1. Thinking of training for the Unitarian ministry or lay pastorate?

Applications for training beginning in Autumn 2016 should be received by Monday 5 October 2015. Short-listed applicants will be called for interview at Oxford on 6 – 7 January 2016. 

The Ministry Strategy Group will be holding an Inquiry Day for people who are at an early stage of considering this possibility as well as for those who are almost ready to make an application for training. There’ll be chance to meet our tutors and recent graduates. The Inquiry Day will take place at Cross St Chapel, Manchester on Thursday 6 August 2015 from 11.ooam for 11.30 start – 3.30pm finish. Booking deadline: 30th July. 

For further information on applying for training or attending the Inquiry Day please contact:

To discuss applying, please contact: Rev Linda Phillips, Phone: 020 7240 2384, Email: Rev Linda Phillips

2. Lindsey Press Panel – volunteers required

The Lindsey Press, which publishes books on behalf of the General Assembly, is seeking to expand its pool of volunteers. Skills in editing, design, and marketing are particularly needed. The Lindsey Press Panel would be pleased to hear from Unitarians with relevant expertise who are interested in either serving as full members of the Panel, which meets three times a year (at Essex Hall, with expenses paid) or in contributing to one-off projects. For further information, please contact Derek McAuley.

Lindsey Press Panel

3. Rev Glyn Pruce 

We have been informed that Rev Glyn John Pruce died on 1 June 2015. Glyn had ministries in both the UK and the USA and was for a short period (1972-73) Secretary of the Religious Education and Youth Department of the General Assembly.  He had been resident in the United States for many years, however, he remained on the General Assembly Roll.

4. Interfaith Week in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Scottish Interfaith Week

National Inter Faith Week takes place from 15 – 21 November 2015 in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Its aims are:

•Strengthening good inter faith relations at all levels

•Increasing awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society

•Increasing understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs

Inter Faith Week is a programme of the Inter Faith Network for the UK. Its Trustees hope that you will join the many faith, belief and inter faith bodies, community and voluntary organisations, local authorities, Police and emergency services,SACREs (Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education), schools, colleges, universities, chaplaincies, businesses and others who will be taking part this year.

Further ideas, resources and event information can be found at Interfaith website. 

Scottish Interfaith Week is taking place from 22 – 30 November 2015. The theme is ‘Care for Creation’. With the Climate Change Summit taking place in Paris in December, the focus is on what faiths have to say about caring for the environment and protecting it for future generations.

Further information can be found at Interfaith Scotland website

5. Diary dates – Worship Themes for Sunday Services

With the need to plan services well in advance I would highlight the following themes and resources:

2015

2016

6. Media Coverage

• Kate Taylor, who was active in many Unitarian activities locally and nationally and who recently died, received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and was pictured in the Wakefield Express

• Hull Unitarian Church  “wreath laying marks Gallipoli landing” on itv.com

• Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel in “All About Horsham”

• The Lancashire Collaborative Ministry launched a T S Eliot festival in “Lancashire Telegraph”

• Liberteas at Gateacre Chapel

• Warwick Unitarian Chapel “First Church in Warwickshire to get licence for same sex Weddings” in Warwick Courier and Kenilworth Weekly News 

• Malcolm Burns, chair of the Warwick congregation, was interviewed on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and on 28 June 2015. He can be heard at 24 minutes.

• Brighton Philharmonic Summer Season at Brighton Unitarian Church in The Argus