Word of Life WRU Church
AGM of the Trustees/Elders and Deacons of Word of Life Church Ashington
Charity Number 1164496
Held Wednesday 11[th] September 2024 at 7.00pm
Attendees: -
Rev. Michael Hedley (Trustee, Elder), Snr Pastor Lindsey Hedley (Pastor Elder), Olaronke Obadebo (Trustee Elder), Denis Batey (Trustee, Elder), Jennifer Batey (Elder)), Lanre Atanda (Deacon), Fisayo Atanda (Deacon), Wendy Ellis Church Member.
1. Welcome and Prayer.
Michael opened in prayer and welcomed to the team Lanre, Fisayo and Wendy.
2. Apologies: -
Brian Watson (Deacon), Hazel Watson (Deacon
3. Accounts
Michael discussed the Accounts for January to December 2023. He went on to explain to the team that we have to have 3 AGM meetings per year according to our charity governance document.
Thanks were expressed to Ina Abrie who does the accounts for the church and her continued support in this way.
Denis is a now a bank card holder so any supplies required please let Denis know what you need. He also has a bunch of keys with the only safe key on it. If you need reimbursement from petty cash or petty cash please see Denis. Remembering that we need receipts.
Accounts for 2023 were accepted by the team and will therefore be published on the Charity Commission Website along with the Annual Report before 31[st] of October.
4. Preaching Plan including Worship Leading
At this time for the next 4 months Michael and Lindsey have decided to withdraw from leading worship and speaking owing to Michael’s continuing health problems.
They are still available to speak to and will try to attend prayer meetings etc. Our continued prayers go with them at this time. Praying for a complete recovery.
Michael and Lindsey discussed with the team how we should give Lanre the opportunity to establish his pastorship from the pulpit which will include Lanre taking the bulk of the preaching. This was unanimously agreed.
Please see attached Preaching/ Worship Plan
5. The way forward – Transitioning to the future.
5.1 Pastor
Following discussions with the Eldership team it has been decided to appoint Lanre as Associate Pastor at this time of change within the team. Forms have been completed requesting permission for Lanre to be appointed to the position of Associate Pastor which have been agreed. We are currently waiting for visa changes for the family to remain in this country. This could take a couple of months, but Michael is currently chasing this up and awaiting reply from the home office. Michael and Denis are the representatives of the Church as Trustees who are sponsoring Lanre’s licence to be employed as Associate Pastor.
We are looking to have a commissioning service in October but this will depend on when the UKVI allow us to appoint.
5.2 Administrative Tasks
Den and Jen to be responsible for the day-to-day financial aspects of the church which will include completing the Excel spreadsheet every month, Gift Aid and Payroll.
Olaronke will complete the other administrative tasks such as distributing welcome packs, adding new members to the membership booklet, obtaining new members information, and updating any media permission slips. Assigning new members to a code for gift aid which will be added to the offering envelopes.
5.3 Welcome Packs
A discussion took place around welcome packs.
Action – Oloranke to develop the leaflets to be included within the welcome packs with correct phone numbers on them. The bags themselves can be ordered from vista print with the church logo on the front.
Supplies of other materials to be ordered by Denis.
5.4 Charity Trustees
Wendy has agreed to be a trustee and the team welcomed her into this new position.
5.5 – Policies and Procedures Manual
Michael has developed the above file which includes everything to do with the day to day running of the church e.g. fire alarm testing, PAT testing and passwords.
Action – Michael to send email to elders/deacons containing the contents of the file.
Following a discussion around the passwords it was decided not to send copies of the passwords to everyone but to keep them safely locked in the safe.
6. Gift Aid
Den and Jen to complete spreadsheet.
Action – Michael to amend the spreadsheet to include gift aid, and to show Den and Jen how to complete gift aid and wages forms on the computer.
7. Safeguarding
A discussion took place re the need of a safeguarding officer to replace Michael which resulted in Wendy being appointed to take over as safeguarding officer with Denis as her deputy with immediate effect.
8. Sunday School
Fisayo informed the team that Sunday School was going well but that she was having difficulties recruiting helpers.
She is in the process of completing the next rota.
Fisayo explained that the laptop, TV and video upstairs wasn’t working properly. Following the discussion, it was decided that the following items be purchased.
Action – Jen to text Michael with the following list for Michael, Laptop, speaker, HDMI-VGA Convertor. These have been received.
9. Youth Group
Following a discussion the first youth meeting will take place on Sunday 6[th] October 2024 at 1pm. At this time Den, Jen, Lanre and Fisayo will oversee this initially to see what the uptake is.
10. Any other Business
10.1 Events
A discussion took place regarding the possible numbers that could attend events and the fact that the church building would be too small to accommodate. It was decided that an International Night would be good to hold in January but it would have to be held elsewhere such as the YMCA and Rob Cox was the person to contact.
Action – Michael to supply the telephone number for Rob.
Brian to contact and organise the event to include Spiritual content, games and a buffet.
AOB
Warm Space will begin again at the end of October.
Action – Denis to order soup from Viking.
Key Holders
Keys have been given to key holders. There is a need to liaise with other key holders when on holiday.
The meeting was closed in prayer after all business was concluded.
Preaching and Leading Plan Word of Life Church October 2024 – January 2025
| Date | Worship Lead | Preacher |
|---|---|---|
| 6/10/2024 | Den and Jen | Lanre |
| 13/10/24 | Den and Jen Harvest Festival |
Denis |
| 20/10/24 | Solomon | Lanre |
| 27/10/24 | Fisayo | Olaronke |
| 3/11/24 | Den and Jen | Lanre |
| 10/11/24 | Den and Jen | Denis |
| 17/11/2 | Solomon | Lanre |
| 24/11/24 | Fisayo | Olaronke |
| 1/12/24 | Den and Jen | Lanre |
| 8/12/24 | Fisayo | Lanre |
| 15/12/24 | Den and Jen | Denis |
| 22/12/24 | Carol Service | |
| 24/12/24 | Michael Lindsey Den and Jen |
Christmas Eve Service **5pm – 6pm ** |
| 29/12/24 | Fisayo | Lanre |
| 5/1/25 | Den and Jen | Lanre |
| 12/1/25 | Solomon | Olaronke |
| 19/1/25 | Den and Jen | Denis |
| 26/1/25 | Den and Jen | Lanre |
| 2/2/25 | Fisayo | Lanre |
Word of Life Church
Balance Sheet
31-Dec-23
| Fixed Assets ^ Furniture & Fittings Computer Equipment & Technology Musical Instruments Land and Buildings Accumulated Depreciation ^ Acc Dep Furniture & Fittings Acc Dep Computer Equipment & Technology NBV Other Assets ^ Loans made Longterm loan made Current Assets ^ Bank - Lloyds Bank - Barclays Total Assets Shareholders Funds ^ Unappropriated Funds Unappropriated Funds Capital Reserves ^ Profit & Loss b/fwd Loss for the year |
3,617.14 £ 5,039.77 £ 549.85 £ 5,000.00 £ |
14,206.76 £ 4,515.69 £ |
|---|---|---|
| 1,023.66 £ 3,492.03 £ |
||
| 1,000.00 £ 6,709.92 £ - £ |
9,691.07 £ 7,709.92 £ |
|
| 948.40 £ 26,985.98 £ 10,533.39 -£ |
17,400.99 £ |
|
| 948.40 £ 16,452.59 £ |
||
| 17,400.99 £ |
||