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News Update February 2020 |
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URC Youth Assembly talks war, sex and politics |
A
weekend of decision-making, fun, faith and fellowship was enjoyed by
young people from all United Reformed Church (URC) synods at this year’s
URC Youth Assembly (URCYA). Themed 'Common Ground', the Assembly
explored ways in which Christians can unite over three topics: politics,
sex and relationships, and war and peace. The Revd Nigel Uden,
Moderator of the URC’s General Assembly (pictured above left with URCYA
Moderator Reuben Watt), chaired panel discussions at the event which
took place from 24-26 January at Whitemore Lakes, Staffordshire. Katie
Henderson, URCYA Immediate-past co-Moderator, said: “It’s been so
encouraging watching how the young people engage with topics that are
rarely talked about in churches." Read more. |
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Stepwise take up gathers pace |
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The
number of groups engaging with Faith-filled Life, the opening stream of
Stepwise, has now reached double figures. More than 100 people are
registered with this new discipleship development programme in 10 groups
based around local churches or pastorates and are being facilitated by a
combination of local church leaders, ministers and elders. Participants
begin Stepwise by exploring faith perspectives on identity, place and
purpose, the main themes of Faith-filled Life. The Revd David Salsbury,
Stepwise Programme Manager, says: “The Stepwise team at Church House is
working closely with Synods to support and encourage the advocacy of
Stepwise across the URC. This
has included a series of taster days for facilitators and presentations
at synod meetings, both of which are ongoing. We are encouraged that
take-up is increasing and look forward to more people starting their
Stepwise journey soon.” More information about Stepwise can be found here or email the team. |
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Walking
the Way’s Lent 2020 resources are available to download for free.
These materials use the Psalms to open up more of the stories gathered
by pilgrims on the URC’s educational visit to Israel and the Occupied
Palestinian Territories in September in an accessible and engaging way.
For each week of Lent, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the group offers a
psalm, a short reflection followed by a few worship suggestions. For
Easter Sunday, readers are directed to some of the videos made during
the visit. Read more. |
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Project manager sees holy habit of gladness and generosity in action |
Upon
visiting a URC-supported project in Derbyshire which provides a safe
space for families facing difficult social circumstances to share fun
and food together, Simon Peters, Walking the Way Project Manager, saw
first-hand the significant impact which the holy habits of gladness
and generosity, fellowship and eating together can have on people’s
lives. Read more. |
Thousands call for halt to deportation |
A
petition has been signed by the Moderator of the URC General Assembly,
the General Secretary, other senior staff, and more than 36,800 other
people, urging the Home Office to stop the deportation of a Winchmore
Hill URC member. Read more. |
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Leaders speak together ahead of Brexit
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The
Revd Nigel Uden and Derek Estill, Moderators of the URC General
Assembly, joined leaders and representatives of ten British Church
denominations and networks to speak together before 31 January, the date the UK left the European Union. Mr Estill also offered a prayer for churches and indivduals. Read more. |
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College's longest serving tutor retires
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Northern
College has said goodbye to its longest serving tutor. The Revd Dr
Kathy White recently retired as Old Testament tutor. The Revd Dr
Rosalind Selby, the college's Principal, said: "During her time at
Northern College, Kathy has also been a personal tutor to many students,
helped lead the college's formational programme, shared her experience
as a URC minister (East Grinstead 2001-10), and supported students in
the more practical parts of their journeys, including guiding leavers
through the ‘introduction process’ to churches. Governors, students and
staff alike will miss Kathy very much. We’ve benefitted from all she had
to offer, and we wish her a happy, fulfilling, healthy retirement.”
