About the GA: Annual meetings
Resolutions passed at the 2002 GA Annual Meetings
The following resolutions were passed at the Annual Meetings of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, held at the University of Sheffield from 5-8 April, 2002.
EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS
From Westgate Unitarian Chapel, Wakefield
That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches deplores the threat to bring charges against Joan Bakewell for blasphemy for quoting from "The Love that Dares to Speak its Name" by James Kirkup, and calls upon Her Majesty's Government, the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly to repeal the Blasphemy Laws
From nineteen ministers and one member of Council
That this General Assembly of Unitarian and free Christian Churches expresses its deep sympathy to all victims of terrorism and war. In view of the peace call of the United Nations and the Peace Offer of the Arab Summit,
(1) we support the many members of the British Jewish community who signed the March 2002 Pesach Message, which affirms: "At the heart of our religion and national identity is the message of freedom… we condemn the use of terror by extremist Palestinian groups. Nevertheless, this terror should not blind us to the deeper issues posed by Israel's occupation of and current behaviour in the Palestinian territories."
(2) we further support their call to the Israeli government:
a "to announce its intention to end the occupation
b "to declare its willingness to conduct negations with the Palestinians
c "to take certain unilateral steps immediately including dismantling the settlements in Gaza and in the heart of the Palestinian population in the West Bank."
(3) we urge the congregations of the General Assembly to co-operate with local and international faith groups in programmes to reduce world terror, to build local and international trust.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE RESOLUTIONS
From the Unitarian Peace Fellowship
That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, noting the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of an annual Global Cease-fire Day to be observed on the 21st of September each year,
- Supports the initiative;
- Asks the General Secretary to write to Her Majesty's Government urging national observance of the Day;
- Suggests that all constituent congregations, affiliated societies and individual members write to their local Members of Parliament urging Her Majesty's Government to support the Global Cease-fire Day at the international level;
- Urges all constituent congregations, affiliated societies and individual members to find appropriate ways in which they can mark the day in their local communities.
From the General Assembly Council
That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches welcomes the Unitarian Christian Association into Membership as an Affiliated Society.
From the Western Union
That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, recognising the need for effective co-operative use of denominational resources of finances, ministry, people and buildings, resolves that Council, with full co-operation with District Associations, urgently take the necessary steps to develop a coherent long term strategy to utilise these resources effectively for the survival of the Movement.
From Hull Unitarian Church
That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, short of money and mindful of the need to communicate effectively that the best use is made of the resources we have, should enter into a dialogue with the Essex Hall trustees to investigate whether there would be a net financial benefit to the denomination if the full commercial potential of Essex Hall were not compromised by Unitarian use.
From the Yorkshire Unitarian Union
That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches instructs GA Council:
(a) to initiate a review of the progress that has been made in implementing the recommendations of the President's Commission (1994) in regard to ministerial training; and
(b) to undertake wide consultation with congregations, fellowships, district associations and other bodies, to establish what further changes and innovations are held to be desirable to render ministerial training both sufficiently flexible and responsive to the demands of the 21st century; and
(c) to provide a report on these matters to the Assembly Meeting 2003.
From Dunham Road Unitarian Chapel, Altrincham
That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
- mindful of the increasing pressures on ministers to keep pace with the modern world,
- and valuing the spiritual leadership provided by those who minister to our Unitarian and Free Christian communities:
(1) reaffirms its commitment to Cherishing our Unitarian Ministry
(2) urges both ministers and congregations to respect the need for rest and refreshment, as recommended in General Assembly Guidelines "Ministers and Congregations"
(3) in particular urges our congregations to ensure that a) they make provision for at least one rest day a week for the minister, and b) arrange for someone other than the minister to deal with all inquiries except emergencies.
The next GA Annual Meetings will take place at the University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield from 27 - 30 March 2008.
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