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At 3.30 pm. members of Assembly met at the University of Glamorgan. The Moderator, the Revd D Alasdair Pratt constituted the Assembly with prayer, the place and the time having been duly appointed.

The Revd Sheila Maxey, Moderator-Elect, was inducted with prayer into the office of Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church. She signed the Assembly Bible and was presented with an inscribed copy of the Bible by the retiring Moderator of Assembly.

The thanks of the Church were expressed by the Moderator to the Revd D Alasdair and Mrs Sheila Pratt together with Revd Carolyn Smyth, his chaplain.

A canticle was sung by Revd Carolyn Smyth.

The Roll of Assembly was then placed on the table.

Moderator: Revd Sheila Maxey

Clerk: Revd James Breslin

General Secretary: Revd Dr David Cornick

Deputy General Secretary: Revd Raymond Adams

Moderators of Synods:

I Revd Peter Poulter

II Revd Peter Brain

III Revd Howard Sharp

IV Revd Arnold Harrison

V Revd Terry Oakley

VI Revd Elizabeth Welch

VII Revd Elizabeth Caswell

VIII Revd David Grosch-Miller

IX Revd Adrian Bulley

X Revd Roberta Rominger

XI Revd Nigel Uden

XII Revd Peter Noble

XIII Revd John Arthur

Conveners of General Assembly Standing Committees:

Assembly Arrangements: Mr William McVey

Church and Society: Revd Martin Camroux

Communications and Editorial: Revd Martin Hazell

Doctrine, Prayer & Worship: Revd John Young

Ecumenical: Vacant

Equal Opportunities: Revd Wilfred Bahadur

Finance: Mr Eric Chilton

Interfaith Relations: Revd Dr John Parry

Life and Witness: Revd Brian Jolly

Ministries: Mr John Ellis

Nominations: Revd Principal Stephen Orchard

Pastoral Reference: Revd Keith Forecast

Racial Justice: Revd Andrew Prasad

Training: Revd John Humphreys

Youth &Children's Work: Revd Kathryn Price

Synod Clerks:

I Revd John Durell

II Mr George Morton

III Mr Donald Swift

IV Mrs Val Morrison

V Mrs Irene Wren

VI Mr Bill Robson

VII Mr Mick Barnes

VIII Revd Roz Harrison

IX Mr Peter Pay

X Revd Martin Hazell

XI Dr Graham Campling

XII Revd David Fox

XIII Vacant

Additional Synod Representatives:

I Revd Ronald Forster

II Revd Susan Armitage, Revd Lis Mullen

III Revd Dr David Pickering, Mr Richard Lathaen, Mrs Pam Sharp

IV Mrs Val Jenkins

V Revd Elizabeth Nash, Mrs Ann Ball, Mr Iain Bhagwandin, Mrs Barbara Turner

VI Revd Simon Helme, Mr Chris Basterfield, Mrs Melanie Frew

VII Revd Richard Church, Mr Andrew Perkins, Mrs Lisa Wilkinson

VIII Revd Carla Grosch-Miller, Revd Peter Henderson, Revd Paul Snell

IX

X

XI

XII Revd Michael Cruchley, Revd Colin Richards, Ms Helen Stenson

XIII Revd Stephen Brown, Revd Mary Buchanan, Revd Alan Paterson, Revd Carolyn Smyth,

Mr Barclay Bannister, Ms Helen Mee, Dr Jim Merrilees, Mr Brian Walker

Synod Treasurers:

I Revd David Walton

II Mr Gordon Eccles

III Mr Andrew Martlew

IV Miss Margaret Atkinson

V Mr Geoff Milnes

VI Revd Roger Woodall

VII Mr Clifford Patten

VIII Revd Richard Gray

IX Mr Nigel Grice

X Mr Michael Gould

XI Revd John Waller

XII Mr Patrick Hickey

XIII Mr Tom Woodbridge

Theological College Representatives:

