Popes and Moderators feature strongly in the latest edition of Reform.
Editor Stephen Tomkins is in conversation with the incoming Moderator of the URC’s General Assembly, Catriona Wheeler. She explains how her career as a lawyer and her work as a member of the URC combine to inform a thoughtful and measured approach to her new role.
One of Catriona’s predecessors as URC Moderator, Tessa Henry-Robinson, was recently inaugurated as Moderator of the Free Churches Group. Reflecting on the group’s future purpose, she says, “We are called to live as if we have seen the mountaintop.”
We look back at the life of Pope Francis, asking the question: “What difference did he make?”. Stephen Tomkins looks forward to the likely priorities of the new pope, Leo. And with good timing, the URC’s Evangelism and Ecumenical Officer Lindsey Brown describes a recent visit to Rome by members of the Roman Catholic-URC Dialogue Group to present a new resource pack that will support Catholic and URC congregations to make their own local journeys of mutual understanding.
Elsewhere, Reform reports on celebrations – in Coventry, of the URC’s hymn book Rejoice & Sing, and in Scotland, of 25 years since the URC in the UK and the Congregational Union of Scotland united to form the United Reformed Church as it now exists.
Plus, the URC’s Head of Public Issues, Roo Stewart, looks forward to the Season of Creation, beginning on 1 September, with some great examples of how local churches are connecting with creation and the Creator. The Issue 4/2025 edition of Reform is available from 8 June.