Church Wessex Synod of the United Reformed
Transcript of Church Wessex Synod of the United Reformed
WelcometoourNewsRoundupfor15May2020.Ifyouwouldliketokeepyourinboxclear,feelfreetounsubscribeatthebottomofthepage.Pleasecirculatethiswidelysothatthesegreateventsandopportunitescanbenefitasmanyaspossible.Blessings.
ThefollowingURCdiscussionpaperhasbeenprovidedbyChurchHouseforlocalChurches.TheSynodisintheprocessofconsideringthisdocumentbetweenthe3SynodCommitteesandwillprovidefurtherinformationandguidanceoverthecomingdaysandweeks.YoucanreadthepaperhereordownloadthepaperfromtheSynodwebsiteatthislinkhttp://urcthamesnorth.org.uk/2020/05/12/ready-for-the-new-normal
WessexSynodClerk(NewPost)18hoursperweekSalary:£13,800(equivalentto50%ofministerialstipend)Applicationsfromelders,members,retiredministersandnon-stipendiaryministersareallwelcome.
TheroleofSynodClerkintheWessexSynodhassixprincipalelements:
1.TosupportthelifeandworkoftheSynod.2.ToworkwiththeSynodModerator,providingsupportand
assistanceasappropriate.3.TosupporttheworkoftheSynodExecutive.
4.Tofacilitatetheaccessofindividuals,churchesandcommitteestotheinformationandconnectionstheyneedto
workeffectively.5.TobeameansofconnectingtheSynodwiththewiderlife
oftheUnitedReformedChurch.
Readyforthenew'Normal’?
WessexSynodoftheUnitedReformedChurch
6.TodirecttheprovisionofadministrativesupporttotheworkoftheSynod.
WessexSynodcoversalargepartofcentralSouthernEngland.ThepostholderwillbeexpectedtolivewithintheSynodarea,toworkfromhome,spendtimeintheSynodOfficeandalsobewillingattimestotravelthroughoutthearea.
TheJobdescriptionandpersonspecificationareavailablefromtheSynodOffice,andanyonewishingtotalkinformallyaboutwhatisinvolvedshouldcontactthecurrentclerk.
Foranapplicationform,pleasecontacttheSynodOffice:[email protected]:02380678570Closingdateforapplications:Noonon22ndJune2020Interviewdate:8thJuly2020
URCChildren'sandYouthWorkteamaredelightedtobringyouWeek6ofthisexcitingnewresource.ThisisavailableontheURCwebsitehttps://urc.org.uk/resources-for-children-and-youthorfromhere.FamiliesonFaithAdventures@homeisdesignedtosupportfamiliesofallgenerationsastheyexperience,exploreandexpressfaithtogetherthroughtheweek.Itisa‘pickandmix’ofactivities,games,prayersandchallengesbasedaroundastoryfromtheBibleanddrawsonmaterialsfromournon-uniformedchildren’sgroupsPilotsandFOFA.
CLAS-theChurchesLegislationAdvisoryService-haverecentlyprovidedthefollowingupdateinrelationtoGiftAidSmallDonationsSchemes(GASDs):-
“ManyCLASmemberscontactedusexpressingconcernsatfinancialpressuresfacingchurches,astraditionalincomestreamsfromlettingsandface-to-facefundraisinghavedried
"Neverawrongtimetodotherightthing"
GiftAidSmallDonationsSchemeduringtheCOVID-19crisis
upduetoCOVID-19.
Inparticular,concernswereraisedabouttheoperationoftheGiftAidSmallDonationsSchemeduringthecoronaviruscrisis,giventhatmanyeligiblecashdonationscouldbelost.Donorsthatwouldordinarilymakesmalldonationseachweekwereaskingiftheycouldkeepasidetheindividualdonationsthattheywouldnormallygiveandmakethemseparatelyoncethecrisisisover,abovethestandard£30limit.