Mansfield College Revd Dr Walter Houston, Mrs Jenny Mills

Northern College Revd Dr Lesley Husselbee

Queens Foundation Revd Canon Dr David Hewlett Mr Martyn Neads

Scottish United Reformed

and Congregational College: Revd Jack Dyce, Mr Craig Jesson

Westminster College Revd Dr Janet Tollington Dr Kay Cattell

Youth representatives: Miss Fleur James, Mr Gareth Jones

Assembly Members from Other Churches in the United Kingdom:

Baptist Union of Great Britain Revd Michael Cleaves

Congregational Federation Mrs Valerie Price

General Synod of the Church of England The Ven Richard Blackburn

International Ministerial Council of Gt Britiain Mrs Agatha Baptiste

The Moravian Church Revd Jan Mullin

Presbyterian Church in Ireland Revd Dr Donald Watts

Presbyterian Church of Wales Revd Neil Kirkham

Roman Catholic Bishops Conference Revd Andrew Faley

The Church in Wales Revd Canon Enid Morgan

The Church of Scotland Revd Eric Cramb

The Methodist Church Revd Martyn Skinner

Union of Welsh Independants Revd Kevin Davies

United Free Church of Scotland Revd John McFie

Assembly Members from Churches outside of Britain and Ireland:

Conference of European Churches Revd Dr Susan Jones

Council for World Mission Revd Dr Jooseop Keum

Guyana Congregational Union Revd Keith Haley

Mission Covenant Church of Sweden Revd Thord-Ove Thordson

Reformed Church in Hungary Revd Bertalan Tamas

Reformed Presbyterian Church of Uganda Revd Wilberforce Wabulo

United Protestant Church in Belgium Revd Eddy Van Der Borght

Chaplain (URC) to HM Forces in Britain: Revd Steven Whiting

Past Presidents, Chairmen and Moderators:

Ms Gwen Hall, Revd Norman Birnie, Revd Arthur Macarthur, Revd John Johansen-Berg, Revd Martin Cressey, Mrs Rosalind Goodfellow, Revd John Francis, Revd Richard Murray, Revd Bernard Waterton,

Revd Bentley Webster, Revd Dr Peter Arthur, Revd George Sharpe, Revd Dr David Thompson,

Revd Victor Smith, Revd Alasdair Walker, Revd Dr Philip Morgan, Revd David Dale, Revd Cyril Franks,

Revd Edmund Banyard, Revd Keith Forecast, Revd Graham Cook, Revd Malcolm Hanson, Mrs Ruth Clarke, Revd Donald Hilton, Revd Dr Jack McKelvey, Revd John Reardon, Revd David Jenkins, Mrs Wilma Frew,

Revd Peter McIntosh, Revd williaml Mahood, Revd Elizabeth Welch, Revd John Waller, Revd D Alasdair Pratt

District Representatives: (Names appearing with an asterisk were appointed to fill District vacancies cf. Resolution 10 pg. 21 Assembly Record 1978)

Synod I

A: Revd Colin Biggs, Revd Ed Butlin, Mrs Joyce Calcraft, Ms Ann Honey

B: Revd Kay Alberg, Mr Ron Golightly, Revd Peter Heckels, Revd David Herbert, Revd Nigel Watson, Mr Peter Yorke, Mrs Alison Watson

C: Revd Kenneth Harris

Mrs Daphne Clarke, Mrs Dorothy Harris, Mrs Margaret Humberston, Mrs Helen Stephenson

E: Revd Geoffrey Haigh, Revd Robert Sheard, Mrs Olive Cronie, Mrs Ros Fearon

Synod II

A: Revd Robert Canham, Revd Anne Gray, Revd Eileen Sambrooks

Mrs Lindsey Cottam, Dr Roger John

B: Revd Georgina Brotherton, Revd Christopher Weddle

Miss Valerie Atkinson, Mr Peter Barnes, Ms Mary West

C: Revd Martin Smith, Revd Sally Thomas, Revd Geoffrey Townsend

Mr George Grime, Mr Eddie Ledger, Mrs Elspeth Smith,

D: Revd George McCleave, Revd Brenda Moore, Revd Mike Thomason, Revd Michael Thompson

