Synod Reports
| ALRESFORD DEANERY SYNOD |
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Minutes of a meeting held on Thursday 8th May
2008 in Ropley Coffee Rooms .
Chair - Barbara Griffiths
Welcome - Revd Norman Boakes, Revd Pat Clegg, new Synod members.
Apologies - The Revd J.Cruickshank, Lady Wakeham..........
Just10 Winchester - Presentation by Karin Ling (Project Manager) and David Williams (Christ Church)
The success of the recent "Winchester Passion" project, a co-operative effort between so many different Christian churches and groups in Winchester, left the participants asking the question "what next?". After prayerful consideration, J.John was invited to bring his "Just10" programme to Winchester. He has accepted, and from the very start Winchester Cathedral Chapter have expressed full support of this, along with Roman Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and many other Christian groups in Winchester.
Over ten weeks in Spring, 2009, Evangelist J John will be looking at the Ten Commandments and helping us apply them to daily life. Rather than being an irrelevant set of rules J John will present the commandments as an essential guide to modern life. J John believes that contemporary society is showing many alarming signs of having turned its back on God or just being unaware of His existence. He argues that the loneliness and anxiety and broken relationships that trouble many people are often symptoms of this separation. J John believes that a lot of people's understanding of Christianity is a misunderstanding. In his own inimitable style he enables his listeners to understand that Christianity is not only reasonable, but relevant and vitally important.
Just 10 will be taking place in Winchester between the 22nd April and 24th June 2009. on Wednesday nights in Winchester Cathedral. With music, video and an entertaining presentation from J.John, the 10 Commandments are presented in a positive light, showing that far from being a set of rules to oppress us, they are the key to finding freedom in life.
Week 1: How to find true contentment (22nd April) Week 2: How to hold to the truth (29th April) Week 3: How to prosper with a clean conscience (6th May) Week 4: How to affair-proof your relationships (13th May) Week 5: How to tame your temper (20th May) Week 6: How to keep peace with your parents (27th May) Week 7: How to stop driving yourself crazy (3rd June) Week 8: How to take God seriously (10th June) Week 9: How to know the real God (17th June) Week10: How to live by priorities (24th June)
J John has been described as refreshing, humorous, passionate, earthy, accessible, dynamic and most of all, ordinary. To date, he has completed thousands of speaking engagements at conferences, towns, cities and universities in 26 countries on 6 continents. One million copies of his books are in print in 13 languages.
Invitation to Churches in our deanery to become Partner Churches. Just10 partner churches have a superb opportunity to engage their members throughout - and beyond - the mission in friendship evangelism and supporting those who respond to the Gospel.
Partner Churches are asked to be committed to:
- Praying regularly for J John and the Just10 series, its organisation and impact.
- Preparing church members, encouraging them in the mission and providing friendship evangelism training.
- Pastoring all those who are referred to the church because they have responded during the meetings and providing a follow-up course, such as Alpha or Christianity Explored, as soon as the mission is over.
- Promoting Just10 Winchester within the life of the church and making the mission and its associated events their focus leading up to April 2009. Appointing and empowering a church coordinator who is given time to profile Just10 regularly and encourage church members to get involved practically.
- Providing financial support for Just10. While there is no minimum financial commitment, churches are asked to respond prayerfully to help meet the mission's needs.
Project Programme
- Just10 Winchester Day Conference with J.John on 16th September at Christ Church, Winchester.
- Just10 Winchester Launch Day: On Sunday 12th October 2008, 7pm at the Cathedral, service to dedicate and celebrate the mission coming to our city next year
- J John Carol Service: Winchester Cathedral Carol Concert hosted by J John on the 3rd December 2008.
Further details are available from: Karin Ling, Just 10 Office, Christ Church, Christ Church Road, Winchester, Hants, SO23 9SR. ...... or to Karin by email: office@ccwinch.org.uk
Deanery Administrator - advert to be placed in Hampshire Chronicle and Alresford "What's On" by BG, offering an annual honorarium of £600.
Lango Link - Barbara reported that the response to the Lango appeal had been considerably less than in previous years, and asked parishes to review their giving in support of this valuable link.
Pre-Lambeth Hospitality - Pat reported that it is hoped that Burmese Bishops (and their?) wives will be staying at Old Alresford Place from 2nd to 10th July. This Deanery has been asked to offer liturgical and other hospitality to them on Sunday 6th and Monday 7th. Offers of help in this please to Barbara.
Mission Audit - results please of Mission Audits to Phil Collins as soon as possible please. He will pass on these to Diocese at beginning of July.
New Deanery Training Officer - Sue Clarke introduced herself, and asked the parishes let her know what areas of training would be most helpful. Courses on offer at present - Lay Pastor Course, "Emmi" (every member ministry course), Listening Courses, Bible Studies, Reading in Church, Intercessors' Course, Bereavement Support Course. Happy to help with "Just10" follow-up.
Deanery Treasurer - Shirley Maunder, proposed by Revd. Clive Parnell-Hopkinson, seconded by.....? Carried unanimously. Synod's gratitude was noted for the long service given by Miss Olwen Davies in this role.
Day of Prayer - could this be an annual event, please?
Deanery "Fit for Purpose" - opportunity to discuss this at Four Marks (Church of the Good Shepherd) on the evening of Thursday 10th July.
Any Other Business: The Deanery Social Fund - Harry Verney
Some years ago Alresford Deanery Synod was given a number of Royal Bank of Scotland shares, currently worth some £ 4,200. A very depressed price, 25% down since mid-April, because of the huge rights issue - the largest ever in the UK. Price up presently 2 % from bottom but still over 56% below top now. We have only accumulated dividends in the bank of some £1200. Normally we use the accumulated dividends every 3 years or so for local charities such as Winchester night shelter etc.
Last autumn when Harry Verney took over as Deanery Finance Chair, he suggested - but did not insist on, selling these shares because of credit crunch. If Synod do not take up the extra £2078 rights, it will lose out financially. This rights issue has temporarily depressed these shares. Harry Verney's broker recommends Synod take up rights. We need money urgently - The amount has to be paid ahead of the 6th June, with time to clear cheques beforehand. Using the £1200 available and requesting loans from individuals, the view is to sell within 2 years, and to repay loans when RBS shares are at a more normal level.
Harry Verney felt that as trustees of these shares we need to diversify, and in the longer term the objective would be to sell the Bank shares when the price has recovered, to buy 3 investment or unit trusts to produce a similar income. Once this change has been made the shares could normally be held for many years. In reply to a question he emphasised that it was a single prudent long term change, not frequent share dealing, that was envisaged - also to avoid the Social Fund being in this situation again with a rights issue.
To offset this expense, Harry Verney suggested that individuals be approached to lend to Synod up to £800 for some 2 years, as an interest free loan.
Synod voted to accept Harry Verney's recommendation, all in favour bar one (an abstention - Geoffrey Beetham asked to be named).
Synod also voted unanimously that there should be three Trustees set up to administer The Deanery Social Fund.
The meeting closed at 9.35pm.
