About Our Church
* GetInvolved*
Sunday Service
Activities
Info
* Church At Large*
:-)
|
| Minutes for the Church Council Meeting
|
| On: Wednesday 12th December at 20h00
| At: The Chaplain's Apartment
|
| Present:
| Stephen Coffin (Chaplain), David Bailey (Churchwarden), Elizabeth Cherhal (Secretary), Richard Sheppard (Treasurer), Alan and Val Golton, Suzanne Bréant, Neil Brownrigg, Alison Coulavin, Howard Diehl, Jason Kern, Dante Thomas, Penny Vincent-Sweet
| | Excused:
| Marie Colbert (Churchwarden)
|
Minutes:
| | 58.
| Prayers and Apologies (please inform Stephen or Elizabeth)
| | 59.
| Approval of last meeting's minutes & any matter arising from these (& not otherwise on the agenda)
Matters arising: Communion helpers. The wardens signature is required to co opt new communion helpers. This will await Marie’s return.
| | 60.
| Treasurer's report & financial matters
Richard said that the presentation could be given again to the church. Several bills needed to be paid in the new year and, with the approval of the council 5000£ has been transferred to the current account in order to pay pension charges.
With regard to charity giving, a long discussion took place as to how to share up the money : various suggestions and votes took place: How much to give to the Mark and Carine fund, how much for the other charities we support. Finally it was decided to give a total of €10,000 euros divided as follows:
- 3,100 Tearfund
- 2,100 ICS
- 1,100 Compassion
- 1,100 Barnabbas
- 600 CITA Burkina Faso
- 600 L'Echoppe
- 1,400 Lewis support fund (the account we hold for their needs)
Then the global deficit of the church was discussed. Howard thought that the solution was threefold :
- Prayer (private and corporate)
- Presentation in church
- Stewardship campaign
Jason thought that financial issues needed to be linked to spiritual ones. God should be able to provide, and we can’t beat God’s giving.
A fast was proposed.
Dante thought we should have a letter ready with a list of people to contact (former members, for instance).
Alan said that we hadn’t got to that point yet. Former members can be asked to contribute on a one-time basis. The current issue needs to be tackled by people who come regularly.
Howard thought that something should be proposed now, before the new year when we speak to all the church members. A day of prayer and fasting was set: the 19th..
There would be 2 times of prayer set aside on the day: midday and after work.
Richard, Stephen, Jason and Dante will prepare something to present to the church in the new year.
| | 61.
| ICS chaplains' conference 2008 in UK - Stephen & Marian propose not attending this year
Stpehen and Marian have attended the conference every year since they have been here. Fees and travel cost 1000£. They suggest not going this year, to reduce expenditure. Richard thought that they should go, because it was a good time of exchange and renewal to be able to meet with all the other chaplains.
The final decision will be made next meeting.
| | 62.
| Policies & proceedures (left over from last month)
| | 63.
| Developping our relationship with the other Churches that use St Marc's
(This was actually the first point discussed in the meeting): The St Marc’s council (ie the council of all churches using St Marc’s) has decided not to hold a 40th anniversary service this year as it was impossible to find a date. There should be a late afternoon prayer service during the flower festival weekend. The united service will take place this Sunday but in future years it will be before advent.
Stephen brought up the poor attendance from English speakers at united services, and wondered whether we should stop trying to participate in them. It was thought that participation would be higher if the service was not on the same day as the carol service (people are reluctant to come in twice), and most council members thought we should were go for it, and suggested asking that we have more english input to the service, such as songs.
St Marc’s is still trying to set up a permanence on Saturday and Wednesdays mornings. We need to find one or more French speakers willing to do this.
The united service of prayer will take place on the 24th Jan.
| | 64.
| Dates for 2008 - Annual Meeting, Proposed Events, etc.
Next CCM: 9th Jan. Next AGM: 6th April.
| | 65.
| Church vision & future
| | 66.
| Any other matters
Parcel to be given to Carine’s Mum who is going out to Burkina for Christmas.
Sunday school: discussion to be held next meeting.
| | 67.
| Closing prayer
|
|