Mrs Sheila Brain, Mrs Vera Dudley,

E: Revd Alan Wickens, Revd David Wiseman

Miss Judith Haughton, Miss Jennifer Platt, Mrs Wendy Smith, Revd Janet Sutton

F: Revd Dr Donald Firth, Mr Ben Morrell, Revd Brian O'Neill, Revd Bruce Upperton,

Revd Mike Walsh, Mr Michael Williams

Ms Liz Boyes, Ms Elizabeth Exley

G: Mrs Margaret Beasley, Revd Kate Gray, Miss Charlotte Mole Morgan

Revd Martin Truscott

Synod III

A: Revd Ruth Allen, , Revd Brian Holroyd, Revd Christopher Tolley

Dr Roger Allen, Ms Carol Booth, Mr Alan Small,

B: Revd Linda Elliott, Revd Julie Martin, Mr John Peet, Revd Kathy Wilson

Mrs Margaret Blair

C: Revd Kathie Bennett, Mr Jason Elliott, Revd Alison Hall,

Mr Neil Parr, Mrs Joan Power

D: Revd Martin Hardy, Revd Blair Kirkby, Revd Sarah Simpson

Mr David Kirkby, Mr David Powell, Mrs Carolyn White

Synod IV

A: Revd Graham Maskery, Revd Michael Mewis, Revd Jane Rowell

Mrs Pauline Mewis, Mrs Ann Murison

B: Revd Dr David Stec, Revd Dr Bob Warwicker

Mrs Judith Garthwaite, Mrs Betty James, Mr Chris Reed

C: Revd Peter Clarkson, Revd Bill Frame, Revd Ray Stanyon

Ms Catherine Lewis-Smith, Mr Mick Stead, Mr John Tilbury

D: Revd Paul Breeze, Revd Howard Jones, Revd Brenda Sugden

Mrs Judith Drake, Miss Marjorie Hunt, Mrs Pat Wilson

E: Revd John Mackerness, Mrs Margaret Morgan, Miss Ruth Norton

F: Revd George Courtney, Revd Timothy Key Mr Brian Evans, Mr Alun Jones,

Synod V

A: Revd David Legge, Revd Brian Norris, Revd Stephen Sawyer

Mr Christopher Hackett, Mrs Gwen Johnson, Ms Tamara Oates

B: Revd Clare Downing, Revd Richard Eastman, Revd Malcolm Fife

Mr David Coxhead, Miss Avril Timson, Mrs Eileen Williams

C: Revd Chris Coe, Revd Steven Faber, Revd Reginald Rooke

Miss Hazel Bond, Mrs Joan Cook, Mr Philip Laws,

D: Revd Paul Bedford, Revd Ann Jack, Revd Derek Redfern

Mr Andrew Jack*, Mrs Pat Redfern, Mr Bryan Thomas

E: Revd Duncan Wilson, Revd Clifford Wilton Mrs Eileen Glass, Mrs Jill Turner

F: Revd Eric Allen, Revd John Bernard, Mrs Margaret Gateley, Mrs Molly Reardon

Synod VI

A: Revd Franziska Herring, Revd Ruth Maxey, Revd Geoffrey Rodgers

Mr Geoff Harrison, Mrs Dorothy Hewitson, Mr Jim Hewitson, Miss Sarah Hopkins,

Mrs Adella Pritchard

B: Revd Timothy Harwood, Revd Shirley Mountcastle, Mrs Mary Hillary, Mrs Isabel Jacob

