St. Luke s Church, Hedge End Annual Parochial Church Meeting Incorporating the Annual Meeting of Parishioners Sunday 24 th April 2016 7.00pm 1
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL (ALSO KNOWN AS TRUSTEES) OF THE PARISH OF HEDGE END ST. LUKE Annual Report for Year Ending 31 December 2015 Administrative Information This Annual Report was approved by PCC (Trustees) on 21 st March 2016. The Parish of Hedge End St Luke is part of the Diocese of Winchester within the Church of England and is located in the Eastleigh Deanery. Bank: Co-operative Bank, Kings Valley, Yew Street, Stockport Independent Auditor: Sara Coe The Parochial Church Council continues to have an income of above 100,000 and so maintained its Charity Commission registration during the reporting period. St Luke s has the Charity Registration Number 1142990. Reserves Policy It is the policy of this church to hold in reserve the equivalent of one month s general running costs. When future work projects have been decided and prioritised, it is further hoped to allocate reserves to cover projected costs; this process to be reviewed annually. Structure, Governance and Management The method of appointment of Parochial Church Council members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to PCC. Guidelines on the role and responsibilities of PCC and Deanery Synod Representatives are available from the Church Wardens. Membership of PCC (also known as Trustees) During the year the following served as members of the PCC: Incumbent: The Revd Fiona Gibbs (Chair) (ex-officio) Assistant Curate (Associate Minister): The Revd Jeff Williams (ex-officio) Assistant Curate: The Revd Alison Crane Licensed Lay Minister: Martin Phillips (ex-officio) Lay Vice-Chair: Roger Adams/Alan Dean (ex-officio) Churchwardens: Roger Adams & Alan Dean (ex-officio) Assistant Churchwardens: Sue Phillips & Paula Johnston Treasurer: Anne Taylor Secretary: Maria Fraser Representatives on the Deanery Synod: Geoff Poulton, Melvyn Plaw and Chris Duff Elected Lay Members: Rosie Adams, Mandy Dean, Denis Elton, Nicki Short, Matt Grove, Hayley Richens (ordinand), Dave Gibbs, Roger Spink Note. Ex-officio means unelected these people are members by virtue of their position in the church including all Licensed clergy in the parish, Readers, Churchwardens and Deanery Synod Representatives. Co-opted PCC are able co-opt people onto PCC. Co-opted members have the same voting rights as elected members. 2
Objectives and Activities St Luke s PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the vicar in promoting, in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC operates through a number of Sub-Committees that meet in between PCC meetings. These Sub-Committees were reorganised to: Finance: Work included overseeing the income and expenditure of money as well as advising on the efficient use of church funds. It also makes recommendations to PCC on how our annual charitable giving is distributed each year. In 2015 the charities we supported were Fledge, CAP and Release International (for 3 years) and Tearfund, Hopeweavers and Streams in the Desert (Open Gateway) (one-off payments). Ministry Leadership Team: The MLT continued to meet throughout the year. It is made up of clergy, licensed lay ministers (LLM s formally known as Readers), and those seeking vocation through with an active ministerial leadership role in leading and preaching. Hayley Richens began training for ordination at Sarum college in September 2015. The MLT reviewed and recommended worship initiatives. Meetings involved discussions around Alpha, pmap, Hopeweavers, general ministry subjects as delegated by the PCC. Building: Work included overseeing the planning and costing of a regular maintenance programme for the site including ensuring all necessary periodic inspections of equipment were undertaken. It formulates a rolling five-year plan of larger maintenance of all buildings following quinquennial reports and presents expected costs to PCC. Two major projects were completed during 2015 - the Audio system was updated and the kitchen was upgraded. The planned fitting of the new carpet in the worship area had to be postponed from November 2015 to February 2016 due to a manufacturing fault in the carpet ordered. Thanks must go to those who have overseen these major projects in St Luke s. Youth and Children: Work included the overseeing and support of all groups working with children and youth. Matt Grove became the Volunteer Children and Youth Worker in September 2015. Management of the church s Child Protection Policy continues to be monitored by the Vicar and PCC. Matt spent considerable time putting policies and procedures into place and ensuring all children and youth groups were resourced and supported. A successful Messy Church trial took place in December 2015 and we envisage this continuing into 2016. An Open the Book was developed and trained in readiness to take assemblies in both primary schools in the parish. Mission/Outreach/Social (including pmap): Work included planning and organising church social events. It also supported the organising of food, refreshments and venue layout for other church events. Mission/Outreach/Social co-ordinated with outside groups such as Street Pastors and Churches Together in Hedge End, West End & Botley. Work included overseeing activities that promoted the spread of the gospel in the parish. The HOTS (Healing On The Streets) initiative commenced with active engagement from St Luke s. Contact was made with the charities and mission partners that the PCC support. The parish held it s bi-annual Weekend Away in April 2015 with theme of Being Empowered. The Archdeacon of Bournemouth was our speaker. A group from St Luke s attended New Wine in July. The parish hosted a very successful Summer Fayre in 2015 that was to replace the Christmas Fayre trialled the previous two years. It drew in many people to St. Luke s and thanks must go again to Rose Spink and her team of willing volunteers for having the vision and drive to make this event happen. We continued to run our film nights each 3 rd Friday of the month, thanks to James Turner who has coordinated these. Films chosen are thought provoking and there is a chance to chat about the film afterwards over refreshments.. St Luke s continued to oversee the contact with and support of the church s mission partners abroad as well as local groups. We continued to support the 3
