This was an important meeting and 4 key topics for our Chaplaincy were discussed and agreed upon.
Firstly the Choir Project
Following the HolyCow, consultation last Autumn, we have identified five key areas for development, namely: preparing people for ministry, Christian education, worship and music, mission focused on families and children, and communication. Our first major project to result from this, starting up a Children’s choir, has been signed off and funded by the Diocese, and starts this month. It addresses a number of these areas.
The Diocese requires a report after the first 6 months (of this which is a 3 year project) and Fathers Louis and Hilary have developed a list of tasks that we need to complete in that time to demonstrate to the Diocese we are up and running, one of the first of which will be to set up a Project Steering Committee.
An initial action which has arisen from this is the moving of the organ and some pews to create a children’s area at the back of church. See picture above.
Secondly, the Endowment Fund
Having recently sold its greatest asset, the Chaplain’s Flat, the Council is setting up an Endowment Fund to provide for the future of the Chaplaincy. Significant discussion was held regarding the allocation of the funds available, and agreement reached as to how they will be distributed across a number of different financial instruments.
The fund, which will be named after Dorothy Johnston who donated the apartment many years ago, will be managed by an Endowment Oversight Committee, the composition of which was agreed at the meeting. It was agreed that the Committee would meet once a month to begin with and report quarterly to the Council.
Thirdly, Strengthened Working Groups
Following the AGM in May, memberships of the 5 Working Groups have been reviewed and were presented and agreed at the meeting. The groups are: Liturgy & Education, Outreach, Events & Mission, Maintaining & Developing our Premises, and Finance & Funding. Group leaders are yet to be selected.
In addition it was agreed to introduce three new portfolios to be undertaken by individuals, who will work across all groups, namely for, marketing, fundraising and volunteering.
And fourthly an Inclusion, Dignity and Belonging Policy
Father Louis presented the above policy in draft, and reflected how people had told him that they felt at home at St George’s because nobody questioned what they were doing there or what they believed. The policy was agreed and adopted by the Council.
Father Louis further explained that he would like us to focus on pastoral care of older people, which fits well with the work of our partner, Age in Spain.
Father Hilary reported that the clergy team had suggested our becoming members of a UK church organisation called Inclusive Church, see https://www.inclusive-church.org. Apparently there are other Diocese in Europe member churches including the Chaplaincies in Madrid and Florence. He will look into this further.