At its 105th Meeting, held at Abbots Road URC in Leicester on Saturday 12 October 2024, the East Midlands Synod introduced the theme which will be a key focus for the next two years and more: Talking Faith.
In his Opening Worship, The Revd Martin Ferris urged Synod members to “recalibrate our focus on Christ” and his commandment to make disciples. Giving a welcome on behalf of Abbots Road, elders Paul and Alison Hadley outlined its “Mission Possible”, whose transforming spirit is bringing the church new attenders.
Mission Development Officer Tom Donoghue introduced the focus of Talking Faith. Running across all Five Marks of Mission, but especially “Tell”, its aim is to encourage churches to be more intentional in inviting others, but above all to make members more confident in expressing their faith in natural, authentic conversation. In a recorded video, Tom interviewed Mersey Synod’s Missional Discipleship Enabler The Revd Stuart Radcliffe about how Merseyside churches have embraced a similar challenge. This two-year focus will begin in earnest with a period of prayer beginning at the March 2025 Synod and a likely launch event after Easter.
Synod also took time to present certificates to:
- Ministers who had reached milestone anniversaries of their Ordinations;
- Assembly Accredited Lay Preachers, recognising their long service for the first time;
- those who have completed the Stepwise streams Faith Filled Life and Faith Filled Worship this year, some of whom are also now training as worship leaders. A new video promoted all that Stepwise offers, including forthcoming streams on the Environment and Conversations (Talking Faith).
Numerous other items featured in the day’s business:
- Young people from around the Synod took part in a parallel Youth Event led by Children & Youth Development Officer Richard Knott.
- It was decided to return to holding all Synod Meetings in person; members resolved that this would now include the March 2025 meeting but asked Synod Officers to consider what might be done to improve inclusivity and representation at Synod Meetings.
- The Synod Energy Fund was repurposed to support local churches in improving energy efficiency and reducing their carbon footprints.
- New processes were agreed to consider support for Resource Areas should the closure of a local church cause them financial difficulties.
- Cath Sterndale of Buxton URC shared the good news story of its Waste Not Want Not project, which in four years has distributed many thousands of pounds’ worth of donated and rescued food to meet local need.
- Amid group reports, Racial Justice Advocates The Revds Andrew Mudharara and Samuel Silungwe summarised the URC’s work toward becoming an anti-racist church.
- Synod enjoyed reflections on this year’s General Assembly from two of its representatives, The Revd Jane Wade and Catriona Wheeler, elder at Trinity URC, Leicester – not least Catriona’s election to serve as Moderator of General Assembly from July 2025! Jane, who will serve as her chaplain, also mentioned this year’s resolutions about safer recruitment, Israel/Palestine and Myanmar.
Presiding at the closing Communion, Synod Moderator The Revd Geoffrey Clarke reflected on a passage from Luke’s gospel. Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth, he said, gives an illustration of how we too can be “Christ bearers”, embodying faith to those we encounter – becoming the means by which they can be “surprised by grace”, as they glimpse the love of God brimming over in all that we say, all that we do and all that we are.
Synod will reconvene on Saturday 15 March 2025 – venue to be confirmed.