Elders Report 2023
This year, we have continued to navigate the leadership of the church whilst remaining in interregnum. It has also been a mixed year in terms of the leadership structure of the church as we began the year meeting separately as Elders and Deacons but then moved to joint meetings due to low numbers within each team. As of September, after Marinella Heath and Lynn Salt joined the elders and deacons respectively, we have moved to alternate separate and joint meetings.
We are thankful and appreciative of the many people who take on leadership responsibility across the church in the many ministry areas. We are also thankful for all who commit their time and resources supporting those in leadership.
Minister in Training
Sharon has not only successfully completed her first year of academic study, but she has also done incredibly well. She has recently started her second year of study at Spurgeon’s and is also continuing her ministry formation training through HEBA. Please continue to pray for Sharon as she studies and grows in her role as a Minister in Training at MRBC
For further information and an update on Sharon’s progress please see the separate Minister in Training report.
Baptisms
We have been privileged and encouraged by a number of baptismal services this year. We have been blessed to share in both young people and adults taking this next step in their faith journey.
Let’s continue to pray for more baptisms.
Preaching and Teaching
We have been truly blessed as a church over the last 12 months by a network of external speakers that have supported us on a Sunday morning at MRBC. We have been equally blessed by the number of people at MRBC who have stepped forward to develop and demonstrate their calling as speakers.
It is good to be able to report that Thursday Worship is thriving under the leadership and guidance of Sharon (Minister in Training) who is well supported by Maggie. Thursday Worship continues to serve as a blessing to the many who attend.
House Groups
Kathy Green continues to co-ordinate the house groups that meet across the city. There are 7 House Groups that gather fortnightly for fellowship, teaching, fun, and hospitality.
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Prayer and Pastoral Care
Prayer and Pastoral care continues to be co-ordinated by Marinella, who in turn is supported by a small and dedicated team of volunteers.
Children and Youth Ministry
Caroline Atkinson continues to co-ordinate the Children’s and Youth Ministry streams across the church. As a church we are blessed to have both a good number of children, and young people.
The groups meet on Sundays and throughout the week. Each of the groups are ably served by a large team of volunteers. We are privileged too, that some of the volunteers are made up of young people that have come through the children and youth ministry stream.
Sunday Groups: Trogs Connect
Weekday Groups: Oaks and Acorns JAM
Cell Bulletproof
Families Worker
This vacancy continues to remain open as no decision has been made regarding the role.
New Minister
This year has seen the church begin the process of seeking a minister. The process was initiated with a meeting of the leadership with Neil Le Tissier. This was closely followed by an envisioning morning led by Neil.
A seeker team has been established and comprises 7 members of the church. This team has created a Church Profile which is required as part of the process. Subject to the church’s agreement regarding the profile, the seeker team will progress to the next stage of the minister seeking process.
For further information regarding the church profile please see separate document.
The Manse
The Manse continues to be used as a family home for a displaced Ukrainian family. This is likely continue for the foreseeable.
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The Church at Binley Woods
Binley Woods is currently in interregnum and is similarly seeking a minister.
MRBC Eldership November 2023
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MRBC DEACONS’ REPORT 2022 – 2023
Deacons: Chrissie Brown, Dave Evans, Deborah Evans, Lynn Salt Note : Andrew Bullock completed his 6 years as a deacon in January and Lynn Salt was elected as a deacon in September
1. Rainbow Room - We have completely emptied the Rainbow room and are getting quotes for new heaters, new lights, cleaning and repairing the wooden floor, a sink, kitchen cupboards and general storage so that this room can eventually be used as a café as well as a meeting room. Obtaining quotes is taking a very long time and requires a lot of chasing.
2. Tennyson Road Gate & Car Park Fencing - We are also waiting for a quote to install a gate on the Tennyson Road side, in the top corner, plus a path to give better access to the garden/ allotment area and for the public to be able to connect more with what we’re doing within our building.
We are also waiting for a quote for a metal railing fence to be put in place to separate the grass area from the car park, to make it safer.
Again, obtaining quotes is taking a very long time and requires a lot of chasing.
3. Portacabin - The portacabin by the allotment area has mostly been cleared out and in places the floor has rotted away so it may not be usable.
4. Security Cameras - Security cameras have been installed all around the church building to improve security for people who are in the building or grounds alone or late at night. Warning signs have also been put up to let people know they are there.
5. Church Gardens - Tree wise Men – who reduced the height of the hedges around the perimeter previously – are going to quote to maintain our hedges twice year in future, in early spring and in the autumn.
6. New Noticeboards - We now have replacements for the two large signs in our grounds, which say ‘Welcome’ in many different languages. One has been installed on the corner of the car park and the other is waiting to be installed. The smaller noticeboards are also in the process of being updated or replaced.
7. Gutters & Maintenance - The rear gutters behind Sharon’s office have been cleared out and the fascia boards cleaned plus various other maintenance jobs such as replacing light bulbs, ordering new hoover parts, fixing leaking taps etc.
