The Midlands Churches of Christ

MINUTES OF THE SHEPHERDING GROUP
Thursday 4th September 2003

ATTENDEES: Warner Baker, Scott Bryden, Trevor & Maxine Dennis, Duncan & Juliette Lawrence, Jimmy (part) & Deborah Ogunshakin, Andy Torbet, Bob & Maureen Truman
APOLOGIES: Kay Baker, Clare Bryden, Helen Torbet

The meeting began at 8pm and opened with a prayer.


  Topic Action
1. Matters Arising from previous Minutes  
  There were no matters arising from the meeting of 21st Aug 2003. The minutes were therefore agreed to be a true and accurate record.  
2. Matters Arising from Meeting with Committee Reps  
 
  • AT asked that all the shepherds would encourage and assist the finance group to meet regularly and make some progress.
 All
 
  • AT would make enquiries as to the whereabouts of the projector and screen, previously owned by the Birmingham Church.
 AT
 
  • Concern had been raised that the ‘tea+coffee’ table acted as a distraction during the service partly because the ladies stayed seated at the tables. WB would encourage them to sit with the congregation.
 WB
 
  • The need for volunteers to set up and run the PA was raised (training would be given). An item would be included in the newsletter.
 Newsletter
 
  • The shepherds agreed to give some ideas for relevant topics to the teaching group. These ideas should come from discussions in the House Groups and be brought back to the next meeting so that a list could be given to the teaching group. A discussion on classes given by James Grieg in Oxford took place. It was agreed that these classes should be promoted as being of good quality and a good summary of differing theological thoughts.
 All
 
  • AT would discuss the production/availability of sermon tapes for KK with Paul Bourke.
 AT
3. Search for New Venue  
  Central venues had been investigated further. The Birmingham Medical Institute (BMI) was not open at weekends but would be suitable for midweek meetings. The children would have to be kept to rooms where no damage could be caused to displays etc. WB would enquire into costs and availability. WB
  AT reported that HT had asked ‘Marketing Birmingham’ to carry out a free search into possible venues.  
  The option of using St John’s Church in Ladywood was discussed but availability was the main concern. WB would make enquiries with the minister. Combining the church use with the community centre across the road was not thought to be wise due to the danger inherent in crossing the road. WB
  The idea of using a cinema once year was suggested and agreed.  
  MD suggested that the meeting could be held in each ‘corner’ of Birmingham once in a while.  
  It was agreed that a fast should be held to ask for God’s assistance in arranging a new meeting place. Details TBA. WB
4. Married , Engaged & Dating Couples  
  A meeting would be held on Saturday 20th September (announcement to be made in the newsletter) to address the struggles found in marriages and to help set standards for the church. The meeting will be open to all, to provide assistance to those who wished to start dating, with more specific focus groups following the main talk. Talks would be organised by the Bakers.

The use of videos would also be considered for small groups to be held in people’s houses.

 Newsletter
5. Welcome of New Members  
  The welcoming of new members during the service was agreed to have been very positive. This should continue.

The ‘party’ for the new members will go ahead on Sun 14th September straight after the service.

  
6. House Groups  
  Some general idea of size and success of the groups was collected by SB. It was agreed that the running of the groups would be appraised next month once all were back from holidays etc.  
7. Discipling – One Another  
  WB emphasised the need for one-another (as opposed to one over another) discipling and the shepherds’ example in this – we must do better!

A discussion took place regarding our conditioning to the ‘old’ ICOC ‘way’. It was agreed that we should be aware of our preconceived ideas in assessing what we say and do. Sermons should only discuss people in the light of how the circumstances glorified God; upholding people in sermons should not be done to avoid attention-seeking behaviour.

 All
8. Contribution  
  The contribution table would be set up at the back of the church on a Sunday for the collection of contribution and setting up of standing orders.

Cheques should not be made out to ‘MCC Funds’ as the bank had concerns that such cheques may find their way into an alternative account. The use of ‘Midlands Churches of Christ’ was OK. The newsletter will continue to give this information to the congregation.

  
9. Legal Spotlight  
  JO reported that a base set of documents had been prepared. JO would discuss these with other shepherds as required prior to opening the discussion up to the congregation in separately organised meetings.

JO thought that an additional document might be required to discuss how the interface with Leicester (for example) would be handled.

J&DO left the meeting at 9:10.

 
10. Youth Ministry  
  T&MD stated that they would hold an opening meeting of the Youth group on Friday 12 September at St Chad’s Church in Erdington. This would involve the teens and the proposed helpers in a planning meeting.

MD asked if money could be made available to provide some initial equipment (balls etc) for the first meeting. SB said he would provide this and suggested ‘Sports Soccer’ in Solihull as a good value-for-money shop.

Suggested future equipment may include footballs, basketballs and a set of decks for mixing.

  
11. Coventry  
  The group wished to stay in Coventry but newsletters and a letter of encouragement would be sent to them. Regular visits were also promoted. It was agreed that the newsletter should outline the current status of the Coventry group following the Ogunshakin’s decision to stop leading there. Newsletter
12. Leicester  
  DL described the discussions that had taken place over the past few weeks on how the Leicester church would be run. Voting was not complete but it looked likely that the majority wanted to be a part of the Midlands Churches of Christ. Some financial questions were still to be answered – eg how travel funds are held, how contribution money is held, tax, separate accounts, payments to YMCA etc. It was agreed that the finance group should come forward with a way of organising this for the Shepherds to agree and incorporate in the trust documents.

A celebration service in God’s honour would be held on Sun 14th September to celebrate Leicester’s second anniversary.

Newsletter
13. Any Other Business  
 
  • Doug Jacoby – a talk would be given by DJ in London on Sun 14th Sept in Cricklewood at 3pm. Announcement of this would be given on the newsletter and on Sunday.
 Newsletter
 
  • Worship schedules will be completed by SB this week.
 SB
 
  • Kingdom Kids – The need for new teachers is more prominent than ever as Ed Bailey will be heading back to London in September, the Torbets wish to concentrate on the Shepherding role and Anthony Gayle no longer wants to teach every week. The Vernon’s will be assessing the make up of the classes and will produce a suggested system shortly.
 WB/AT
 
  • SB offered a tried and tested ‘unleavened bread’ recipe for the communion.
  

Minutes recorded by Andrew Torbet

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