C: Revd Ruth Mitchell, Revd Stuart Scott, Revd Denis Simons

Mr Terry Blake, Miss Rachel Greening*, Mrs Pat Radford

D: Revd Glyn Jenkins, Revd Heather Whyte

Mrs Sheila Jenkins, Mr John Potter

E: Revd Bob Ash, Revd Peter Peirce, Revd Ian Ring, Revd Paul Whittle

Mrs Virginia Lawson, Mrs Rita Routley, Miss Isobel Simmons, Mrs Nancy Thomas

F: Revd Erica Beglin, Revd David Poulton

Miss Claire Holmes, Mrs Margaret Marshall, Mr Alan Martin

Synod VII

A: Revd Ian Fosten, Revd David Littlejohns,Revd John Marsh

Miss Gillian Hall, Mr Andrew Littlejohns, Mrs Jackie Marsh

B: Revd David Bunney, Revd Adrienne Dones, Revd Nick Mark, Revd Cecil White

Mrs Eileen Cross, Mr Frank Cross, Mrs Joan Seaborn, Mr John Seaborn

C: Revd Paul Andrianatos, Revd Donald Macalister, Revd Allen Morton

Mr William Grieve, Mrs Libby Hill, Mrs Margaret Obey

D: Revd Martin Kitchener, Revd David Sebley, Revd Trevor Williams

Mr Stanley Trencher, Mrs Carol Williams

E: Revd Malcolm Hope, Revd David Simpson, Revd Gordon Smith, Revd David Yule

Mr Peter Richards, Mr Philip Wade, Mr Peter West

F: Revd Thomas MacMeekin, Mr John Bannister,

Synod VIII

A: Revd Patricia Whittaker, Mrs Jill Stidson, Mr Frank Whittaker

B: Revd Helen Pope, Revd Richard Pope, Mrs Jean Potter

C: Revd Jacqui Knight, Revd Sandra Lloydlangston,

Mr Brian Knight, Mr Timothy Searle

D: Revd Gwyneth Jones, Revd Michael Whitfield,

Mr Don Puddy, Mr John Willis

E: Revd Norman Whitaker

Mr Andrew Francis, Ms Sarah Lane, Mrs Joan Trippier

F: Revd Tracey Lewis, Revd Hazel Martell, Revd Heather Pencavel, Revd Angela Steele,

Mrs Pam Brain, Miss Natasha Joyner, Ms Rita Joyner, Mr Ron Turner

G: Revd Barbara Bennett, Mrs Barbara Madge

H: Revd Graham Hoslett, Mrs Eileen Robinson

J: Revd Jennifer Davies, Mrs Peggy Gray

Synod IX

A: Revd Graham Long, Revd Dr Donald Norwood, Revd Clive Sutcliffe,

Mrs Margaret Norwood, Mrs Joyce Sutcliffe

B: Revd Maz Allen, Revd Frank Cochrane, Revd Stephen Wilkins

Miss Lisa Bloxall, Miss Jill Cole, Mrs Christine Hardwick

C: Revd Michael Burrell, Revd Nigel Douglas, Revd Michael Thomas, Revd David Williams

Mrs Jean Antcliffe, Mr Peter Bulley, Miss Ruth Hezlett, Mr Roy Markham, Mr Gordon McCallum,

Ms Sarah Power, Mrs Lynne Upsdell

D: Revd David Bedford

E: Revd Peter Flint, Revd Fleur Houston, Revd Lynda Spokes, Revd Robert Weston

Mr Robert Bailey, Miss Madeline Diver, Mr Colin Ferguson, Miss Jean Stolton

Synod X

A: Revd John Cox, Revd Susan McKenzie, Revd Geoffrey Roper

Mrs Heather Floyd, Mrs Moira Naylor, Ms Rosemary Watts

B: Revd Dr Tony Haws, Revd Elizabeth Kemp, Revd Dr Alan Spence

Miss Helen Boyes, Mrs Jackie Haws, Mr Tony Thomas

C: Revd David Parkin, Revd Michael Playdon, Revd Erna Stevenson

Mr Keith Webster, Ms Shirley Knibbs, Mrs Sue McCoan

D: Revd David Aplin, Revd Paul Dean, Revd Tony Ruffell Mrs Rowena Dean, Mrs Mair Luck

