Monthly Archives: September 2021

Following the government’s announced social care reforms in September 2021, JPIT’s Paul Morrison provides a guide to some of the issues involved. What is social care? Social care covers a wide umbrella of services to people of working age as … Continue reading →

From the reporting of last week’s announced reforms to the social care system in England, you might be forgiven for thinking that the key issue was National Insurance contributions, or broken election promises, or even grand political gambles. Fascinating as … Continue reading →

The Revd Clare Downing, Moderator of the United Reformed Church General Assembly, has joined more than 350 church and civil society leaders in expressing concern about government proposals to restrict protest and increase police powers.

In an open letter to the Home Secretary and Lord Chancellor, released last weekend, the leaders voiced concern about several aspects of the wide-ranging Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: its impact on the right to protest, the threat it poses to Traveller communities, and fears that increased policing powers have the potential to entrench racial injustices in the justice system. It also highlights the very limited amount of parliamentary scrutiny that the proposals have so far received.

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Guest blogger Simon Peters, project manager of the URC’s Walking the Way, offers a reflection after reading from Proverbs 1:20-33. Wisdom cries out in the street;    in the squares she raises her voice.At the busiest corner she cries out;    at … Continue reading →

More than 150 people, including the deputy Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Jane Corbett, attended the induction of the Revd Geoff Felton as Moderator of the United Reformed Church (URC) Mersey Synod.

Other denominational heads including the Rt Revd Paul Bayes, the Anglican Bishop of Liverpool; the Rt Revd Julie Conalty, Bishop of Birkenhead; the Most Revd Malcolm McMahon, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool; and the Revd Dr Sheryl Anderson, Chair of Liverpool Methodist District joined the celebration held at Blundellsand and Crosby URC on 4 September.

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August’s Lundie Memorial Award goes to Andrew and Daniel Shaw, from St Columba’s United Reformed Church (URC), Wolverhampton.

The brothers, aged 15 and 13, are dedicated volunteers at the Community School Swap Shop which is part of the church’s eco-church work.

They sort clothes, find and bag up the correct uniform and sizes for people and work at the open sessions helping people find what they’re looking for.

With fewer volunteers due to the pandemic, the swap shop has been extremely reliant on the dedication of the brothers who gave up much of their school holidays.

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As United Reformed Church congregations mark the 20th anniversary of September 11th, the Revd Jennifer Mills-Knutsen, Senior Pastor of the American International Church in London, offers this reflection:

On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I wish I could remember this event as the tragedy it was, rather than the tragedy it still is.

The 2,977 souls who lost their lives that terrible day were only the beginning. Hundreds more have died since, from 9/11-related illness and cancer (especially first responders) along with countless others who had their lives cut short by the spiritual and emotional distress they experienced.

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The United Reformed Church (URC) has welcomed the publication and findings of the report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) following its investigation into Child Protection in Religious Organisations and Settings.

As core participants of the inquiry, the URC is committed to ensuring that safeguarding continues to be paramount throughout the denomination and to ensuring that its churches, services and programmes are safe places for everyone.

The URC has robust policies and procedures in place to ensure the welfare and protection of all who attend church and who use its premises, and the Church will continue to make sure that safeguarding remains a priority – it is the responsibility of everyone, and we continue to be advised and guided by our team of safeguarding professionals.

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