Wise Words 4 All: 2026 Children’s and Youth Work Theme

Resources designed to support all churches, regardless of whether they have children and young people in their midst. This resource focusses on Wise Words and has been designed to offer many starting places�� for worship, youth groups, small discussion groups, toddler groups and more.

Within this resource you will find ways to explore the particular wisdom of the URC contained in our Statement of Nature, Faith and Order; the Charter for Children; and expressed in our approach to making decisions. You will be challenged to hear wise words from unexpected sources: different ages, different cultures, different media, different places. Online you will find even more resources, including colouring pages, a puzzle page, an intergenerational people bingo sheet, and some mutual interviews to conduct.

You’ll find a wide variety of ways to involve everyone, whatever their age or stage, across the year, and you will discover a wealth of material to enjoy with children, young people, young adults and in intergenerational contexts.

The resource headings for sections are only guides – please don’t limit yourself to those that most obviously fit your context as you will find great ideas you can adapt in other places.

If you don’t have any children of young people connected with your church, please:

• Enjoy the colouring pages and use some of the prayers, Bible studies and other materials with your adult groups
• Pray for those churches nearest to you which do, and the children and young people in your local community
• Offer these resources to your nearest uniformed group or school

Process for the removal from the roll following a disciplinary case

1. The Lord Jesus Christ continues his ministry in and through the Church, the whole people of God called and committed to his service and equipped by him for it. To equip his people for this total ministry the Lord Jesus Christ gives particular gifts for particular ministries and calls people to exercise them in offices duly recognised within his Church namely, Ministers of Word and Sacraments, Church Related Community Workers and Elders. Those who enter on such ministries commit themselves to them for so long as God wills (Basis of Union para 20).

2. The church places various expectations on Ministers of the Word and Sacraments (Ministers) and Church Related Community Workers (CRCWs). Recognising the trust the Church places in those who minister in its name it requires promises of both Ministers and CRCWs at ordination and commissioning which are renewed at all subsequent inductions. When these expectations are found to have been breached, the General Assembly has delegated authority to the Assembly Commission for Discipline and the Disciplinary Appeals Commission to delete the name of a Ministers and CRCWs from the Roll.

3. Ministers or CRCWs whose name has been deleted from the Roll do not have the privileges and responsibilities of Ministers or CRCWs and should refrain from all activity which may lead others to believe that they are acting as ministers of religion. (Basis of Union Schedule E para 5 and Schedule F para 5). Therefore, Ministers should not be afforded the honorific style of “The Reverend” and should refrain from using it.

4. A minister is a member of a local church by virtue of being minister of that church. Ministers or CRCWs whose name has been deleted from the Roll may remain as a member of the URC with the rights and responsibilities of that membership (Basis of Union Schedule E para 5 and Schedule F para 5) unless the Assembly Commission states otherwise as part of the sanctions placed on the minister as an outcome of the process. They should move their membership to a local church they have not served in a ministerial capacity.

5. A minister whose name is deleted from the Roll will receive a gratuitous end of ministry payment as a pastoral measure equivalent to 3 months net stipend by monthly instalments. This will be subject to the normal deductions of tax and National Insurance. This payment is non pensionable. From the moment of deletion, no contributions to their pension will be made or accepted by the AON Master Trust. However, their rights to the pension already earned are safeguarded by law.

6. All allowances (eg car, housing, telecoms, children’s) cease at the same time as the stipend at point of deletion.

7. Time given to allow vacation of the manse is a decision of the trustees of the property, normally the Synod Trust or, in the case of Assembly Appointed ministers, the URC Trust.

8. Retirement Housing is only made available for qualifying Ministers and CRCWs on the Roll. Those whose names are deleted from the Roll are no longer eligible for housing in retirement. The Retired Ministers’ Housing Society (RMHS) will be informed immediately of the decision to remove a retired Minister or CRCW from the Roll by the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries).

9. If the minister or CRCW is already a tenant in RMHS housing when the decision to delete from the Roll is taken, it shall be a matter for the RMHS to determine whether the minister or CRCW remains in the property.