E: Revd Bruce Allinson, Revd David Downing, Revd John Macaulay

Mrs Tina Ashitey, Miss Barbara Leighton MBE, Miss Samira Young

F: Revd Alison Mackay, Revd Lythan Nevard, Mr Lee Redican, Revd David Skipp

Mr Roy Clark

Synod XI

A: Revd Michael Hensman, Revd Ceri Lewis, Revd Alexander Mabbs, Revd Terry Sparks

Miss Avril Hiscock, Mr David Howell, Mr Romilly Micklem, Mr Benjamin Munyaneza

B: Revd John Du Bois, Revd John Joseph, Revd Jennifer Millington, Revd Christopher Parker

Miss Jill Campbell, Mr Paul Griffin, Miss Harriet Lindsay, Mr Matthew Moreton

C: Revd Jack Beeson, Revd Michael Davies, Revd Jim Horne

Mrs Marion Bayley, Miss Lizzie King, Mr Peter Sheehan, Mr John Twidale, Miss Louisa Weeks*

D: Revd Richard Alford, Revd Peter Clark, Revd Alan Wharton

Mr Richard Blackwell

E: Mrs Anne Catherall, Mr Jim Catherall, Mr James Wells, Mrs Susan Wootton

F: Revd Roy Cole, Revd Dr Gerald Munro

Dr Sas Conradie, Miss Sarah Perry, Mrs Christine Robertson

G: Revd Peter Elliott, Revd John Gordon, Revd Kenneth Lynch

Mrs Celia Elliott, Mrs Maureen Lawrence, Miss Naomi Lynch

Synod XII

A: Revd Kate Gartside, Revd Simon Walkling, Mrs Maureen Jones

Mr Jonathon Whyler

B: Revd David Marshall-Jones, Revd Alvan Richards-Clarke

Mrs Sheila Jones, Mr Ron Prosser

C: Revd Klaus Gutwein, Revd Shelagh Pollard, Revd Gethin Rhys

Ms Bethan Noble, Mrs Christine Roberts, Mr S J Sansom

D: Revd Stuart Jackson, Revd David Salsbury

Mrs Edwina Davies, Mr Jonathan Price

E: Revd Alison Davis, Mr Richard Laws

F: Revd Peter Gaskell, Revd Alan Willcocks

Mr Alwyn Batley, Mrs Liz Tadd

Synod XIII

A: Revd George Sykes, Revd Mary Taylor, Revd John Wylie

Mrs Doris Caldwell, Dr Andrew Davidson, Mrs Kathleen Ziffo

B: Revd David Coleman, Revd Paul Jupp

Mr Drummond McNicol, Mrs Maureen Stewart

C: Revd Connie Bonner, Revd Gordon Smith

Mr Clive Bonner, Mrs Margaret Gillan

D: Mrs Helen Muir, Pastor Jack Muir

E: Revd Danny Cheyne

Mr David Barr, Mrs Henrietta Colwell, Mrs Mary Howat

Local Visitors were introduced by Revd Peter Noble, Moderator, Synod of Wales:

Revd Tony Nolan and Revd Vaughn Rees, chaplains from the University of Glamorgan

Canon Bob Reardon STL, Vicar General, the Roman Catholic Church

The Revd John Garland, The Covenanted Baptist Churches in Wales

Dr T Hefin Jones, President of the Union of Welsh Independents

Revd Will Morrey, Chair of the South Wales Methodist District and also President of the Methodist Conference

Revd Gethin Rhys, General Secretary of ENFYS, the Covenanted Churches in Wales

Visitors and Assembly members from Churches in the United Kingdom and overseas were introduced by the General Secretary, Revd Dr David Cornick. Those present were received by the Moderator:

The Baptist Union Of Great Britain Revd Michael Cleaves

Congregational Federation Mrs Valerie Price

General Synod of the Church of England The Ven Richard Blackburn

International Ministerial Council of Great Britiain Mrs Agatha Baptiste and Mr Baptiste

