APCM minutes

After opening the meeting the vicar informed those present that the notice convening the meeting had been on view in church and was available for inspection.

3. Apologies

Hope Calvert, Keith Cawdron, Doreen Cottier, Alison Dobson, Peter Dobson, Barry Fell, Jane Fell, Nicki Fell, Paul Fell, Lill Fog, Barbara Johnson, Alan Lewney, Les Lewney, Peter Moffatt, Vi Molyneux, Jacqui Nelson, Christine Roberts, Irene Roberts, Malcolm Roberts, Margery Seed, Kim Sonne, Lynn Thompson, Stan Tickle.

4. Minutes

The minutes of the 2002 meeting, previously circulated, were taken as read. It was proposed by Beryl Hanna, seconded by Marg Davery, and agreed by the meeting that the minutes be accepted and signed.

5. Annual Report

The vicar went through the annual report, giving a general review of the contents.

Electoral Roll

Hilary Roberts, the electoral roll officer, reported that there were 338 people on the roll, an increase of 29 since last year. 176 lived in the parish and 162 outside.

Sunday attendance

It was noted that Sunday attendance was down a bit. There was no obvious reason for this; perhaps the same people are coming slightly less often.

Finance

The treasurer, Eric Linford, presented the accounts for 2002. He said that he could not be the treasurer without the help of many others, including Mary Porter, Brenda Morris, Margaret Harley, BP, AD, BN and Pauline Jones, who counted the collections, Derek McCreary and his successor Brenda Morris who looked after the fees account, Mike Tuppen who recorded the free-will offering envelopes, Marge Seed who helpsedwith the gift aid tax refunds, Joyce Wade in the office, Peter Owen who had helped him prepare the accounts, and his wife Glenys who had put up with him spending hours in front of the computer.

He also thanked Alan Bruford, the independent examiner, who had put a lot of work into examining the accounts , finding some mistakes, and then signing them off.

In 2002 the church received more than it spent, mainly because the PCC decided not to proceed with the appointment of a youth worker. The surplus has been channelled into the activities of the premises committee, particularly the need to resurface the drive and car park once the new Crossroads Centre is complete.

The church continued to face the challenge of balancing mission against maintenance, and this would always be the case unless there was a significant increase in giving.

250 members give to the church regularly via standing orders or weekly envelopes, but only 30 of these were under the age of 40, and the 250 had to be compared with the electoral roll of 338.

St Luke's could celebrate that its members gave almost £40,000 to the needs of others in 2002, and this was a tribute to the work of the World Mission Group.

Following the treasurer's presentation, Jared Whetnall made some helpful comments. It was proposed by Linda Moore, and seconded by John Morris, that the accounts be accepted and this agreed by the meeting.

Fabric

Peter Owen said that the ramp to the north door, the widening of an archway and the interior redecoration of the church were planned for the summer.

6. Appointment of Independent Examiner

It was agreed to appoint Mr Alan Bruford to be the Independent Examiner for 2003. the meeting expressed its thanks to him for examining the accounts for 2001 and 2002.

7. Elections

There were five places to be filled on the PCC from 2003 to 2006, and the following five people had been nominated.

Eleanor Bradley
Dawn D'Auvin
Margaret Harley
Bryn Jones
Brenda Morris

It was proposed by Joyce Fell, seconded by Paul Roocroft, and agreed by the meeting that all five be declared elected.

8. Appointment of Sidespersons

Peter Owen reported that Joanna Abbotson had died during the year, and that Joyce Armstrong, June Barnard, Lorraine Batty, Jane Fell, Ann Henders, Brian Murrow, Jane Murrow and Gill Ward did not wish to be re-appointed. He said that he wanted to add Iain Graham, Sue Graham, Graham Hignett, Debbie Simpkins and Joanne Somers to the list of sidespeople. It was proposed by Joyce Wade, seconded by Dave Roberts and agreed by the meeting that the revised list of people be appointed as sidespeople for 2003/2004.

9. Reports

The vicar referred the meeting to the previously circulated reports of the activity groups, and briefly commented on some of them. He asked the meeting to take special note of the five values on the inside front cover.

10. Questions

Steve Matthews spoke about the lack of Christian teaching for older teenagers, and the need to exercise a positive influence on the community. The vicar replied and said that help was needed with Sunday work with our older teenagers. He noted that the Methodist Church in Crosby and Formby had just appointed a youth worker.

June Barnard asked if there was a need for a bookstall in church as well as in the new Crossroads, and vicar said that he thought there was.

11. Vicar's Report

The vicar said that his last Sunday at St Luke's would be 29 February 2004, and that it was a moment of transition for St Luke's. Rose Weaver had stepped down as cleaner, and Joyce Wade and Paul Roocroft would retire shortly. He welcomed Shirley Wallin as Joyce's successor.

The Shared Ministry Team (SMT) had been reformed and would provide the leadership during the interregnum. Margaret Quayle was about to step down as an OLM and receive permission to officiate. Barbie Chambers would be re-licensed, and the new SMT commissioned, on 16 June.

Improvements to the church building

As well as the items mentioned under the report on the fabric, the PCC had discussed making better use of the north transept by providing ramped access, chairs, carpeting and soft toys for children.

Homegroups

The vicar wanted to encourage the development of homegroups using cell church principles. St Mark's Haydock, with 600 people in groups, had offered to help St Luke's and other churches develop their homegroups.

Enabling mission in Crosby

This is something we could not do on our own. There was a suggestion that Moor Lane Methodist, All Saints' and St Luke's churches should look into working together to release resources. The vicar asked if this was worth exploring, and on a show of hands the meeting said that it was.

12. Vote of Thanks

Peter Naylor gave a vote of thanks to the vicar. He was reminded of the words "Well done you good and faithful servant" from the parable of the talents, and said that we owed him our earnest and profound thanks.

The last twelve months had been as busy as ever for David, and once again he had worked prayerfully, diligently, unselfishly and with great vision. As ever he had listened to everyone who had gone to him, and responded with compassion and kindness. He was the person with the ultimate, heavy responsibility for what happened at St Luke's and we had to thank him for carrying this burden on our behalf.

Finally Peter thanked Christa for her prayerful support of David, saying that whilst David was at the helm, we all knew who was in the engine room.

13. Date of 2004 meeting

28 April 2004

14. Prayer

The meeting closed with the Grace.