10. In the case of Ministers and CRCWs whose entry into the URC was through a Certificate of Eligibility, and where they have remained on the Roll of their parent denomination for cultural, historical or financial reasons (H2 Ministers of the Word and Sacraments on more than one Roll MC 2019), their parent denomination will be informed by the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) of the decision to delete the Minister’s/CRCW’s name from the Roll outlining the reasons in full.

Last revised: November 2025

Download this information

• Process for the removal from the roll following a disciplinary case (Word | 73kb)

Moderator – Southern Synod

• Full time, seven-year termed appointment
• URC Minister’s stipend
• Nomination Closing Date: Thursday 16 April 2026
• Closing date for applications: 12 noon, Friday 1 May 2026
• Interview date: Friday 22 May 2026

*In accordance with the Equalities Act 2010 Part 1; Schedule 9, there is a genuine occupational requirement for the post holder to be a Minister of Word and Sacraments of the United Reformed Church.

This post also requires an enhanced DBS certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

General Assembly wishes to appoint a United Reformed Church minister to serve as Southern Synod Moderator from September 2026 or shortly afterwards.

��Southern Synod is seeking an inspirational leader to serve as our next Moderator. This is an opportunity to guide and support churches across this geographically diverse Synod in southern England, as we live out our strategy to renew, reimagine and reorder our Synod life.

You’ll provide spiritual and pastoral oversight across the Synod. By working alongside officers, committees, enthusiastic, collaborative staff, and local churches, you will encourage mission, discipleship and growth. You’ll lead the implementation of our Synod strategy, support ministers and church members, and represent us in wider church and ecumenical settings.

Key responsibilities include: overseeing the provision of pastoral care of ministers and churches; chairing Synod meetings; and building and maintaining our strong ecumenical relationships.

As a URC Minister of Word and Sacraments, you will have experience of a variety of URC practice; you will have a collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the insight to know when to lead and when to let others lead. You will bring theological insight, excellent communication skills, and the ability to inspire and encourage others. You will have the skills to hold in unity the diversity of the church and the varied communities in which we serve.

Apply for this post

If you wish to nominate a minister for this post, please write to recruitment@urc.org.uk by Thursday 16 April 2026.

If you wish to apply for this post, please complete an application form and send it to: Human Resources, The United Reformed Church 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT; OR email to recruitment@urc.org.uk by noon, Friday 1 May 2026.

Role Description and Person Specification
Synod Profile
Application Form

Previous candidates need not apply. Housing sector background is a mandatory requirement.��

Finance Operations Manager (Retired Ministers’ Housing Society)

• London
• Permanent contract, Part-time (28 hours per week)
• Salary: £55,000 per annum (FTE)
• Closing date for applications: 9 am, Wednesday 11 March 2026
• Interview date: Monday 16 March 2026

Job Advert

The URC Retired Ministers’ Housing Society seeks a qualified and experienced finance professional in a standalone role which can be made your own.

The Finance Operations Manager is responsible for the management of all finance activity within the RMHS. This ranges from some administrative oversight of financial transactions, through��the effective management of accounts payable and robust management accounting. The postholder will also help plan the future long term financial viability of the Society through the refinement of long term financial modelling, working closely with the CEO, alongside budget-setting, forecasting, and financial reporting, and ensuring compliance.

You will be a qualified accountant. You will be conversant with accounting regulations and recommended practice, charity reporting and PAYE. You will also be a successful team player who is capable of leading through a period of change. Experience in the implementation and development of IT systems would be a distinct advantage, as would familiarity with housing finance. You will have at least five years of experience in operational and management finance, accounting, and financial reporting. We can offer you a flexible and friendly work environment: Hybrid working from London and from home.

Apply for this post

If you are interested in working for us and can meet the above requirements, please read the job description and share your CV along with a covering letter to recruitment@urc.org.uk

• Job description(PDF | 149kb)

Go with Greta and Connect to Transcarpathia

Welcome to our free online teaching resource to help children, young people and adults become more involved in mission, global development and social justice.

The latest region we’re visiting is Transcarpathia.

