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HotlineWelcome to the 2005 edition of Assembly Hotline. You'll find here a record of the main events and some of the background to the meeting of General Assembly at the University of Warwick from July 2nd - 5th, 2004. Select the day's business you would
like Saturday evening, July 2nd 2005Sheila Maxey
Retiring Moderator Sheila Maxey used her reflection on the past year to give some impression of the many creative ways in which churches are using buildings around the country. Alongside that she recalled the buildings which clearly had become burdens to the congregations which occupied them and told stories of those who had shown the courage to move out of their building into a risky future. She spoke particularly of the congregation at Halstead, who had walked away from a listed building they could no longer maintain and, after camping out for some time with other denominations, now met in a light and airy former doctor’s surgery. She warned against believing that just because a building was useful to the community and widely used, that it meant the church itself was lively. Sometimes losing the responsibility for a building can free the people of the church to be more involved in the community. In the United States, she had found in the Presbyterian Church a willingness to speak both of the closing and opening of churches. She was impressed by the idea of associating closures, and the resources they released, with new openings – this could make it easier psychologically for a congregation to contemplate the end of a particular building. Another partner denomination produced a leaflet inviting churches to consider whether it was time to ‘fold the tent’. Overall she had been impressed by the openness of people to change. On a visit to Ireland she discovered the Presbyterian Church of Ireland deciding to sell their landmark building in the centre of Belfast and replace it with a 21st century landmark building – a mission statement in itself. Election of the ModeratorStanding Orders were suspended to allow the election of a Moderator for 2006-2007, since no nominations had been received by the closing date and Mission Council asked to come up with proposals to deal with any future situation where no nominations are received by the due date. Finance Committee report
Eric Chilton paid tribute to the finance staff, who had maintained their work despite a number of posts being unfilled. Resolution 21Introducing the accounts for 2004, the Treasurer spoke of the increasing difficulties faced in raising funds. He questioned why Assembly set targets for funds to be raised and then failed to ensure that they were met. In future, budgets would be driven by an assessment of what we were likely to raise and we should anticipate decreasing contributions in future. He pointed out the relatively small proportions of income spent over and above paying for ministry. Support activities at the centre, he observed, were outstripped by the £4m spent by synods. He also raised concerns over the potential shortfall in the pension fund, which would have to be brought into the accounts next year. The treasurer spoke of the challenges of the 2006 budget, which had been put together on the basis of predictions from synod treasurers of what might be raised in that year. He pointed out that if inflation is taken out, expenditure had fallen in line with membership over several years – we were spending some 12% less in real terms. In fact the sums would have fallen even in money terms were it not for the commitment to maintain the real value of stipends and salaries. Moderators’ report
What might you do if you didn’t have to keep doing what you’re doing now? What interests you? Where do you find life and energy? What would you really enjoy having the chance to try? These were some of the questions around which a thought provoking report from the synod moderators revolved. The report looked at the difficulty we sometimes have in letting go of work we currently do in the name of the Kingdom and the energy that can be released when we are freed to attempt new challenges for God Read the text of the report here Saturday afternoon, July 2nd 2005Assembly opens
A warm welcome
Assembly welcomed a wide variety of ecumenical guests from home and abroad. Incoming Moderator David Peel is pictured with the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols A new Moderator
The Revd Dr David Peel was inducted to the office of Moderator for the year 2005-2006 by his predecessor, the Revd Sheila Maxey. An Encountering Church
‘The Catch the Vision process is a key moment in our life. It is a time to face words of judgement as well as feed upon words of grace; an opportunity to become open to what God has for us to do’. So said incoming Moderator, the Revd Dr David Peel as he introduced the 2005 Moderator's Address to General Assembly. Our task, he said, was to discern what was needed to become a church whose local congregations make a difference to the lives of people, societies and even the world and who encounter that world with a distinctive message and way of life. Read an edited version here
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HighlightsSearch HotlineCatch the VisionRead all the 'Catch the Vision' material Photo diarySidelights on Assembly in pictures ProfileThe new Moderator The Moderator's AddressDavid Peel calls for a new framework for life and mission. Have your saySend us your comments on this year's business
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