MINUTES OF SEEDFIELD METHODIST CHURCH
GENERAL CHURCH MEETING
Sunday 29th April 2007
Mark Roper in the chair, 45 members present.
1. Opening Devotions
The meeting opened with a hymn, reading (1 Corinthians Chapter 13 Verses 1 to 8) and prayer.
2. The Purpose of the General Church Meeting
Mark Roper explained to members the purpose of a General Church Meeting. ‘The meeting shall be held for fellowship, for mutual counsel respecting the condition of the Local Church, including its financial affairs, for the election of Stewards and Representatives and for any other purpose which the Conference may direct’.
3. Apologies for Absence
These were received from Rachel & Frank Carr, Heather Denney, Alison Poytress, Paula & John Wroe, Will & Elizabeth Layfield, Sue Sharples, Chris Morecroft, Jean Arnold, Fiona McKernan, Rhoda Brough, Louise Westwell and Caroline Jones.
4. Minutes of 2006 General Church Meeting
These were signed as a true and accurate record.
5. Matters Arising
Reports – Unfortunately for practical and environmental reasons reports were not printed in the Messenger prior to the meeting. It is proposed that for future meetings a copy of the reports and minutes of the last General Church Meeting will be made available for members at the back of church at least a week prior to the meeting. Group Leaders/co-ordinators are therefore asked to ensure the Church Council Secretary receives their group’s report on time.
Communion Plates – One of the old communion plates still remains in church. Lesley Frost agreed to remove this.
6. Receiving of the Written Reports & Conversation on the Ministry and Witness of the Church
Written reports were distributed at the meetings (copy attached) and are available on the church website. Additional hard copies will be available at the back of church for the next few weeks.
Treasurer
Christine Jones was remembered as a fellow church member and for all the hard work she had put into her role.
Jem Wood talked through the half yearly financial summary sheet (Sept 06 – Feb 07) and Treasurer’s report.
The church currently has nearly £85K in the savings account as a reserve.
There are to be some changes to the amount of tax church can claim back from Gift Aiding. This will reduce from 23% to 22%. Jem Wood will speak to John Wroe about this.
Envelopes are being distributed to key group members asking them if they wish to put anything in the budget.
Jem Wood said he would value any further questions on the Church’s finances and if necessary he will put an article in the Messenger replying to these.
Jem was thanked for his work and prayers said for him and Christine Jones.
7. The Appointment of Church Stewards
Assistant Senior Steward’s Role – Janet Vipond reported that having 2 joint Senior Stewards this year had worked well as this enables them to share the work load. The Stewards are therefore continuing along this line, with a Steward serving as Assistant Senior Steward for 1 year and then carrying on for a second year as Senior Steward. This will allow a rolling programme of training for the new Assistant Senior Steward to learn from the Senior Steward who has served the previous year.
The following nominations were received for Church Stewards:-
Sue Sharples – Steward
Brian Sharples – Steward
Richard Hulbert – Trainee Steward
The meeting was all in favour of the following members being appointed to serve as Church Stewards:-
Stewards – Janet Vipond (Senior Steward), Lesley Frost (Assistant Senior Steward), Ken Jones, Phil Denney, Elaine Wood, Catherine Layfield, Mark Walsh, Rachel Carr, Sue Sharples and Brian Sharples
Trainee Steward – Richard Hulbert
Reserve Stewards – Lynn Lightbown, David Poytress, Clare Clow and David Roscoe
8. Election of Representative to Church Council
For churches with over 49 members there should be not less than six Representatives nor more than fifteen elected annually by the General Church Meeting. Core Group Leaders act like Representatives to Church Council at Seedfield. No further nominations were received this year for Representatives. Denise Johnson is willing to continue to serve as a Representative to Church Council the meeting was all in favour.
9. Election of the Leadership Team
Annually one member of the Leadership Team steps down and this year Brian Sharples agreed to do this. Janet Vipond will serve on the Leadership Team for a second year as Senior Steward. Next year it is planned that the new Senior Steward will take up their position on the Leadership Team.
Janet McKernan was nominated to join the Leadership Team.
The meeting was all in favour of the following members being elected on to the Leadership Team:-
Heather Denney, Ken Jones, Janet McKernan, David Roscoe, Janet Vipond and Jem Wood
10. Appointment of New and Existing Core Groups
Janet Vipond read from 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 where Paul likens the church to the human body.
We are one body united in him. He is the head we are the body, we work together as one unit in different roles.
God arranged the parts in the body just as he wanted. Everyone has a part to play, according to our specific roles and gifts for the good of the whole body. What is your role?
God intends for us to have equal concern for one another, valuing people’s roles, working together for the glory of Christ.
Please also read the (Leader)ship’s Log in the May/June issue of the Messenger
Two new core groups are being set up to fill gaps in vital areas of church life
Communications Core Group – over the years effective communication channels have often been lacking and many people have expressed concerns that they don’t know what’s happening in the life of the church, who does what, people to contact etc. Hopefully having a communications Core Group will help enormously with this and bring together a wide range of means of communication already happening as well as open up the way for better communication channels in the future. Clare Clow and Cath Hulbert have taken responsibility for setting this up.
Hospitality and Catering Core Group – Although there are many people already regularly committing their support and organisational skills in this area, we want to make it more formal and have a core team to take ongoing responsibility for organising supplies for regular refreshments and become the contact for arranging any special hospitality and catering arrangements. Val Simpson has agreed to co-ordinate this group but does however need at least one other co-ordinator to support her.
These two new core groups were passed at March Church Council.
Both the Youth and Mission + Outreach Core Groups are being revamped to better meet the needs of the church and community, and build on the hard work of the March Mission and Outreach Team (passed at March Church Council).
At the moment David Rigby has kindly offered to continue co-ordinating the Mission + Outreach team. If anyone feels called to be involved in the evangelistic work of Seedfield in the community and want to join this group then they should see David.
Core group leaders/co-coordinators are presently required for Pastoral, World Mission Support and Social Activities teams. The recommendation is for 2 or 3 people to lead/co-ordinate every core group if possible, to share the responsibility and work load. If you are interested or have gifts in any core group area and would like to be involved, please contact relevant core group leaders or if you are willing to fill core group leader/co-coordinator gaps, contact Janet Vipond.
Please see the attached Core Group Overview Chart and Organisational Structure for further details
All the core groups are represented at Church Council and each core group has a Steward Representative on the group.
11. Annual Agreement of the Church’s Safeguarding Policy
The Church’s Safeguarding Policy needs to be agreed each year. Mark Roper read out the policy and the meeting all voted in favour of accepting this. Copies of the policy are up in various places around church for reference.
David Rigby has arranged for all key holders to complete key holder forms. These will now be passed to Mark Roper for filing.
CRB checks should be finished by the end of summer. This has involved 50-60 of our members being checked. There will be an ongoing requirement for CRB checks as new people start to work with our children.
A short form will need to be completed by those appointed to an office/duty/responsibility within church to say that they are aware of the church’s Safeguarding Policy. This process will commence after the summer.
12. Any Other Business
Thomson Local Directory – It was pointed out to the meeting that Seedfield does not have an entry in the Directory but other Methodist churches do. Janet McKernan will contact the publishers and enquire about the possibility of Seedfield being included in future editions and any cost implications this may inccur.
Organ refurbishment – The church organ is shortly due to be refurbished. Material has been purchased to make a new curtain. If anyone feels they are able to make the new curtain please could they see David Rigby.
13. Closing Devotions
The meeting closed with a hymn and everyone sharing the Grace.