Dear Friends,
The Annual General Meetings for our Church were held late last month and they were well attended and stimulating meetings. Thanks to everyone who came and participated and for all the recommendations that were made to Parish Council and the ministry team to follow up.
We are particularly engaged in the areas of seniors’ ministry, SRE and Property infrastructure.
I want to commend Arya Darmaputra, Kevin Hines, Chris Main and Andree Holloway for their work in managing and presenting the finances. At both our churches (St Andrew’s and St Peter’s) we have significant financial challenges pressing upon us for the year ahead and I encourage you to read the reports that were given out and consider your own personal response to the information given and the grace of God. Throughout this year, I will be asking the wardens of both churches to make regular reports on finances.
We had a number of elections at both meetings and I am thankful to all who stood for election. So to the results!
Wardens are actively involved in ensuring the proper management of property and finances on at least a weekly basis. They also assist in managing ministry and staff.
At St Peter’s, Barrie Atkins, Kevin Hines and Jason Manning will be our 2018 Wardens.
At St Andrew’s, Ian Bannerman, Margaret Hiron and Jack Starmans will be our 2018 Wardens.
Parish Council make decisions on how money and property should be spent and used in light of the church strategic plan. They also assist the minister and staff in directing the ministry.
Our elected Parish Councillors are John Brackenbury, Bek Culbert, Arya Darmaputra, Kerry Olsen, Sharon Richards and Lindsay Schroder. There are two people prayerfully considering my invitation to join this group.
Parish Nominators are the people who select a new Senior Minister for the Parish if the current one leaves. Our elected nominators are Sarah Manning, Nicole Schroder, Derek Poole, Chris Main, Cameron Jansen.
We did not elect Synod Representatives this year as they are elected for a three-year cycle so David Busutel and Sarah Manning will continue in that role.
So we are now into the work of governing and managing our church together. Our Parish Council meetings, to which all 6 wardens and 8 Parish Councillors are invited, are shared opportunities to think, talk and pray. Our first meeting is next Wednesday and I ask you to pray for us as we meet and discuss important issues together.
I’m excited about all God is doing among us and hope you are too.
In Christ
Nigel