The Moravian Church Revd Jan Mullin

Presbyterian Church in Ireland Revd Dr Donald Watts

Rt Revd Dr Ken Newell and Mrs Newell

Presbyterian Church of Wales Revd Neil Kirkham

Roman Catholic Bishops Conference Revd Andrew Faley

The Church in Wales Revd Canon Enid Morgan

The Church of Scotland Dr Alison Elliot OBE

Revd Eric Cramb and Mrs E Cramb

Revd Sheilagh Kesting

The Methodist Church Revd Martyn Skinner

Union of Welsh Independants Revd Kevin Davies

United Free Church of Scotland Revd John McFie and Mrs A McFie

Churches Together in Britain and Irelend Mrs Gillian Kingston

CYTUN Miss Sylvia Scarf

Conference of European Churches Revd Dr Susan Jones

Council for World Mission Revd Dr Jooseop Keum

Guyana Congregational Union Revd Keith Haley

Mission Covenant Church of Sweden Revd Thord-Ove Thordson

Presbyterian Reformed Church of Cuba Revd Dr Carlos Camps

Presbyterian Church of Mozambique Revd Mario Nyamuxwe

Reformed Church in Hungary Revd Bertalan Tamas

Reformed Presbyterian Church of Uganda Revd Wilberforce Wabulo

United Protestant Church in Belgium Revd Eddy Van Der Borght

Three volunteers at Penrhys were welcomed also by the Moderator:

Churches of Jesus Christ in Madagascar Mr Jean Elyse Rajafetra

Akany Avoko Children’s Home in Madagascar Ms Naomy Philippine

Reformed Church in Hungary Ms Ilona Berecz

Following greetings by Dr Alison Elliot on behalf of the UK visitors and members, and the Revd Bertalan Tamas on behalf of the overseas guests and members, two songs were sung by the choir of the Korean Presbyterian Church which meets in the Sketty United Reformed Church in Swansea.

The Moderator gave her address to Assembly, and following prayer, Assembly was adjourned.

Second Session

The Moderator welcomed those who were attending the Assembly for the first time and introduced the people on the platform.

The Convener of the Assembly Arrangements Committee, Mr William McVey, presented the Order of Business, drawing attention to the list of errors and ommissions in the Book of Reports.

Retiring Moderator

The retiring Moderator, the Revd Alastair Pratt, addressed the Assembly.

Finance

The Honorary Treasurer, Mr Eric Chilton, presented the Report of the Finance Committee and, on behalf of the Committee, moved adoption of Resolution 23:

Resolution 23 Accounts

General Assembly adopts the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2003

Resolution 23 was carried.

Mr Chilton moved adoption of Resolution 24:

Resolution 24 Auditors

General Assembly resolves that RSM Robson Rhodes LLP be re-appointed auditors of the United Reformed Church, to hold office until the conclusion of the next meeting at which accounts are laid before General Assembly and that their remuneration be fixed by the Finance Committee.

Resolution 24 was carried.

Mr Chilton moved adoption of Resolution 25:

Resolution 25 Ministry & Mission Fund

General Assembly gratefully acknowledges the giving of the churches in 2003 to the Ministry and Mission Fund and the work of the local church, district and synod treasurers.

Resolution 25 was carried with acclaim.

The General Secretary moved adoption of Resolution 39:

Resolution 39 Charity Trusts

General Assembly notes the clarification of and alterations to the advice concerning Charity Trusts originally issued to the General Assembly 2001.

Seconded by the Assembly Clerk

Resolution 39 was carried.

( The full text of this advice will be printed in the Record of Assembly)

The Revd Principal Stephen Orchard presented the Report of the Nominations Committee and, on behalf of the Committee, moved adoption of Resolution 31:

Resolution 31 Nominations

General Assembly appoints Committees and representatives of the Church as set out in pp 77-84 of the Book of Reports subject to additions and corrections contained in the Supplementary report before Assembly.

Resolution 31 was carried.

The General Secretary moved adoption of Resolution 5:

Resolution 5 Closure of Local Churches

General Assembly receives notice of the closure of the local churches listed below and gives thanks to God for their worship, witness, and service throughout their history.

