Tessa Henry-Robinson, the new Moderator of the Free Churches Group, reflects on freedom and generosity

The Free Churches Group is a diverse body formed by different histories, shaped by different traditions, yet united by one unwavering truth: that Jesus Christ, the one who emptied self for love’s sake, causes us to walk the same revolutionary path of love. We are called to involve ourselves in a love-driven discipleship that is generous.

We are a group of free churches. Our freedom is about our rights and responsibilities: a right to possess priceless, grace-filled independence from state control; responsibilities to discern and to live the Gospel as communities of conscience and to follow Christ outside of rigid structures that too often stifle the Spirit’s movement. Our freedom means a responsibility to steer clear of things that restrict our generosity towards each other. Often we offer each other a lack of generosity in some of our churches and church-based institutions. But as we walk this journey together, who we are and what we are as a Free Churches group should remain at the forefront of our minds…

Tessa Henry-Robinson is a URC minister. This article is an edited version of her sermon at her inauguration as Moderator of the Free Churches Group

___

This is an extract from an article published in the Issue 4 – 2025 edition of Reform

Subscribe to Reform