The spring meeting of Mission Council, the executive body of United Reformed Church (URC) General Assembly, opened on 15 March. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the meeting was held digitally.

Opening worship
After a welcome from Peter Pay, one of the Moderators of the URC General Assembly, Mission Council began with worship.

Congratulations to the United Reformed Church West Midlands Synod which has become the first across the denomination to achieve an A Rocha UK Bronze Eco Synod award.

In its award application, the Synod evidenced a long-term commitment to reducing its environmental impact by rewriting their eco-policy which was approved last October, and agreeing clear mission pledges to reduce their carbon footprint and reporting annually on progress.

The spring meeting of the United Reformed Church (URC) Mission Council is taking place digitally from today (Monday) until Wednesday.

Mission Council is the executive body of the General Assembly and meets twice a year to reflect on and make decisions about the day-to-day life of the Church. 

Topics on the agenda include new ways to access funding for lay discipleship development, new pathways for people to prepare to become worship leaders and accredited lay preachers, and the pension fund deficit.

The news pages, Facebook page and Twitter account will include updates on the main decisions made throughout the meeting with a daily report being posted after the close of business each day.

Mission Council papers can be viewed and downloaded here.

_{Published: 12 March 2021}

While grateful for the advances in technology which have allowed many people to remain connected during the pandemic, United Reformed Church Related Community Worker, Jo Patterson, says we must be careful not to exclude those who do not have access to the internet or adequate technology.