How have churches been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and how are they responding to these difficult times?
In the latest issue of the United Reformed Church’s (URC) Reform magazine, four ministers address this question.
Here’s an extract:
Church Address:
Holmes Lane,
Rustington,
BN16 2PYRecent Posts
- From Strangers to Angels May 16, 2025 12:00 pm
Alex Clare-Young reflects on welcoming the stranger. We want to be a part of creating a society that welcomes the stranger. Throughout the narrative of Christian scripture, the call to welcome the stranger is clear. In Leviticus, we are taught that native and stranger should be treated alike under the law. This treatment of strangers is rooted in the liberating migration out of fear, slavery and oppression. In the Gospel according to Matthew, we are told that welcoming strangers is welcoming Jesus. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we are instructed that Jesus’s call to treat the stranger as a neighbour and to love our neighbours as ourselves is the nexus of Christian law. In the letter to the Hebrews, we are reminded that strangers welcomed can be angels. And so the biblical narrative around strangers is rooted in the experiences of liberation that should drive us to work together for the liberation of all people. A clear call to equality, regardless of national origin, is mandated through biblical law in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Gospels and the letters. And scripture goes even further, arguing that we should understand strangers as neighbours, as Jesus, as angels. It was in the reality of this biblical context that I watched the Prime Minister’s press conference on Monday and read the white paper entitled ‘Restoring control over the immigration system’. It is in my hope that Christians can continue to live out our calling to welcome the stranger today that I am reflecting here on the Prime Minister’s comments and the white paper itself. Sir Keir expressed the concern that, without strong regulation of diversity, we risk ‘becoming an island of strangers’. This concern is at odds with our calling to welcome the stranger as a neighbour, as a member of the body of Christ, as a potential angel. In the context of our calling, becoming strangers is not to be feared but, rather, embraced. Chapter six of the white paper addresses the topic of integration, with a focus on English language and culture. I recognise that supporting migrants to thrive in a new context is essential. I wonder what it might be like if we flipped an Anglo-centric narrative on its head to suggest that our call to welcome the stranger is a call to reintegrate ourselves in the context of diversity. Let me explain what I mean: The biblical narrative around strangers is rooted in the experiences of liberation that should drive us to work together for the liberation of all people. I wonder what it might be like if we entered into dialogue with strangers, using technology to enable each to share in our own native tongues. Might we be liberated from the limits of our own languages, cultures and understandings? A clear call to equality, regardless of national origin, is mandated through biblical law in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Gospels and the letters. I wonder what it might be like if we held ourselves accountable to the same heightened standards our immigration system expects of strangers. Might we realise that ‘integration’ into any one culture or system is a deeply flawed ideal? And scripture goes even further, arguing that we should understand strangers as neighbours, as Jesus, as angels. Those who live in the UK already benefit from the Christ-likeness of strangers in the ways in which they enrich, and often save, our lives. What might it be like if we flipped the narrative to recognise that our call is to be the stranger? To enrich the lives of those newly entering the uk? Perhaps, even, to save their lives? More than 20 senior faith leaders from across the UK’s Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities have united to sign an open letter, urging the Prime Minister to rethink the Government’s recent rhetoric around migration. Read the letter here. Source
- Faith leaders urge rethink on PM’s migration narrative May 16, 2025 11:59 am
More than 20 senior faith leaders from across the UK’s Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities have united to sign an open letter, urging the Prime Minister to rethink the Government’s recent rhetoric around migration. The letter, which was signed by leaders from the Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed Churches and the Church of Scotland, follows the publication of the White Paper on immigration on Monday 12 May. The letter was led by a growing steering group of leaders from different faiths and denominations who are working together for a more compassionate refugee policy and narrative. The signatories offered a timely reminder rooted in their lived experiences as faith leaders, that ‘we see that real and lasting integration comes through building relationships. It is through sharing experiences that we come to recognise our common humanity.’ Be a part of sharing experiences, having conversations and building relationships by taking part in Refugee Week 2025. Read Alex’s reflections on the White Paper here. Read the full letter below: Dear Prime Minister, Re: The Government’s recent rhetoric on migration – our call for a more compassionate narrativeWe are writing as faith leaders to ask you to reconsider the language the government uses when discussing migration, following the rhetoric used to announce the Immigration White Paper earlier this week. Our concern is that the current narrative, which presents only one side of the debate, will only drive public anxiety and entrench polarization. When you refer to the “incalculable” damage done by uncontrolled migration, you are in danger of harming migrant members of our communities and strengthening those who would divide us. We recognise that there is public concern around migration and what it means for our society, which of course must be addressed. But this must be done in a way which is principled, and lowers the temperature of the debate, respecting the dignity of all who make up our nation. People have come to the UK under the rules set by successive governments, paying whatever fees and surcharges, to work, contribute and pay taxes. Framing this as somehow unfair only feeds the politics of grievance and division. In our work as faith leaders, we see that real and lasting integration comes through building relationships. It is through sharing experiences that we come to recognise our common humanity. We urge the government to think more holistically and positively about fostering good integration; the recommendations of several government-commissioned reviews into integration remain on the shelf. In the context of a genuine debate on migration, we are appealing to you to also affirm those things that would bring us together, across our diversity. Only by doing so can we actually fix the systemic problems faced by those within our current asylum system and humanitarian protection schemes. Promoting fair policies that balance the needs of host communities with real opportunities for people restarting their lives after fleeing war, conflict, and persecution is a necessary start. Finally, we wish to speak up for all those whose voices are rarely heard in these debates but who have been at the sharp end of recent rhetoric. These include many from within our own faith communities who have built new homes and lives in the UK, becoming part of our national story and fabric. Our country would be so much poorer without them.Yours sincerely, Imam Qari Asim Revd Helen Cameron and Mrs Carolyn Godfrey, President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Bristol Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Chelmsford Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Gloucester Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Leeds Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Leicester Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Lichfield Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Lincoln The Rt Revd & Rt Hon. The Lord Bishop of London Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Manchester Rt Revd Lord Bishop of St Albans Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Sheffield Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Southwark Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Winchester Revd. Lynn Green, General Secretary of The Baptist Union of Great Britain Rabbi David Mason, Executive Director, HIAS+JCORE Revd Tim Meadows, Moderator of General Assembly, The United Reformed Church Esther Moodie, Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees Major Dr Paul Robinson, The Salvation Army Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi, Masorti Judaism Rabbi Anna Wolfson, Co Chair, Assembly Liberal Judaism Source
- Banning killer robots? May 14, 2025 2:35 pm
“Machines that have the power and discretion to take human lives without human control are politically unacceptable, morally repugnant and should be banned by international law. I reiterate my call for the conclusion of a legally binding instrument by 2026.” These were the words of UN Secretary General, António Guterres, in addressing a consultation on Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) this week. The two day consultation, the first of its kind in a forum open to all members of the United Nations, was called for by the UN General Assembly last year. Unfortunately, the consultation has fairly limited interest from the UK government (see below). There is a danger that the technological capabilities to support autonomous weapons are advancing so fast that they are getting ahead of international agreement on ethics. Ambassador Maritza Chan-Valverde, Chair of the UN First Committee on Disarmament warned that “History has consistently shown that it is far more effective to ban or regulate weapons technologies before they are deployed by militaries at scale. In the case of autonomous weapons, we must write the rules before the algorithms write them for us.” In the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) forum that meets regularly in Geneva, some progress has been made on technical matters such as defining levels of human control of autonomous weapons. However, this group of the world’s major states and exporters of weapons has ultimately failed to agree regulation, as the process in the CCW requires the support of every single member. Private sector developers and potential users of autonomous weapons are more likely to take notice of an international treaty, than a set of guidelines produced by the meetings of the CCW Group of Government Experts (GGE). An international treaty must now be our aim. There are certain aspects of the use of autonomous weapons that are so worrying there is widespread public support for a complete ban. A primary concern are robots that identify people (rather than objects or military equipment) as either enemy or friend, combatant or civilian, and make a decision to kill. In New York on Tuesday, Elizabeth Minor of the advocacy group Article 36 (and who is well known to the Joint Public Issues Team) spoke on this aspect. She pointed out that robots that target people would inevitably and unavoidably reproduce the biases and discrimination like sexism, racism and ableism against minorities and marginalised groups in our societies, and called for complete prohibition of such weapons. We continue to call on the UK Government to show leadership and support a new international law on autonomous weapons systems. Unfortunately, our government currently opposes such a move, preferring instead technical discussions in the closed and sadly deadlocked forum of the CCW. The UK government’s support for this week’s United Nations consultation is, maybe, an indication of greater openness. Joining with Christian and other faith traditions across the globe, we invite people to ask their MPs to urge our government to urgently support a new international treaty to ban autonomous weapons that target humans. Check out the JPIT video here For more on the UK Government position see this appeal and this letter from the UK Campaign to Stop Killer Robots Explore the UK Campaign to Stop Killer Robots Source