There are two elements to this resource, and each one is aimed at different age groups:

• Go with Greta��is the name of the materials aimed at children aged between 5 and 10
• #Connect2��is the name of the resources aimed at older children in the 11 to 14 age range

For hard copies of the booklet, please email commitmentforlife@urc.org.uk giving your postal address and preferred number of copies.

Tap the tabbed pages below to download the each booklet or the five individual sessions for each age group.

All the images and a pack of recipes from both resources are available on request from children.youth@urc.org.uk

Google My Church

Google My Church: A Practical Guide to Getting Found Online

In a digital-first world, your church’s online presence is often the first point of contact for new visitors. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about setting up and managing your church’s Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). Learn why it matters, how to claim or update your listing, and how to use it to share updates, highlight ministries, and help people find their way to your door. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to take your online presence to the next level, this guide will help you put your church on the digital map — literally!

• Download Google My Church guide (PDF | 3mb) PDF
• Use the Table of Contents below to explore topics on the page

Read time: 15-18 minutes

Table of Conents

• Introduction
• Why a Google Business Profile is important for your church
• The importance of regular updates
• How to find and edit your church’s profile
• How to become a manager of an exising Google Business Profile
• What to do if there’s no profile for your church
• Conclusion

Introduction

In today’s digital age, having an online presence is crucial for any organisation, including churches. One of the easiest ways to get your church’s information online and make it accessible to your local community is through Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business). If you haven’t heard of it before, don’t worry – this page will walk you through how Google Business Profile can help your church grow and reach people in your area, why it’s important to keep the profile updated, and how to access and manage your church’s profile.

Why a Google Business Profile is important for your church

1 – Improve local visibility When people search for churches in your area, having an updated Google Business Profile means your church is more likely to appear in search results. Your church’s name, location, service times, and contact details will show up on Google Search and Google Maps, helping new visitors find you easily.

2 – Build trust with your community An updated profile allows you to showcase what makes your church special. You can share information about your services, activities, and community events, making it easier for people to learn about what’s happening at your church. When potential visitors see current, accurate information, they are more likely to trust your church. Be sure to include a business description on your Google My Business profile. This is your chance to share a brief and engaging paragraph that gives people a glimpse into who your church is. What’s your church’s purpose and mission? What traditions or values do you hold dear? And most importantly, what can visitors expect when they come through your doors? A well-written description will help potential visitors feel more connected and informed before they even arrive.

3 – Share important updates Whether you’re hosting a special event, offering new services, or changing your service times, Google My Business is a great place to quickly inform people of these updates. Posting pictures, events, and announcements on your profile helps to keep your congregation and visitors informed in real-time. Just like you might share updates on Facebook or Twitter, Google Business Profile is a great way to keep people in the loop about what’s happening at your church. You can use the “Post” and “Event” features to spread the word about upcoming services, events, or anything exciting going on!

4 – Attract new visitors A well-maintained Google Business Profile not only provides your regular attendees with easy access to your church’s information, but it also helps you attract newcomers. People looking for a church nearby or researching local services can easily find your church with a simple search, increasing your potential outreach.

The importance of regular updates

Keeping your church’s Google Business Profile updated is vital to ensuring that people can easily find and engage with your church. Regular updates help you to:

• Show accurate service times: If you have any changes to your regular service times or special seasonal events, make sure these are updated promptly to avoid confusion.
• Highlight new programs or ministries: Update your profile to reflect any new programs, youth groups, or outreach initiatives, so your community knows what to expect and can get involved.
• Share photos and videos: Give your church community – and those who might be looking for a church home – a window into the life and heart of your congregation. Share recent photos and videos from church events, services, small groups, or even behind-the-scenes moments. Whether it’s a joyful baptism, a heartfelt worship night, or a simple gathering over coffee, these glimpses tell a story of connection, faith, and belonging. They help people feel the warmth, love, and spirit of your church, even before they step through the doors.
• Engage with your community by responding to reviews: Google allows visitors to leave reviews and ask questions about your church. Responding to these promptly helps build trust and show that you are active and engaged in your community – thanking people for their kind words or addressing any concerns with care. It’s a great way to show your church is welcoming and attentive. Share posts about upcoming events, services, or special celebrations to keep your profile active and inviting. If anyone has questions about your church – like service times, accessibility, or what to expect when they visit – respond directly to help them feel more informed and comfortable before they even step through the door.

