Annual Meeting of Parishioners. Annual Parochial Church Meeting. Proposed by Margaret Burgess Seconded by Barbara Hawes All in favour unanimous.

Transcription

1 Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Parishioners & Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Council St John the Apostle & Evangelist Church, Watford Held on Sunday 2 nd April 2017 at 11:45am Attendance & Apologies: apologies were received from Michael Willis (PCC Secretary). Annual Meeting of Parishioners 1. Election of Church Wardens for the year 2017/ Ftr. David thanked both Robin Davis and Greg Clough, the existing Church Wardens, for all their hard work during the past year Greg Clough stood again as Church Warden:- Proposed by Margaret Burgess Seconded by Barbara Hawes All in favour unanimous. 1.3 Robin Davis stood again as Church Warden:- Proposed by Susan Jermyn Seconded by Clara Davis All in favour unanimous. 2. Meeting was closed. Annual Parochial Church Meeting 1. Adoption of Minutes of the last APCM. 1.1 Fr David apologised to all and explained that the Minutes of the last APCM could not be found. He said he recalled that there was nothing of a contentious nature in the Minutes and proposed that we adopt them when they are found by holding an extraordinary meeting in which to do so.

2 2. Annual Report 2.1 Fr David presented the report which everyone had received a copy of. Fr David asked everyone to reflect on both the areas of growth and decline in our ministry. He also pointed out that there were comprehensive updates on the different offices in the report, together with an appendix (Appendix 2) showing annual attendance at Messy Church during the past 3 years. 2.2 Fr David commended the report to the APCM. 3. Electoral Roll Report 3.1 Greg Clough said that the electoral roll was largely static and had gone up by 3, now at 63. He also commented that we were half way through the 5 year revision cycle and people who have passed on, have been removed from the register. Communicant numbers are going up, which is important and is showing that we are making marked growth. 4. Treasurer s Report & Financial Statement 4.1 Greg Clough commented that this was the second year in a row that the accounts were in draft format. Everyone should be aware that when our income hit the 100k p.a. mark, we became a charity and as such we must comply with the Charity Commission s rules regarding accounts. In September 2016 the Charity Commission published instructions (45 pages long) as to a new format we needed to use to present the accounts. Therefore we have asked Hillier Hopkins, the school s accountants, to help us in getting the accounts together in the new format. Once this is done an extraordinary meeting will be held so that the PCC can approve them. 4.2 Greg further commented that the accounts were static and overall revenue had crept up by 1k p.a. since We have to account for utilities for the hall which raises our income and expenditure. Hall revenue has gone up from 20k 3 years ago to 50k this year. We could use this to tackle fixing the church floor, however, our giving has dropped. We had a surplus of 24k last year and a deficit of 20k without yearend adjustments. We have accrued for things we are committed to at year end. Greg said that he didn t expect the surplus to change very much. We have incurred 10k expenditure this year for vicarage kitchen, sanctuary lamps and banners. We need to increase our giving to pay for other areas in need of attention. 5. Churchwardens/Fabric Report 5.1 Rob Davis reported that we took back control of the church hall from Moonglow this year and opened a school in it, St John s CofE Primary School. There are 30 children attending school and in September 2017 this will rise to 60. The school has a 3 year lease on the church hall and will be moving to a new building in Clarendon Road in August Once the school moves out we will need to decide what to do with the church hall, all ideas are welcome.

3 5.2 The floor in the church needs taking up and relaying at a cost of approximately 35-40k. The floor in the Lady Chapel and Sacrament Chapel have been oiled and with careful gluing and oiling we may be able to keep the floor in church. 5.3 Children s area is to be established at the back of church and we will put signs up to publicise this. 5.4 All the light bulbs in church have been replaced and we have hung led lights and provided additional fittings. 5.5 The organ needs a good MOT so we are raising money and looking for grants. The PCC have made a commitment that we value it, so please dig deep. 5.6 A new kitchen has been installed in the vicarage. 6. Deanery Synod Report 6.1 Please see the Annual Report and speak with Liz if you have any further questions. 6.2 Diocesan Synod Report, please speak with Robin Davis. 7. Election of Watford Deanery Synod Representatives 7.1 There were two nominations:- Jill Bennett Clive Bennett There were no objections. Fr. David thanked both Jill and Clive for standing as Deanery Synod Representatives. 8. Election of PCC Members 8.1 Fr. David thanked Gill Ashley for her time as Lay Vice-Chair. 8.2 The following were nominated and appointed as PCC Members:- Salim Darya Janice Mordue Jenny Chillingworth Michael Willis Liz Sheasby Mark Tillock Helen Langeveld Laura Tillcock Susan Jermyn

4 Fr. David welcomed the new PCC 2017/ Fr. David said that under the Church Representation Rules, Lydia Bigginton, Community Missioner, is a permanent member of the PCC. Fr. David thanked Lydia and Alex Handley for all their work with the Hub, Ark and Messy Church. 9. Appointment of the Independent Examiner 9.1 Mr Vip Patel, who has looked after St John s accounts for the past 2 years was Proposed by Greg Clough and Seconded by David Beasley All in favour. 10. Approval of Diocesan Safe Guarding Policies 10.1 Fr. David said that the Church of England had revised its historic records on abuse against children and adults. All churches need to ensure that safeguarding is up to date. Fr. David said that our training was up to date and we were in a good position. He also said that the Diocesan Safe Guarding policies are for protecting adults and safe guarding children The motion to adopt the Diocesan Safe Guarding policies was Proposed by Liz Sheasby Seconded by Alex Handley All in favour No abstentions

5 11. Parish Address Fr. David said St John s was punching above its weight and that we should feel proud of our MAP vision and objectives. We need to be thinking and refuelling ourselves and consolidate as a team so that we feel empowered. Fr. David encouraged everyone to read the MAP. We also need to grow spiritually, review our giving and start a stewardship campaign i.e. how we give time or in another way. 12. AOB none. 13. Meeting was closed. Signed & Dated: David Stevenson Vicar St John the Apostle & Evangelist, Watford.