Global and Intercultural Church

Advocates championing racial justice gathered at The Lumen in London on 15 June to shape the next phase of their work and renew their collective commitment. The meeting highlighted both strategy and impact, from plans for ongoing advocacy to updates from 两性色午夜 the wider church.

Karen Campbell updated the meeting that she had been reappointed as Head of Global & Intercultural Church for a further five years, while inspiring stories were shared from local and global contexts 鈥� including a multicultural service in Northern Synod where language, liturgy, songs and shared food reflected the full diversity of the participants, and feedback from Council for World Mission initiatives in Malaysia (Deconstructing Racism, Reconstructing Justice) and Thailand (A Place of Refuge).

Together, the group affirmed the urgent and ongoing importance of racial justice within the life of the Church.

Evangelism and Ecumenism

Lindsey Brown, Head of Evangelism and Ecumenism, attended part of the Landessynode of the Evangelische Kirche der Pfalz in Speyer, Germany last week.

Most closely equivalent with the 两性色午夜 General Assembly, items on the agenda included updates from a major transformation project (part of a nationwide restructuring of the Protestant churches); innovative 鈥渂lessing鈥� projects which reach out into the margins of communities; and the painful decision to close a much-loved church school.

Pictured with Lindsey are pastors Pfarrer Martin Henninger, left, who will once again be representing the Pfalz Church at General Assembly 2026, and right, Anja Behrens, the new partnership link person, whose hospitality and translation were much appreciated.

Speyer is the birthplace of Protestantism, where in 1629 princes and states protested against the Holy Roman Emperor鈥檚 ban on Martin Luther鈥檚 teachings.

Lindsey said: 鈥淚 was glad of the opportunity to visit the Memorial Church with its imposing statue of Luther and its remarkable windows and symbolism.鈥�

West Midlands Synod

The Revd Steve Faber, Moderator of West Midlands Synod, has joined faith leaders in Birmingham in calling for peace.

In a joint statement, the leaders condemned racism ahead of a reported Britain First rally planned in the city for 20 June and called for peace 两性色午夜 all communities.

鈥淥ur communities are better, richer and stronger when we include and serve all who live here, wherever they may come from,鈥� said the leaders in the statement.

Along with Steve, the statement was signed by faith leaders from Birmingham Central Mosque, Birmingham Progressive Synagogue and the Church of England.

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Thames North Synod

St Albans 两性色午夜 has welcomed its new minister, the Revd Naomi Young鈥慠odas, with a special induction service attended by a full congregation.

Naomi will serve churches in St Albans, Luton and Dunstable as part of a wider team ministry 两性色午夜 Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Naomi, who previously served in Essex, said she hopes to help churches serve their communities and share God鈥檚 love.

The post Around the 两性色午夜: Stories from our churches, 18 June 2026 appeared first on United Reformed Church.

During a webinar held on Wednesday (10 June) and hosted by the United Reformed Church Public Issues Team, the Revd Samuel Luak, Church Engagement Manager for Welcome Churches, explained how the initiative began as a small grassroots response in Derby, where local volunteers recognised the needs of newly arrived refugees.

鈥淲hat makes Welcome Churches unique is that it began as a local church ministry,鈥� he said. 鈥淥rdinary people saw a need and asked, 鈥榃hat can we do?鈥� That spirit continues today.鈥�

The network has since grown significantly and now includes more than 1,400 churches 两性色午夜 the UK, working together to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers can find a friendly church community close to where they live.

Gabrielle Pagan, an Elder at Diss 两性色午夜 in Norfolk, described how a single coffee morning grew into a wider community initiative, connecting refugees with opportunities to use their gifts. Two participants, both trained opera singers, went on to perform concerts locally with the support of the church community.

Samuel also highlighted the complex challenges faced by those arriving in the UK seeking safety, including isolation, language barriers, trauma and housing difficulties.