- Future of Education and Learning in the URC explored May 12, 2025 9:52 am
More than 70 people gathered at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire last month to explore the future direction of learning within the United Reformed Church. Those gathered included leaders and educators from Resource Centres for Learning (RCL), the Newbigin Pioneering Hub and the Offices of General Assembly for the Education and Learning (E and L) consultation, held in direct response to Resolution Y* from February’s Assembly Executive (AE), The consultation opened with worship led by the Revd Dr John Bradbury, General Secretary, focusing on words from John 21: 15-17: “Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep”. The Revd Andrea Russell, Warden of Gladstone’s Library, and Victoria James, the URC’s Chief Operating Officer, facilitated creative and varied conversations. This enabled the exploration of the URC’s current E and L provision locally, regionally and denominationally and what the educational needs of the URC are for the mid-21st century. The group also explored things which might be done more effectively, using the resources and people currently available. Working in small groups around tables and in whole session plenaries, participants explored hopes and fears, accepting that the difficult conversations were being held during a time of change and uncertainty. Each synod, RCL, the Newbigin Hub and the Offices of the General Assembly presented their current offerings. What was being done well was highlighted as well whether there were any obvious gaps. Following feedback, the question “what does the identity of the URC bring to the table in the discussion” was considered. Tables considered specific groups, along with their training needs. A real focus was given to Eldership and the importance of the role of Elders and the need to equip them well. “What will the URC E and L offering, as a whole, need to be delivering in five years’ time?” was also a question explored along with any barriers that may affect this; the provision’s design and delivery; the role that RCLs and the Newbigin Pioneering Hub will play; cohort size and whether mandatory training should be stipulated were topics examined. The consultation ended with encouraging words from Andrea and the General Secretary. The Revd Jenny Mills, Deputy General Secretary (Discipleship) said: “It was a full-on 24 hours with some spaces for worship, quiet and informal conversations, but a series of themes emerged around these questions.” These themes were: Tensions surfaced and were acknowledged and concerns raised, named and heard. A shared understanding that the URC should be developing material denominationally but with local contextual adaptation and delivery, with a link between the whole cohort of those who develop and design the material/learning and those who will deliver it. Implicit in this is the need for a rationalisation of the current offer and that we must not keep reinventing the wheel. It was felt that there was a role for the RCLs in the development/design, but nothing to indicate the number of RCLs. Accreditation for training, where relevant, will sit at Assembly level. For this to succeed, “Train the Trainer” opportunities must be built in. To make the new way of delivery a reality, a culture of trust needs to be built so that synods use the resources rather than create bespoke local versions. It was clearly stated that we need data to help us consider the impact of training/learning. We need to better understand and communicate our learning outcomes and aims. It became clear that Elders were a core group who would benefit from a clear and consistent training framework. But that core and wider training needs to be developed in a similar way for other groups, too. Equipping people for leadership in a conciliar context is a key area of future learning. There were differing views on cohort sizes. The Working Group who are overseeing the work on Resolutions X and Y from AE 2025, then spent a further 24 hours considering the ideas, discussion and feedback and will be producing a paper for July’s General Assembly, using the data collected at the event. Thanks were expressed to all who attended and gave their time to be part of the consultation. Special thanks are expressed to the National Synod of Wales and the South Western Synod representatives who were unable to attend due to a clash with Ministers’ Spring Schools but gave a day in early April to feed into the consultation. *Resolution Y Assembly Executive instructs the Education and Learning and Business Committee Working Group to design and implement a review of the learning needs of the denomination, with facilitation and external support, and to bring back a needs analysis to July General Assembly 2025. Source
- URC school launches campaign for new library May 12, 2025 6:30 am
