What does being Reformed mean for us in practice?

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What does being Reformed mean for us in practice?

1. Semper Reformanda being ready to change in the
   light of our experience of the Holy Spirit
2. The priesthood of all believers
3. Elders ordained and set apart for shared
   leadership
4. the church meeting, discerning the Spirit
   together and sharing power
5. diversity, e.g. in recognising both infant and
   believers baptism, though not re-baptism
6. upholding the rights of personal conviction
7. the strong sense of social justice and action
8. freedom in worship, centring on Scripture
9. valuing the local church.

2
What does being United mean for us in practice?

• a) Members and friends coming from different
  traditions
• b) Receiving other Churches gifts
• c) Local ecumenical partnerships (LEPs)
• d) Developing new relationships with newer
  churches as landlords, as neighbours, as
  mission partners

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Where may we go from here?

1. Steady as she goes ongoing managed decline.
2. Anglicans, Methodist and United Reformed Church
   uniting across the three nations, leading to a
   major sell-off of buildings and new vibrant
   congregations.
3. Different local unions in each place.
4. Pastorate churches of 10 to 15 congregations
   with one central church building well staffed
   with a lively programme and hosting a monthly
   united service with cell group meetings
   inbetween.
5. New forms of Christian communities predominate,
   leading to a great variety and only a handful of
   URCs.
6. Cyber-church social networking and new
   technology creating the possibility of online
   communities.

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Questions for buzz groups

1. What do you particularly appreciate about your
   own participation in the United Reformed Church,
   locally or more widely? (5 minutes)
2. How is being United significant to your
   congregation as part of your mission in your
   local community? (10 minutes)
3. How is being Reformed significant to your
   congregation as part of your mission in your
   local community? (10 minutes)
4. Read the scenarios in more detail and see which
   of them you warm to as our possible future. What
   may the Spirit be saying to your church? (15
   minutes)