endeavour to enable the church to live out its calling to proclaim the love and mercy of God through working with others in both church and community for peace and justice in the world. As a church related community worker of the United Reformed Church I promise to seek its well-being, purity, and peace, to cherish love towards all other churches, and always to build up the one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I undertake to exercise my ministry in accordance with the statement concerning the nature, faith and order of the United Reformed Church. All these things I profess and promise in the power of the Holy Spirit. |
HighlightsSearch HotlineClare ShortRead a summary of Clare Short's keynote speech, given on Monday evening. Moderator's AddressRead Alasdair Pratt's address to Assembly, 'Exile or Exodus?' A summary is available here Have Your SayJoin in the discussion about this year's General Assembly |