InalettertoHMRC,CLAScalledfortemporaryflexibilityintheoperationoftheGASDSscheme,byacceptingmultiplecashdonationsof£30orunderthathavebeensavedupduringthecrisis.HMRCofficialshavenowresponded:“InrespectofGASDS,guidanceontheeligibilityfordonationsforinclusioninthisschemeisclearinstatingthatclaimscanonlybemadeoncashdonationsof£30orless;andcontactlesscarddonationsof£30orlesscollectedonorafter6April2019.Thedecisionoverwhatconstitutesaneligibledonationisoneforthechurch/charitytomakeforthemselves,ratherthanforHMRC,buttheconditionsforsomethingtobeconsidereda‘smalldonation’areclearlysetoutinlegislation.Whereitisthecase,forexample,ofseparatedonationsbeinggiveninasingleenvelope,thenifthechurch/charityofficialishappytheseareclearlyseparate‘smalldonations’(andclearlystatedassuch)thentheywillbeeligibleforGASDS,asisthecasewhereseparateenvelopesareused”.
HMRCappeartobehappyforchurchtreasurerstoassesswhethertheseareaseriesofseparatedonationsand,ifso,makeaclaimaccordingly.Thisisawelcomedevelopment.Churcheswillwanttothinkaboutanypracticalstepstheycanintroduceandhowtocommunicatethistoregulargivers.Pleasefeelfreetosharethisupdatewithinyournetworks.”
...fromtheSpringNewsletterDearFriends,IwritetoyouonbehalfoftheSynodChurchandSocietyNetworkPlanningGroup.WearepleasedtosendyouourSpring2020Newsletterandhopeyouwillenjoyreadingthearticlesandalsothatyouwillshareitwithothersinyourchurchesviaemailoranymethodofyourchoice.Weofcourse,welcomeanycommentsorsuggestion.Allofushopingthatwearekeepingwellandstayingsafeinthiscurrentchallengingtime.AswethinkofeachotherandourworldandbringourprayerstoGodindifferentways,letusrememberthoseworkingintheNHS;allfrontlineworkers;carers;transportworkers;supermarketworkers;truckdriverswhoarekeepingourshopsstockedwithfood.Wealsoneedtorememberpeopleathomewiththeirchildrenandthechildrenthemselves,childrenandyoungpeopleinyears6,11and13whoareuncertainhowtheyarebeingassessed,withtheremovalofthetestsandexamsthey
SYNODCHURCHANDSOCIETYNETWORK
hadbeenworkingsohardtowards,leavingthemwithexperiencesofuncertainty;thosewhoareisolatedandlonely;thosesufferingfromtheCoronavirusandotherailments;thoserecovering;familiesandfriendswhoarebeingbereavedduetothevirus.
Letusholdoneanotherinourheartsandmindsandwiththesongwriter(GrahamKendrick),speakoutfortruth,inJesus’snameweshallbestrong,toliftthefallen,tosavethechildren,tofillthenationwithyoursong.Thankyouandgowell,Sandra,Fran,Alex,Nancy,MelanieWethanktheContributorstothisNewsletter:PhilippaOsei,LawrenceAnsa,RevdMelanieSmith,RevdMarkMeatcher,IsaacHarvey(editor),SandraAckroyd.
We’llwalkthelandwithheartsonfireAndeverystepwillbeaprayerHopeisrising,newdaydawningAsoundofsingingfillstheair
CHORUS:LETTHEFLAMEBURNBRIGHTERINTHEHEARTOFTHEDARKNESSTURNINGNIGHTTOGLORIOUSDAYLETTHESONGGROWLOUDERASOURLOVEGROWSSTRONGERLETITSHINE,LETITSHINE
We’llwalkfortruth,speakoutforloveInJesus’nameweshallbestrongToliftthefallen,tosavethechildrenTofillthenationwithyoursong(GrahamKendrickCopyright©1989MakeWayMusic)
Thesewordsexpresswhatwearealllongingfor,forournation,forourselves,beyondtheCoronavirus.Fornow,wecanholdthesesentimentsinourhearts.
Thisyear'sYouthAssemblywasbasedaroundthethemeof"CommonGround",whichisparticularlyimportantincurrentsocietywheredivisivenessisontherise.
Incomparisontopreviousassemblies,thisyearfeltmoreintegratedforThamesNorthSynodaswewereactivelyinvolvedinworship.InterestingandpoignantcontributionsduringworshipfromRemy,JosephandmyselfallowedustocommunicateourthoughtsandprayerswiththewiderChurch.
