At our July meeting, we discussed our “Away Day” and our training programme and will have material for both by the Autumn. We noted that Kevin is now preparing his doctorate, based on his current ministry and on the topic:- “What is the shape of a Messianic Community in the 21st century?”
He circulated leadership questionnaires for the elders to study and respond.
Ann Birch advised us that the Kaleidoscope training programme for junior church leaders will be relaunched as CORE in the Autumn and condensed into six self-contained units. There is, separately, a day conference on 30th September. We have had no direct positive response from those approached over the past few weeks and are still concerned about the future of Junior Church.
Questions about eldership have been included in the July newsletter and Fred will co-ordinate responses in September.
In September we noted that, over the Winter and Spring, our Elders Meetings will begin with a training session for 25 minutes, based on the URC Elders Training Programme. We will begin a new study programme, “Speaking up for Jesus” and will have two groups studying in parallel so that every elder can attend one such group.
We discussed the Church Meeting the following week and added to the agenda a report on Junior Church and the retirement of Ann Birch as Convenor and also Kevin’s Ministry Doctorate Thesis.
We noted the progress of the Development Project and that the refurbishment had drawn many positive, appreciative comments. New chairs have been chosen for the hall and are the subject of a grant application.
We needed a new representative to Synod and Marion McClurg volunteered to undertake this.
Fred Milligan, Secretary to the Elders.
|