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Youths condemn CTE decision
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URCYA
has strongly spoken out against the Churches Together in England
(CTE)’s decision to sideline Hannah Brock Womack due to her same-sex
marriage. “As a body of young people, URC Youth Assembly 2020 feels
outraged and underrepresented by the CTE on this matter,” they said,
calling for “a more just outcome”. Read more. |
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Community Project Awards 2020 |
Is
your church doing something amazing in the community? If so, then why
not enter the Community Project Awards 2020? The URC, in
collaboration with Congregational Insurance, is looking for innovative
projects which have a positive effect on their local communities. To be
eligible, projects must be run by members of the congregation and taking
place in URC-connected churches across the UK. Read more. Picture: Families Matter, from Cornerstone URC in Hythe, a winner in 2016. |
The
world watched with shock and horror as bushfires tore across parts of
Australia, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Having recently
returned from the country, the Revd Neil Thorogood, Principal of
Westminster College in Cambridge, wrote about his visit and offered a prayer for everyone affected by the tragedy.The Uniting Church in Australia has a national disaster relief fund
to go towards disaster recovery chaplaincy and support programs and to
help communities to rebuild. The church has also developed worship
resources for those who would like to keep the bushfires, emergency
workers, animals and people affected in their prayers. These can be
found here. |
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Latest podcast episode available |
The latest edition of Faith in Politics,
the Joint Public Issues Team's (JPIT) podcast is available. Season
three's episode four "Relief or return: the role of international
development" features former International Development Minister, Sir
Desmond Swayne, about being a Christian in Westminster, the purpose of
international development money, and how changes in the Church of
England's law still have to go through parliament. The hosts, Cameron
Hume and Rosella Payne, JPIT's parliamentary interns, also reflect theologically on international aid, grace, colonialism and taxation. Read more. |
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College appoints new staff member |
Northern
College is pleased to announce the appointment of a new support
and development tutor. The Revd Alison Davis, who trained at the college
and was a governor there for a number of years, will be based away from
the college but will support students and the college's work in the
wider church. The Revd Dr Rosalind Selby, the college's Principal, said
Alison will "bring a deeply-rooted understanding of our work and ethos". |
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Learning centres showcase work |
The
URC's Resource Centres for Learning (RCL) have together produced a
summary of the work they offer to the whole Church. Together, the
Scottish United Reformed and Congregational College in Glasgow, Northern
College in Manchester, and Westminster College in Cambridge encounter
and influence hundreds of people every year and through them, thousands
of others. From providing initial ministerial training for ministers and
Church Related Community Workers, to supporting elders and synods in
their training, and courses to supporting research and writing across
the URC, there is much more that the RCLs offer. Read more. |
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Explore opportunities for serving
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Is
God calling you to serve the world through the URC? Explore the
possibilities at the Ministry Enquirers' Day on 22 February at Luther
King House in Manchester. At the event you will be able to: explore
opportunities for service through the URC; ask the questions that are on
your mind and heart; hear from people engaged in a variety of lay and
ordained ministries; and listen for the voice of God as we worship and
pray together. For more information, email Phillipa Linton or call
020 7916 8635. Read more. |
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Could your church join the global divestment announcement? |
The
World Council of Churches, the Global Catholic Climate Movement, Green
Anglicans, Operation Noah and GreenFaith are inviting religious and
spiritual institutions from around the world to join a multi-faith
global divestment announcement between 26-28 March 2020. This involves a
commitment to divest from any fossil fuel investments within five
years or, if your church or organisation doesn’t hold any investments in
fossil fuels, it can make a powerful statement by pledging not to
invest in fossil fuels in the future. The URC and five URC Synods
(Scotland, Wales, South Western, Yorkshire and Wessex) have announced
their commitment to divest from fossil fuels, along with two training
colleges and eight local URCs. Could you raise divestment in your local
church or encourage your Synod to divest from fossil fuels? Contact Helena Ritter at Operation Noah for more information or to register your church's commitment. |
Volunteer with the URC at Greenbelt |
Would
you like to volunteer with the URC at Greenbelt? If so, the URC
Greenbelt team is seeking an additional ten people to help run URC
activities over the weekend (28-31 August at Boughton House, Kettering).
If selected, you will receive a free ticket for the weekend, food
vouchers, and a camping pass for your tent. Being part of the URC
volunteer team at Greenbelt
is fun, with plenty of free time to enjoy the activities. You will need
to have a link with a local URC church or ecumenical partnership (LEP)
and be willing to cover at least one session per day in the URC tent
(each session is usually around 2 hours). If you are interested, email Samara Andrews for an application form and submit by 23 March. Applications from URC Youth aged 16+ are also welcome. |
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Ministers
are being invited to submit 1,500 words on the theme of 'Made by God'
to the editor of Sermon of the Year 2020. Get scribbling as entries must
be submitted by midnight on 23 February. Submit your entry here. |
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The
winner of the first Lundie Award, Keiron Thomas Ineson, was announced
on 25 January at URC Youth Assembly. The award – a (chocolate) medal and
a grant of £100 – is the first of 100, The awards will be awarded
monthly, to highlight and reward the contributions of the URC’s children
and young people. As Mr Ineson was unable to attend the Assembly, a
representative of the Yorkshire Synod received the medal on his behalf.
