Church Council
Together with the churchwardens, the church council is responsible for the mission and management of the church.
The churchwardens are Helena Cavieses from Sweden and Fred Lubira Bagenda from the Kingdom of Buganda. Both were chosen at the annual meeting in April 2010, to serve for a year. Their contact details can be found here.
The council meets once a month. Members of the council are voted on by the congregation to act of their behalf, with the Chaplain taking the chair at meetings.
Working for you on your Council are
Nick Howe (Chaplain and Chairperson)
Helena Cavieses (Warden)
Fred Lubira Bagenda (Warden)
Guillermo Cavieses (Co-opted)
Rebecca Foreman (Treasurer)
Sarah Kinuthia
Anne Danielsson
Anne von Bergen (Secretary)
Rene Abrahams (Deanery Rep and Vice-chair)
Paul Leopold (Deanery Rep)
John Abbot
Naomi Malaki
The agenda for each meeting is available on the notice board in church before the meeting takes place, and the minutes are posted there afterwards.
And notes on the meeting are published straight after each meeting as View from the Bridge.
View from the Bridge
Notes from a working church council, 16 August 2010
Back from our summer recess, we welcomed the Revd Graham Collingridge who was attending the meeting, opened with Prayer, took Apologies from Sarah Kinuthia (working late) and approved the Minutes of the previous meeting.
Matters arising included:
· setting council priorities through til January: getting the chaplain’s accommodation sorted, working out what best to do with the proceeds of the sale of the flat, sorting out issues related to the chaplain’s employment, finding another organist, renewing the agreement with the Church of Sweden, developing our relationship with other local churches, setting a budget for next year and installing a dehumidifier in the basement.
· voting in additional ordinary council members to fill what had become two vacancies by the end of the meeting. According tothe Church Representation Rules 2006 this is the council’s responsibility. John Abbot and Naomi Malaki were resoundingly approved.
· reviewing the Church of Sweden Pride service held in church on 30 July, and the suggestion that this should have been publicised more. It was recognised that it was not one of our services, the Church of Sweden having asked to hold a service in Swedish in our church and the council having agreed to it. It was agreed to include all events and services in church on the website calendar in future.
· confirming that the Christmas Bazaar will be on 4 December.
Rebecca the Treasurer reported on our Finances, including the welcome annual payment from the Stromberg Fund, the healthy state of pledging at the moment, and moves to take on the first-hand contract we have been offered on a small flat in Gärdet.
The discussion flowed seamlessly into a consideration of the Chaplain’s accommodation. The church now owns the chaplaincy flat, and is looking to sell it as soon as possible, with advertising in the press. As that process picks up speed after the summer break, so the quest for new accommodation continues, with one or two irons in the fire, and a growing sense of urgency.
A similar sense accompanies our discussions with the Church of Sweden Diocese of Stockholm, with a meeting of their board rapidly approaching when they’ll be deciding about whether to renew their agreement with us. A supportive letter from Bishop David to Bishop Eva has been sent, and we’ll be submitting representations to help secure a positive outcome.
The Chaplain’s report also included the tabling of a report from the Archdeacon on his recent meeting with a small number of church people to address their complaints. It was noted with regret that Sharon Peart and Ben Brandsen have asked for their names to be removed from the electoral roll.
Action points always feature, with council members taking away tasks from the meeting.
Then we took any other business, including:
· a quotation received for health insurance cover for the chaplain and his family, it now being clear that diplomatic status renders them ineligible for non-emergency medical treatment. It was felt that more time was needed to look at the small print.
· approval for funding Rene Abrahams' participation in the Godly Play conference in Finland in October.
· Guillermo Cavieses standing down from the council in anticipation of him starting ordination training in England in September. He was immediately co-opted back on to the council until he departs, but his standing down allowed Naomi Malaki to be elected to the council in his stead.
The meeting closed with Prayer for one another, for the church and the wider community.
Nick Howe
