Contents Page No
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Contents Page No 1. Faith and Life Department 1 2. Ministries Department 16 Appendices: 1. Visitation to Northern Federation for Training and to Northern College 25 2. Review of the Sabbatical Programme 34 3. College Reports 36 4. Students in Training for the Ministry 1987 /88 41 5. Training Statistics 44 6. Employment Practice 47 3. Central Funding and Advocacy Group 73 4. Nominations Committee 77 5. Forward Policy Group 91 6. Executive Committee 95 Appendices: 1. Ruscombe URC - Appeal for Secession 101 2. St Andrew's, Bournemouth - Appeal for Secession 107 7. Finance and Administration Department 114 Appendices: 1. Contributions to MoM and Unified Appeal 1987 120 2. Ministers holding Assembly Appointments - stipends and conditions of service 121 3. Report on the Financing of the Maintenance and Repair of Retirement Housing 122 8. Budget Committee 125 9. Communication and Supplies 126 10. Church and Society Department 130 11. Provincial Moderators 138 12. World Church and Mission Department 142 Appendices: 1. A Theological Perspective on Inter-Faith Dialogue 156 2. Ministry in a Uniting Church 159 3. Response from the Province of Wales 179 13. Business Committee 182 14. Assembly Pastoral Reference Committee 183 For Information a. URC History Society 184 b. URC Housing Association Ltd 185 c. Schools Linked with the URC 186 Standing Orders 190 FAITH AND LIFE DEPARTMENT Convener: The Revd Tony Coates Secretary: The Revd Terry Oakley Our Pattern of Working 1. The Department's work continues to be done mainly, but not exclusively, through its committees, and reports of their work follow. But issues arise demanding the Department's attention which do not fit into the agenda of any committee, and working groups are formed to deal with them. One such group is working on silent retreats and a network of those interested is being built up. Another group has been formed in response to the World Council of Churches Decade 1988 ·1998 Churches in Solidarity with Women, to ensure that women's matters are taken up and appropriately dealt with. There is also a trainers' network for mutual support and encouragement. The Provinces 2. The sharing of news from the Provinces has become an important part of the Departmental Central Comittee's agenda, and we are much encouraged by the news of spiritual growth and vitality at many points in our church life. Lively initiatives are being taken by some Provinces: the North Western Province has produced a pack A fresh look at worshipping and teaming together, the East Midlands Province a study course Faith Alive, and the Province of Wales is exploring the possibility of creating a community Magnificat Now! Pcrsonalia 3. During the year we have welcomed John Taylor as Secretary of the Doctrine and Worship Committee and William Mahood as Convener of the Christian Education and Stewardship Committee. We are grateful to them for undertaking this work, We have welcomed Paul Franklin as Assistant Secretary, Faith and Life Department, a full time five-year appointment. His work will be mainly in the area of Youth and Children's Work and his presence in the office is proving invaluable. Linda Oostenrijk left the Youth Office at the end of 1987 after 4 years' service, and we thank her for her work. CHILDREN'S WORK COMMITfEE Convener: The Revd Dr Lesley Husselbee Secretary: Mrs Hazel Snashall 4. This committee welcomes the increased interest being shown in all·age worship and learning, and is especially excited about the launch of the new Panners in Leaming material, based on the syllabus Being God's People, an important new resource. We commend the new Panners in Leaming to churches, and ask that District Councils help local churches look at the new material. This would be with a view to using this and other resources to encourage greater participation by members of the congregation, including adults and children, in worship and learning together and in separate age groups. The new Parlners in Leaming is for use from October 1988, and should be available from April 1988. 5. We are very pleased with the response to our request that Districts and Provinces appoint Children's Work Secretaries, or the equivalent. We held . a very stimulating consultation in March 1987 for those supporting children's work, and we urge those working with children to meet together for support at Province, District and local church level. A regular mailing .has just been launched which we hope will keep those working with children in touch with new ideas and resources. There will be a consultation on Saturday 11th June 1988 for Provincial Children's Work Secretaries. At this consultation, we hope to share and explore resources for all age worship. Please encourage your representatives to attend. Children and Communion 6. We are greatly encouraged by the increasing world-wide trend to take the presence of children in church seriously. In particular, we are pleased that many churches are enabling children to take a full part in Communion Services. Over the past two years, a number of very helpful publications have been produced, including Helping Children Palticipate in Holy Communion by Leigh Pope, Uniting Church in Australia (to be published in Britain by the Methodist Church); Children at Holy Communion - Guidelines (Methodist Church) and Children in the Way (Church of England). We commend these to churches, together with a document published by this committee, expressing concerns which are particularly relevant to the URC. The Doctrine and Worship Committee gave valuable advice at an early planning stage. 7. There has been an increasing concern around the country about the decline of children in our churches. Recent statistical returns used by the URC may, .on the surface, suggest that the number of children has increased, but these returns include Uniformed Organisations and mid-week groups which were not previously counted. The committee has been working on a leaflet designed to help churches discuss ways in which more children can become involved in church life. 8. The committee welcomes the Mission Pursuit pack produced by CWM and the World Church and Mission Department which is contributing to Growth for their Sake. We commend this pack for use by the whole Church family. 9. The committee recognises the value of workers with children on Sunday and in mid-week groups, meeting together to share and learn from each other. We encourage local churches and District Councils to set up "Learning Days" and/or to make use of any ecumenical resources for training in the area. 10. In the future the committee is to consider the needs of, in particular, the under fives, and would welcome any comments or suggestions for working with this age group. We also hope to look at mid-week activities and the gap between church and day schools. 11. The appointment of Paul Franklin as Assistant Secretary in the Faith and Life Department will be a great help to our work with the 11-14 age group. He would like to visit as many groups in this age band as possible, and is already liaising between the Children's Work and Youth Committees and helping provide links between the many Provincial and District Children's Work Secretaries. 2 Pilots Panel (Master Pilot: The Revd John Robinson) 12. It is good that Pilots is a joint venture with the Congregational Federation. In addition to local churches of our two denominations, this activity is also shared by a number of local churches of other denominations. We find it very encouraging that this mid-week, non-uniformed activity for children aged 7-14, linked with Sunday worship and learning, provides what so many churches have been looking for, ie, a means of helping the children to grow in faith and friendship together, with an emphasis on the world wide Church of Jesus Christ. 13. During the last year several of our publications have been revised and updated. We also have available two new colourful posters, reproduced from the winning entries in the national poster· design competition. This attracted a large number of entries, and provided a difficult task for the selection panel! We are well pleased with the new posters and commend them for advocacy. 14. The Pilots Panel want there to be a growth in faith in those committed to our charge. We are grateful for all the nurture and Christian love shown in the local companies by so many dedicated leaders. We welcome the opportunity to encourage children and adults to work together on some of the activities in Mission Pursuit and Muriel Garrow is helping in the presentation of this material in our bulletin, The Bridge. 15. We welcome the appointment of Paul Franklin, and look forward to working with him in the future. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE Convener: The Revd William Mahood Secretary: Mr Michael Harrison 16. The Committee has been encouraged by the level of co-operation with other bodies which has marked its work during the past year. Indeed co-operation must be the keynote of our report. ' 17. We welcome the initiative of the Not Strangers But Pilgrims Inter-Church Process and the enthusiasm for the second Lent Study course, Who on Earth Are You?. We hope that this experience will encourage many people to pursue a greater exploration and knowledge of their faith. 18. In our report last year we spoke of our belief that "beyond the structural training of elders lies the goal of a broad Christian education for all members of our congregations". We now see this as one of our main tasks for the future. We want to encourage individuals and congregations to be exploring their faith.