Claypath, Durham Northern

Baker Street, Stockport North Western

Heywood North Western

Lower Chapel, Darwen North Western

Elsecar Yorkshire

St. Edith's, Wilton Wessex

Cockfosters Thames North

Paddington Chapel Thames North

Wingrave Thames North

After brief debate, Resolution 5 was carried.

The General Secretary moved adoption of Resolution 4:

Resolution 4 New Church & Mission Projects

General Assembly receives the churches listed below as local churches and mission projects of the United Reformed Church.

Mission Project Ingleby-net Northern

Local Church Church Langley Church Eastern

Resolution 4 was carried.

The Assembly welcomed the Revd Tom MacMeekin, representing Church Langley.

The Moderator presented a shield made of Lego and created as a memento of the Pilates day at Legoland to each of the 13 synods.

Mr Colin Ferguson moved adoption of Resolution 40:

Resolution 40 Hungerford

General Assembly expresses its support for the Hungerford Churches Together in their concern at the BBC proposal to make a programme about the 1987 Hungerford Tragedy. It therefore urges the BBC to reconsider these proposals and instructs the General Secretary of the United Reformed Church to write to the BBC on our behalf, in such terms.

Seconded by the Revd Peter Flint

After debate, Resolution 40 was carried.

Mission Council

The Assembly Clerk, on behalf of Mission Council, moved adoption of Resolution 10:

Resolution 10 Ratification of Section O Part I changes

(Resolution 9 2003)

General Assembly agrees to ratify its decision of July 2003 to make the following changes to Part I of the Section O Process for Ministerial Discipline:

Paragraph 1

Paragraph 1.2. Insert ‘disciplinary’ after the opening words ‘Once the’

Paragraph 2

Insert ‘(whether or not on appeal)’ after the words ‘particular case’.

Paragraph 3

Insert the following additional definitions in their correct alphabetical positions and amend the sub-numbering of the other definitions as required:

‘Initial Enquiry’ shall mean the enquiry conducted by the Mandated Group in conjunction with the Moderator of the Synod during the period beginning when it is called in by the Moderator and ending when it serves either a Notice of Non-Continuance or a Referral Notice in accordance with the Rules of Procedure. ‘Notice of Non-Continuance’ shall mean a Notice served on the Moderator of the Synod by the Mandated Group at the conclusion of the Initial Enquiry to indicate that it does not intend to proceed further with the disciplinary case against the Minister.

Paragraph 4

Paragraph 4.1 Delete the current paragraph and replace with:

‘Subject to the age limit imposed by Paragraph 4.4, appointment to the Commission Panel shall be by Resolution of the General Assembly on the advice of the Nominations Committee (or such other committee as may in the future perform the functions of the Nominations Committee), who shall in considering persons for appointment take into account (i) the need for balance and for a variety of skills and specialisations, particularly in the following areas – experience in ministerial oversight, theology and doctrine, law, counselling, psychology, mental health, experience in conduct of meetings and tribunals, and (ii) the advantages of including on the Commission Panel persons from a variety of ethnic minority backgrounds.

Paragraph 4.2 Insert the words ‘Subject to the age limit imposed by Paragraph 4.4,’ before the words ‘Members of the Commission Panel’

Paragraph 4.4 Insert a new Paragraph 4.4 ‘When any member of the Commission Panel reaches the age of seventy, s/he must forthwith resign from the Commission Panel and shall no longer be eligible to serve on any new Assembly Commission, but any person who reaches his/her seventieth birthday whilst serving on an Assembly Commission in a case in progress may continue so to serve until the conclusion of that case.

Paragraph 6

Paragraph 6.4 Delete all and replace with: ‘Those charged under this Paragraph 6 with the appointment of the Assembly Commission shall (so far as possible) (i) appoint at least one man and at least one woman onto the Assembly Commission, and (ii) have regard to the nature of the case, the need for balance and the skills, specialisation and cultural understanding of the members of the Commission Panel.’

Paragraph 7

Paragraph 7.1.1 Delete all.

