Minutes:

• children's and youth work
• prayer
• evangelism and missions
• more unity and understanding between members (many different backgrounds)

• Chairman: Stephen Coffin
• Vice-Chairman: David Bailey
• Secretary: Elizabeth Cherhal-Cleverly
• Treasurer: Richard Sheppard
  

• Alan Golton, Joseph Agu and Claire Naylor's names had been proposed
  

• 4) Improving pastoral care of members to make contact with and follow a dozen members/families to see if they need help or support, or had issues to be addressed. This was thought to be a good ideas, and other suggestions were made, such as, in addition to the welcome cards, have some sort of a roll call or a register passed in every pew. It was feared this might put people off. There is a fine line between being caring and being interfering. It was considered that this needed more thought, and should be rediscussed later.
• 7) Youth and children's work. How to put our statement (that this is a priority) into practise? More support must be given to the children's teachers. One way of doing this is getting someone out (from scripture Union) to train the teachers. Currently the idea of doing this together with the church in Lyon is considered.
• 8, 9) equip church members to have a deeper relationship with God. The importance of home groups was stressed, and also "doing practical things" such as the food bank.
• 10) Outreach, and "mission shaped church". Encourage initiatives like the coffee shop, and further look into the idea put forward to the last council of a christian community centre.
• 12) Rising numbers (thank God!). The rising numbers in certain services brings back the second service proposal. It has been proved that having 80% of the avialable space occupied will put people off. For the time being it is thought that more space could be made, for instance by having the drinks set up in the foyer, and putting out more chairs on the top there. The rota now contains two welcomers, one of whom will have the job of showing people to spare seats, and getting more chairs put out if necessary.
• 13) How to encourage people to give more? Making people aware that the church really relies on their donations to be able to go on, and even more so to grow, is important.
• 14) Jim and Reagan Brown have proposed to do a church members directory with photos to help people recognize each other. This is encouraged.
• 15) Our beliefs: This came up in the youth group, and it was thought that something more than the creed would be usefull. Stephen will prepare a statement to be discussed.
• 16) ICS Morzine seasonal ministry: Stephen and Marian have been going up to Morzine all through the season to hold services there. This was in reply to a demand of some local english speaking christians up there. Recently less people have been attending, and they wonder whether they should carry on? It was suggested to first talk to ICS. David Bailey proposed that Alpe d'Huez might be a good place for a new english speaking service to be set up.
• 17) A monthly welcome meeting has been suggested, perhaps a little meeting after the service to specially welcome newcomers.

• Evangelism: Actually the committee only met once as Alan has been away for a good part of the year. One decision was the men's supper which has been a success.
• Events: The events commitee has 6 members, who come and go. The committee meets 3 time a year to plan ahead, the system seems to work well.
• Social/catering: The commitee needs more members to help with meals in particular. They also need more tables, and have decided to buy them in England, a system called "Gopak" which are very convenient to fold up and stack, and less expensivve than anything found in France. This will be paid for half by the catering commitee's funds, and half by the church. The social committee would consider this as a loan and be able to pay it back.

• Review of Auction of Promises after 10h45 service: This was a big success, and made 4000E.(?)
• Review of Fundraising Supper held at the Castellan Restaurant: Rather less people came this year than last, but it was held for the third year running. However those who did come had a very nice evening. There were more "outside" people invited also.
• 13th-15th May – Church Away Weekend at Champfleuri: help is needed for the organization. Elizabeth has volunteered to help Stephen.

• International Student Worker: Bob Dawson from friends international came to visit 15th-17th April. So far there has been one enquiry, but no definite applications. It is explained that the church would be expected to provide housing and social security for this student worker, and that ICS would pay the rest.
• Howard & Dona Diehl, missionaries with International Teams, coming from USA to work with us: It is explained that they want to work with us while they learn french, and then maybe go on to do some other work. The church is not expected to pay for their expenses.

• Mark & Carine Lewis & Anaelle, exploring missionary service with SIM: Many new and exciting developments since the last meeting!! A meeting has been held with the coordinator of SIM, Alain Soudrain. SIM is organising a group going to Burkina Fasso in August, and proposes that Mark and Carine go with them. This should give them a first hand idea of what missionary work really is.Mark and Carine weren't thinking of this, but are keen to go, if they can raise the funds. They also should go to the missionary orientation course in Switzerland in july (is it fortunate that this course is before the trip to Burkina Fasso). The total amount of funding needed is about 5000E. Mark was rather reluctant to get up in church and ask the congregation for contributions. Marie Colbert, who has experience of mission work said that he would have to do that at one point. It was stressed that, where older people are prepared to give to "anonymous" charities, younger people give money to people they believe in. It was unanimously decided to put it to the church, see the reaction and whether people would be prepared to sign a pledge with a card.(This has now been done). If the Lord wants them to go this way, the money will be found.