For more information or to make a nomination, read more. |
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URC pioneers gather at college |
Westminster
College, a resource centre for learning for the URC, welcomed more than
20 URC pioneers of new expressions of church to the first of three
events aimed at sharing best practice and ideas. Organised between the
URC’s mission team and the college, ‘The Gathering’ took place between
21-22 January and featured many different types of projects, from those
just setting out, to those well established. The group will have two more residentials at Westminster, 17-18 July and 12-13 October.
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Military chaplains and URC staff attend annual meeting |
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The
URC's five full-time military chaplains attended the United Board's
annual meeting in January for learning and mutual encouragement with the
Revd Nicola Furley-Smith, URC Secretary for Ministries, the Revd Tracey
Lewis, United Church, Trowbridge, and the Revd John Proctor, URC
General Secretary. The Revd Neil Thorogood, Principal of Westminster
College, Cambridge, was guest speaker at the conference. The chaplains
are among the 230 that serve the British armed forces. They provide a
great deal of support, Christian witness, and pastoral care to the armed
forces at home and abroad, often in very difficult places. The forces,
and the Church, are keen to accent diversity. Anyone who would like to
know more can make an initial contact with Nicola. Picture:
From top left, the Revds Kevin Jones (Army), Neil Thorogood, David
Haslam (RAF), Tracey Lewis, Stuart Turner (Army), Nicola Furley-Smith,
John Proctor and Mike Meachin (Navy). Missing: the Revd Jonathan Hyde
(Army). |
To
help fight climate change, the Revd Malcolm Fife, Minister of Christ
Church United Reformed Church (URC), Cross Lane United Church, and
Huyton URC, has become the first minister in the URC Mersey Synod to
choose a plug-in hybrid car. “I spend a lot of time on the road between
my churches and with the Folkus Gallery Band,” he said. “I was driving a
gas guzzling diesel SUV and as I’m green in other areas, I researched
electric, self-charging hybrid and plug in hybrid versions. I need a
larger car as I carry significant amounts of equipment, and also to tow a
touring caravan at times.” Read more. |
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John
Barrow, a Professor of Mathematical Sciences in the Department of
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Clare Hall Cambridge, and
member of Downing Place URC, has been elected as Academician of the
Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the oldest supranational academy in the
world. Professor Barrow said: "It is a great honour to be elected to the
Pontifical Academy of Sciences as there is a maximum membership of 80
scientists, of any religious persuasion or none, at any time. It is a
great opportunity to take part in the initiatives for human benefit that
Pope Francis wants to see coming from the Academy.”
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Barbara
Lewis, Annan URC's organist, has received a volunteer award from the National Churches Trust and the
Marsh Christian Trust for her dedication to engaging young people
through music and fundraising for the church and other causes. Barbara was
presented at the organisations’ annual awards do in London in January.
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Winchmore
Hill URC has launched a crowdfunding appeal to raise £800 for a new safe so
that it can become the first mainstream Christian denomination in Enfield to be
able to offer marriages equally to same-sex couples. The safe is needed to
store marriage registration certificates and other important documents.
Donations can be made here. |
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This month in Reform magazine |
Reform's
first edition of the new decade is out! And the theme is: What role
should children play in church?' ("To annoy and distract me from what is
being said" is one commentator’s answer, but not all agree!) Editor
Steve Tomkins interviews writer and activist Mariam Khan on the
stereotyping of Muslim women, and another writer tells us what
faith-fuelled veganism looks like for her. Don’t miss out! Get Reform
digitally, on paper, or both, from £5.99. Subscribe here. |
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This month we have a range of resources to support you, your church, groups and community. |
Containing
the definitive list of United Reformed churches and ministers,
alongside a wealth of other information about the denomination, the
yearbook now includes Celebrated Lives, remembering ministers and others in the life of the United Reformed Church who have died in the past 12 months. The 2020 Yearbook has been redesigned to make its information easier to read. £19.99 +p&p. |
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Would you like to write a prayer for the United Reformed Church’s annual prayer handbook? The
editors are inviting people to write prayers for the 2021 edition,
inspired by the theme ‘Conversations’. Hoping to widen even more the
authorship of the prayer handbook, writers from every part of the
denomination and beyond are being asked to make submissions. The deadline for submission is 17 February. Read more.
