APCM Meeting Minutes 2024

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Elections

Dawn advised the congregation of the current ruling for elections, which is that, if there are the same number of applications for each post as there are available positions, then there is no need for a vote and the applicants are automatically appointed.

Election of Churchwardens

The Chair thanked Helen Cracknell and David Wells for all they’ve done over the past year to challenge and support her, and she gave them each a gift.

• Both Helen and David have stepped down from churchwarden leaving two vacancies.
• Matt Ellson was elected as Churchwarden.
• Elizabeth Holbrook was elected as Churchwarden. She has stepped up from being a lay PCC member and Assistant Churchwarden.
• Both Matt and Elizabeth had been proposed and seconded previously and were automatically appointed.

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The minutes from the last APCM were agreed by the majority at the meeting, however, some had not been at the APCM in 2023. Dawn will sign and file them.

Deanery Synod

Deanery Synod reps normally serve a three-year term. The current term is until 30/06/2026. However, new rules since 2020 allow them to stand for two terms before stepping down for at least one term.

• Heidi Ellson is stepping down from Deanery Synod.
• Helen Cracknell has stepped down from Churchwarden and reapplied, and been appointed as, Deanery Synod rep.
• There remains one vacancy.

Election of PCC Members

PCC members can serve up to three years. Several of the existing lay PCC members have served three years and so needed to step down; A few other members have stepped down during the year; Elizabeth is now Churchwarden (ex-officio member) so no longer a lay member; this left seven lay vacancies. Four of these have been filled by:

• Sam Carew.
• Louise Harrison.
• David Wells.
• Ruth Wium.

Each of these had already been proposed and seconded and were automatically appointed.

There are three lay PCC vacancies that can be filled next year.

The new PCC is more representative of the church’s new population, increased area, and new goals.

The duties are split as follows:

• John Gilyead is responsible for DBS, training, and safeguarding.
• Amanda Allen (Parish Administrator) is responsible for Safer Recruiting. If someone moves into a role Amanda collates their applications, references, etc.

Lis Wells thanked everyone for their contributions over the year.

Questions arising from the Finance Report:

• Q.  Biblically, giving should be private and personal. Who is party to the information regarding people’s donations?
• A. Through the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) only the amount shows on the statement; if paid direct into the bank account, only the people who look after the account see it;
  • Gift Aid is claimed through PGS if the giver is a taxpayer and has completed the relevant form. It can also be claimed on any loose cash in the collection box, but not if it is in an envelope. Gift Aid (an extra 25% of eligible giving) is paid into the bank account.
• Q.   Why are the payments received from Ignite not showing?
• A.   Lis will investigate.

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Dawn reminded everyone that we are the body of Christ, and each have roles to play.  She said that she loves being part of Gleneagles church (Now known as North Wellingborough Anglican Church), the congregation and staff, and feels privileged to work among us.

She reminded us of the passage given to her when she was preparing to join us 3years ago – Isaiah 37. This was a prophetic vision for Israel when it was written, but equally applies to us aqs a church locally and the church nationally. We were the “remnant” as we came out of recession. 2023 was year three, a growing year.

Song of Songs 2:11-12 was a new prophetic word given to Dawn this past year – See! the winter is past; …..the season of singing has come,…….. The Church of England has been in decline for 70 years and it can feel dismantled. We are experiencing birth pains as God reforms us – we are in a reformation era.

Reflecting on 2023

What a year it was for us:

·         There has been a growing desire for intimacy with God and new people attending regularly.

·         There has been a greater engagement with Redwell School.

·         Easter, summer, and Christmas successes.

·         Reshaping of Connect groups and their purposes.

·         Glenvale School is to be designated as a church school.

·         Alice finished her internship and has moved on.

·         We welcomed Ben and Livvi as our new curates.

·         We came to the decision not to continue with the plan to reshape All Saints church building.

Since the end of 2023 the parish boundaries have now changed, with Glenvale Park coming wholly within Gleneagles as Great Harrowden were unable to support their portion of it and, with effect from 1^st May 2024, we are now legally “North Wellingborough Anglican Church” to reflect this. We now encompass Gleneagles, Glenvale Park, and Redhill Farm estates. Redhill Grange remains with Great Harrowden as part of their parish.

As our church now has a new name and boundaries, we will be choosing a new church logo over the next few weeks.

Connect Groups

How do we best enable each other, support each other, encourage each other? This was a major focus last year when we were reforming our Connect groups. Our Vision, to “Connect with Jesus, Connect with each other and Connect with the community” led to the goal of everyone caring for everyone else, praying, studying, and allowing the Spirit to shape our lives, which became the new basis for Connect groups. What God calls us to do looks different at different stages of our lives; it inspires us to keep seeking Jesus in all that we do; it means different things to different people according to their circumstances. Some people attend every meeting whereas others can only attend socials where we share hospitality with one another.

Questions about the APCM reports

• Q.  Can we invite someone from outside of the church to join our connect group?
• A.   Yes, but some groups are becoming very big and may need to split into two groups.