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The Synod met in hybrid form, a majority being physically present at Augustine United Church in Edinburgh on Saturday 16^thSeptember.

Revd. Paul Whittle, Synod Moderator, led the opening worship which included his Moderator’s address. Reflecting on Acts 2:42-47, Paul referred to ‘Walking the Way’ and the URC’s emphasis on ‘holy habits’ as a great way of discipleship. Paul referenced the ten holy habits mentioned in Acts 2 and the ways in which they might be adopted that had been described in Andrew Roberts’ book ‘Holy Habits’.

He produced the ‘Walking the Way’ foot and made available again the ‘mini feet’ prayer reminders that had been offered a few years ago. Paul indicated the wide variety of approaches that can be drawn from the notion of holy habits and, as a further example, cited Michael Frost’s book ‘Surprise the World’. Frost points to five missional behaviours that can provide a good way of engaging in discipleship. These are blessing others (perhaps a word of encouragement, an act of kindness or random gift-giving), eating together, listening (primarily to God, but also to other folk), learning (studying the Jesus way), and being sent (seeing yourself as a missionary in your neighbourhood).

Synod business included the usual range, but notably the welcome of Lindsey Sanderson as Synod Moderator-Elect, the welcome of four folk (Helen Garton, Lesley Thomson, Derek McDonald and Alice Gilbert) to ministry posts, an agreement to the union of Coatbridge and Wishaw churches and the adoption of new articles for the Synod trustees.

The keynote speaker was Karen Campbell, the URC’s Secretary for Global and Inter-Cultural Ministries. Karen is an accomplished poet, and interspersed her address with several of her poems. She spoke powerfully and challengingly of the experience of being a black British woman, and the feeling that has produced of not really belonging anywhere. She then linked her personal story with an account of how the URC has tried to begin the journey of addressing the legacies of transatlantic slavery, citing the apology read and agreed at General Assembly 2022, and recognising its importance to colleagues in other parts of the world. She also spoke of the challenge of working towards being an anti-racist church. Karen’s words were challenging and difficult, but really important and much appreciated.

As the meeting drew towards a conclusion, a ‘surprise’ presentation was made to Paul to mark his three years as Synod Moderator, which will conclude at the end of 2023 – and closing worship was led by the Revd. Fiona Bennett. Fiona reminded us that we are on a journey, God’s journey, that involves all of us, a fact that was symbolised by every church being mentioned within the worship.

The day could be summarised as an encouragement to engage again with the Synod Aspirations, perhaps especially the first of these: “We are an active Christian community which responds to the UNCONDITIONAL LOVE of God through celebrating the Christian Story in ways that bring meaning and hope to life. We seek to support each other in faith and doubt through caring community.”

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