PCC Meeting Minutes

Questions live – This was the evangelistic event discussed by Melvyn and Ali.  There had been no take up for the first event and since then life has been too busy to pursue it.

Ali and Alan are discussing a possible online Alpha course in September.

Ali

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APCM – Melvyn has spoken to Archdeacon Richard about the APCM as he would like to hold it before he leaves.  The Archdeacon confirmed that legally it must be a face to face meeting.   Currently we have up to 31 October to hold the APCM but the Archdeacon thinks this date will be put back further, so it may very well happen after Melvyn has gone.

Annual Report – The Appendix (which contains the reports of church groups) to the Annual Report will be sent to PCC in the next couple of weeks.

Report of the Trustees – Helen reported that she had liaised with the Auditor to tidy the financial statements, which appear in the Report of the Trustees.  This is the formal part of the Annual Report and it was approved by the PCC with the completion on page 4 under “Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities” of the sentence “The Trustees met on six occasions in 2019 with an average attendance of 96%”. Proposed by Helen Cracknell, seconded by Chris Gledhill and carried unanimously.

Interregnum preparations

Melvyn asked if there were any items of concern that need to be addressed now.  He has already been asked to make a ‘’List of things only Melvyn knows”, which he has started.

Once Melvyn leaves, the Archdeacon becomes legally responsible for the parish but day to day is the responsibility of the churchwardens.  Ali will be responsible for ministry and will work together with the church- wardens.  Chris will take over as PCC Chairman.

There was discussion about home groups, which are seen as very important.  Of Melvyn’s Monday group David and Jenny are moving away and Daphne and Graham are stepping away so the group is thinking about the future.  Their final meeting is in July.

Steph and June are stepping down from the Wednesday ladies’ group and Greg from one of the Monday evening groups, so there are a few gaps.  Melvyn will see what those groups want to do and he, Ali, the churchwardens and the Ministry Leadership Team will discuss to try and sort this out soon.

PCC members should let Melvyn/Ali know of any other issues/concerns re: the interregnum.

 Melvyn/ Ali/

Elizabeth/ Chris

All

Ministry Leadership Team Reports – Having previously been circulated, these reports were received by the PCC.

Church Weekend Away – It was agreed that Helen will refund all but deposits, which will await the refund from Kings Park Conference Centre.  People will be asked how they want the monies to be repaid.

 Helen

Safeguarding report

Nothing to report.  Alex asked what she should be doing and Melvyn suggested she keep an eye on social distancing.

Treasurer’s Report – Helen reported that, as usual, expenditure was exceeding income and this was because of the missing Sunday plate offerings.  We hope this money will come in when we resume.

The prime expenditure is on incidental things like ink cartridges/Zoom licences/Churches Together subs.

Chris will cancel his Zoom licence at the month end, which will leave two.  There is nothing else we can save on.

Chris

Signatories/New accountant – Chris has been trying to track down Duncan Wright at Mill Road Baptist Church without success.  Melvyn will pass on the contact to Chris if he has it.

Sally just needs permission to get on line and Helen will be contacting her.

Kings Park Conference Centre have asked if Gleneagles would consider a donation to their crisis fund.  They raise money for the Northants Association of Youth Clubs and we already pay subs for affiliation.  Concern was expressed as we could get many such requests.  It was suggested that if we find ourselves in funds we’ll consider this in the future.

Melvyn

Helen

Post lockdown and re-imagining church

Ali has been discussing this and boosting Gleneagles’ presence over social media, but it is too early to make more plans.

Ali confirmed that she is maintaining a good relationship with Redwell Primary School and had taken workbooks about moving up to senior school for Year Six pupils to them today.  The school is still sorting itself out and it is too early to ask them about our use of their hall.  Churches can’t meet anyway.  In July Ali will try and have a conversation with the head.  The school bubbles plan may mean the school doesn’t use the hall, but if we can’t go back we need to think about what we do.

