Have your say on the future of General Assembly

As some of you will be aware, the 2016 General Assembly appointed a task group to look at the future of General Assembly – that group has been asked to bring to GA 2018 proposals for running the General Assembly from 2020 to 2030. To do this it needs to consult widely and is actively seeking opinions or insight from around the Church.  In short, the task group wants to hear from you – and has devised a short online survey (which will not take more than ten minutes to complete) to help them more fully understand what the denomination wants from General Assembly.

All information, including direct links to both the online survey and a downloadable pdf for those without internet access, is available our web story.          Website:  Have your say on the future of General Assembly  
Please do complete survey yourself and send it to colleagues The task group are very keen to receive as many responses, from a diverse a range of people, as possible. – so please help them to  achieve this!  The survey is now open, and closes on 28 April. With thanks.

Gill Nichol  Head of Communications
The United Reformed Church 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT  - 020 7691 9865 |07769 201978   www.urc.org.uk

General Assembly  6th - 9th July 2018

General Assembly is the biennial assembly of the United Reformed Church, meeting every two years to celebrate, discuss, and make decisions on, the life and work of the denomination.

The United Reformed Church General Assembly – the key decision-making body of the Church – meets from 6th to 9th July 2018 at Albert Hall Nottingham. Further details will be available nearer the Assembly.

General Assembly 2016

View news and reports from General Assembly 2016  visit the news section, the Church Facebook page and our Twitter feed 

Website: General Assembly for Further Information

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Recalled General Assembly

The recalled General Assembly met in Birmingham on Saturday, 27th June, 2015.  A number of resolutions were passed, most significantly Resolutions 4, 4a and 5.  The General Assembly Moderators, the Revd. David Grosch Miller and Mr John Ellis, and the General Secretary, the Revd. John Proctor, have prepared a letter for Synods and local churches.  Andy Braunston, North Western Synod Clerk, has also prepared more detailed notes of the one-day Assembly.  Both of these are available for download below.

Download:  Letter from the Assembly Moderators and General Secretary Download:  Notes prepared by a Synod Clerk  Download: Guidance on the current situation on registration of local church buildings from the General Secretary, July 2015    Website:URC General Assembly 

Round-up from Mission Council 19th - 21st October 2016

View link below for the full and 'official' round-up of all Mission Council news. 

Website: Round-up from Mission Council      

Website  The Future of the Windermere Centre

Mission Council Report 2016

Mission Council is the executive body of the United Reformed Church, meets twice a year and acts in the name of General Assembly. It is made up, mainly of four representatives from each Synod (including each Synod Moderator), the General Assembly Officers and Committee Convenors. The last meeting of Mission Council took place in early March 2016.

Download: Mission Council Report News Document - by Andy Braunston: Synod Clerk North Western Synod

Mission Council Report 2015

Mission Council met at the Hayes Conference Centre from 13th to 15th November. The papers and outline reports are also available on the URC website.    Download: Mission Council Report - by Revd Geoff Felton

National Mission Committee 2017

Feedback to Synods Report from the National Mission Committee meeting in Birmingham at the end of February 2017.

• There will be a service to mark the centenary of the ordination of Constance Coltman on Sunday 17th September starting at 3pm.  All are invited to the service which is being held at the American International Church in London and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. would like to hear especially about women who have played a pioneering role in our churches and would like to attend. 
  
  
• Local church involvement in global partnerships - Churches are asked to respond to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with details of synod global partnerships and congregation to congregation links.
  
  
• Walking the Way - plans are well underway and more will be said at Spring Synods. View Paper I for more details of the progress being made.
  
  
• ACT Community’ programme enabling climate justice activists (View paper D)  Mission Committee agreed to endorse this initiative for a second year and new participants are sought.  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with possible names and for further details.
  
  
• There is a new Interfaith Fund aimed at promoting contact, understanding and respect among Christians, Jews and members of other faith communities.  View Paper A for more information but further details are available from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
  
  
• New resources available for churches -
  
  • 'Discipling Presence’(from the Arthur Rank Centre) available in June
  • Rural Mission Sunday, 16 July, with the theme of hospitality and welcome 
  • Conversation Welcome resource from the Joint Public Issues Team to encourage exploration of the sort of society we want ours to be after Brexit - available shortly
  • Commitment for Life 25th anniversary service available, View Commitment for Life anniversary service details.
  • Revised version of Mission Shaped Intro - available on the Fresh Expressions website