ThebusinessaspectofYouthAssemblyisperhapsthemostimportantasitgivestheyouthachancetoexpressouropinionsandmakesomerealchangestotheChurch,forinstance,lastyearwewereabletogettheURCtodivestfromfossilfuels.
YOUTHASSEMBLYREPORTFROMPHILIPPAOSEI–THAMESNORTHSYNOD
2020
Ifoundthisyear'skeynotetopicstobeprogressiveasittouchedontopicswetypicallysteerawayfrominChurch,suchassexandrelationshipsaswellastheconflictinIsraelandPalestine.
ThediscussiononIsraelandPalestinewasparticularlyinterestingasmanyyoungpeoplearenotawareofthehistoricalbackgroundinadditiontocurrentreligiousandpoliticaltensionssurroundingthatregion.Wegotsomefirsthandaccountsfrompeoplewhohadvisitedthearealastyearandtheyhelpedtohighlightthedynamicbetweentherulingstate,Israel,andtheoppressedpeopleswholiveunderthem.
Sexandrelationshipsbeingaheavilystigmatisedsubject,especiallyintheChurch,madethisyear'sfocusonitallthemoreimportantaswegottohaveafaithbasedconversationaboutthistopic.Thetopicscoveredrangedfromsignsofabuseinrelationshipstopro-life/pro-choicediscussions.
Apartfromthemoreseriousaspectsofthegathering,wehadlotsoffun,takingpartininteractiveworshipandaceilidh,atraditionalScottishbarndance.Thereisalsoquiteabitoffreetimetoenjoyplayingavarietyofsportsorjustrelaxingandtalkingwithfriends.
Itfeelsgreattobeapartofagroupofyoungpeoplewhoarenotafraidofdiscussingcontroversialissues.
ChurchandSocietyDayworkshop-anallagegroupindiscussionaboutissuesrelatedtobenefits,sanctionsanddebt
OurfriendMadhiisagayChristianmanfromIran,seekingasylumintheUK.Wefearthathislifeisatriskifheisforciblydeported.Madhi,afterhavingbeendetainedinIranbeforeescapingtoEurope,wasthenhomelessandabusedinGermanybeforemakinghiswaytotheUK.Herehemethispartner,Ian,andstartedattendingWinchmoreHillURC.Itwouldbeamassivelosstoourcommunityifhewereforciblyremoved.Madhihasbeenaconsistentpresenceatour
Actjustly,lovemercyandwalkhumblywithyourGod…
church,takingpartinleadingservicesandenjoyingplayingafullpartinthelifeofourchurchcommunity.ThisisoneofthefewplaceswhereMadhifeelssafe.
MadhihasbeendetainedseveraltimesbytheHomeOfficeand,atonepoint,wasforciblyremovedbacktoGermany,ashisfirstpointofentryintoEurope,buttheGermanauthoritiesweresodisturbedbytheinjurieshehadsustainedincustody,thattheyrefusedtotakehimandhewassentbacktotheUK.MadhihasalsospenttwoperiodsinmentalhealthsupportunitsintheUK,histraumahasbeensogreat;wearegratefultotheNHS,whichhasbeensuperb.
Afterachurch-ledcampaignwhichnowhasalmost40,000signaturesonapetition,articlesinMetro,HuffPostandPinkNews,andwiththeinvaluablehelpofourlocalMP,FeryalClark,MadhiisnowathomewithIanduringthelockdown.Thismeansthat,forthemoment,theHomeOfficeisnotdeportinganyone.Inthistime,wehavemadenewsubmissionstotheHomeOfficeandareanxiouslyawaitingtheirdecision.However,wedonotknowhowlongthisperiodofpeacewillcontinue.
