6th SYNOD and AGM
The 6th Synod of The Unitarian Christian Association took place at Norcliffe Chapel Styal on Saturday 1st March 2008. In line with the constitution the Rev. Chris Wilson stood down as Moderator after a period of office which saw the resurgence of the Association.

The Rev.Alex Bradley was unanimously elected as Moderator of The Unitarian Christian Association. Alex Bradley is currently Minister at Knutsford and Styal having previously been Minister at Enfield and Barnet, Bethnal Green and Newington Green.

The Association is looking to cement it's place in the Unitarian Free Christian movement and is looking forward to more growth during Alex's term of office.

The new Officer group is as follows :-

The Rev. Brian Cockroft Honorary President

The Rev. Alex Bradley Moderator

Ken Howard Clerk

The Rev. Andrew Parker Membership Secretary

Sandra Wilson Treasurer

The Rev. Chris Wilson Chaplain

The Rev. Jeffrey Lane Gould Events Officer

The Rev. Jean McNeile Retreats Officer
Catherine Fozard Membership Development and Publicity Officer
The Rev. Colin Campbell NSPCI Representative

UCA members and friends are invited to join the congregation of Bury Unitarian Church on Friday 16th May 2008 at 7.30 pm for a TAIZE SERVICE to be held in the church at Bank Street, Bury, Lancashire. This gathering will focus on the themes of WhitSun, and will include some new chants, as well as those already known to members and friends who attended the service last November. The evening will enable the congregation to welcome Unitarians and Free Christians from all over the Greater Manchester area, and it will possibly extend hospitality to members of some of the town centre churches. If you have yet to attend a Taize service, please know that it is a simple ceremony involving the repetitive singing of short chants (sung in English, Latin and other modern languages). Silent prayer is offered, in addition to short, spoken prayers, along with one text of scripture. The origins of the Taize tradition date back to the Second World War, when a Swiss Protestant lay person, Brother Roger, established a small community in Vichy, France. He desired to hold worship that would include people, regardless of their denominational affiliation, and which would allow for freedom of thought and expression. If you have any questions or concerns about the service, please speak with the minister, Jeff Gould (tel. 0161 764 4925).

The 7th Synod of the Unitarian Christian Association will be held at Unitarian New Meeting Church, 31Ryland St., Five Ways, Edgbaston, Birmingham,B16 8BL, on Saturday 2nd August 2008 at 2pm.