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| Annual General Meeting (AGM) Minutes (DRAFT)
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| On: Sunday 25th March 2006 after the Service
| At: St Marc's Church Centre
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-----------BEGINNING OF THE MINUTES------------------------
Minutes:
| | 1.
| Apologies
Apologies were given from several people, including David Bailey and Marie Colbert. Several people had asked for an “email vote” for the church council.
| | 2.
| Electoral Role Officer
Alan reported that there were 55 people on the electoral roll. As soon as the AGM was finished, the roll could be opened again for next year.
| | 3.
| Minutes of last year's meeting to be approved
The Minutes
were approved.
| | 4.
| Report on Church Council
The secretary's report
Stephen gave a short summary of the activity of the church council during the past year. He offered a few explanations and thanked everyone who had been on the council the previous year.
| | 5.
| Church Wardens Report
The Churchwarden’s report
Mark Lewis gave a short summary of the churchwardens’ report. He insisted on the fact that the ICG had left a gap in our membership, particularly in the Sunday schooland youth work. He made comments on the very good impression the wardens (who are also the Bishop’s representatives here) had got when they had the opportunity to meet with Bishop David earlier this year. He insisted that the church was a family and that everyone had a role to play. He personally could not stand for another year as warden as he and his family are going to Africa. He stressed the need to pray continuously for the church, and encouraged all thos who want to go forward.
Marian Coffin remarked that the church inventory needed to distinguish between church property and individual property kept in the church.
| | 6.
| Church Wardens Election
David Bailey is standing for his 6th year of office as warden. According to statutes, this is the last time running he can be elected, although he may stand again after a break. Marie Colbert is standing for the first time, but she has served on council twice.
Jen Bateman asked (as both candidates were excused from the AGM) if they actually agreed to stand. The procedure was explained, and yes, they did. Both candidates were duly elected by a unanimous vote.
| | 7.
| Synod Representatives Report
The synod representative’s report
Alison gave a short report on the synod meeting. She stressed the fact that it was difficult to pastor a large diocese. She was interested to hear different reports at the meeting, and especially one from SIMIAC (a group of african pastors within the anglican church), and reported the presence at the synod of 6 women priests and deacons. An ongoing concern of the synod is that there is not enough money to pay a full time Archdeacon, and so the job goes to someone who already has a parish to run.
| | 8.
| Financial Report
Richard Sheppard presented the church accounts, which had been approved by the auditor
The present auditor is willing to continue the job next year..
He reported that financially the church had not had a bad year. Our income has been fairly stable, but would have been considerably lower than in 2005 had it not been for a substantial donation made in December. This accounts for the large balance that month.
The church’s expenses have risen, and this year will see them rising even more. This is mainly due to the Chrurch of England pension fund which is increased by 20%.
Charity giving this year amounted to 19.800E, but 7200E were carried over from 2005, making the real amount for 2006 12600E.
We anticipate that 2007 will be quite difficult, with the ever present movement in population.
Stephen thanked Richard for his amazing work, and the considerable amount of time spent on it. He answered a few question pertaining to the rent for the building, and our sahre of cost to its upkeep.
| | 9.
| Accounts and Reports
A report on our children's & youth ministry
Tony Vessa gave a short report on Sunday School. He said the programme was solid: a new curriculum called “fruit of the spirit” had been brought in. We all need to pray for someone to be called to coordinate, as he was shortly going back to the US. We need to pray for the teachers, who are getting worn down. There are four teachers in all, and they teach every other month, and also for a french speaking teacher, as there are more and more small children not at all fluent in english.
| | 10.
| Church Council Election
There were 9 candidates for 7 places on the council (the number is fixed by the AGM, but the change cannot immediately take effect). The following candidates stood for election: Suzanne Bréant, Neil Brownrigg, Elizabeth Cherhal-Cleverly, Howard Diehl, Jason Kern, Richard Sheppard, Dante Thomas, Gloria Ugonwali, Penny Vincent-Sweet. There was a vote “à bulletin secret”, but the result was too close to be proclaimed on the day, as 5 people has asked for postal (email) votes.
After the postal vote results had come in, the following were elected: Suzanne Bréant, Neil Brownrigg, Elizabeth Cherhal-Cleverly, Jason Kern, Richard Sheppard, Dante Thomas, Penny Vincent-Sweet.
| | 11.
| Chaplain's Report
The Chaplain's report
Stephen commented his report: this year had been a big one for people moving away. Many people moved on (or back) to other countries, and 12 families moved to the ICG. At one point, our membership had halved, a bit like a body with an arm or a leg cut off. However, recently many new people have come in. He expressed his appreciation of the contribution Howard and Dona Diehl, missionaries with International Teams, had made to our church family. He stessed the fact that we need to give all our support to the Lewis family going to Burkina Fasso on mission and to Tilly Leuring, Tearfund coordinator in Congo. He ended byt thanking us all for our support to him and Marian and that he was happy to share in this remarkable church.
| | 12.
| Amendments to Procedures
Monserrat Mané proposed that the number of church councillors be increased. It was pointed out that number of people on council is already high compared to the number of people on the electoral roll, and explained that more people could be coopted on to the council if necessary.
| | 13.
| Miscellaneous
Jon, Gloria, Mark, Dante and Howard gave various testimonies about their confidence in our church to go forward and further God’s work. Mark asked us to bear in mind that we were privileged to come and worship without fearing persecution, and reminded us of christians in other countries who were not so fortunate.
| | 14.
| Meeting's end
The meeting ended in prayer.
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Next AGM Meeting:
| | March or April 2008.
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