Ifyouhaven’tdonesoalready,pleasesignourpetition.AlthoughitcallsontheUKHomeOfficetoreleaseMadhifromdetentionandtohaltanyattemptsatdeportationwithimmediateeffect,itisstillrelevant,andyoucanreadmoreofthestoryontheupdates.www.change.org/p/urgent-end-the-detention-of-lgbt-asylum-seeker-madhi-now
Moreover,ifyoufeelthatyoucouldsupportourappealtohelpwithlegalfees,forMadhiandothersinasimilarsituation,contributionsarewelcomeviawww.give.net/madhiRevd.MelanieSmith
EveryotherSeptember,Londonhostsoneoftheworld’sleading‘armsfairs’;aneventthatconnectsgovernments,armedforces,industryleadersandtheglobaldefenceandsecuritysupplychainonanunrivalledscale.Statingthatitprovidesarangeof‘valuable’opportunitiesfornetworking,aplatformforbusinessaccesstorelevantcontentandlive-actiondemonstrations,theDefenceandSecurityEquipmentInternationalExhibition(DSEI)claimstoinnovate,shareknowledge,discoverandexperiencethelatestcapability.
Inotherwords,itistheplacewherearmsmanufacturersanddealersplytheirtradetogovernmentsdemocraticanddespotic,fromaroundtheworld;hostedbyourgovernment.
Christians,andthoseofmanyfaithsandnone,gatherwhenexhibitsarebeingdeliveredtotheExCeLCentre,toprotestandtryandblockthesetup.It’spartofaseriesofeventswhichseekstocommunicatethatisobsceneforlargeprofitstobemadefromthedeathanddestructionofwar.Christiansandothersalike,arewillingtobearrestedtodisruptthetrade–and,onthewhole,arenotconvictedofanycrimeifandwhenthecasesgettocourt.Personally,wehavenotbeenarrested,butwehavehadthejoyofcelebrating
NoFaithinWar
communionintheroad,asotherprotestersblockedthepathvehiclesfurtherdowntheroad.
Christianshavelongdebatedtheideathat,undercertaincircumstances,warcanbejustified;thejustwartheory.TheBibleitselfisfullofstoryofwantonviolencebyGod’schosenpeople,someofwhichappearstobesanctionedbyGod.
However,eachweek,perhapseachday,wepraythatGod’skingdomwillcome,andthepictureofthatkingdomwherethereisnowarisveryclearinMicah4:
Godshalljudgebetweenmanypeoples,andshallarbitratebetweenstrongnationsfaraway;theyshallbeattheirswordsintoploughshares,andtheirspearsintopruning-hooks;nationshallnotliftupswordagainstnation,neithershalltheylearnwaranymore;buttheyshallallsitundertheirownvinesandundertheirownfigtrees,andnooneshallmakethemafraid;forthemouthoftheLordofhostshasspoken.
ThereisnodefinitiveanswerastowhetherJesuswasapacifistinitsmodernmeaning,althoughhiswordsatthesermonofthemountandhisactionsathisarrestandtrialcertainlysuggestthathewasagainstpersonalviolence,therecanbelittledoubtthatJesuswouldbeagainsttheprofiteeringfromwarthatthearmsfairrepresents.
AlthoughthenextDSEIisnotuntilSeptember2021,andawarethatmanyothermajorglobalcitiesrefusetohostequivalenttradefairs,thecampaignagainstitcontinues.PleaseprayforallthosewhowillbestandingupforGod’skingdomtocomeonearthasitisinheavensooner,ratherthanlater.Revds.MarkMeatcherandMelanieSmith
TheSynodandTrustofficestaffwillbeworkingfromhomefromnowuntilfurthernotice.Someonewillgoinacoupleoftimesaweektodealwithanypostcomingin,butweneedtobeawarethateventhismaynotbepossibleinthefuture,dependingongovernmentadvice.
Weaskthereforethatyoucontactusbyemailonlywherepossible.Wearestillabletopickupyourphonecalls,butonlyifyouleaveavoicemailmessage,whichisforwardedtousathome,fromwherewewillgetbacktoyouassoonaspossible.Intheeventthatyoudoneedtosenddocumentsbypost,pleasecontacteitherMunaLevan-HarrisorKeithBerryattrust@urcthamesnorth.org.ukforallThamesNorthTrustmatters,orColleenFraseratmodpa@urcthamesnorth.org.ukforanyThamesNorthSynodmatter.
Wewillbekeepingintouchwithyoufromhome,viaemail,thewebsiteandournewsletter,sokeepalookoutforourupdatesandmessages.
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