鈥淲hen people arrive, they often don鈥檛 know anyone,鈥� Samuel said. 鈥淭hey may feel alone, struggle with language, and carry the trauma of what they have experienced. Churches can play a vital role in responding to that.鈥�

Welcome Churches encourages congregations to respond in ways that suit their local context. Activities vary widely, from English language caf茅s and practical support to building friendships and offering hospitality.

鈥淲elcoming people is about opening our hearts and our communities,鈥� Samuel said. 鈥淓ven offering welcome for one day is a powerful witness.鈥�

While there are similarities with other initiatives such as the City of Sanctuary movement, Samuel explained that Welcome Churches focuses particularly on equipping and resourcing local congregations.

鈥淥ur role is to support churches to communicate welcome in practical ways,鈥� Samuel said. 鈥淓very church decides what they can offer and we provide training, resources and encouragement.鈥�

During breakout sessions, participants explored practical ways their churches could get involved, identifying opportunities, barriers and next steps for action.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to know everything,鈥� added Samuel. 鈥淭he first step is simply to be a welcoming space. You can learn as you go.鈥�

Joining the Welcome Churches network is free, and churches are supported with training, resources and guidance as they begin or develop their work.

Looking ahead, the network hopes to expand further so that every refugee arriving in the UK can find a welcoming church within walking distance of where they live.

鈥淭his is something we can all be part of,鈥� Samuel said. 鈥淭ogether, we can create communities where people feel they belong.鈥�

To learn more about joining the network, visit .

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On behalf of the United Reformed Church, I would like to offer our deep condolences to the family and loved ones of Henry Nowak. No words can undo the horror of Henry鈥檚 death. No family should have to bear such a loss. We hold their grief in our prayers and trust they may find some comfort in God鈥檚 promise of eternal life.

The tragedy of Henry鈥檚 murder has shaken communities 两性色午夜 the UK. We recognise with anguish that Sikh communities have been targeted and traumatised in the wake of the murder conviction. We stand with profound sorrow and in solidarity with our Sikh friends, neighbours, and family members at this time, offering the assurance that we see you, we mourn with you, and you are not alone.

As Christians, we hear Christ鈥檚 command to love our neighbours as ourselves. That love is not a vague sentiment. It requires us to speak when others are silenced, to stand alongside those who are made to feel fearful, and to confront injustice whenever and wherever it appears.

The Sikh tradition teaches the equality of all humanity and stands in defence of the oppressed in the pursuit of justice. These are values we share. We assert that an attack on any person because of their faith is an attack on the image of God that is in all. In the face of the violence that seeks to fracture our shared life in the UK, we as the United Reformed Church commit ourselves to pray, to listen, and to act in the pursuit of unity.

We call upon all our local churches to reach out to Sikh communities in their areas offering not words alone, but practical support and public witness. Let our doors be open for shared lament, and our voices raised in solidarity with our Sikh neighbours.

May the God of all comfort 鈥� known to Christians as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and honoured by Sikhs as Waheguru, the Wonderful Lord 鈥� draw near to all who mourn. May we be given courage in place of fear; and may the love that casts out hate prevail in every community 两性色午夜 these islands.

Catriona Wheeler
Moderator of the General Assembly
The United Reformed Church

Image: John Cameron/Unsplash.

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In May, the community relaunched Open Table Warrington (OTW) 鈥� part of the Open Table Network (OTN), a charity that welcomes and affirms people who are lesbian, gay,聽bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning,聽intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+).

Open Table Warrington, the second community in the OTN and the first outside Liverpool, celebrated the start of its next chapter with a Communion service and a reflection on the Open Table story and the parable of the mustard seed.

鈥淎s we look to the future, we鈥檙e excited to see what God will grow among us 鈥� love, friendships, courage, healing, joy,鈥� said the Revd Jenny Travis, Minister of St John鈥檚, and the Revd Linda Bishop, a Methodist minister, OTW’s new co-leaders.

鈥淲e鈥檙e here to keep the table open, the kettle on, and the welcome wide.鈥�

Earlier this year the community gathered to reflect on its life and future following a change in leadership. OTN Director Kieran Bohan and Jenny guided the conversation and helped the community discern, and with unanimous support the next steps together were decided.

