Annual Church Meeting 2021
Annual Church Meeting 2021 ST ANDREW’S PSALTER LANE CHURCH
Minutes of the Annual Church Meeting held on Tuesday 27th April 2021 on Zoom
1. Prayers: the meeting opened with prayer led by Rev Gareth Jones. 2. Apologies for absence were received from Josie Smith, Alison Gregg , Pat & Chris Rogers, Rachel and Michael Wildgust, Jane and David Chapman, Judith Loveman, Janet & Bob Ash. There were 46 attendees. 3. Approval of Minutes: the Minutes of the previous Annual Meeting held on 29th October 2020 were agreed to be an accurate record of the meeting and would be signed by the Chair after the following correction: Item 5 c “The report reflected changed in worship” to read “The report reflected changes in worship” 4. Matters arising from the Minutes: none. 5. Reports: reports had been sent in advance by email to members and friends of SAPLC and printed copies offered to those who requested them. Reports were tabled except those that needed comment or clarification.
Electoral Roll 76 (Joint members 55, Anglican only members 21) Methodist only members 46 Friends 26
Property: report tabled. John Cripps said the caretaker had been signed off work for another 3 weeks; we were grateful to her husband for opening and closing SH every day. A cleaner had been employed so cleaning was being done, but not as often as by the caretaker. The meeting sent best wishes to Debbie. Finance: Treasurer’s report tabled. The Treasurer said income had been £91,000, expenditure £69,000 in the 6 months covered by the report. If the planned repairs were done, he hoped to break even. He thanked the Church Administrator for doing a very good supportive job. In response to a question about the recent Giving Renewal appeal, the Giving Secretary said there had been a good response, with some very generous donations. David Body (Chair) said we depended on the work done by the Treasurer and Administrator in producing figures and forecasts, and he acknowledged the Treasurer’s contribution to the development of a strategy for dealing with the situation caused by the pandemic. SAPLC was maintaining Circuit and Diocesan contributions and charitable donations, and support to the Fir Vale Food Bank and Baby Basics, and had had generous donations from the congregation.
David Body said that the Diocese had asked for a response to its Mission Action Plan 4; a small group was drafting this, and would say that after a year of lockdown, this is a good time for reconsidering and planning. Gareth Jones said there was not yet a similar Circuit exercise.
David Body said it was noticeable how much had been going on despite the lockdown. He thanked all who prepared reports. 6. Elections.
Kweku Ackom-Mensah and Clare Loughridge were declared re-elected. (Each Steward and Warden serves for 4 years from the date of first election) [Caroline Cripps later volunteered to serve as Churchwarden]
Clergy, Churchwardens, Stewards, a Circuit representative (Katrin Hackett), 4 Circuit Co-Superintendents are ex-officio members; Methodist members can serve 6 years (but do not have to); all members are elected annually. Nominations had been received for: Bill Atherton, David Body (Chair), John Booler, Anna Calvert, Jenny Carpenter, Imogen Clout, Caroline Cripps, John Cripps, Joseph Dey, Alison Gregg, John Harding, Anne Hollows, Janet Loughridge, Peter Mitchell, Rachel Morris, Judith Roberts. All nominees were declared elected. 7. Joint Church Council: The Joint Church Council is responsible for the Sharing Agreement on the church property. The council consists of: Methodist: the Minister (or a Circuit Superintendent if the minister is Anglican), 2 Stewards and 3 members - currently Mary Kenward, Judith Roberts, Janet Evans; Anglican: the Incumbent (or Area Dean if the minister is Methodist), 2 Churchwardens and 3 members - currently David Body, Imogen Clout and Rodney Godber.
8. Renewal of licence for Quakers’ use of Shirley House for Worship. The Chairman explained that it had been agreed at the Annual Church Meeting in 2013 that the Quaker licence should be renewed every year, and this was proposed and seconded. Carried Nem Con. Gareth Jones said he had been to a Quaker Meeting (in Room 1 to allow social distancing) in Summer 2020. We would normally be having a joint service at about this time. He suggested the letter to the Quakers could also say that we have missed these joint services and look forward to reinstating them. Janet Loughridge to contact the Quakers to tell them they would be very welcome to come to the Sunday2 service on 9th May. Caroline Cripps said there was to be an Interfaith Centre meeting on “Quaker concepts of God” in October.
9, Any Other Business: none David Body thanked members for attending the meeting, and report-writers for their reports. A lot had been achieved despite the lockdown, and SAPLC was in good condition for the return to normal. 10. Concluding prayers: the meeting closed with the Grace.
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