link with Bukedi but there was no active participation in 2015. We continue to pray for our CMS link via Sarah, our link partner. Jeff Williams visited the Diocesan link with Myanmar earlier in the year and Janet Compton travelled to Ethiopia. We have heard reports on these visits in Sunday services. Development of our parish mission initiatives have taken shape through our pmap document, notably addressing the four strategic priorities as listed below with the activities we have already developed in 2015 alongside them: SP1: Growing authentic disciples We have developed a teaching programme to include teaching on spiritual gifts; led a Study Group; held a Summer Fayre; encourage individuals to develop a Rule of Life; planned an Alpha course; further developed schools ministry through open the book ; SP2: Re-imagining church We have continued to prayerfully discern our part in Gods mission in the Boorley Green housing development; we have looed at developing ways that we promote current activities for all age groups, including through social media and local notice boards; SP3: Being agents of social transformation We have continued to build relationships with other local Churches; we have continued to support Street Pastors, Christian Aid and forged a commitment to pray for local and national issues, both privately and corporately; we have worked on our plans to open a community café in the church building to become a meeting place for all age groups and we will develop and project manage a walk through for youth; we are looking into offering free meals during the school summer holidays through make lunch ; we have looked into appointing a Families and Community worker in partnership with a local school; SP4: Belonging together in Christ We have continued to encourage a greater participation in the Parish giving scheme; we have looked at ways that we can financially support overseas mission and communities; we have continued in our commitment to charitable giving and the common mission fund; we have responded in conjunction with Christian Aid, to support crises around the world as they arise. The pmap group has worked enthusiastically and tirelessly throughout the year and we are excited about future developments in years 2 and 3. Thanks must go to Matt and the team for their stirling efforts in co-ordinating a dynamic mission action planning and implementation process. Standing Committee: comprises of Vicar, Associate Minister, Churchwardens, Treasurer and two elected members of PCC. The Standing Committee is authorised by the PCC to make decisions on behalf of PCC as and when necessary. Church Attendance As at 31 December 2015 there were 133 members on the Church Electoral Roll. 40 live inside the parish boundary and 93 live outside. The average weekly attendance counted during October 2015 was 96 adults and 19 children. 4
Review of the Year 2015 has seen the development and action of the pmap. Please see information above and separate leaflet for full information regarding our mission and outreach initiatives and plans for the next two years. The Churchwardens and Assistants have had an over-arching ministry which co-ordinates not only maintenance and mission but pastoral responsibilities too. As a church we have been able to meet our financial commitments. However, we all need to be mindful of our own financial commitment to the church as a way of growing in our discipleship as well as providing resources for sharing God s kingdom with others. In September we held our second Gift & Giving Day that raised funds for St Luke s. There was a generous response to the Gift and Giving day and a few people were able to give of themselves in other ways to further the mission and ministry of the church. We continued to highlight the benefits of the Parish Giving Scheme and encouraged those who are not yet part of it to consider it. This is a way that simplifies collecting Gift Aid for the parish and we receive it on a monthly basis instead of at the end of each year, which helps our financial planning. We do not, however, have the financial reserve that we need, so we need to continue to walk in wisdom and prayer as we seek God s Kingdom and all He wants us to achieve in the next year. Ongoing ministries through the Sub-Committees and other valuable and essential groups have continued and are reported elsewhere in the annual report. The PCC have continued to develop its responsibilities with regards to evangelism, mission, pastoral care, finance and fabric. Work continued with the Building Sub-Committee undertaking remedial work in order for us to have a building in good repair where we can gather on a Sunday and at other times to worship God. We are planning other improvements for 2016 (seen within our pmap) to enable us to continue to have a fully functional building that is regularly used by the community we serve. This not only provides valuable income that is used for God s work, but also provides a wonderful Christian witness in the area. Developments, Events and Initiatives There have been successful gatherings and events held during the year that have been a time when the church family have come together socially and were also an opportunity to invite family and friends to join with us. As well as our on-going Tuesday prayer meeting, we also meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for Morning Prayer and to pray for the parish and each other. This has been a valuable time of holding the parish, nation and world before the Lord. The church is planning its bi-annual weekend away in April 2017 at Sidholme in Devon. Chris & Margaret Duff informed us that they were stepping down from organising it but Michael Crutchley has taken on this responsibility. Thanks go to all three of them. A highlight of 2015 was the inauguration of Hopeweavers as an Anglican Religious Community. There was a special Gathering service on 6 th December where the Bishop of Southampton, The Rt Revd Jonathan Frost, came and presided and officially established the Anglican religious community. Thousand Lights hosted the worship and celebration cake was enjoyed afterwards. I would like to thank everyone for their continued support as we seek to live God s mission in Hedge End. We are excited by our pmap document and what an effect that will have as we live it out in our parish and community. May we constantly remain in-tune with the Holy Spirit as we listen, discern and move forward in our mission and outreach. With love and prayers 5
Rev Fiona Gibbs (Priest in Charge) On behalf of PCC (Trustees) 6