Barrow United Reformed Church Primary School has launched a campaign to raise the final £4,000 needed to build a library block. Around £7,000 has already been raised for a new girls’ secondary school at the Bethany Project in Tanzania, and the Barrow community is working together to meet the £11,000 goal and provide the girls with a safe, inspiring space for learning and growth. The library will be a key feature of the school—offering access to books, literacy resources and a nurturing space. Nicola McArdle, Headteacher of Barrow URC Primary School, and Helen Porter, Deputy Head, recently visited and taught at the project to see first-hand the positive impact the Lancashire school community is making. “The vision to build a girls’ secondary school on the site will provide a safe and empowering environment for girls, protecting them from barriers such as poverty, early marriage, and unwanted pregnancy,” Nicola said. “We believe that education is the key to transforming lives and reading sits at the very heart of lifelong learning. A library opens doors, sparks imaginations, and helps build confidence, curiosity, and independence. It’s a vital part of giving these girls the opportunities they deserve.” The school is encouraging donations of any size. “We’re now asking our wonderful community to help us raise the final £4,000 over the next year so we can complete the library block. Every single contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a real and lasting difference to the futures of these girls.” To make a donation, visit Barrow URC Primary School’s GoFundMe page. Learn more about Barrow URC Primary School. Source
- URC offers greetings and prayers to Pope Leo XIV May 9, 2025 10:16 am
The Revd Timothy Meadows, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, has offered Pope Leo XIV greetings and prayers from the URC after his election as Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. “On behalf of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, I extend our warmest greetings to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, and assure His Holiness, along with our Catholic sisters and brothers, of our continued prayers and support at this significant juncture in the life of the Church world-wide. “The United Reformed Church joins with His Holiness in the call to peace and in the sacred endeavour to build bridges of compassion and justice.” Born in Chicago as Robert Prevost, Pope Leo became the 267th pontiff on Thursday 8 May and the first North American to be elected. He called for peace and paid tribute to the late Pope Francis in his first remarks from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, in front of tens of thousands of people. In March, a group of pilgrims from the United Reformed Church–Roman Catholic Dialogue Group travelled to Rome to share their newly developed resource booklet with several key institutions. The free publication, Journeying Together: A Resource Pack for Local Churches, is available to download and is a practical guide designed to help communities foster deeper understanding and unity through shared exploration and conversation. Download the Roman Catholic / United Reformed Church Dialogue Group’s Journeying Together: a resource pack for local churches. The United Reformed Church offered this prayer on election of Pope Leo XIV. Eternal One,whose limitless love reaches all humanity,bless Pope Leo in his new role,grant him wisdom and patience as he takes up the heavy burden of office,strengthen him in his ministry of encouragement and oversight,that we may all be Jesus’ disciples in a world desperately needing Your light,and signs of hope that evil will not have the last word.Amen. Image: Mazur/cbcew.org.uk/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Source
- VE Day 80: Commemorating peace and unity May 8, 2025 8:15 am
Today (8 May) we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. On behalf of friends of the United Reformed Church in the Pfalz, Pfarrer Martin Henninger, Minister of the Lutherkirche in Frankenthal, has sent greetings to the whole of the denomination, saying: “As Richard von Weizsäcker, the former President of Germany forty years ago said: ’The 8th of May was a day of liberation. It made us free from the inhuman system of the National Socialist terror system.’ “We are very much aware the British people among many others paid a high price for it not the least when a German rocket hit the Presbyterian Church House in March 1945 which is still remembered at Tavistock Place. But out of the ashes of this war came reconciliation, friendship and the Covenant of Pulpit and Table between our churches for which we are grateful. As the conference in 2019 has shown both churches remain committed to peace and reconciliation in a world which increasingly seems to be divided by national interests and even war as the conflict in the Ukraine is making obvious. “So, as we commemorate the end of World War II causing millions of victims, let us continue to pray for repentance, forgiveness and peace with the words from the Litany of Reconciliation (Coventry): All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,Father forgive. The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,Father, forgive. The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,Father, forgive. Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,Father, forgive. Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,Father, forgive. The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,Father, forgive. The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,Father, forgive. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Image: IWM/Ministry of Information/Public Domain/Wikimedia Source
- Synod Moderator backs fundraising appeal May 6, 2025 6:45 am
