| ATTENDEES: | Scott Bryden (chair), Marilyn Dean, Jimmy Ogunshakin (from 7pm) and Andrew Torbet |
| IN ATTENDANCE: | Andy & Tammy Fleming |
| APOLOGIES: | none |
The meeting began at 6.55pm and opened with a prayer.
| Topic | Action | |
| 1. | Approval of Previous Minutes | |
| The Minutes from 12th October were presented and duly signed by Scott Bryden who acted as chair for that particular meeting. | ||
| 2. | Matters Arising | |
| The handout on the Cooperation Plan to be circulated on 6th and discussion of the proposal to take place at the congregational meeting on the 20th. Leicester church to circulate the handout - already forwarded - and to be invited to join Birmingham's meeting on the 20th November at 7.30 p.m. at Ladywood Centre. | SB/MD | |
| AT attended the "Road Show" on child protection issues and has information for any who would like to see it. AT to forward a tracking document for those within MCoC who had CRB checks and when they are due for renewal. | AT | |
| Further to our previous decision, AF to find out the procedure for the church to pay the $6.00 per member to Disciples Today. AT will then arrange for the transfer of funds. | AF/AT | |
| AT informed the meeting he is investigating the IT requirements for the office. | AT | |
| AT will be transferring £40,000 into a one year fixed term deposit account. | AT | |
| 3. | Shepherds Items | |
| Special Missions Contribution - Ian Toothill, Trustee for the Edinburgh church, in formed us that the £400 set aside to help Ben Brady is not needed by them. MD to reply to Ian Toothill. In relation to the Special Missions Fund, AF informed the Trustees that he is awaiting a proposal from the Glasgow Church fellowship for support. | MD/AF | |
| 4. | Finances | |
| Monthly spreadsheet - October not yet available | ||
| A preliminary analysis of giving and expenditure for the 2 congregations from 2003-8 was presented. Further discussion to take place at the next budget meeting. In the meantime a clearer breakdown of the finances including the GAD receipts and Savings Interest received will be produced to assist in the discussion. When the financial model is decided it was agreed that the Trustees should meet with the Leicester Leadership Team to discuss it and its implications. | MD | |
| 5. | Employment of Staff | |
| Employment of Judie Vasey as admin assistant: Final contract was received with amendment. Document to be circulated by email and ready for Judie to sign on her first working day, which is confirmed to be 4th January 2010. MD noted that a very favourable reference had been received from her previous manager. MD said she would be available to work with JV the whole of her first week. Early priorities would be her familiarisation with all the current financial systems along with the Child Protection Policy and our dealings with the UKBA. As previously resolved, she will also coordinate both the Compliance Schedule and Staff Handbook. At least one day in the first week would be spent with Tammy Fleming to prioritise new tasks for the benefit of the Birmingham congregation. |
MD | |
| SB confirmed that Andy Flemings Staff Appraisal had been completed and provided signed records for filing. | ||
| 6. | Legal Matters | |
| No new matters. | ||
| Prospect of converting (MCoC) to a Company Limited by Guarantee Previous minutes suggested this item be covered on a reading day. | ||
| 7. | Any Other Business | |
| Leicester Venue and Child protection issues: the meeting was made aware of an internal document from the Leicester YMCA which indicated that after the present refurbishment of the living space, the priority clientele would be "ex-offenders, people with mental health problems, homeless as a result of domestic violence, homeless through drug and substance abuse, asylum seekers, people working in the sex industry". It was agreed that MD should seek confirmation of this policy with the CEO but that the Leicester church should seek a new venue immediately. In the interim, measures should be put in place to ensure that no contact and certainly no relationships are formed between the residents and the children or vulnerable adults. All children must be escorted at all times when they are out of the main assembly hall. | MD | |
| Joey Stearns (formerly of HOPEYC) is arriving to spend a further 3 months with the church at his parents' expense. He will be spending time with the youth and it is agreed that he shall have the benefit of a bus pass and train travel cover and a pay-as-you-go phone while he is here. AT to check with Stewardship what reasonable steps may be taken in relation to CRB checking. | AT | |
| Book and Tape Ministry: If anyone would volunteer for this work, the Ministry could be restarted. A notice to be placed in the Birmingham Bulletin seeking interested disciples. AT still has contacts with Wesley Owen, which can prove advantageous both to the congregation and the individual running the Book and Tape Ministry. | ||
| Facebook page: It was suggested that social events run by the church or by individual disciples might be announced on a Facebook entry. The page could be set up and managed by any interested member of the church. | ||
| 8. | Date of Next Meeting | |
| Reminder: Annual Budget meeting is set for 7th December. |
Marilyn Dean
For Church Secretary