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The
URC has produced two new guides to help churches think about offering
free wi-fi and for those thinking about podcasts. Offering free wi-fi
inside your church can be a really good way of opening up your building
for more uses and in the podcast guide, you’ll find everything you need
to know about producing high quality audio using computer, laptop,
tablet or even a mobile phone, like the recordings made by volunteers
for the URC’s Daily Devotions. Both guides can be downloaded here. |
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Designed for you to use with your photocopier or printer. Print your Easter service times and activities on these A4 sheets which are ideal to give away or to push through letterboxes. £1.25 for 10 posters +p&p.
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2020
sees the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower, the ship
that took the Pilgrim Fathers to the New World. It's a foundational
event in American history, but it began as an English story, which
pioneered the idea of religious freedom. Stephen Tomkins (Editor of Reform
magazine) tells this fascinating story, one that is rarely told as an
important piece of English, as well as American, history, which is full
of contemporary relevance: religious violence, the threat to national
security, freedom of religion and tolerance of dangerous opinions, in Journey to the Mayflower: God's Outlaws and the Invention of Freedom. £14 +p&p. |
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Designed for you to use with your photocopier or printer. Use these service sheets for your Easter services. Supplied as A4 sheets for you to print and fold. £1.25 for 10 +p&p. |
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Designed for you to use with your photocopier or printer. Use these service sheets for your Lent services. Supplied as A4 sheets for you to print and fold. £1.25 for 10 +p&p.
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The next free iChurch training / refresher session takes place on 29 February in Newcastle. Places
are limited to ensure there is enough time is spent with both the group
and individual website managers. You'll just need your laptop and its
power cord. In the meantime, if you need help with any aspect of your
iChurch website, you can email, visit the forum or ask a question on the iChurch Facebook page. Book your place here. Lunch and drinks are included.
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Free
resources for Racial Justice Sunday, which takes place on 9 February,
are available to download. Prepared by the URC’s Global and
Intercultural Ministries, the resources focus on “whiteness as a
construct of privilege and oppression.” The resources also consist of
sermon ideas, prayers, poetry, liturgies, laments, reparations, stories
and hymns. Read more.
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Free Mersey festival of worship |
Mersey
Synod's free Festival of Worship takes place on 1 August. Activites
will include: Dementia friendly worship, all-age worship, prayer, 'Faith
& Imagination’ with Folkus Gallery Band, and will conclude with
Café Jam. The maximum number of attendes is 100 people, so please
book your free place here, or call 0151 722 6590. The synod also needs help creating six-inch high angels, which can be knitted, by the end of June.Read more.
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Space
in the City, The United Church's series of lunchtime lectures is back.
Taking place on 12 February in Jewry Street, Winchester, Canon Angela
Tilby leads a talk on "The problem of sin. Our fault or our
circumstances?" between 12.30pm and 1pm. Refreshments are available. Read more. |
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JPIT’s
2020 national conference Renewal and Rebellion: Faith, Economy and
Climate invites you to join in looking at the big challenges we all face
– rethinking economic structures and taking radical steps towards
climate justice, and how we can all act – in faith,
for people and for planet. The event takes place on 7 March 2020, at
The Riverside Centre, Derby. General Admission costs £10. Read more. |
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International
Justice Mission (IJM) is inviting churches around the world to
join together to fight slavery on Freedom Sunday, 20 September. Forty 40
million people are in slavery today – more than ever before and
IJM believes the Church is vital in the fight to end slavery in
our lifetime. Last year 15,000 churches united across 38 countries on
Freedom Sunday in an incredible prayer movement. Find out how your
church can participate. Read more. |
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The next sessions for the 'Why Manage' course will
take place over two dates, 18 May and 21 September from 9:30am –
4:30pm. This course is for anyone working within the URC with direct
line management responsibilities. 'Wellbeing and resilience' training is
open to synods and takes place on 8 October. The time for this is to be
confirmed. If you are interested in attending, email HR. Read more. |
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Youth evangalism conference |
The
first of three Youth Evangelism Conference events takes place on 22
February in Cambridge. Themed 'For the love of God', the events are
designed to equip and inspire leaders to reach young people and will
explore how God's love transforms us, our young people and our
communities. Find out more and book here. |
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Churches
Together in England is collaborating with Westminster College and
