This minute to be approved at AGM in December 2017.
AGM 11TH DECEMBER 2016
Held after a shortened Holy Communion Service at 6.00pm.
Time: 1830 hrs.
Present: The Rev. Canon Lisa Eunson; The Rev. Dr. David Greenwood; Mrs Staci, Miss Rachel and Master James Greenwood; Maj. Gen. & Mrs J Barr; Sophia & Richard Strang Stee; David & Fiona (Hon. Treasurer) Strang Steel; Daniel Page; Andrew & Julie Nicol; Mrs Angelica Salvesen; Mrs Rosalind Prain; Owen Jenkins; Lady Diana Holman; Andrew (Hon. Treasurer) & Nicky Bradford;
In attendance: Dr. Lizzie Findlayson (Rector’s Warden, St. Ternan’s, Banchory).
Personally I expected us to fail, but having the satisfaction of knowing we’d given it our best shot. It was an enormous ask. The response was good and in the September newsletter I announced we were 67% of the way there.
We have now reached that December deadline and I have to report that we’ve missed our target of finding £148,500 or so. Instead donations promised amount to rather more than our target – and if these all come in – and there’s a question mark about some donors living that long – then we may also have started on the funding of our hall.
I have to say that I am overwhelmed by the support this project has received and congratulations are due to all who’ve stepped up to the mark. It is a phenomenal achievement which comes entirely because of the qualities of David Greenwood and family.
Having received promises of the funding I foolishly thought that would be the end of the matter but of course there are the implications of this Church effectively ‘employing’ someone. So, there has been some discussion behind the scenes about the job title, etc. which Lisa or David will explain in just a moment.
That original project of making Christ Church a visitor attraction hasn’t gone away however and now that we are on the cusp of securing a priest in post for at least the next three years we can turn our attention back to it. If anyone wants to help by doing research on any of the people commemorated either in the church or the graveyard then please step forward. Work is under-way to produce information about the windows. We’ve discovered a bit more about the cross from Ypres and some ideas are emerging as to how we modernise the lighting to make Christ Church a genuinely fascinating place to visit.
Comments by Rev. Lisa Eunson: RE: PLAN FOR DAVID FROM CHURCH INSTITUTION PERSPECTIVE
Congratulations to Andie and the Vestry for doing what should have been impossible and finding a commitment of the funds needed to keep David in post beyond the Curacy with a full-time role at Christ Church. And a very big thank you to everyone who has contributed to make this possible.
Because this post is, at least at the moment, time limited, to comply with the Scottish Episcopal Church Canons, David will have the title 'priest-in-charge' from 1 July 2017 for three years. This allows him full operational authority as the priest for the congregation during that time, and gives Christ Church three years to continue to plan its future.
David will be duly installed and licensed in that role by Bishop Mark (our interim Bishop until +Bob's successor is elected, and the permanent Bishop of the Diocese of Moray, Ross, and Caithness) at some point in the late spring/early summer.
Great news for both Christ Church and St Ternan's that we can move forward with full-time clergy dedicated to each congregation. Truly an historic moment in the lives of these charges, freeing both to better serve their local contexts. May we continue to build on the solid relationships of choir, community organizations, and other good works done together with all of the Deeside churches.
As we present the licenses to the chalice bearers - Diana Holman, Barbara Nicol, Staci Greenwood, Rachel Greenwood - and lay worship leaders - Andrew Nicol, Andrew Bradford - I remind you that no matter how many clergy are here, the word for church ('ecclesia') means the gathered - the people. You as the people are the church, and the ministry here will be as you continue to live into it, and serve the village and beyond with God's love.
Again a huge thanks to all of you for being the church; to David, Staci, Rachel and James for becoming such an integral and joyful thread in the social fabric of this community; and especially to Owen, Nicky, and the choir for the music of our worship here, which is some of the best 'mission' in this place, drawing all kinds of people together. God bless you and keep you.
Held after a shortened Holy Communion Service at 6.00pm.
Time: 1830 hrs.
Present: The Rev. Canon Lisa Eunson; The Rev. Dr. David Greenwood; Mrs Staci, Miss Rachel and Master James Greenwood; Maj. Gen. & Mrs J Barr; Sophia & Richard Strang Stee; David & Fiona (Hon. Treasurer) Strang Steel; Daniel Page; Andrew & Julie Nicol; Mrs Angelica Salvesen; Mrs Rosalind Prain; Owen Jenkins; Lady Diana Holman; Andrew (Hon. Treasurer) & Nicky Bradford;
In attendance: Dr. Lizzie Findlayson (Rector’s Warden, St. Ternan’s, Banchory).
- Apologies:
- Rosemary Coleshaw; Robin & Patricia Linzee Gordon; Malcolm & The Hon. Mrs. Jacqueline Hutton; Mr & Mrs Rupert Holden; Mr Andrew Salvesen
- Minute of the AGM held on 13th December 2015. Copies of the minute had been circulated to the Vestry shortly after the previous AGM. Further copies were circulated to the congregation in the week leading up to the meeting. The minute was approved.
