Governance & Structure
We are the United Reformed Church in Wales, comprising over 100 local congregations spread north, south, east and west across the principality. All these churches belong to the National Synod of Wales which carries out its work through a variety of councils and boards.
The Synod Meeting takes place twice a year to which each church is invited to send a representative. All serving ministers are also members of Synod as are a number of ecumenical representatives.
The Synod Council meets three time a year and is comprised of the Synod Elders and other staff officers of the Synod and members of the three Synod Boards as noted below.
Much of the Synod's work is carried out and coordinated the Synod Elders Meeting together with the Mission Resource Board, the Leadership Development Board and the Finance and Property Board.
The Synod is also served by a number of staff officers. The Synod Moderator, Synod Clerk, Synod Treasurer, two Training and Development Officers, a Rural Officer, an Ecumenical Officer, a Children and Youth Development Officer (CYDO) and a Property Officer.
Use the links on the left to find out more about the work of the Synod.
Moderator moving on
The Revd Peter Noble – moderator of the Synod of Wales since 2001 – has announced he’s received and accepted a call to the special category ministry as chaplain to Lightship 2000 and Cardiff Bay. He is anticipating completing his ministry as moderator at the end of February / beginning of March 2012
Talking about his decision, Peter said: “For some time I have been considering my ministry – it feels like the right time to step down and allow someone with different gifts and graces, someone new to come forward, someone who will offer the synod fresh insight and bring new energy to share in the task of enabling our church to envision the future.”
He continued: “As a result of my own thinking – and the nudging of colleagues – I allowed my name to be forwarded through the moderator’s meeting in order to test a sense of “call” to this special category ministry post – and was delighted when I received the invitation to take up this ministry. It seems to me that was indeed a call.”
The Lightship is a floating Christian centre birthed in Cardiff Bay, Europe’s largest waterfront development, and home to leisure, business, the arts and politics. Its unique mission is to let visitors meet God in unexpected ways – and through the work of the chaplain and the team of part-time ecumenical chaplains the Church is present at the very heart of all this. The vision and the ministry is to help people meet Christ where they are, in the everyday routines of their lives. The project also recognises that Cardiff Bay was one of Britain’s first multi-cultural areas, so underlying its ecumenism is a work alongside other faiths.
Peter said: “I’m very excited about the prospect of continuing my ministry in this way. It seems to play to my strengths and personality and am delighted to have been called to work amongst and with such dedicated people, all of who are passionate about the whole ministry of the project.”
Peter will spend the last months as moderator serving Wales and her people with all of his usual energy, encouragement and enthusiasm.
New Digest of URC News out now
The new Digest of URC news is out now in the February edition of REFORM, which churches will be receiving this Sunday 30 Jan.
An update has been posted on the URC website, please see:
http://www.urc.org.uk/news/2011/january/digest_of_urc_news_available_now
26 Jan 2011
REFORM editor Kay Parris said: "We’ve been increasingly aware of an appetite within the URC for "in house" news that is of interest to ministers, elders and other active members, and we are very hopeful that Digest will give these readers what they have been looking for.”
Gill Nichol, press and media officer added: “The Digest will develop with each issue and we hope it is something that URC ministers, elders and members will increasingly value. To contact us with your comments, feedback, or possible contributions to Digest, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .”
Digest is only available in REFORM and the launch issue is in the in the February 2011 issue, out now. An annual subscription to REFORM is just £20 - to subscribe please contact your local church distributor, visit the website, call 0208 955 7073 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.