8. Church Website - Chrissie has put a lot of work into developing a new simpler church website which has replaced our current out-of-date one: https://www.meredithroadbaptist.uk/
9. Defibrillator - We are in the process of arranging to rent a defibrillator for the church foyer.
10. The Manse - The family from Ukraine who are staying in the manse are now in their second year with us. Dave has assisted them with minor maintenance issues and cutting their lawn during the summer.
11. Plumbing - The stopcocks in the Vestry and in the corridor by the photocopier have been replaced and an outside tap has been installed at the rear of the building for the allotment.
Deacons’ Report 2022-2023 - 30 October 2023
AGM November 2023
MiT Report – Sharon Cross
comple;ng all I needed to for the ministry forma;on training. I enjoyed the lectures, going deeper into Chris;an Theology and Bible interpreta;on, and revelled in researching the essay topics, although I found actually wri;ng at level 7 quite stressful. I was excited to rejoin the college community at the end of Sept23 when I started my second year. This year, I con;nue to travel to college on Monday for lectures on Tuesday, with a post-grad seminar on zoom on Wednesday aKernoons. The ministry forma;on training has moved from Birmingham to Spurgeons. This means that I will be at college for a full week (Mon – Sat 5pm), three ;mes in the year (Oct, Feb, June).
I am very fortunate to have strong pastoral group of fellow students doing the same course as me, along with a member of staff, Rev Helen Stokley, who keeps a check on us. They have been a great support and encouragement throughout the year. The drive to southeast London takes 3-3.5hrs but I haven’t found it a burden (most of the ;me).
I am very grateful to all at Meredith Road who have supported me and encouraged me and allowed me to take opportuni;es to develop as a minister. During the year I have been able to do my first bap;sm, baby dedica;on, funeral and I am looking forward to officia;ng at my first wedding in May 24.
I would not be able to do this training without the church’s generosity in paying for my travel expenses and accommoda;on when I go to London. I’m par;cularly grateful to Maggie as my line manager, the Elders and Deacons, and to my supervisor, Rev Mandy Rhodes (Stra\ord BC), for all their love, care and support.
No doubt, this coming year will con;nue to present many challenges and opportuni;es, including the start of the se^lement process in May 24. I am more convinced than ever that Bap;st ministry is the right path for me and I’m excited to
CHARITY COMMISSION I OW I NCII AND ANI) W1 I % i-rB etJATJ PthPTis< cwRctrl 1129497 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod from To 22 23 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrieled funds Flpstrlcled Endowmonl lund• Lagt y••r Tolal lund• 10 lh• n•4r•l lo lh• n••Thl E tD lh• n••ml £ n•M•#t E lo th• fb••ff••t £ A1 Rtttlpts CLAIM£ 14 7 oÉl A6rJM Sub total (Gmss income for ARI 11£ Iqs llltr Iqb A2 Asset and Inw8tment sales, lsee t¥blel. Sub total Total receipts 11£ ol 196 A3Pa ments AL JIL 4C * Ok) 2S c-8£ Sub total A4 Asset and investment pur¢has•s, (see table Sub total Total paym•nts 159 14 Nèt of ro¢•Ipt{P4ym0n¢j A5 Trnnsfers between lund A6 C•sh lund• last y••r end C•sh fund$ this y••r •nd ss 113 J CCXX R1 Crn Issi ioiosr2024
Section B Statement of assets and Ilabilities at thè end of the period Unro8lrlctod fund# lo n••rq•i E Reglflcled fund• 10 n••i••i £ Endowm8nt lund• to n••rn•l £ D•l•ll• 81 C••h fund• H£ ry7 107 50707 rofal cush funds 11gr•• fecipio •nd Unrestrlct•d fund• lo D•Ar••i £ Endowm•nt lund• n••rnBt t lunds 10 n••r••t E Detalls B2 Other monetary a88•t• Fund to whlch •JS•l lof Curr•rf Y41u• Details 83 Inv•stm*nt ass•ts Fund lowhl£h ass•1 b•lon ¥ah Delall$ C1 loptlon•l 84 Assets rotainèd for the Charity's own use Fund to whi¢h r•lotrt Amount Ilon•l Detsils 85 Li•bilities S¥Jned by one or trustees on behaK ol all the iruslees Snature Prfnl Name Oate of o¥ai CCXX R2 ac¢ounts ISSI
