Church Council Report - 19th October 2009

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Church Council Report - 19^th October 2009

Reports:

Stewards  Jean Bowman has agreed to act as a temporary steward in place of Michael Bayliss who is undertaking voluntary work in Thailand. The welcome service for our new Superintendent Minister (Rev Jackie Betts) was held at KMC. It was agreed that there would be no evening Service on Sunday, 27^th December 2009 and that the Covenant Service would be held on Sunday, 10^th January 2010.  Arrangements are to be made for Rev Dr Andrew Fox to lead the Café Church in February on “The New Atheists”.  All are encouraged to attend.

Finance The Treasurer presented the General Account for the previous financial year (2008/2009) together with a Budget for 2009/10, a revised Budget for 2009/10, and a first draft of Budgets for 2010/11 and 2011/12. This was in response to the request from the previous Council Meeting for the Finance Team to “produce a plan and budgets for the next few years to enable a longer term view to be taken, and to consider seeking additional increased Giving to also cover the building up of reserves”.

Regarding 2008/09, Giving had increased from £90,000 in 2007/08 to £100,000, and Income overall was up by over £10,000 on the previous year and ahead of the 2008/09 Budget by around £7,000.  On the Expenditure side, the costs of running the premises rose by £3,000, mainly due to higher energy costs.  However, Expenditure overall was down by £4,000 on the previous year and ahead of the 2008/09 Budget by almost £1,000. Consequently, taking into account grants received for Lay-worker costs, whereas reserves fell by £10,000 in 2007/08, they rose by £6,000 in 2008/09 to £45,500. Council formally approved the accounts for 2008/09, subject to final audit.

Council also formally approved the Consolidated Return for 2008/09, subject to final audit.  KMC will need to submit a summary of the 2008/09 Accounts to the Charity Commission later in the year.

The Budgets for the next 3 years were then reviewed. The Budget for 2009/10 had been amended in the light of the recent Gift Day, the response to which was an increase in regular Giving of around £13,500  and one-off donations of around £10,500 (both figures including related Gift Aid).  This was also factored into the Budgets for the following 2 years.  Notwithstanding the Gift-Day response, the Budget figures revealed that reserves in August 2012 would be only £26,000 (£20,000 lower than now) which was regarded as unacceptable.

A number of matters were considered in detail by Council;-

The District Advance Fund (DAF) grant for Lay-worker costs was £12,000 in 2009/10 and this had now been received.  Future grants were uncertain, and District now requires a review of all Circuit Lay-Worker costs. However, Council felt this was an important area for KMC to continue with, and approved the proposal to recruit a replacement Youth Worker for the next 3 years (Ruth Parker had left today).

Council then discussed the Connexional Funds and Outreach budgets in some detail. Spending in these areas was reduced in 2008/09 to help balance the Budget. Council agreed to keep the Connexional Funds spending to the same level as 2008/09 - £5,460.  Council also agreed to fund Outreach by £1,000, and the Outreach Committee were asked to consider different ways of securing further funding (e.g. one-off appeals, retiring communion-collections, etc.)

It was agreed that the Connexional Funds and Outreach budgets would be reviewed at the Council meeting in June 2010 in the light of more definite information regarding the Circuit Assessment, Lay-Worker costs, and the DAF grant decision, all of which are subject to uncertainty at this time. Subject to this, Council formally approved the 2009/10 Budget.

Property  The Conservation Officer has continued to object to our request for glass doors to the front of Church and, therefore, the application has finally been withdrawn.  Council agreed that the church’s wooden doors can be opened whenever either the administrator or caretaker is present in the building. This will mean putting locks on the inner glass doors and the door at the top of the tower to ensure security.  Much maintenance work continues to be carried out.  Council agreed that the library can be relocated to the prayer room (room 3) in order to have greater use and to free up much needed extra storage-space.

Young Church  The key issue is to recruit a replacement for Ruth Parker. The Minister outlined the proposals for a full-time Youth Worker, to work half-time at KMC and half-time at the Welcome, if relevant grants can be secured.  The work of the Youth Worker at KMC will be the discipleship of young people in the 11-14 and 14 – 18 age-groups, the development of midweek activities and Sunday evening youth work, oversight of Sunday Morning activities, planning and delivery of youth worship and youth outreach events, leading youth groups to ECG and other youth events and work at the High School.  A Job Description and Person Specification are to be finalised.  It is hoped to conduct interviews in December.  Council agreed with these proposals. Until the appointment is made, Alison Maynard is to work flexibly and look after TNT.  Others will step in for Sunday mornings. Youth Celebrations are happening every two months or so.  People are giving very positive feedback and seem to enjoy the Celebrations immensely.  The young people themselves love leading the Celebrations.

Pastoral   Membership currently stands at 314.  25 people were estimated to have responded to the “Back to Church Sunday” initiative, and many continue to attend.  Funerals were lower than in most years and there had been no baptisms this year.  Council agreed that the next Men’s Breakfast can show “Willow Creek” videos in the Hall from 8.30am to 10.00am.

Church Family  Pre-School are under constant pressure to provide an outside play-area.  This term numbers are very low and it is only just covering its costs.  TOTS have now become bi-monthly with most events happening during the daytime at a weekend.  An average of 24 attend the weekly Tuesday Afternoon Fellowship, which is still a very strong group with a very high level of mutual caring.  Daphne, Michael and Marion Barker hosted another very successful and enjoyable church family picnic in July, enjoyed by around 60 people.  Photocopying and binding of Open Doors is still very time-consuming so more volunteers are welcome.

Outreach   Peter Richards explained how the Committee operated to determine the allocation of funds available to them from the General Fund. Whilst this had been reduced, the giving to outside organisations was augmented by coffee mornings and special collections. A schedule was provided showing funds raised for outside organisations, by these various means, was over £10,000 in the last year. Some of the funds raised, however, were not known to the Finance Committee so the Outreach Committee was asked to try to co-ordinate and so keep track of all fundraising. The Outreach Committee was also asked to make recommendations for the use of the Christmas Gift Day funds.

Circuit:  Wesley Cottage had been completed and the Rev Jackie Betts was now in place as Superintendent.  Prayer Groups are happening across the Circuit.  The Golf day raised £760.  Further fund-raising events are planned as follows: Bowls Day, Swimathon at Wilmslow, Auction of Talents.

Any other business: 

“Hope in God’s Future”, recently accepted by Conference, has been recommended to the church for consideration and action as our response to the challenge of climate change.  It is to be discussed at the General Church Meeting.

The General Church Meeting Agenda will include reports from Finance, Stewards, Lay Workers and a presentation on “KMC Response to Climate Change”.

Dates of next meetings:

General Church Meeting: 16^th November 2009

Church Council: 22^nd February 2010