The United Reformed Church (URC) has inducted its new moderator, who will explore “Christ's conspiracy of goodness” while in office.
Rev Neil Thorogood said the theme was inspired by a book about mission he read when beginning ministry, about the rural French Christian communities who undermined evil with faithful goodness as they protected Jews from the Nazis during the Second World War.
The minister of Thornbury and Trinity-Henleaze URCs in South Western Synod, told the Church’s general assembly on Monday that he was “very conscious of the privilege of being elected” and that he hopes to “fulfil this new chapter of ministry in ways that can be a blessing for everyone I share with”.
Born in Sydney to parents serving as missionaries in the Cook Islands, Rev Thorogood was ordained at the age of 28 in 1992. He served in Halifax and Welwyn Garden City churches before becoming director of pastoral studies and then principal of Westminster College in Cambridge.
A visual artist and writer, Rev Thorogood returned to ministry in 2020 while contributing to the URC’s prayer handbook and magazine. He also published a book, Talking Pictures, based on sketches he drew daily during the covid lockdown.
“I aim to visit many parts of the URC and discover more of the amazing mosaic of faith and action that is our life together”, Rev Thorogood said. He will also represent the URC at ecumenical and national gatherings.
Rev Dr Susan Durber, a minister and president of the European Region of the World Council of Churches, was elected as the moderator-elect for the 2027-2028 term.