VEI4 ACTUAL ACTUAL ACTIJAL 201•110 IOZ0121 2011122 .P7.W 41.T85 .KJ.923 IrKKNY SUMMARV ACTLIAL ?02111J .102.598 41.221 27.7te 5.743 J3.111 Mmliier & PT Worler 23.972 Buihllrys GrouTrJi 7.799 Ger1 expon 9.170Wth Wk 74.052 TOTAL tipenorf -16.871 Swplutsi.IlDelulll $.Tr)olrKaIl 10 Buibylw Ffftj -11.871 Sul1-)1IatI+I Bul%Jl D¢iiol DefKJt 22.934 J3.321 8.7J8 9.3)5 32.744 7.024 12.580 3,557 86.150 -28.270 5.rKKJ s,C 1.4 -3,615 -23.270 OPEIIINO BALANCE Q1110122 +p•ld In NC CLOSING NET Trnn•l•f• 8ALANCE IAOVÉA•ENT JW0112J | OF FUNDS mov•m•nl - p•h out ICTED PUND RV GenEral Acuunl 2022-23 Buik1irrtJ Ffftj knl 102,598 -74 )2 ILDIPIG P eudgel Translw - 6j1rj Fund 23.270 2.JJe 9,797 'Trnes & Hed9e8 -2,514 -l.S -5.071 CTV 5.820 •v•n Missk)n Tnps blléfij TOTAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 5>.360 112,J95 3.841 TEDF FAMIL Y FUN 28.S54 1237 333 212 1.169A K 409 333 212 NCER ER I nd •tc w•s Iv TOTAL RESTAieTED FUNOS TOTAL ALL FUF105 632C N 451 2,2J9 1.801 61.599 114.196 457 2.841 -1,391 45.2JJ 409 2•,963 51130781 HS8C baiante as at 30th Sepiembgr 2023 ADD Paynenl m Ad¥antÈ I In$urancl ADD UnBanked Inc(Mme ISep} LE&$ Pa110 FoNJbank LESS uryesenled & &4CS 16,663 3.029 1.310 -)35 -23 20.433 15.239 50 707 86 379 4.137 31384961 HSBC{Morw klan9erl 8•p¢l$l Union Cw¥ll Toi Estxn•l¢d Deblc GIFf AID IJLly-Sepl Rofym Hirt {Sepl TOTAL PERTY 'Tne Chvith 1$ benefitsil owrrofthÈ CThJrth PrEmi5e¥ I1 Manje, 911 10 by thuich'ts Icu$iod4n Iru$tee The Bapiiii Union Corpolalion Lld. 1 Ocl 2023 IManse173 lor¥Jlellu Road Cowenlry CV2 5HPI Buikliws Injured w¥lue £171.174 |Manx (13 Loryfe11ow Road conty CV2 SHPI . Conlenls insured yal El0.WJ Ichurth (Me11Th Road. Covenlry. CV2 SJH) In$ufea ¥blu2 £1,967.503 fixiures. fumfiuie and equipme Insu V•lL t90.OQ) acccun15 ano $iaiemeni ol asset$ and Ilatxlils 10 the yearendlry 30th Seplembw 2023 IA5 (xrt above. ve been p Pafed by IhE Trea¥wer as ¥ulhonsed by the Oea¢Ms. In wlh V% PYQVi510ns ofsethoTr 43 of Il Chari Aa 1992. 1 h8¥e exami Ihe wlpis ènd paymm acum1 slalemenl of a55eis •ThJ Ilabiirfie5 01 Meredith Road Bapllsl Chufch stl oul above ielaiing lo the ets1irwJ 30th Seefflr 2023 This exafflinalion ¢JkS not eAtend lo a Comprehensi audil ol suth •ccounl$ OF slalénl. I rxjnfim Ihai the accounls and slalemenl I>[d wlh the 4ccounling records ol the church and Ihal such reuYtJ8 s•11sfy ihe requlremen15 01 the Act. l am nol awaro ol any matter lo •tteniknn needy 10 be dr•* In OTder 10 obtain a propel dersl•TrJirvJ ol Ihe acc•unls svned Penny Ivers, 18 Tennyson Road Coventy CV2 SJA
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Indgpandent Examln•r'• R•port Report to th• trusl•o8 On accounls for tho y•ar ended Io," Sepkn¥Jor 2023 Ch•rlty no 111 any) li Lqwql Set out on pag•$ I report lo the truslees on my examlnallon of Ihe accounts of th8 above chanty {'Ihe Trust") for the year ended R•sponslbllltl•s and bas18 of report As the charivs Irustges, you are responsible for Ihg preparalion of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I'the Acl"). I report in respect of my examinallon of th8 Trust's accounts earried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by thè Charity Commission under section 14515)Ib} of the Act. Independent rrhe charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualrfied to èxamlnerfs statement undertake the examination by being a qualified membor of linsert nam8 of applicable Ilsled bodyll. Delete I l rfnol applicable. I have completed my examination. I confirni that no malenal matters hav8 come lo my attention in conneclion with the examination {olher than that disclosed below ') whlch gives me cause lo believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance wlh section 130 of th8 Charilies Act-, or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or Ihe accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements c£Jnceming the form and conlenl of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that Ihe accounts give a 'lrue and fairf viow which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come auoss no other matters in connection with the examination lo which allenlion should be drawn in this report in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please deletg the words in the brack9ts rf they do not apply. Signed: Dato: Namo: Relevant professlonal quallficatlon{s) or b¢xly ACHA AA T IER Oct 2018
(If any): Addr•88: 2 S Sectlon B Dl•closur• Only complele if the examlner needs lo highlight material mallers of concem {see CC32. Independent examlnation of charity accounts.. dirèctions and guidance for examlnersl. Give here bri8f detalls of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018