Synod Life
Ministers' Summer School 2013
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- Category: Training and Development
- Created on Wednesday, 19 June 2013 15:30
A Collection of Collaborating Colleagues Revd Dr Jack Dyce from the Scottish College gently leads ministers into a deeper appreciaiton for the potential, promise and pitfalls of working collaboratively. As usual, Lindors Country Hotel provided an excellent retreat setting for learning and fellowship. Simon Walking also offered a number of precious insights into the nature of grace rather than blame. Sally Thomas spoke about collaborating ecumenically. A big thanks to all who made the school possible.
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Synod Day 2013
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- Category: Synod Life
- Created on Thursday, 13 June 2013 13:25
On Saturday 8th June over 250 people, young and old, from all parts of Wales enjoyed a day of inspiration, friendship, worship and workshops at the Synod Day held in the Royal Welsh Showground at Llanelwedd.
The guest speaker was the Rev Michael Jagessar, one of the URC's Assembly Moderators. He challenged us to think differently about our life together as God's people, giving thanks for the richness of God's abundant grace and encouraging us to follow the example of Jesus as we share what we have with the world.
The slides from Michael's presentation can be found below - and you can read more about the day on Michael's Moderator's blog here
The Big IF events
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- Category: Synod Life
- Created on Friday, 24 May 2013 10:07
8 June – The Big IF London Event, Hyde ParkPlease register hereasap so we know you're coming coming and to discover the exciting plans for the day! Cliciwch ymato book your travel with us on from Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham.15 June – The Big IF Belfast eventRegister here asap to join us for our Wales send-off in Holyhead on the 14th and to travel with us over to Belfast. Our ‘messages in a bottle’ will travel over to Northern Ireland (on the ferry via Dublin). To add your name to the ‘messages in a bottle’ from Wales, contact local Christian Aid officefor campaign cards. The deadline for sending these back is the 10 June.1 June – Cardiff – Walk of WitnessIf you're unable to come to London or Belfast, please join us in Cardiff on June 1st for Walk of Witness. Christian Aid Wales is joining with Cafod and Tearfund for an all-age morning of witness, campaigning and prayer. Starting at the Lightship in Cardiff Bay at 9.30am, lunch in Bute Park at 12.15pm followed by a procession through Cardiff City Centre finishing at 2pm. Poster and flyer attached. Recruit a group from your church and come along for as much or as little as you can!
Economist inducted as moderator of United Reformed Church
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- Category: Synod Life
- Created on Monday, 20 May 2013 13:57
On 15 May 2013, Mr John Ellis was inducted as lay moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church (URC). The induction service was held at the end of the May meeting of Mission Council, the URC’s executive body, and Mr Ellis succeeds Mrs Val Morrison, who has served as lay moderator since July 2010. Mr Ellis will serve as moderator until July 2016.
The United Reformed Church is unusual in having two moderators – one lay and one ministerial, who serve alongside each other. Mr Ellis joins the Revd Dr Michael Jagessar, who was inducted at the denomination’s General Assembly in July 2012.
Mr Ellis, who has been the URC’s treasurer since 2007 can trace his nonconformist Christian roots back to his great-grandfather who was converted to Christianity as a teenager in the 1860s, by a Congregational minister in Exeter. From that point his family was involved in the Congregational Church, which became part of the United Reformed Church in 1972. He has held leadership roles in churches in Kent since 1980.
Until 2012 Mr Ellis worked for the Methodist Church as secretary for connexional team operations, a role that involved leading the central staff team and overseeing policy development proposals, staffing and management, as well as promoting collaboration with the Methodist districts. Earlier in his career he worked for the Bank of England for 20 years, holding a variety of posts including research on international debt issues, co-coordinating the Bank's network of regional agents and serving as the Governor's business ethics adviser. Mr Ellis was also a member of the Council for World Mission's Investment Committee and has extensive experience of ethical investment campaigning.
Commenting on his new role, John Ellis said: "I am honoured and humbled that the General Assembly chose to elect me. The moderator of the General Assembly is a key leader and representative for the whole United Reformed Church in all its diversity. I’m looking forward to both the privileges and challenges of the role. As well as helping the Church shape its internal life for its setting in a dynamic contemprorary society, I’m particularly keen to use some of my professional background in the role, participating in discussions about, for example, the wider economy and what the Christian tradition has to contribute to addressing its dilemmas.”
Vacancies on URC Assembly Committees
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- Category: Synod Life
- Created on Tuesday, 14 May 2013 16:21
The Nominations Committee is doing all it can to widen the pool of URC members called upon to serve at General Assembly level. The opportunities listed below all relate to appointments to be made by General Assembly in July 2014 when the appointments will come into effect. The committee will be looking at suggestions for Conveners elect at its meeting in September 2013 and at potential committee members at its November 2013 meeting. If you wish to suggest a name or to express your own interest, please give details to your Synod representative [Jean Silvan Evans (Norminations Secretary) or Shelagh Pollard (Synod Clerk)] (who can also supply more information, including details of the remits of the individual committees) by 31 July or 30 September respectively.