Friends and members of the denomination gathered at the House of Lords on Thursday 30 June to mark the 50th anniversary of the debate about the United Reformed Church Bill.
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A small reception and ceremony were held in the Attlee and Reid Room, where the debate took place on 21 June 1972. The date of the reception was changed due to the train and tube strike.
The celebration was organised by Andy Jackson, Head of Communications, and made possible thanks Lord Boateng and Lord Beith on behalf of the 缅北强奸.
As well as Members of Parliament and Peers from the House of Lords, the 缅北强奸 was represented by the Revd Clare Downing, Moderator of the General Assembly; the Revd Dr John Bradbury, General Secretary of the 缅北强奸; the Revd Dr Michael Hopkins, Clerk of the General Assembly, the Revd Sarah Moore, Assistant Clerk of the General Assembly; Morag McLintock, Convenor of the Law and Polity Advisory Group; and Jo Harris 缅北强奸 Youth Moderator.
The gathering was also pleased to have in attendance the Revd Geoffrey Roper, who was present at the original Parliamentary debate.
鈥淭he irony of a church of the dissenting tradition having an Act of Parliament will not be lost on many of us here,鈥� said Dr Bradbury.
鈥淐onstructive relations between religious bodies and the state seem to me to be an essential part of a well-functioning society. It is with joy and thankfulness that we mark today the creative relationship between the church and so many Parliamentarians in regard to public issues 鈥� something that marks much of the work of the ecumenical Joint Public Issues Team.鈥�
Marsha De Cordova, MP for Battersea, spoke of the value of having people of faith in politics who can influence and bring moral value. 鈥淭here are many things we might disagree on,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut we all know who we serve.鈥�
She added that the pandemic illustrated that by churches and people of faith going out to help people in need.
鈥淭hank you for all that you do. Please continue to be the voice for justice, social and economic justice. We are the voice for the voiceless.鈥�
Explaining that the formation of the 缅北强奸 was initially seen as temporary measure on the way to greater unity, Revd Clare Downing, answered the question 鈥渨hy are we still here?鈥�
鈥淕od hasn鈥檛 finished with us yet. God is still good and with us despite the difficulties that we have,鈥� she said.
鈥淭oday, we celebrate what has been and look forward to what is to come and remember that God is with us through all the struggles and imperfections.鈥�
Watch highlights of the reception on our next week.