Paragraph 7.1.2 Re-number as 7.1.

Paragraph 8

Delete all and insert ‘Procedural matters arising under the Section O Process shall in every case be dealt with in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.’

Paragraph 11

Paragraph 11.3 Add a new Paragraph 11.3 ‘No-one other than the Parties has any right of appeal from a decision of the Assembly Commission.’

Paragraph 12

Delete all and insert:

12.1 ‘The Appeals Commission for the hearing of each such appeal shall consist of the following five persons:

(a) a Convener who shall be a member of The United Reformed Church (but not necessarily a member of the General Assembly) with legal and/or tribunal experience to be selected by the officers of the General Assembly and

(b) the Moderator of the General Assembly or if for any reason he/she should be unable to serve, a former Moderator of the General Assembly to be selected by the officers of the General Assembly and

(c) three other members of the General Assembly to be selected by the officers of the General Assembly.

12.2 ‘The relevant date for ascertaining whether persons qualify for appointment under Paragraph 12.1 is the date on which under the Rules of Procedure the Secretary of the Assembly Commission notifies the General Secretary that an appeal has been lodged against the decision of the Assembly Commission.’

12.3 ‘In selecting persons for appointment to the Appeals Commission in accordance with Paragraph 12.1(c) the officers of the General Assembly shall, so far as possible, apply the same criteria as are set out in Part I, Paragraphs 4.1 and 6.4, in relation to appointments to the Commission Panel and to Assembly Commissions.’

12.4 ‘All persons proposed for appointment to an Appeals Commission, in any capacity, are subject to Part I, Paragraph 7.1.’

Paragraph 18

Delete ‘shall, if requested to do so, appoint a representative to attend any hearing conducted under the Section O Process for such purpose’ and insert ‘shall appoint a representative to attend the Hearing for such purpose, unless his/her attendance has been expressly dispensed with by the Assembly Commission or the Appeals Commission as the case may be.’

Paragraphs 21 & 22

Delete all and insert a new Paragraph 21

21.1 Save only as provided in Paragraph 21.2, this Part I of the Section O Process is subject to Paragraph 3(1) of the Structure.

21.2 Mission Council acting in the name of General Assembly has authority by single resolution of that Council to make as and when necessary and with immediate effect such changes to Part l as are, on the advice of the legal advisers to The United Reformed Church, required to bring the Section O Process into line with the general law of the land consequent upon any changes in legislation and/or case law.

All such changes to the Section O Process are made by Mission Council under Paragraph 21.2 shall be reported to the next annual meeting of the General Assembly.

Resolution 10 was carried

The Assembly Clerk, on behalf of Mission Council, moved adoption of Resolution 11:

Resolution 11 New changes to Section O Part I

General Assembly agrees to make the following changes to Part I of the Section O Process for Ministerial Discipline:

Paragraph 4.2

Add the following words at the end of this Paragraph: ‘….but any person who reaches the end of the term of his/her appointment on the Commission Panel whilst serving as a member of an Assembly Commission in a case in progress may continue so to serve until the conclusion of that case.’

Paragraph 9

The existing Paragraph 9 to become 9.1 and a new paragraph to be added as 9.2:

‘9.2 As part of such consideration, the Assembly Commission or Appeals Commission shall be entitled to have regard to any conduct on the part of a Minister occurring prior to his/her ordination to the ministry which, in the Commission’s view and when viewed in the light of Schedule E to the Basis of Union, would have prevented, or was likely to have prevented, him/her from becoming ordained, where such conduct was not disclosed by the Minister to those responsible for assessing his/her candidacy for ordination.’

After debate, and clarification by the General Secretary, Resolution 11 was carried.

The General Secretary proposed that: ‘In accordance with paragraph 3(1) of the Structure, Resolution 11 be referred to Synods with the 31st March 2005 as the final date for responses to the General Secretary as to whether or not this constitutional amendment be proceeded with.’ The Assembly agreed.

After worship led by the Chaplain, the Assembly adjourned.