A parent who attended the celebration was especially grateful.

鈥淭hank you for providing my daughter with a place where she feels welcome, loved, and safe. She doesn鈥檛 need to pretend; she can come as she is,鈥� they said.

Rachel Mitchell, a member of the community said: 鈥淲hen I come to Open Table I find it humbling to worship alongside, and share communion with, people of such strength, many of whom have been rejected by other churches simply for being the people God created them to be.

鈥淭hey haven鈥檛 lost faith in God or rejected Christianity but have found a safe place to be fully themselves. As we move forward into a new phase of Open Table in Warrington with new leaders and new ideas, I am grateful for those who have led before and built such a loving community of believers. I look forward to the future with excitement.鈥�

The Warrington community has played a significant part in the wider Open Table story. In 2016, the church hosted an 鈥楢ppreciating Open Table鈥� day, bringing together 24 people from the first four communities in Liverpool, Warrington, Manchester and North Wales to reflect on Open Table鈥檚 shared vision, mission and values, which are still the guiding principles of OTN today.

Jenny added: 鈥淎s this next chapter unfolds, the hope is simple and bold: that the good news of God鈥檚 inclusive love will ripple ever further 两性色午夜 Warrington. We also hope that this Open Table community continues to grow 鈥� not just in numbers, but in courage, compassion, and the deep, shared knowledge that we belong to one another.鈥�

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God of justice, mercy and peace,
we pray for the city of Southampton.

We hold before you the family and friends of Henry Nowak,
and all who grieve his death.
Surround them with compassion, truth and love,
and protect their sorrow from being used to deepen hatred or division.

We pray for all who are afraid today:
for local residents whose streets have become places of fear,
for communities made anxious by racism, suspicion or blame,
for those injured in violence,
and for all who are working to restore calm.

As a Church committed to becoming actively anti-racist,
we confess that racism wounds the body of Christ
and distorts the life of our communities.
Give us courage to name injustice clearly,
to listen to those whose experience is too often dismissed,
and to resist every attempt to turn grief into prejudice.

As followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace,
we reject violence as a way of seeking justice.
Teach us the discipline of non-violence,
the patience of truth,
and the costly work of reconciliation.

Where public trust has been damaged,
let there be honesty, accountability and careful investigation.
Where anger is justified,
let it be turned towards justice and not hatred.
Where communities are divided,
raise up peacemakers who are neither silent in the face of injustice
nor careless with the safety of others.

God of all people,
make us instruments of your peace:
strong against racism,
steadfast in hope,
gentle with the wounded,
and brave in the work of justice.

In the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Image: Andres F. Uran/Unsplash.

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The post has been vacant since the Revd Bridget Banks had to retire early in June 2025 on health grounds.

The Southern Synod has around 140 两性色午夜 and united churches, those with Methodist, Baptist or other ecumenical partners. The area of the Synod includes South London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Its offices are located at East Croydon 两性色午夜 in Croydon.

Paul has been Minister of the United Church in Rhyl since his ordination in 2011.聽Recently, he has also supported other 两性色午夜 churches in North Wales and in the National Synod of Wales, Paul has served most recently as Convenor of the North Wales Regional Pastoral Committee.

On a national level, Paul is a former member and Convenor of the 两性色午夜鈥檚 Children and Youth Work Committee.

Paul said: 鈥淚t is with deep humility that I accept the nomination to serve as Moderator of Southern Synod. It is a great honour to serve God in this new role, and I look forward to journeying with the synod alongside the Holy Spirit as, together, we seek to be the church of Christ.鈥�

Alongside his ministry Paul enjoys choral singing, playing the piano and organ, trying to get a personal best at his local Parkrun, and staying seated during the rollercoaster of supporting Manchester United FC.