How to find and edit your church’s profile

URC Churches on Google are ‘owned’ by the administration of the Communications/Ministries offices of the URC. All ownership rights are held together at Church House for safeguarding reasons, but the profiles are managed and updated by local churches.

Note: If you are an LEP, you will need to choose which denomination will hold the ownership rights to your page.

About your Google church ownership

To help protect each church’s Google Business Profile and ensure continued access, all URC profiles are now owned by Church House. A designated person at your local church will still have full management access, but overall ownership stays with us at Church House – so your church keeps full use of the profile without the risk of losing access.

We’ve made this decision based on past experiences where a site manager moved away, became unavailable due to illness, or passed away. In those cases, the church was left without access to their own pages, which was understandably frustrating and difficult to resolve.

By keeping ownership at Church House, we can make sure your church never loses access. If there’s ever a gap – like if the current volunteer steps down – we’re able to step in and help manage the site until a new person is appointed. This approach is simply about safeguarding your church’s online presence and ensuring everything keeps running smoothly, no matter what happens. These actions will ensure that the church access is safeguarded for all eventualities.

If you are part of a local URC, chances are the URC offices have already set up a Google Business Profile for your church. Here’s how to find and manage it:

Step 1: Search for your church’s name on Google

Start by typing your church’s name into Google Search or Google Maps. Your church’s profile may appear directly in the search results or on the map. If you find your church’s profile, click on it.

Step 2: Make updates

If you are already a manager, you can update all the details, including:

• Church name and address,
• Church phone number or, if there is not one, your Synod office number
• Service times
• Website or Facebook link etc (if applicable)
• Photos of your church and activities
• Hours of operation
• Special events
• Correct positioning on Google maps
• You can also respond to reviews, add posts about upcoming events, and answer any questions people may ask about your church

How to become a manager of an exising Google Business Profile

If you’d like to help manage your church’s Google Business Profile – whether that’s updating information, posting events, or responding to reviews – you can become a Manager of the profile (you can have several managers per church). Here’s how to request access:

Step 1: Confirm permission with your church secretary

Before submitting your request to Church House, please confirm with your own Church Secretary that you have your churches approval to manage the profile on their behalf. Please supply your Church Secretary with the name and email address that will be used and then you can submit a request to Church House, as described below. Once your Google online request has been received Church House will check with your Church Secretary to confirm that you have received this permission, which may cause a delay of a few days. You will then be granted Manager access to your church’s Google Business Profile (you will receive confirmation by email).

Step 2: Submit a request via Google Business Profile

To request Manager (not ownership) access to your church’s Google Business Profile, you can submit an online request by follow these steps:

1. Sign in to Google: Make sure you are signed in with your Google account. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create it.

2. Search for your church: On Google or Google Maps, search for the business or place you want to request management access to.

3. Find the “Request Access” option: You should see an option such as “Request Access” on the business profile page. This is typically located under the “Own this business?” or “Is this your business?” section. Some interface options can appear differently depending on the device. You may need to try from a different device or browser.

4. Fill out the Request Form: Click Request Access, and a pop-up will appear asking for your contact information and relationship to the business.

5. Wait for the response from URC Church House: Once you submit the request, Church House staff will receive a notification. A response may take a few days as they need to verify your details.

Alternative Step 2: Submit a request via Church House

You may email church house directly with your request at urcgoogleaccount@urc.org.uk. Please include your church’s full name, address, and a URL linking to the google link you are requesting access to, along with the name and the email address that you are requesting access for. A response may take a few days as we still need to verify details.

What to do if there’s no profile for your church

If you’ve searched for your church and can’t find an existing profile, don’t worry! It’s easy to get one set up.

1. Contact the URC office: If you believe your church does not yet have a Google Business Profile, you can get in touch with the URC staff for assistance. Just email urcgoogleaccount@urc.org.uk to let them know you need a profile for your church. The URC office will create and help set you up for managing your Google church profile.

