ATTENDEES: Jimmy Ogunshakin, Bob & Maureen Truman, Warner Baker, Andy Torbet, Scott Bryden
APOLOGIES: Clare Bryden, Kay Baker, Helen Torbet, Debs Ogunshakin
IN ATTENDANCE: Lesrine Edwards, Paul Bourke, Enoch, John & Marilize Yorke, Donna Jarvis, Roy Arthurs
The meeting to hear reports from each committee began at 5:20pm and opened with a prayer.
LE reported that the signatories should have visited Lloyds TSB on Saturday to confirm their identity and start the opening of the account. PB stated that he was unaware of the meeting date and had already arranged a trip to Sheffield for that date. AT confirmed that the other three signatories had visited the Bank and completed what was requested. However, the Bank requires rules of the church to be presented before they will open the account or process any standing orders. It was agreed that JO would draft a short statement of rules that would satisfy the Bank’s demands by the end of the week.
Following a discussion introduced by SB, it was agreed to announce on Sunday a request for all those who wanted to contribute financially to the Church on a regular basis to note down a sum and hand this in anonymously. This would then be used to provide a working budget for the church.
LE asked that the computer in Coventry, given by the ICOC, be transferred to her house for use in preparing the accounts. It was suggested, and agreed by LE, that she ask Matt Auton and Ade Desalu for input in how to set up the accounts.
PB announced the committee team as himself, Dave & Liz Palmer, Melanie and Rita. MT put herself forward as having registered an interest in this group.
PB described the benevolence required as being both within and outside of the church. He had felt that the donation of the first £100 from the collection had worked well; the need had been announced – anonymously – and the responsibility had come upon the whole church rather than an individual. It was agreed that this method would continue to be successful as long as it was not over used.
PB asked that in less obvious issues of need, the decision be passed to the Shepherds Council so that the demands were not too great. The Shepherd asked that the committee retain responsibility whilst feeling free to ask advice from as many as required. The shepherds also felt that the committee should feel able to discharge their responsibility freely up to a threshold of say £100.
PB asked for a presentation from HOPE. WB replied that this was in hand and Ian Joseph and one of the HOPE directors were provisionally booked for 28 September (for background, refer to Minutes of the Shepherding Group 10th July 2003). Questions should be sent to JO by Friday 6th September to allow Ian time to respond and build the answers into the presentation. It was asked that this announcement be given each week in House Groups and at church up to Friday 6th September. As HOPE is a charity in its own right it was agreed that this should be made clear by announcing in ‘Poor talks’ that ‘HOPE is a charity we support’.
PB asked that they be free to carry out various fund raising events for worthy charities, not just for HOPE. Everyone was happy for this to take place. Decisions on giving to any charity, including churches in India, would be made on a basis of their objectives being in accordance with ours not necessarily over personal relationships with the organisers. WB asked if people would be happy to do the ‘Hospital Clean-Up’ as a community service, without sponsorship as that opportunity had gone (the church would need to be a Trust or a Charity to do it as a sponsored event). It was agreed that this should take place.
EG announced that meetings were taking place once a month and several proposals had been agreed (eg. dating circle, fetes). One of these, a dating circle, was described where raffles took place at £1 a ticket allowing a single man and woman plus a married couple could than be subsidised for a quality day/evening out. This was felt to be a great idea but concerns were raised regarding the use of ‘dating’ in the title. Several people asked for the emphasis to be on building lasting friendships and thus that the title reflect the word ‘friends’.
DJ also announced that, following a previous error, Bar Med had provided their facilities for free on 23rd August for a great night out.
EG passed on the committees feeling that the Shepherds had not given enough consideration to their proposals. The committee felt that they were being held back and wanted to know when this would be rectified. DJ explained that the social events were an area where the faith and righteousness of the singles men and women were being challenged each day, she asked that the shepherds factor this in their decision making. WB explained the vast array of tasks that the Council had been faced with and this matter, along with some others, had been delayed for this reason (especially in the light of a lack of funds). However, the Shepherds acknowledged that they had failed to appreciate the needs of this group and apologised for this. In this light, and due to the left over funds held by the Social Committee, the Shepherds commended the ideas put forward and asked them to push on with them.
DJ announced that the group (including DJ, Greg Broad, Celia and others) had met to discuss meaningful ways to worship and also the organisation of this.
DJ asked that a request be made for people to help out with putting out the flowers, setting up the backdrop, PA, ushering and setting out and collecting chairs. It was agreed that Glen should announce this and a monthly rota set up. This would be given a month to see how successful this was and if the uptake was poor some system of rotating the duty around House Groups should be imposed.
To address the needs in the service it was agreed that:
JO asked that the midweek meeting, held on the last Friday in the month should announce forthcoming plans and needs.
JY announced that the trip to the British Museum and the British Library would take place on Saturday 2nd August. A coach was to be laid on and the cost would be £15 per person. JY asked that at least one of the shepherds be present and that the trip be announced at all House Groups.
The first lesson at the midweek meeting would be based on an article called "What do you need to be saved?" Paul Holloway would present this article. JY asked that funding be made available for the distribution of the article, possible in House Groups the week before.
JY expressed concern at the recent lack of focus on Jesus in the recent Communions. This was noted and the need for more biblical focussed communions would be impressed upon those giving the talks.
Paul Holloway had asked a number of people what the teaching should focus on. The top categories were Holy Spirit, ‘Biblical’ Archaeology and Church History. Teaching days had been suggested for one Saturday in a month where food would be provided. JY suggested that the committee, the Shepherds and anyone with keen knowledge in a particular issue should present sections of these days.
JY announced that he would be willing to teach House Group leaders how to conduct a Biblical tour around Birmingham Museums. It was agreed that this would be useful for future House Group outings and should take place.
A question was raised regarding past church doctrines that had been found not to be correct. T was generally felt that the passages used were correct but that overdue prominence or emphasis had been applied to certain scriptures. JY suggested using the scriptures in "Guard the Gospel" but not the prescribed format.
PB gave apologies for Allison who was unable to attend due to ill-health.
A meeting would take place at George and Marion Vernon’s house on Saturday 19th July. Results from this would be fed back to the following shepherds meeting.
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 7pm with a prayer.
Andrew Torbet
(minute taker)