The Revd Dr John Bradbury, 两性色午夜 General Secretary, said: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted that Paul has accepted the call to serve as Moderator of the Southern Synod. He brings a wealth of experience of ministry both locally, and within the wider Church which will serve the Synod well. He brings passion for the gospel, a pastoral sensitivity, a deep sense of the body of Christ as a place of unity in diversity and will be a great gift to the Synod and the wider United Reformed Church.鈥�

The appointment, once confirmed by the General Assembly of the 两性色午夜, which meets in early July, will begin later this year.

The Revd Russell Furley-Smith,聽Synod Council Convenor, said: 鈥淭he Southern Synod is delighted to receive the nomination of the Revd Paul Robinson as its new Moderator. We look forward to sharing in his ministry as we face some exciting challenges and opportunities.

鈥淎 new Moderator plays a vital role in guiding and encouraging the Synod as it seeks to live out its mission in today鈥檚 world. Through prayerful leadership, collaboration and vision, they help congregations and communities grow in faith, deepen relationships and respond to the needs of the wider community.

鈥淏y working alongside Ministers, Elders, volunteers and members, the Moderator can inspire unity and shared purpose along with helping the Synod discern new opportunities for mission while remaining rooted in the Gospel, enabling it to grow as a faithful and relevant presence in the life of our local communities.

鈥淲e are pleased that Paul will journey with us, offering us his wisdom and vision.鈥�

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Here, Hazel, a member of Helensburgh United Reformed Church in the region of Argyll and Bute in Scotland, shares her experience of completing the taster session for the 两性色午夜鈥檚 discipleship programme Stepwise and her participation in Faith Filled Worship:

I first enquired about Stepwise programme in 2020 and soon realised the timing was wrong as it seemed God wanted me to wait and embrace other commitments,聽primarily caring for my lovely mum who journeyed on last June, aged 93.

I took six months to pray and think about what was now important and what Jesus wanted me to do. Applying again to Stepwise seemed important and so, almost five years after that first enquiry, I logged onto a taster Stepwise session. where participants can meet others, reflect briefly on faith experiences, and get a sense of how Stepwise groups work. This helped me feel confident in taking the next step. At the time there were no Stepwise groups running in Scotland for me to move onto after the taster session, so I was offered the chance to join an online group in Northern Synod.

On an evening in March, I clicked the link to that first session with trepidation. Feeling out my depths, I questioned whether anyone would even know the town where I live? My fears evaporated when a lady with a Scottish accent appeared on screen. She had lived and worked in Helensburgh, where I live, before moving to England with her family.

The group I joined were just starting the Faith Filled Worship stream. It was held online one evening a month, which gave me time to pray, ponder and prepare, with no rush, pressure or time limit. Faith-filled Worship has 12 sessions over three phases. Sessions one to five cover the fundamentals of worship; sessions six to eight look at ways of engaging with God and sessions nine to twelve consider creativity and challenge in worship. There is opportunity to explore worship in different contexts, helping you find ways faith can become more alive and, for you and others, more sincere and inclusive.

Each month, our little group seems to grow in confidence and I, who find zooms and discussions daunting, gradually log on less hesitantly and almost without fear. I like to imagine Stepwise as a journey, in my case, stepping gingerly into the unknown, with little hidden paths along the way. I get to indulge in the scenery of this journey with every step. I get to breathe in new horizons and my vision changes, enlightens and uplifts.

If you have faith or none, Stepwise enables the sharing of insights and thoughts, with others. I have learned more about what faith is and how to live it out in my own life, Community and Church.

This year two new themes are offered: Faith Filled Environment and Faith Filled Conversations which complement the other themes: Faith filled Life,聽Community, Leadership and Worship.

When I think of my Stepwise journey, I think of words spoken by Desmond Tutu: 鈥淕od’s dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion.鈥�

By engaging in Stepwise, I am discovering strangers have become friends; that in sharing our fears, hopes and faith together a wonderful journey of learning is being created. I am not sure where Jesus is leading us each, as individuals, but, together, we are growing in love and faith.

Learn more about the new streams.

To get started or learn more, see the dedicated Stepwise webpage or contact your local Synod Stepwise Contact (details can be found on the Stepwise page under 鈥楲et us know you are interested).