- Matters Arising from the minute, not dealt with elsewhere. There were none.
- Appointment of Vestry: Mrs Rosemary Coleshaw is standing down from the Vestry and was thanked for her contribution. Mrs Fi Strang Steel had stood down as Vestry Member during the year. The congregation had been asked to submit names of new members of the Vestry by 6pm on Saturday 10th Dec. None were forthcoming. Mr. Andrew Nicol; Mrs. Sophia Strang Steel, Mr David Strang Steel, Mr. Andrew Bradford (Secretary), Mrs. June Barr were all re-appointed to the Vestry.
- Mrs Fi Strang Steel was re-appointed as Treasurer – by acclamation.
- Appointment of Lay Representatives: Mr Andrew Nicol was re-appointed as Lay Representative. The position of Alternate was left vacant.
- Treasurer's Report: Accounts had been circulated during the week before the meeting. The Treasurer presented the accounts.
- The accounts were formally approved: Proposer: Andrew Nicol; Seconder: Angelica Salvesen.
- Future Planning: Andrew Bradford reported: A year ago I spoke about how we could turn this church into a visitor attraction and how we might even begin the process of getting ourselves a ‘more flexible space’ with consideration of a church hall. I shall now refer to things left undone. I have made no further progress on making this church a visitor attraction. In the spring, with David’s curacy due to end in June 2017 looming ever larger in the vestry’s thinking of ‘what to do next’, our focus changed and in June we laid down a challenge to this church – of raising the funds needed to keep David in post for another three years (at least). To be fair to David we needed to know by December.
Personally I expected us to fail, but having the satisfaction of knowing we’d given it our best shot. It was an enormous ask. The response was good and in the September newsletter I announced we were 67% of the way there.
We have now reached that December deadline and I have to report that we’ve missed our target of finding £148,500 or so. Instead donations promised amount to rather more than our target – and if these all come in – and there’s a question mark about some donors living that long – then we may also have started on the funding of our hall.
I have to say that I am overwhelmed by the support this project has received and congratulations are due to all who’ve stepped up to the mark. It is a phenomenal achievement which comes entirely because of the qualities of David Greenwood and family.
Having received promises of the funding I foolishly thought that would be the end of the matter but of course there are the implications of this Church effectively ‘employing’ someone. So, there has been some discussion behind the scenes about the job title, etc. which Lisa or David will explain in just a moment.
That original project of making Christ Church a visitor attraction hasn’t gone away however and now that we are on the cusp of securing a priest in post for at least the next three years we can turn our attention back to it. If anyone wants to help by doing research on any of the people commemorated either in the church or the graveyard then please step forward. Work is under-way to produce information about the windows. We’ve discovered a bit more about the cross from Ypres and some ideas are emerging as to how we modernise the lighting to make Christ Church a genuinely fascinating place to visit.
Comments by Rev. Lisa Eunson: RE: PLAN FOR DAVID FROM CHURCH INSTITUTION PERSPECTIVE
Congratulations to Andie and the Vestry for doing what should have been impossible and finding a commitment of the funds needed to keep David in post beyond the Curacy with a full-time role at Christ Church. And a very big thank you to everyone who has contributed to make this possible.
Because this post is, at least at the moment, time limited, to comply with the Scottish Episcopal Church Canons, David will have the title 'priest-in-charge' from 1 July 2017 for three years. This allows him full operational authority as the priest for the congregation during that time, and gives Christ Church three years to continue to plan its future.
David will be duly installed and licensed in that role by Bishop Mark (our interim Bishop until +Bob's successor is elected, and the permanent Bishop of the Diocese of Moray, Ross, and Caithness) at some point in the late spring/early summer.
- Curate’s Vision for the future: Rev. Greenwood pointed out that with the certainty of him being in post for the next three years we now have the opportunity to re-schedule services to suit. ‘We can do anything we want’
- Rector’s Moment
Great news for both Christ Church and St Ternan's that we can move forward with full-time clergy dedicated to each congregation. Truly an historic moment in the lives of these charges, freeing both to better serve their local contexts. May we continue to build on the solid relationships of choir, community organizations, and other good works done together with all of the Deeside churches.
As we present the licenses to the chalice bearers - Diana Holman, Barbara Nicol, Staci Greenwood, Rachel Greenwood - and lay worship leaders - Andrew Nicol, Andrew Bradford - I remind you that no matter how many clergy are here, the word for church ('ecclesia') means the gathered - the people. You as the people are the church, and the ministry here will be as you continue to live into it, and serve the village and beyond with God's love.
Again a huge thanks to all of you for being the church; to David, Staci, Rachel and James for becoming such an integral and joyful thread in the social fabric of this community; and especially to Owen, Nicky, and the choir for the music of our worship here, which is some of the best 'mission' in this place, drawing all kinds of people together. God bless you and keep you.
- AOCB There were no items raised under AOCB
- The meeting ended with the Blessing and Dismissal.