Roger Little, United Church Secretary (up to April 2005) writes:
The United Reformed Church in Cheltenham - the Future:
The search for minister(s) to succeed Glyn and Joan brings the United Reformed Church in Cheltenham into sharp focus. Many will remember that it was formed fourteen years ago, by popular vote, to bring together the three churches in a shared ministry for Cheltenham.
Its future and role will be considered again as we enter a period of preparation to decide what patterns of ministry are needed for the three churches. The united elders recently met with our Provincial Moderator, Revd Elizabeth Welch, who outlined what lies ahead as we begin the search for a new minister, or ministers.
Collectively, we need to consider whether the URCiC is still relevant and appropriate to each of our needs as we move into another phase, and the purpose of this article is to remind the three congregations about what it does.
The URCiC operates at various levels. It has a secretary and treasurer, each selected at the AGM by the three churches, when united church groups, such as WCM, Creative Cards, Traidcraft, Learning for Leisure, Urchins, Bright Sparks and Volcanoes and "In Touch", report their progress. It has its own budget through contributions from each church, funds activities at united church level, and has an Emergency Fund that is able to respond quickly to major disasters like the recent Asian tsunami.
The united church council, consisting of the ministers, the united church secretary and treasurer, church secretaries, church treasurers, WCM and representatives from the three churches, meets to consider issues that affect the three churches to decide policy and to co-ordinate effort. The annual church holiday, Oggersheim exchange, elders' Away Day, united worship group, and the new Bible study group, are all organised at this level.
The united elders meet to respond to URC national issues, to receive training, and to further co-ordinate the activities of the three individual churches within the united church.
Each church retains its own identity and determines its own affairs, but we are all part of the URCiC church family and are able to have our say in church affairs, locally and nationally. As a united family we have many opportunities to share our gifts and activities with each other, and to receive the blessings of being a family that works together and plays together. The unique characteristic of the URCiC is that it fosters and develops a wider fellowship in the three churches and thus it preserves unity.
Julie Jefferies (Convenor of the Pasorate Profile Committee) writes:
Pastorate Profile
All for one and one for all - the famous cry of the Three Musketeers! Each musketeer brought his own personality and skills to the team to make them almost unbeatable!
This analogy reminds me of our three congregations; we all have a common mission:- to spread the good news to believers and non believers; to provide worship which feeds those with a deep faith, supports those who are starting their journey as well as those who are still searching; to provide care and nurturing for the young, the old and those in need.
Now what about our personalities and strengths - Warden Hill brings its ability to work with others to achieve a common goal, Prestbury - brings its community spirit and St Andrews - brings experience and knowledge. With all these individual strengths and a number of common goals should we be "all for one and one for all?
The name the United Reformed Church suggests that unity is key, but is it easy? We can all see the benefits of being united; shared worship resources, shared experience and knowledge of finance, shared administrative resources and a shared office, sharing of skills and abilities to arrange flowers, shared children's work, shared support and a sense of community, shared world church and mission the list could go on and on. But don't lose sight of the fact that ALL these things we already do.
On the other side of the coin there is the concern about what unity means in practical terms - will we lose our church names? What about our finances; will we lose money which has been left to our church?
If we think all for one and one for all then names won't disappear because we will still have three locations and we need to be able to distinguish which location we are talking about. The united church can have an agreement at the start so that money can be ring-fenced for certain projects.
Why is this aspect of unity so important in preparing a Pastorate Profile? All three churches have already expressed a desire to become a single church working in three locations or, put another way, to maintain and strengthen our URCIC links whilst retaining the individuality and mission of the three constituent churches. On this basis the call to ministry will be a call to serve URCIC as a whole, each minister workingin all three churches. The Pastorate Profile needs to reflect this important aspect so it will be part of our discussion at the United Elders meeting andpart of the discussion and approval at the United Church meeting. Our hope is that you will all share in this process by talking with your elderand attending the United Church meeting.