Wesley House to organise a day conference for those involved in LEPs or
working ecumenically at a local level. 'Life
Together: LEPs today and tomorrow' takes place on 6 June from
10am-4.30pm in Cambridge. The keynote speaker is David Ford, with
workshops hosted by National Ecumenical Officers. Tickets cost £35 and
can be bought here. |
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This
year, Student Sunday (also known as the Universal Day of Prayer for
Students) takes place on 16 February. The Student Christian Movement has
produced a new resource pack along the theme 'Known by Name', with lots
of suggestions for how you can organise a service to pray for students
on the day together with some tips on how you can engage students in
your community. Read more. |
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The Church Times
Festival of Faith and Literature takes place from 21-22 February in
Bloxham, Oxfordshire. You can stay for the whole festival or choose just
one session. The programme features Marie-Elsa Bragg - writer,
lecturer, Priest and a Duty Chaplain of Westminster Abbey, and writer
and broadcaster Cole Moreton. Explore the full programme and buy tickets
here. |
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Meet neighbours of other faiths |
The
URC and Baptist interfaith groups have organised a free one-day event
for people interested in discovering and encountering our neighbours
from across the faiths. The event takes place from 11am-3.30pm in
West Yorkshire on 14 March and includes: finding ways to work together;
how to offer hospitality; where to find practical resources; local
stories of interfaith working; overcoming prejudice and countering
populism. A free lunch will be provided. If you are interested in
attending, please email Carole Sired. |
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Germinate:
The Arthur Rank Centre’s highly-regarded Rural Ministry Course is back!
Designed for lay and ordained church leaders across the denominations
entering a rural appointment for the first time, and those already in
rural ministry who feel the need for a 'refresher'. A pilot course takes
place from 11-13 February, 12pm to noon at King’s Park Conference
Centre in Northampton and costs £250. A second course takes place from
8-10 June and costs £300. Fees include a one-year subscription to Country Way
magazine. The programme employs a variety of approaches including
practical sessions, group work and workshops led by practitioners
focusing on understanding rural contexts, mission and growth,
leadership, farming and work with children and young people in the
countryside. Read more. |
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The
Moderator of the United Reformed Church (URC) General Assembly has
welcomed news that the government is maintaining its ban on fracking in
the UK. As reported in the Blackpool Gazette on 21 January, when asked
during business questions in Parliament if the moratorium on fracking
would be made permanent, Kwasi Kwarteng, Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy Minister, is reported to have said: "We're stopping it. The
only way it can be resumed is by compelling evidence which so far is not
forthcoming, So, the moratorium stays and fracking, for the time being,
is over." Read more. |
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Creative climate action needed |
In
a pastoral letter to the global fellowship, World Council of Churches
General Secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, expresses urgent and
earnest concern over the world’s climate emergency, and urges churches
and individuals everywhere to take action now. Read more.
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Meet your newly-elected MP |
Like
it or not, politics matters. Political decisions shape our country, our
communities, and our everyday lives. Christians are called to be
engaged with the world, as Jesus was, and this includes political
engagement and JPIT are encouring people to meet their newly elected MP.
Find out more here. |
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Church House appointments, URC vacancies and beyond |
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Southern Synod Moderator Full-time, seven-year termed appointment Salary: Minister's stipend Closing date for nominations: 1 March. Closing date for applications: 12pm, 9 April. |
Secretary for Education and Learning
London, full time Permanent contract or seven-year termed appointment
Salary: £46,070 pa or URC Minister’s stipend Closing date for applications: 12pm, 24 February |
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The United Reformed Church Church House, 86 Tavistock Place London, WC1H 9RT Tel: 020 7916 2020 Email: urc@urc.org.uk |
The
United Reformed Church was created by church unions in 1972, 1981 and
2000, facilitated by Acts of Parliament passed in each of those years.
It has a number of associated bodies: The United Reformed Church Trust
(URC Trust) is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England
& Wales (Registered Number: 135934); it is also a registered charity
(Registration Number: 1133373). The United Reformed Church Ministers’
Pensions Trust Ltd is a limited company registered in England &
Wales (Registered Number: 2821011). The United Reformed Church Retired
Ministers’ Housing Society Ltd. is a registered Community Benefit
Society under the Co-operative & Community Benefit Societies Act
2014, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Number 15986R). The
Registered Office for all the aforementioned bodies is Church House, 86
Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9RT. |
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