The Church Life Review Steering Group has agreed a vision, mission and strategy statement for the programme

Vision
– that is, the desired future state, our tomorrow.
A flourishing Church, less burdened and better enabled.

Mission
– that is, what we are doing now
to achieve the vision, our today

To hold a space for discernment of where God is working and leading us, and to enable collective action to support church communities, so that existing and new URC communities can be freed to realise God’s vision for them and develop their faith through evangelism, discipleship and outreach.

Strategy
– that is, a brief explanation of the programme’s approach and objectives

Phase 1 laid the groundwork, leading to four workstreams, looking at finance, employment, services, and new communities, each aimed at responding to an area of critical need with a medium-term focus.

Phase 2 is investigating, proposing, and guiding changes which will help the URC flourish into the future.

The concrete expression of this work is the proposed refocussing of the Church’s financial resources and the creation of a substantial new shared fund, to collectively make best use of the denomination’s resources and finance Church Life Review activities in line with agreed values and principles. By establishing a shared fund, the Church Life Review is seeking to:

• Design and fund new, collective, shared services, including a denominational resources portal, to reduce burdens and better support church communities
• Pave the way for the establishment and resourcing of new URC communities of worship and discipleship
• Identify the best models of lay worker employment for local churches, and provide meaningful support for local churches who could not otherwise afford or manage lay workers

After General Assembly in November 2025, phase 3 will:

• Implement the outcomes of the four workstreams in phase 2
• Collaboratively explore longer term strategic questions as the denomination continues its journey
• Relentlessly focus on delivering for the URC’s existing and future church communities

Church Life Review Scripture
‘Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.’ (Jeremiah 29:5-7)

Church Life Review Values and Principles for Financial Resource Sharing and Shared Services
Values
a) As the United Reformed Church, we value conciliar decision-making where we:

• listen to each other, and seek to discern the mind of Christ
• act with humility
• act with grace and generosity
• seek to consider the good of all God’s people, fostering obedience to the Gospel and furthering justice and climate care, rather than narrow self-interest

b) We believe that transparency about our decision-making helps us be accountable to each other, and to God, whose mission we seek to serve.

c) We will use the charitable funds at our disposal lawfully and ensure the activity carried out with them is compliant with best practice.

Principles
a) We seek to use our resources effectively.

b) We look to be efficient, as part of our commitment to good stewardship.

c) We will take considered risks for the Kingdom.

d) We prioritise partnership within and beyond the United Reformed Church.

e) We value local diversity within the family of the United Reformed Church, rather than constraining uniformity.

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This is article was published in the Issue 4 – 2025 edition of Reform

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