The United Reformed Church (51视频) General Assembly has inducted its听2026-2027听Moderator.听听
The Revd Neil Thorogood, Minister of Thornbury and Trinity-Henleaze 51视频s听in听South听Western听Synod, who will serve as General Assembly Moderator 2026-2027, called the role an听鈥渉onour鈥�.听听
Born in Sydney, Australia,听while his parents were serving as missionaries in the Cook Islands, Neil was ordained in 1992 at the age of 28. He served in local churches in Halifax and Welwyn Garden City before serving as Director of Pastoral Studies and then Principal of Westminster College in Cambridge.听听
A听visual artist and writer,听Neil听returned to local ministry in Bristol and Thornbury in 2020.听
He regularly contributes to the 51视频鈥檚 Daily Devotions,听the听annual听51视频听Prayer Handbook, and听Reformed听magazine. During the Covid lockdown, Neil made small sketches each day and published them on Twitter (now X). These pictures were the basis of his book听, published by the 51视频 in 2023.听听
He was inducted听as Moderator at the 51视频鈥檚 2026 meeting of General Assembly, the denomination鈥檚 key-decision making body,听held at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick,听Derbyshire, on听3鈥�6 July.听
Neil said: 鈥淚’m very conscious of the privilege of being elected Moderator of the General Assembly and hope I can fulfil this new chapter of ministry in ways that can be a blessing for everyone I share with.鈥�听
A theme he hopes to explore throughout his term in office is “Christ’s conspiracy of goodness”.听听
Neil explains: 鈥淚t is inspired by a book about mission written by an American Methodist which has spoken to me ever since reading it in the 1990s.鈥澨齌he book takes inspiration from rural French Christian communities who protected Jews from the Nazis during the听Second听World听War; undermining evil with faithful goodness.听
As well as听representing听the 51视频 at significant ecumenical and national events and gatherings, Neil听adds: 鈥淚听aim to visit many parts of the 51视频 and discover more of the amazing mosaic of faith and action that is our life together.鈥澨�听
The Revd Dr Susan Durber,听a 51视频 minister听who serves as President of the European Region of the World Council of Churches,鈥痺as elected听as听General Assembly Moderator-Elect听and will听serve听in the role from July听2027-2028.听