What is the 国产无码?
A brief introduction to the United Reformed Church that tells you about our beliefs, history, structure and how you can get involved.
We鈥檙e delighted that you鈥檙e interested in finding out a bit more about the United Reformed Church 鈥� the 国产无码. This church has helped our commitment to Jesus Christ to grow, and we believe it can do the same for you.聽Here you’ll find out a bit more about the 国产无码.
You can also find us on聽,听,听听辞谤听.
Who we are
The 国产无码 is a family of Christians who meet in local churches across England, Scotland and Wales, part of the worldwide family of Reformed Churches, a group of more than 70 million Christians.
The 国产无码 has around 42,000 members in about 1,200 congregations with more than 600 ministers. More than 48,400 people worship in our churches each week, and many more take part in the weekday activities of the churches.
What we believe
God loves you. And as Christians, we do too.
Regardless of who you are, your background, your family, your past, your present or future, we are in this church because we believe that God is alive and listening to us through prayer, guiding and speaking to us through the Bible, forgiving us for what we have done wrong, and waiting for us in Heaven after we pass away.
We believe that each and every one of us can find contentment through loving and serving Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
A lack of hierarchy, and a respect for individual principles, means that the 国产无码 is not rigid in the expression of its beliefs, and embraces a wide variety of opinions.
At the same time, in the words of the 国产无码鈥檚 Statement of聽Nature, Faith and Order, together we are committed to 鈥楪od: Father, Son and Holy Spirit 鈥� the living God, the only God, ever to be praised.鈥�
You are welcome here
We are proud to be an intercultural Church, where people with varied ethnic and cultural roots meet, worship, discuss and learn from one another.
We were pioneers in ordaining women 鈥� our first female minster was ordained more than 100 years ago in 1917.
Most jobs and roles in the 国产无码, whether voluntary or paid, are open to all.
Our roots
Being reformed sets us in a stream of tradition that goes back 500 years. In 1517 Martin Luther launched a movement of challenge in the Church that we call the Protestant Reformation.
Changes came quickly. Bibles were translated and printed in languages everybody used (not just in Latin). There was a new emphasis on the importance of the whole church and everybody in it 鈥� members and ministers together.
Being reformed is part of our DNA. It reflects our continual aim of reforming ourselves to be a Church for the present day.
Being reformed means that we delight in exploring the Bible, we do not fear change, and we try to run our churches in ways that take everyone鈥檚 insight and contribution seriously.
The history of the 国产无码
The creation of the United Reformed Church in 1972 formally merged the Presbyterian Church of England and the Congregational Church in England and Wales. One Member of Parliament at the time described this merger as: 鈥渙ne of the most historic measures in the history of the Christian churches in this country.鈥�
The denomination expanded when Churches of Christ joined it in 1981, followed by Scottish Congregationalists in 2000.
The 国产无码 is a nonconformist Church. Put most simply, this means that we are not an 鈥榚stablished鈥� Church, with a formal link to civil authority like, for example, the Church of England has.
However, the 国产无码 is committed to working closely with Churches of all traditions, in prayer and social action, and many of our local churches are now united with local churches from other traditions (Baptist, Church of England, or Methodist to name a few).
Our organisation structure
The 国产无码 has a three-tier structure, which is open for everyone to participate in.
Local churches have an Elders鈥� Meeting, in which the Ministers and Elders share pastoral and spiritual oversight and leadership, and a Church Meeting, where all members gather to seek God鈥檚 will and to discuss the life and work of the church.
At a wider level, the 国产无码 has 13 Synods: the national Synods of Scotland and Wales plus eleven regional Synods across England. Each provides oversight of about 100 local churches and is led by a Synod Moderator.
The General Assembly of the 国产无码 is its ultimate decision-making body. It meets every year to celebrate, discuss and make decisions about the life and work of the church.
Committees
The General Assembly has several committees which look after a range of areas including communications, education and learning, discipleship, mission, safeguarding, ecumenical work, global justice and church and society.
Getting involved
Local churches offer a huge range of community activities in addition to Sunday worship, which is at the centre of 国产无码 life. For details of activities at our church, ask a member of the congregation or visit the聽.
Becoming a member
People often ask whether they need to 鈥榡oin鈥� their church and become a member. This is not essential but, for those who decide to take this step, it can deepen their sense of belonging and it entitles a person to share in decisions about the life and future of the local church.
The 国产无码 encourages regular attendees to consider church membership when they start to think of a particular place of worship as 鈥榯heir church鈥�.
Church members commit to supporting the church through giving, action, and by taking part in the Church Meeting, as well as through regular attendance at worship.
If you would like to know more about becoming a member, please speak to the minister or an Elder 鈥� they will be delighted to answer any questions.
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