The URC is a result of the merger between the Presbyterian Church of England and the Congregational Church in England in 1972 and subsequent mergers with the Re-formed Churches of Christ in 1981 and the Congregational Union of Scotland in 2000.
Each congregations within the URC is run by a church meeting consisting of all the members, with the assistance of the elder's meeting (similar to the Scottish Kirk's session). Several congregations organize at roughly the county level to form districts, which in turn groups into provincial synods in England (national synods in Scotland and Wales). A General Assembly gathers the whole of URC to meet annually; advised by the Mission Council, they plan the activity of the URC across the United Kingdom.
Ecumenism
It is a member of the many ecumenical organizations. There are different ecumenical bodies in the component parts of the UK. In the England, these include Churches Together in England, amonst others. In Wales, the URC is a member of Cytûn (Churches Together in Wales) and the Enfys covenant. In Scotland, the URC participates in ACTS (Action of Churches Together in Scotland). Some UK wide work is co-ordinated by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. The URC is also a member of many international ecumenical organisations, including the World Council of Churches and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. It has a partnership with Christian Aid and the World Development Movement, called Commitment for Life.
The Basis of Union (http://www.urc.org.uk/manual/basis_of_union.htm)A statement concerning the nature, faith and order of the United Reformed Church
The Structure of the United Reformed Church (http://www.urc.org.uk/manual/structure_urc.htm)
United Reformed Church Act 2000 (http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/locact00/20000002.htm)The 1972 and 1981 Acts are not available at Her Majesty's Stationery Office website
The Church of Scotland (see Scotland, Church of), founded in 1557 under the leadership of John Knox, is the only Presbyterian state church established by law; however, it maintains the traditional independence from the state.
In 1810 the Cumberland PresbyterianChurch was established by the secession of revivalist groups in Kentucky; many of its congregations were reunited with the main body in 1906.
The PresbyterianChurch in Canada was formed in 1875; some Presbyterians joined with the Methodist and Congregationalchurches in 1925 to form the United Church of Canada.
Presbyterian refers to a branch of Protestant denominations derived from the Reformedchurches of the Reformantion, which share a common form of church government (presbyterian) and which historically subscribed to the teachings of John Calvin.
Presbyterians place great importance upon education and continuous study of the scriptures, theological writings, and understanding and interpretation of church doctrine embodied in several statements of faith and catechisms formally adopted by various branches of the church.
In Canada, the largest PresbyterianChurch is the PresbyterianChurch in Canada, about seventy percent of which merged in 1925 with the Methodist Church, Canada, and the Congregational Union of Canada to form the United Church of Canada.
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