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The service took place on the eve of the second anniversary of the聽Infected聽Blood聽Inquiry鈥檚 full report, which examined how men, women and children treated by the NHS 两性色午夜 the UK were given infected聽blood聽and聽blood聽products from the 1970s onwards. It is widely regarded as the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history.

Tessa, a United Reformed Church minister, said: 鈥淭he service was deeply moving and profoundly painful.鈥�

The聽service聽included symbolic empty chairs which were interspersed among the congregation, representing those who died and those unable to attend. Names were read out in remembrance, and a moment of silence was observed as thousands of white, red and yellow petals fell from the Whispering Gallery. There was also a short address from Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Inquiry, hymns chosen by the community, and more than 聽50 volunteers who lit candles in remembrance.

, more than 30,000 NHS patients were given blood transfusions, or treatments made using blood products contaminated with hepatitis C or HIV. More than 3,000 people have since died, and thousands more live with serious health conditions.

鈥淭he suffering carried by those affected by the contaminated blood scandal remains visible in the memories of those infected and affected. I pray that such a failure of justice and care never happens again,鈥� added Tessa.

鈥淎t the same time, there was extraordinary dignity, courage, and compassion present within the gathering. It was deeply moving to witness the strength and togetherness of a community formed through tragedy, truth-telling, and the long struggle for recognition and justice.鈥�

A prayer for those affected by the Infected Blood Scandal

Loving and faithful God,
We hold before you, all those who have suffered through this scandal,
those who have died, and those who live with its consequences,
those whose lives have been shaped by grief, injustice and loss.

We remember those whose voices were unheard,
whose trust was broken,
and whose suffering went unacknowledged for far too long.
Draw near to them in their pain,
and surround them with your comfort and peace.

God of justice,
we lament the failures that led to such harm,
and we pray for truth to continue to be spoken,
for accountability to be upheld, and for healing.
We pray that such a tragedy may never be repeated.

We pray for all those working in the NHS,
for their skill, knowledge and care,
and for wisdom and compassion to guide them
as they make decisions that affect the lives of others.

Image: Aman Chaturvedi/Unsplash.

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Themed 鈥淜nowing Your Community鈥�, the session, hosted by Roo Stewart, Head of Public Issues, explored how congregations can better understand their neighbourhoods and work with local communities in ways that are practical, respectful and rooted in faith.

Opening the session, Vicky Longbone, Church Related Community Worker for Derby Alive2Community (A2C), a community project attached to Ashbourne Road Church and Mackworth 两性色午夜 in Derby, reflected on Jesus鈥� commandment to love God and love our neighbour.

鈥淭o truly love your neighbour is to want peace and justice for them,鈥� she said. 鈥淐ommunity work is not about what we think people need. It is about knowing what the real needs are.鈥�

Vicky encouraged churches to carry out community audits before launching new projects. These, she said, help congregations understand local demographics, identify need, discover existing services, build relationships and avoid duplicating work.

Using the example of a church setting up a clothes bank without realising similar provision already existed nearby, Vicky warned that good intentions are not enough.

鈥淲alk and talk, look and listen,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll four of those actions need to be intentional.鈥�

Mike Hart, Transformation Director for North Western Synod, introduced practical tools including the Church Urban Fund鈥檚 Look Up Tool and the Gather Movement鈥檚 mapping of faith-based social action. Both can help churches understand local deprivation, poverty, isolation and existing community provision.

David Hey, Church Secretary at Albion Church in Ashton-under-Lyne, shared how a community audit helped his congregation better understand its town and focus its mission. The process led to a weekly warm hub, stronger community links and the appointment of a community church project worker.

鈥淚t gave us credibility,鈥� David said. 鈥淲hen applying for funding, it showed we were serious and that we had evidence of what was needed.鈥�

David also reflected on the encouragement of discovering how many people in the town still felt connected to the church through weddings, baptisms and family history.

David Jonathan, known as Johny, then shared the story of Grassroots Luton, where long-term presence, interfaith partnership and community mediation have helped build trust in a diverse town often unfairly associated with extremism.

