Grenoble Church AGM: Secretary's report May 2005- March 2006

The 2005-2006 church council was composed of :

• The chaplain, Stephen Coffin,
• Elected members: David Bailey and Mark Lewis (Churchwardens) Alison Coulavin and Valerie Golton (Synod representatives), Elizabeth Cherhal-Cleverly (Secretary), Richard Sheppard (Treasurer), Marie Colbert, Frank Jenkins, John Stinton, Dan Whilhelm, Stuart Wilkins
• Co-opted members: Alan Golton (Assistant Chaplain), Claire Naylor, Joseph Agu

The council has met every month except in July and August. In addition, it has held a "brainstorming" afternoon, in June. Attendance at meetings is good, with only one or two people absent each time. The agenda and minutes are sent to members a week before meetings, and published on the church website.
In addition to the council, there are 5 hard working committees :

• Evangelism and outreach, lead by Alan Golton
• Events, lead by John Stinton
• Social, lead by Val Golton
• Finance, lead by Richard Sheppard
• Childrens' and youth work, lead by Claire Naylor

The leaders give regular reports to the council, and discuss their activites with it.

Council (church) priorities:
At the first meeting in May, the council set forth the following priorities for our church:

• Children's and youth work
• Prayer
• Evangelism and missions
• More unity and understanding between members (of many different backgrounds).

Under the leadership of Claire Naylor, the children's and youth work has progressed enormously. (cf special report). The council has appointed a "child protection officer", Alison Coulavin, and drawn up documents for child protection.

The council, after contacts with different organisations, has welcomed Sally Mac Namee to coordinate activites with students.

Prayer has been an important topic of our discussions, and after a rather slow start, we are seeing our way to organising prayer ministry after services, and a prayer chain, as well as prayer "couples" (pairs of people who pray for each other). The council thanks Norma Fogelsong and Marie Colbert for the active part they have played in this.

Outreach activites have taken multiple forms, ranging from men's and ladies' suppers to coffee shops, and coming up soon, the "night of colour" with Daniel Cozens.

The events committee has organised many excellent occasions for fellowship: dancing evenings, picnics, etc...

The council has endeavoured to give its full support to Mark and Carine Lewis, preparing to go off to Burkina Fasso on mission, and to Tilly Leuring, Tearfund coordinator in Democratic Republic of Congo. The council also decides which charities to support.

To facilitate better contacts between the council and church members, a "contact list" was set up. Each council member was given a list of "contact people", with the idea that they make themselves known, try and keep track of them , and generally be a link between them and "the church".

Very many other matters are discussed by the council, such as the budget, voting of special funds to support charities, collection of christmas presents for children at l'échoppe, relations with the Council of Grenoble Churches, setting up a "satement of puropse" for the church, the welcoming of newcomers, buying tables, setting up notice boards, ideas for decoration. This year has seen a lot of things happening, and we pray for the next council to take things forward for the glory of God and Jesus Christ.