The Midlands Churches of Christ

Statement on the Introduction of Trustees

21 March 2004

Background

On Friday, 13 February 2004 a Presentation was made to the Church. The Presentation was essentially, a Report from the Council of Shepherding Couples, the Finance Committee (which was given by the Church Accountant) and some of the other Committees. We believe it was successful, at least to the extent that, the Church was brought up to date with what was going on within the Council.

At that stage, a vision was laid before the Church of how we were to move forward. This Announcement is intended to up date with the progress made on matters raised at the Presentation.

Decision

At a Shepherding Group Meeting held on Monday 15 March 2004, it was resolved that the following course of action should be proposed for Consultation with the Church:

• Derek & Carol Edmondson, Liz Palmer and Vicky Redgrave should be nominated to join the Shepherding Group.
• Scott Bryden, Trevor Dennis, Jimmy Ogunshakin and Andy Torbet be nominated as First Trustees of the Church. We will announce four other co-opted Trustees as soon as their names are known. We hope one of those four nominees will be an active member of the Leicester Church (MCC) in order to represent the aspirations of our sister Church.
• The Draft Trust Documents will be on display to the public at the end of today's Service.
• Bob & Maureen Truman cease to be Shepherds of the Church as from 31 March 2004.

It is hoped that, should there be no objections to the above proposals, it will have the following effect to the current Church Governance structure:

• Warner & Kay Baker, Trevor & Maxine Dennis, Duncan & Juliette Lawrence (Leicester), Andy & Helen Torbet will remain in the Shepherding Group.
• Warner & Kay Baker will however, devote more time to the leading our Kids Kingdom. The Dennis' will continue to oversee the Youth Ministry and Helen Torbet will continue in her role as Church Secretary.
• Ade Desalu who has arranged for the Church Finance & Administration to be run from a Church office in the Highfield Area of Edgbaston will continue to administer and manage the Church Financial affairs with Lesrine Edwards and Helen Torbet assisting him in that function.
• Scott Bryden will cease to be a Shepherd as soon as he is appointed a Trustee of the Church.
• Jimmy Ogunshakin will continue to be Legal Counsel to the Church but will not at this time, remain in the Shepherding Group.

This Decision to proceed as set out above, has become necessary due to the fast changing nature and the challenging environment in which current Shepherding Couples find themselves solely governing the Church. This was far from what the Shepherding Couples intended last July 2003.

Summary

Once Trustees are appointed they will legally become responsible for all Church affairs and will therefore be responsible for how the Church is governed. The Trustees will however work in partnership with the Shepherding Group and the Church Accountant will be accountable and report to the Trustees of the Church.

The Church will arrange for all Trustees to receive formal training to prepare them for their office. It is hoped that without any delays envisaged, a Trustees Group should be in place for 1 May 2004. At the same time, the new Shepherding Group will be reconstituted to take office on the same day.

If you are interested in becoming a Trustee and you are certain you have the commitment and dedication of time to give to running the Church, please contact anyone of the current Shepherding Couples.

There will be a period of 7 days in which to register your objections to any of the above proposals. Please contact any of the current Shepherding Couples or write to the Church at the Highfield Road address (details from Ade Desalu).

Finally, we would like to thank Bob & Maureen Truman for their service to God and to His Church and we wish them the very best for their future endeavours.

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