Church Activities

PCC Minutes for June 2007 Meeting

1. Worship

The PCC read Psalm 15 together. The psalm asks who can stand in the Lord’s presence and gives the answer that no one can. Jesus is the only person holy enough to stand in God’s presence. We can only come into his presence through Jesus’ blood, through our great High Priest.

2. Apologies for Absence

Barbara Edwards acted as secretary.

Apologies were received from Paul Bury, Alistair Bolton, Linda Peacock, Ste Corner, Harry Holden. There were 27 members present.

3. Minutes of the Last Meeting (23/04/07)

There was one amendment: Item 5b Charitable disbursements should read: ‘Re the £4000 not allocated in 2005/6 a response to the recommendation of the PCC regarding Sowing Seeds Ministries has not yet been received from the mission sub-committee as the relevant meeting has not yet been held.’ It was proposed by Erik and seconded by Bob Parkin that with this amendment the minutes be signed as an accurate record of the meeting of 23^rd April. All in favour.

4. Matters Arising from the Minutes

a) Charitable disbursements

Jenny Reid, as a trustee of Sowing Seeds Ministries left the meeting during this discussion. The mission sub-committee has not yet met, but John Downs had spoken to the members and all were in support of giving the unallocated money from 2005/6 to Sowing Seed Ministries. The exact amount of this money will be confirmed when the audited accounts are received. John Downs proposed that ‘Once the audited accounts for 2006 have been received and the exact amount verified, the sum of up to £4000 of the unallocated money should be given to Sowing Seeds Ministries with an indication that this is a one off donation.’ Seconded by Neill Burgess, all in favour. The PCC also recommended that Sowing Seeds Ministries be given serious consideration when the mission sub-committee looks at the annual disbursements.

b) Just 10 Mission

The mission with J John will take place in April 2008, starting on Wednesday 23^rd April and continuing for 10 weeks in Preston Park. The tent will hold 6000 and there were 1200 people at the launch meeting at the Oakwood Centre. Phil Hillsdon, who is involved in organizing Just 10, is preaching at a 10.15 service in November and speaking at the Deanery Chapter about the mission.

c) Nave Reordering

Briefing papers about this were circulated before the PCC Vision Day. It will be a major agenda item at the July meeting.

5. Correspondence

Ray Durant, Ian Bell, Dave and Gail Roberts and John Hunt have written to the PCC asking for approval for £500 from the youth and children’s work budget to be spent on puppets and accessories. The PCC were happy to agree.

6. Vicar’s Remarks

Erik said that St Barnabas should get behind the Just 10 mission. J John is a very effective evangelist, and Just 10 has taken place in York Minster and Clapham Park. The setting up of cell groups will be a good preparation for the mission. Erik has formed a steering group consisting of Margaret Parkin, Kate Morris, Barbara Edwards, Allison Ward, Ste Corner and Erik, which will plan the structure and material of the cell groups, with a view to them starting in September.

7. Update on Schools Work

Laura Henderson arrived at this point to give an update on the current situation and future prospects for schools work in Middlesbrough, particularly in view of Laura’s departure. Laura said there were so many encouragements and opportunities. In secondary schools there were a number of youth workers from different churches. The two main gaps are in Ayresome and Linthorpe where there is at present no one to take over from Laura, though Ashley Boysen is still in Ayresome until the end of term. There may be volunteers available, but no named people at present. Prayer is needed to fill these gaps in the schools in St Barnabas’ parish.

There has been some good work done across Middlesbrough, including the NE1 football ministry, the House meeting for teenagers and the Emmaus Roadshow, but there is a need for someone to see the big picture and put people in touch with one another. It is uncertain what involvement Youth for Christ will have in Middlesbrough in the future. Erik thanked Laura for her four years of ministry and her coordinating role. It was felt that the schools work should be an agenda item at a future meeting.

8. Buildings Committee Report

Hall

9. Future of Music leadership

Erik told the PCC that no one had been found within the church who is willing to lead the choir. If the PCC wants to maintain St Barnabas’ musical tradition, it may be necessary to look outside St Barnabas. It may be possible to find someone to be part-time director of music and part time in some other role, such as schools work, pastoral care, youth work or young families work. The London School of Theology, for example, do a Theology and Music course, so such people do exist. Music is a source of division in a lot of churches, but St Barnabas has managed to avoid this by the way our music has been led. In a thoughtful discussion a number of points were raised. It was suggested that a team from within St Barnabas could lead the music, though it would be necessary for someone to take ultimate responsibility for the organization. With cell groups starting in September, people will already be taking on a weekly commitment, would they be willing and able to take on another as part of a music team? The wider staffing issue was highlighted. Should we be employing someone to do evangelism instead of music? It was pointed out that worship is evangelism, when someone new comes to church the worship is the first thing they encounter. Most growing churches feel the need to employ staff. Erik had been told that being able to offer accommodation was definitely an advantage. Should 64 Queens Road be offered to someone who could be director of music and something else? However, it would be possible to offer accommodation without keeping Queens Road. It was suggested that to have a house within the parish as a strategic base for mission was very important. The possibility was also raised of selling the house to pay for the re-ordering. It was agreed that the PCC would not make a decision about the music leadership until the next meeting.

10. Any other notified business

a) Bank Mandate

It was necessary for a formal resolution to be minuted to allow Keith Barker, the new treasurer, to be a signatory on church cheques. John Down proposed and Kate Morris seconded that, ‘the name of Keith Lawrence Barker be added to the authorized list of signatories for cheques drawn on the church account.’ This was approved unanimously.

b) Eucharistic minsters

The list of those who may administer at Holy Communion is due for renewal. The following list was proposed by Erik and seconded by Alan Cradock, all in favour: Mary Anderson Rowland Cowley, Doreen Lynas, Pauline Barwick, Barbara Edwards, Stuart Gunn, Tony Hutchings, John Downs, Bob Parkin, Margaret Parkin, Sheila Barker, Kate Morris. The list will go to the bishop for his approval.

11. Date of next meeting

Monday 2^nd July

12. Prayer

The meeting closed after a time of prayer.