2. Provide the required information: When contacting the URC office, be ready to provide your church’s full name, address, and any other relevant information to help create the profile.

Conclusion

In today’s digital world, Google Business Profile is a powerful tool for churches to connect with their community, share updates, and increase visibility. By regularly updating your church’s Google profile, you can ensure that new and returning visitors can easily find information about your church, its services, and activities. If your church does not yet have a profile, don’t hesitate to contact the URC office at urcgoogleaccount@urc.org.uk to get started.

Your church’s profile is an opportunity to shine online, share your mission, and welcome new members into your congregation. Take the time today to explore and update your church’s profile – your community is waiting to find you!

Download this guidance

• Google My Church (PDF | 3mb)

All Are Welcome: 2025 Children’s and Youth Work Theme

Resources designed to support all churches, regardless of whether they have children and young people in their midst, this resource considers how all are welcome in God’s kingdom.

• How do we ensure that people don’t simply fit in, but truly know that they belong and are valued, just as they are, both within our church communities and within God’s family?
• Who are the people on the margins whom we might wish to assure of a true and sincere welcome?
• How might we take the message of welcome into our wider local community?

This resource contains opportunity to consider together as a congregation the welcome you might extend. We can’t do everything at once – at least not overnight – so why not choose one thing to work on and aim to do that well?

You’ll find a wide variety of ways to involve everyone, whatever their age or stage, across the year, and you will discover a wealth of material to enjoy with children, young people, young adults and in intergenerational contexts.

The resource headings for sections are only guides – please don’t limit yourself to those that most obviously fit your context as you will find great ideas you can adapt in other places.

If you don’t have any children of young people connected with your church, please:

• Enjoy the colouring pages and use some of the prayers, Bible studies and other materials with your adult groups
• Pray for those churches nearest to you which do, and the children and young people in your local community
• Offer these resources to your nearest uniformed group or school

Story, Story, Story : 2024 Children’s and Youth Work Theme

Resources for everyone engaging with children, young people and young adults.

This resource explores the theme of stories – our story, God’s story, the stories Jesus told – and how the three intermingle; with an exploration of five different genres of story for all ages as well as the usual variety of articles, puzzles, colouring pages and more.

You’ll find a wide variety of ways to involve everyone, whatever their age or stage, across the year, and you will discover a wealth of material to enjoy with children, young people, young adults and in intergenerational contexts.

The resource headings for sections are only guides – please don’t limit yourself to those that most obviously fit your context as you will find great ideas you can adapt in other places.

If you don’t have any children of young people connected with your church, please:

• Enjoy the colouring pages and use some of the prayers, Bible studies and other materials with your adult groups
• Pray for those churches nearest to you which do, and the children and young people in your local community
• Offer these resources to your nearest uniformed group or school

Go with Greta and Connect to Zimbabwe

Welcome to our free online teaching resource to help children, young people and adults become more involved in mission, global development and social justice.

The latest region we’re visiting is Zimbabwe.

There are two elements to this resource, and each one is aimed at different age groups:

• Go with Greta��is the name of the materials aimed at children aged between 5 and 10
• #Connect2��is the name of the resources aimed at older children in the 11 to 14 age range

For hard copies of the booklet, please email commitmentforlife@urc.org.uk giving your postal address and preferred number of copies.

Tap the tabbed pages below to download the each booklet or the five individual sessions for each age group.

All the images and a pack of recipes from both resources are available on request from children.youth@urc.org.uk

Intergenerational celebration ideas

Draw your series of sessions to a close by holding an intergenerational celebration to share what you’ve learned with others. Ideas for decorating your hall, for praying and singing and dancing together, for games to play, recipes to make, activities to do.

• Download Intergenerational celebration ideas (PDF | 2mb)

Small Group Study Material

From time to time we use material from the Daily Devotions to create small group study series. These can be used in person or online, over a series of weeks, or at a retreat or quiet day. Some are seasonal, others could be used at any point of the year.

They can be downloaded and freely used in the hope they will encourage local churches to nurture discipleship. We offer participants notes to download and some leaders’ notes to help facilitate a series.

Study Materials