The Social Club Committee will still not allow Gleneagles to use their hall on a Sunday morning as they’re usually fully booked then.  Melvyn thinks they’re ok financially and talking about reopening in July.  The club is non-profit making so they have room to manoeuvre with quite a big reserve fund.

Ali

Hope into Action – update

The HIA team is doing well with supporting and encouraging the tenants while social distancing.  KP feared losing his job.  He was furloughed but has now gone back, been promoted and given a rise.

Churches Together in Wellingborough held a Zoom event on Saturday when James from the Daylight Centre and Maria spoke.  Not many people took part but it was a positive meeting.  The new chairman, Gwen Mtambirwa, is trying hard.

Wellingborough Borough Council has made two Daylight Centre buildings over to the community on a 99 year lease.  This is a brilliant reserve but it needs financing in the future.  Maria reported that James said they need to change going forward, which may mean big improvements.

Chris asked for weekly prayer requests for the Daylight Centre and Street Church to continue.

Deanery Synod has not met for a bit but Melvyn believes they’re trying to do something like a Zoom meeting.  Katharine Reade is stepping down as secretary in June, which may be the reason this hasn’t happened yet.

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Other Business

Parish Boundary – Melvyn explained that when Gleneagles became a parish in 2013 and the boundary was set, it didn’t include the whole of the new development.  At the time, Simon Dommett, the Vicar of Harrowden requested that Redhill Grange stay within Harrowden for the time being as otherwise Harrowden wouldn’t have many houses in its parish.  Once developed Redhill Grange and Glenvale would all come into Gleneagles parish because they would be part of Wellingborough and Gleneagles is the Wellingborough parish.   Melvyn had consulted Tony Lynett who was Rural Dean at the time.  We need to talk to Archdeacon Richard about this as it’s a big legal exercise, so Melvyn will start the conversation with him.  Melvyn is not sure if we have anything in writing.

Chris pointed out it would have been Archdeacon Christine’s time.  We need to get this documented for the sake of the new vicar.  Melvyn will copy in the churchwardens.  The PCC agreed that if we’re supporting those moving into Glenvale we need to clarify who is in which parish.

Melvyn

Possible Church of England School in Glenvale

Both the planned schools are in Harrowden parish, which adds to the need to sort out the parish boundary.

It was agreed that a church school is a strong asset to have.  The decision is in the hands of the Regional Schools Commissioner but the bid needs to be put in by the Peterborough Diocesan Educational Trust (PDET).  Melvyn has asked Alex and Greg if we need to do anything else at the moment.  In answer to a question from Elizabeth, Helen confirmed that we can still be involved if the school isn’t in our parish.  Melvyn thinks that by the time they open both schools will be in Gleneagles parish.

The PCC approved a proposal to make it clear to the PDET that we would be very interested in supporting a new primary school as a Church of England school in the first phase of the new Glenvale Estate.  Proposed by Heidi Ellson, seconded by Elizabeth Holbrook and carried unanimously.

 Melvyn

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At this point Melvyn and Ali left the meeting.

Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Lay PCC and Building Management Team joint meeting 10 June

June had pointed out the lack of a statement about what we’re doing with the Building Fund.

The PCC approved the following proposal – “We resolve that the Building Fund also is paused and church members be given the opportunity to cancel their standing orders and that as a PCC we give thanks for those that have stood behind the project financially, including the eBay shop.  Proposed by Elizabeth Holbrook, seconded by Carolyn Beck and carried unanimously.

At this point Jeremy joined the meeting.

Parish Profile

The final draft of the words had been circulated in advance.  Elizabeth and Jeremy are meeting with Rob on Thursday to look at the design.  After a short discussion Elizabeth suggested that the meeting accept the wording of the Parish Profile.  Proposed by Chris Gledhill, seconded by Carolyn Beck and carried unanimously.

Elizabeth and Chris thanked everyone for their parts in what had been a tremendous process.  Chris also thanked Jeremy and Elizabeth for driving it forward.

Elizabeth

Jeremy