The Revd Kim Plumpton, Moderator of the United Reformed Church Northern Synod, is encouraging people to take part in a major charity appeal to help communities around the world. Christian Aid Week – from May 11-17 – sees supporters from all over the UK come together to find different ways of raising funds and awareness for the work of the organisation’s local partners, empowering communities around the world to find practical and sustainable ways out of poverty. Kim said: “Every year, during this appeal, people across Britain and Ireland have seven days to make a difference and support their global neighbours, in a celebration of hope for a fairer world. “There are so many ways to raise funds from cream teas and car washes to bake sales and bike rides – and of course, if you’re feeling especially active, Christian Aid’s 70K in May challenge. “I give my support because there has never been a more crucial time for those most vulnerable, to feel held and cherished.” Money raised during Christian Aid Week will help the organisation’s partners empower vulnerable communities to find practical and sustainable ways out of poverty. This year, the charity – which is marking its 80th anniversary – is focussing its flagship appeal on work in Guatemala in Central America, where climate change is causing the seasons to intensify and shift erratically. As a result, farming communities have to battle severe floods and, more recently, ferocious heatwaves. Water sources are drying up and vital crops are failing, plunging farming families into hunger and poverty. Amelia is 24 and a mother of two from the Alta Verapaz region. She said the situation is very worrying: “In the past three years, we have been experiencing high heat and a lack of rain. One of the biggest issues is the lack of water…My plantations have been dying… and there is no food for my family.” Despite the challenges families are facing, the unstoppable power of hope drives people to look for ways to push back. Christian Aid has been working with organisations like, Coordinación de ONG y Cooperativas, to offer training and tools so farmers can diversify and grow more resilient crops, build water recycling systems, and create organic fertiliser. When Amelia discovered these initiatives, she put herself forward as a community representative, attending training sessions and bringing the learning back, to train other women in her community. She also raises awareness about the environment, discouraging people from littering, and encouraging people not to sell their land. To find out more about projects like these and how to get involved in Christian Aid Week, visit www.christianaid.org.uk. Source
- New Youth Moderator shares hopes for term May 6, 2025 6:30 am
Maya Withall was inducted as the United Reformed Church Youth Assembly Moderator for 2025–2026 in March. In this reflection, Maya shares her thoughts on Youth Assembly 2025: how it unfolded, what it meant to her, and the hopes she carries into her term as Moderator. This year’s youth assembly felt really fresh and calm, something which can be hard. The new site was amazing and everything we hoped for proving an opportunity to reshape how we run Youth Assembly. Over the weekend we had time to delve into the theme of “All are Welcome” from our range of workshops to our amazing keynote. The new “breath” session allowed some much-needed down time but also an opportunity for people to explore the range of different topics available from cake and debate, where we discussed the dangers of AI and what minimum voting age should be, to sports and forest church. We left Youth Assembly pondering what we should do to embody the theme and how we can make people feel more welcome, not just in the URC but our lives. Looking ahead to my term as Youth Moderator, I can already anticipate that this year on Youth Exec is not going to be like any other! While I am nervous about the changes to the Youth Exec following its review, I am also excited about the opportunities these changes will bring. My hope for this year is that young people in the URC will feel more connected and able to engage with the Youth Executive in ways they couldn’t before, and that youth exec can enable young people to get involved in the URC on a broader level. Most of all, I am looking forward to working with the new Youth Executive to plan an amazing Youth Assembly 2026! I am also eager to explore what work we can do at a more localised level through our Synod reps. A key focus for me this year will be the environment. I hope we can be more mindful and considerate about sustainability in our planning of Youth Assembly and make it a more environmentally friendly event. Beyond that, I want to explore how we can encourage young people to inspire their local churches to consider their role in climate change and their environmental impact in what they do. Since Children’s and Youth Work played such a big part in how I came to be involved in the URC, I’m passionate about how we can help more young people engage with the URC: not just locally but at a national level. I look forward to my many train journeys, and how much I can crochet along the way. Most of all, I’m just excited to be Moderator – challenges and all. This is something I have wanted to do since joining Youth Executive at the age of 14, and I hope the year doesn’t pass too quickly. More than anything, I want to make the most of my time and do everything God is calling me to do in the Church. Learn more about Youth Assembly. Source
- FaithTalk – Everyday evangelism in the URC May 2, 2025 3:30 pm
An Evening with Trey Hall The next webinar, An Evening with Trey Hall, is at 7pm on Wednesday 7 May. Trey is the Director of Evangelism and Growth at the Methodist Church and will be helping us to grapple with the question: Faith Talk and Church Growth: How does prayer make a difference? Come and join us for a relaxed conversation praying and talking about our faith with others. Please email [email protected] for the link. Save the date for the next webinar, on Tuesday 23 September at 7pm. Source
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