Elvet Methodist Church Elvet Methodist Church
Church Committees
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General Church MeetingThis is normally held in April each year, but was held earlier this year, on March 17th. All members and friends of the church are warmly invited to attend, though only church members are eligible to vote in elections. The meeting will designate a Project for the following year. For 2008/2009 it will be to support extra-curricular activities at a school for autistic children in Middlesbrough. At the meeting, Church Stewards will be elected for the coming year and up to 15 representatives will be elected to the Church Council.
The Church Council
Elvet’s Church Council usually meets four times per year, in January, March, June and October – though extra meetings can be arranged if situations calling for quick decisions arise. The membership of the Church Council currently is:
Return to topChurch StewardsThere are six stewards at Elvet, who serve for four years. Their main functions are to ensure the smooth running of the church and to support the minister. They keep in touch with the congregation, hearing their thoughts on services, events and procedures, and passing on ideas and anxieties to the appropriate quarters. They often hear about pastoral concerns and then link up with pastoral visitors or the minister. Three stewards are on duty at each service; they welcome visiting preachers, ensuring that they, and all participants in the service, have all the information they need. Before the service one steward says a prayer with the preacher in the vestry, in preparation for the service, and the other two welcome the congregation and any visitors. Stewards are represented on all other committees, so that there is good communication between different groups and they also encourage groups in special events, such as ecumenical services, social events or fund-raising for the Elvet annual project. The present Stewards are : Jeanette Bygate and Pauline Watson (senior stewards) Communion StewardsElvet Church normally holds three Communion Services each month:
At the end of each Communion service a retiring collection is always made for various charity organisations. These collections are made over a monthly period. It is planned that the following charities will benefit from our retiring collections over the following months. April – Corrymeela Community Church, Community and Mission CommitteeThe Church, Community and Mission committee or the CCM as it is called, meets throughout the year to discuss matters relating to all areas of the life of the church; both the church community itself and the wider community of Durham. The aim of the committee is to ensure that the message of God's love reaches as many people as possible, by whatever means. This includes the annual church project, the distributing of Easter and Christmas cards with the local church service times. The CCM also has the remit for the organising of events in the church, and is a place of discussion for life within the church. The committee is made up of representatives from all areas of the church, and everyone is more than welcome to express their views and opinions on the life of Elvet, in a relaxed, informal and friendly environment. Please feel free to join us. Pastoral CommitteeIt has long been the tradition of the Methodist Church that within each local church the members offer pastoral care to one another. To do this effectively, each church appoints Pastoral Visitors, each of whom has a list of people associated with the church, for whom he or she is particularly responsible. The Pastoral Visitors meet with the Minister once or twice a year in the Pastoral Committee to confer together on matters of mutual concern. Elvet’s Pastoral Visitors, as well as taking care of those on their lists, also make sure that they receive the bi-monthly newsletter, Sedum. For further information, contact the Minister.
Worship Development Group
The Worship Development Group at Elvet meets twice per year –usually in January and June. It is an open meeting for anyone who is keen to have a say in the type of worship which happens at Elvet. In the course of the meeting, we review services that have taken place during the previous six months and discuss plans for future services. A small sub-group is responsible for inviting visiting preachers for some evening services and to speak to MethSoc after the service. At times, discussion can become quite lively as we look at some of the many different styles of worship which are popular today. We particularly value the input of some members of MethSoc who come to the meetings occasionally and give us the opportunity to hear what they would like to see happening in services at Elvet. Youth CouncilElvet has a youth council made up from representatives of groups within the church who work with young people
Cradle Roll TeamWhen a child is baptised at Elvet, a member of the Elvet Cradle Roll Team joins the parents and family at the rehearsal prior to the baptism and also during the baptismal service. The Cradle Roll representative acts as a link between the family and the church during the first three years of the child’s life; then the child will be invited to join the Junior Church. Elvet Church Property Committee The property committee takes responsibility for the care and maintenance of the church buildings and grounds. The committee meets three times a year and has a duty to report to the church council. Any major or specialist jobs that may be required are let out to private contractors, the contracts generally being administered and supervised by members of the property committee unless the scale of the works is such that the services of an architect are necessary. The premises are professionally inspected every three years and any recommended repair is organized by the committee. Routine maintenance is carried out ’in house’ by a team of volunteer church members who meet on most Tuesday mornings. A large variety of jobs are undertaken by this group ranging from decoration to minor building, joinery and electrical repairs plus gardening. The committee also oversees the booking of church premises by both internal and outside users. One property steward is responsible for this while the diary of bookings is kept by the church caretaker
Elvet FinancesIt is the responsibility of the Church Treasurer to administer the day-to-day financial affairs of the church and, in conjunction with the Finance Committee, to oversee the proper stewardship of its financial resources. Like the majority of Methodist churches, Elvet relies firstly and foremost on the regular, committed giving of congregational members for its financial support and upkeep; Much of this is increased by Gift Aid. Around 70% of our income arises in this way, while the remainder comes from other sources, including individual donations and the use of the church facilities by various external bodies and organisations. The largest part of our expenditure, approximately two-thirds of the total, is accounted for by our contribution to the circuit assessment, which covers the ministerial costs and related expenses of the churches, including Elvet, that comprise the Durham and Deerness Valley Methodist Circuit. Other significant areas include the running and upkeep of our church property, the more general operating expenses associated with the life and outreach of Elvet and support for the mission and work of Methodism at the national and international level. Elvet’s annual fundraising project has in past years raised sums in excess £20,000 for a UK or overseas charitable cause. The project is administered separately from our other financial affairs. Inquiries or issues relating to financial matters may be addressed to the Church Treasurer
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In common with all Methodist Churches, Elvet’s Church Council has authority and oversight over the whole area of the ministry of the church, including the management of its property. In practice, most of this responsibility is devolved onto other committees with authority to initiate action and co-ordinate the work done in the church in their own areas of authority. They have the responsibility to report to and advise the Church Council and are subject to its authority and oversight.