minutes of a meeting of the parochial church council, st. barnabas’ church, linslade, held in the choir vestry at 8.00 p.m. on 19^th december 2002

Present:	Catherine Dyer	Jayne Humphreys
	Keith Dally	Jo Thomson
	Wyn Jones	Carol Oakman
	Anna Barrett	Fran Morrow
	David Darvill	Rebecca Pickering
	John Deighton	Keith Saunders
	Simon Soper	Sue Smith
	Charles Griffin	Russell Stannard
Apologies:	Winston Forde	Valerie Stewart
	Maggie Stannard	Nick Moore
	Alison Cudby	Maureen Gadsby
	Melvyn Gardner	Jim Pickering
	Janet Miller
Absent:	Graham Gill

The meeting opened with prayers.

Catherine announced that Bishop Mike had been appointed Diocesan Bishop of Bristol.

Charles Griffin took the chair for the meeting.

Minutes of the meeting of 25^th November

Fran Morrow and Charles Griffin were present at the meeting (despite the confusing reference to their apologies in the minutes).  With this amendment, the minutes were approved nem. con.

Matters arising from the minutes:

23/02	Christian Nurture Group.  The group tasked with looking at introducing the Emmaus course had not yet met.  However, the ministry team planned to give the 10 o’clock congregation a taste of the learning style of an Emmaus nurture group in four sermons to be followed by house groups after Christmas.
26/02	Youth Leaders.  The list of youth leaders had been approved at the recent Standing Committee meeting and a list is appended to the file copy of these minutes.  It had been agreed that Keith would write to all youth leaders to thank them for their work and to remind them of the need to keep the list up to date.
28/02	Deanery Synod.  The Spring training programme from the Cottesloe scheme had been published and was available at the back of the church

New items:

41/02	Finance The financial situation had improved slightly on the previous assessment.  Cash in hand was £23,664.08.  The Parish share remaining to pay was £27711 leaving a shortfall of just over £4000. Jo had not yet heard about next year’s increase.  She suggested that the Council hold back approximately £4000 for contingencies. A motion was proposed by Anna and seconded by Carol to recommend to the treasurer that she pay approx. £19,000 of the Parish Share before the end of the year, according to her judgement of the financial situation.  The motion was agreed nem. con.
42/02	The future of the Parish Hall Charles introduced the topic by saying that the state of the hall was approaching a critical stage.  He said that it generates approximately £6000 which barely covers its expenses.  In the past few years, major repairs have been paid out of income.  The hall restoration fund currently stood at approximately £11,000.  The view was expressed that the hall was a drain on funds.  However, it was also stated that we should find out what it would cost to put the kitchen and toilets into such a state of repair that hall fees could be increased.  Six years ago the estimated cost of a complete refurbishment had been £120,000.  There was discussion about what the purpose of a refurbished or new hall might be.  Catherine said that we needed to consider what our core purpose was and how a hall could serve that purpose.  It was agreed that this issue needed a lot more time, and this could possibly involve the wider congregation.  It was agreed that more time and more thought were required.
43/02	To discuss the recommendations and receive the report of the Communications Working Party. It was agreed that it was a good idea to publish a list of parishioners with email addresses, having solicited their agreement to this. The second recommendation concerned the sending out of a questionnaire on the parish magazine.  It was agreed to put this out with the magazine as well as more generally. The suggestion of having name labels for sidesmen etc. was also agreed.  It was also agreed to trial asking all members of the congregation to wear badges, perhaps on Mothering Sunday. Charles thanked Keith Dally and the Working Party for their work
44/02	To accept the report of the Worship Committee and to discuss its recommendations. Russell introduced the report.  He explained the committee’s view that there be some cautious experimentation with the evening services. There was concern about the idea that Evensong might be said at 5 pm when there were alternative services either at 7 p.m. or 4 p.m.  There was strong feeling that this might be divisive.  Keith Saunders proposed and Rebecca seconded a motion as follows: “Members of the Choir would be expected to attend the main evening services (if the musical demands of the service so required) and the PCC would agree to members of the Choir saying Evensong as long as this did not cause a conflict of interest.”   The motion was passed nem. con.  David proposed and Fran seconded a motion to adopt in full the recommendations of the working party.  The motion was passed nem. con.
45/02	Removal of pews: to discuss recommendation of the Pews Group John Deighton introduced the recommendations. Catherine said that a faculty would be required to remove pews and that the Diocesan Advisory Committee might not approve the proposal if there was not a full plan.  We could apply for an archdeacon’s faculty for the temporary removal of pews for a period up to 15 months, but the pews would have to be stored during this period.  Russell proposed and Anna seconded a motion that the P.C.C. agree in principle with the recommendation of the pews group and express its wish to proceed as quickly as possible towards the application for a faculty to remove the pews.  The motion was passed nem. con.  It was agreed to ask the Archdeacon to attend a P.C.C. meeting and give her advice before taking any further action. It was agreed at this stage (9.35 p.m.) to continue with the agenda.
46/02	To receive the report of the Welcoming Committee and to discuss its recommendations Charles presented the recommendations of the Welcoming Committee.  Catherine mentioned the session on welcoming held recently as part of the Leighton-Linslade Anglican Autumn course.  She was planning to repeat that session, adapted to meet our needs, to help welcomers and sidesmen in their ministry to all those coming to church, whatever their needs.  Keith Saunders mentioned in particular his view that children tended to be overlooked by sidesmen.
47/02	To approve a schedule of fees for 2003 Catherine passed around a proposed schedule of fees (copy attached to file copy of these minutes).  John raised the issue of the fee for the use of St. Mary’s; he felt  that this would put some off marrying in Church.  Catherine said that the fee was intended to recognise the extra work involved in taking a service at St Mary’s, and also to deter those who merely wanted to marry at St. Mary’s (which is not the parish church) because of its location.  She said that the fee could be waived at the discretion of the incumbent, especially where bride or groom had close associations with the church. It was commented that £250 was, relative to other wedding expenditure, quite small.  Anna proposed and Russell seconded a motion to accept the fees.  The motion was accepted by 15 votes in favour with one abstention.
48/02	To authorise the use of the votive candle stand It was reported that a second hand stand had been purchased from the Luton & Dunstable Hospital chapel for a small sum, paid for with a parishioner’s donation.  The PCC was required to approve its use and apply for an archdeacon’s faculty for this.  John proposed and Fran seconded a motion to approve to do this.  The motion was approved nem. con.
49/02	A.o.B. i.  David proposed to purchase some soap and paper towel dispensers for the toilets in the hall.  As it was now late, it was agreed to postpone the item until after Christmas.

The meeting closed with The Grace at 10.10 p.m.