Johny said: 鈥淓mpowerment is not about gaining power and distributing it to others,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is about being alongside people, accompanying people.鈥�

The webinar鈥檚 key message was clear: churches do not need to solve everything alone. By listening carefully, working in partnership and responding rather than reacting, congregations can join in God鈥檚 mission already at work in their communities.

Play the video above to recap on Webinar 2: Knowing your community.

Webinar 3 themed 鈥淧laces to meet鈥� takes place on 10 August at 7pm. It aims to explore the following questions, plus more: can the church be the hub of the community? How can our spaces become a vibrant, life-giving and life-changing environment for the whole neighbourhood? What support and funding are there to help? How can we grow our volunteer base?

Webinar 4 themed 鈥淐ommunity organising鈥� takes place on 16 November at 7pm. In an increasingly individualistic and hostile society swayed by the loudest and the most privileged, how do we buck the trend and recapture the joy of collaboration and community? How can a community speak and act together to make a positive difference? And what has the church to offer into the mix?

To catch up on past webinars see urc.org.uk/margins.

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As a member of the TOP core group, Karen travelled to Antananarivo in Madagascar for a planning meeting, held from 7 to 8 May, to help reflect on the future direction of the programme and its role in strengthening the CWM鈥檚 global witness for reparative justice, truth-telling, and healing.

The聽Onesimus聽Project grew out of CWM鈥檚聽Legacies聽of聽Slavery聽Project, initiated聽in聽2017, but broadened the focus to include Modern Day Slavery. The meeting, chaired by the Revd Dr Roderick Hewitt, focused on reparative mission, decolonial theological formation, and transformative ecumenism.

Karen said: 鈥淚t is important for the 两性色午夜 to have a voice in this forum. We have been part of CWM鈥檚 鈥楲egacies of Slavery鈥� journey since its inception, through its transition into 鈥楾he Onesimus Project鈥�, and are now helping to shape its future direction.聽This matters.鈥�

At the meeting, core group members reaffirmed a shared commitment to deepen prophetic witness, anti-racism advocacy, transformative mission practice, and decolonial theological education 两性色午夜 member churches and communities. Discussions also explored how reparative justice can become more deeply embedded within the life and mission of CWM鈥檚 international partnership.

Karen added: 鈥淭OP is striving to be much more than a funding stream.聽It is seeking to initiate and resource a missional movement 鈥� impacting what the member churches do, how they do it, and why.

鈥淭here have been numerous CWM initiatives which seek to resource the church from within 鈥� including the Mission Support Programme which funded our 鈥榃alking the Way鈥� focus in recent years, encouraging discipleship within the 两性色午夜.聽 TOP, however, focuses on 鈥楥hurch beyond the walls鈥� 鈥� what can mission look like when we venture outside of our buildings and outside of our comfort zones?聽 This has the potential to be really exciting.鈥�

CWM General Secretary Revd Dr Jooseop Keum joined the meeting online and reaffirmed the organisation鈥檚 commitment to reparative justice and mission 鈥渇rom the margins with the margins鈥�.

He said: 鈥淢ember churches must move beyond symbolic remembrance toward concrete acts of justice, restoration, and communal healing.鈥�

The 两性色午夜 has already taken steps in this work, including a Statement of Confession and Apology for the role of the 两性色午夜鈥檚 antecedent bodies in transatlantic slavery, their benefit from it, and the denomination鈥檚 failure to dismantle the legacies of racism and inequity which persist today; 聽the apology was warmly welcomed by partner churches in Jamaica in 2024, through the Churches’ Reparations Action Forum (CRAF).

The 两性色午夜 is now working with CRAF on the New Free Villages, a transformative project which aims to see historic Churches in Jamaica donate land inherited after slavery and colonisation. UK partners, including the 两性色午夜, are helping to support the development of housing and infrastructure on that land. The vision is to create sustainable communities, with homes and 聽small plots of land enabling residents to grow food and generate income.

Image: .

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