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MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ROMSEY CHURCHES HELD IN THE URC CHURCH HALL ON TUESDAY, 10TH FEBRUARY 2004 AT 7.30P.M.

 

1

Welcome and Devotions

The Reverend Terry Hinks welcomed the twenty-two people who attended the meeting.  He then read a passage from Luke 11 which encourages us to pray and to be persistent in prayer.  This was followed by prayers for the meeting and for the work of The Association of Romsey Churches.

2

Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Reverend Geoff Floyd, Reverend Cate Irvine, Mrs Barbara Knight and Mrs Julie Reeves.

3

Minutes of the previous AGM held on Tuesday, 25th February 2003

These were circulated and signed as a correct record.

4

Matters arising from the minutes

There were no matters arising.

5

Chairman’s Report

There is a copy of this report attached in which Terry expressed his thanks to Gill Watkin and to Michael Fielder for their work as secretary and treasurer respectively during the last year. 

After the report had been read, Reverend Canon Neil Crawford-Jones, on behalf of those present,  expressed thanks to Reverend Terry Hinks for his year as Chairman.

6

Treasurer’s Report

Mr Michael Fielder gave his report, a copy of which is attached.  The final balance for the financial year is £450.39 as shown on a statement received after the meeting.

In answer to a question after the report was read, it was confirmed that expenditure for the Christmas Cards and Romsey Advertiser advertisements were dealt with separately.

7

Election of Officers for the year 2004 – 2005

The following officers were elected unanimously for the coming year:-

Mr Alan Robinson as Chairman

Reverend Geoff Floyd as Vice Chairman

Mr Michael Fielder to continue as Treasurer

Mrs Elizabeth Robertson as Secretary

8

Any Other Business

After a recommendation from the Reverend Iain Stephenson, it was agreed to donate the collection from the United Service held in the Abbey at the end of The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to Alabare Christian Care Centre.  This was felt particularly appropriate as there is a house in Romsey which provides accommodation and refuge for homeless people.

It was noted that there is a Third World Café every third Friday morning in The Methodist Church Hall. 

 

After refreshments provided by The United Reformed Church, Mr Alan Robinson welcomed the speaker, the Reverend Paul Finn who spoke on The Nehemiah Prayer Initiative which involves several city churches in Southampton.

This was a most inspiring talk with helpful Bible quotations and further reading suggestions given.  Prayer is a relationship with God and God’s promise given in Habakkuk 2v14 is a great encouragement to join together in prayer – Just do It. 

The Joshua Partnership in Southampton has increased the unity among the churches and raised the churches position in the city.  The basis of the initiative are 2 Chronicles 7v14(humbling), Proverbs11v11(blessing) and Acts 4v13(living).

Alan thanked the speaker for his words of encouragement.

 

It was appropriate to mention that there is to be a day of prayer in Romsey on Saturday, 6th March 2004 from 8a.m. to 8p.m. above Lloyds Bank.  Emma West had produced some eye-catching posters for distribution.

 

The meeting closed at 9.30p.m. after everyone had said the grace together.

 

ASSOCIATION OF ROMSEY CHURCHES

AGM 2004

Chairman’s Report (Terry Hinks)

 

A lot has happened in the last year in the life of our churches and in our work together.  For ARC the year saw mission and evangelism at the top of our agendas.

 

Walk Wessex

Walk Wessex was the catalyst for this, a week of mission to the town from the 10th to the 18th of May.   We are grateful to the Walk Wessex teams that came, for those who shared their Christian faith in many different ways during that week.   But I think we are even more grateful to all those here in Romsey who planned and supported the work that week.   I found great encouragement from the fellowship and enthusiasm of the planning group and I hope we can build on that in the future.  I was also glad that we were able to show our care for our community, through ‘Walk Romsey’, an event that raised £1800 for Jane Scarth House.

 

Following on from Walk Wessex we have been thinking and praying about new ways of reaching to the people of Romsey.   There was our involvement for the first time in the Beggars Fair with a special folk service.   There has been the Course on personal evangelism at the Baptist Church last autumn.   Simon Bramwell and others have been developing the Light at the Lantern Project.   We’ve been doing work on a fresh website for all the churches, working with Shaun O’ Brien and following his work for the Romsey Christians website.   Certainly our confidence to share our faith positively has grown through this last year.

 

Youth matters

It has also been good to have work with young people becoming a more important part of our discussions.   Emma West has had a deep concern for this for quite some time and we have much appreciated Emma’s input into our meetings.   I hope we can do more to support those working with children and young people in our churches and town and develop new work together.

 

People

2003 also saw people come and go.   We gave thanks for Gordon Elford’s wise ministry among us as he retired last summer.   We welcomed Iain and Geoff as they began new ministries here in Romsey.   In the ARC I would like to thank all who have shared in its work, be it delivering Christmas cards or taking part in joint services or praying.   In particular my thanks to Gill Watkin for her work as secretary and to Michael whose year as treasurer has certainly been busier than usual.

 

And so I ask your prayers for Alan as he takes on the role of chairman and Elizabeth as she becomes our secretary.   Prayer remains a crucial part of our life and work as Christians and churches, not just for one week in the year, but day by day and so I would like to end with a prayer based on words of William Temple:

Lord Jesus Christ, who did pray for your disciples that they might be one,

even as you and the Father are one: draw us to your self,

that in common love and obedience to you

we may be united to one another, in the fellowship of the one Spirit,

that the world may believe that you are Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Amen.

Treasurer’s report

AGM – 10 February 2004

 

 

Balance – 7 February 2003                £564 34

 

Payments

 

Walk Wessex expenses

 

Jane Scarth House donation

 

 

Walk Wessex outlay

 

 

Donation to Youth in Romsey

Annual insurance

 

Total outlay

 

 

 

1760.55

 

1800.00

 

 

3560.55

 

 

200.00

157.50

 

3918.05

 

Receipts

 

WW Churches’ contributions

Walk Wessex ticket sales

Romsey sponsored walk

Town Council contribution

 

Walk Wessex income

 

 

 

 

 

Total income

 

 

 

1680.00

240.61

1781.38

35.75

 

3737.74

 

 

 

 

 

3737.74

 

 

 

Balance – 10 February 2004                £402