Stubbington Baptist Church
Annual General Meeting
2[nd] March 2022
Minutes
Present: John Beavan, Graham Brown, Phil and Martine Cox, David and Lynn Coram, Douglas and Carol Fleming, Michael and Dot Fletcher, Susy Matthews, Derrick and Sue Morgan, Glynne Payce, Angela Potts, Gill Prestidge, John and Maureen Richards, Becky Rudd, Jenny Skinner, Brian Weeks, Dianne Woodhouse
1. Worship . Phil opened meeting with prayer and worship.
2. Administration
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1.1 Apologies: Helen Beavan, Ruth Bellamy, Ron and Kath Bridgeman, David and Anne Bloomfield, Kathy Couch, Lisa Couch, Judith Green, John and Carol Griffith, Ernie and Denise Hazell, Jill Hill, Helen Jenkins, Jacqui and Alan Pook, Anne Prestidge, Chris and Mrs C Watt, Maureen Weeks, David Woodhouse
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1.2 Minutes of Previous AGM – these were read and agreed at the quarterly church meeting on 2[nd] June 2021.
2. Reports
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2.1 Review of 2021/22. This was presented by Phil. See Appendix 1.
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2.2 Independent Examination of accounts for 2021. This was presented by Graham B. The books had been received and everything was found to be in order, with no accounting errors or anomalies. Phil thanked Graham for continuing to undertake this important job.
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2.3 Financial Summary for 2021. The financial summary was presented by Susy M. Preliminary results were delivered at the December quarterly meeting. The income figure was reduced this year owing to Covid, which was to be expected. This is starting to recover now that we are able to hire out the building again. The 2021 income was £71,789.29. We had to transfer money from the reserve fund to the general fund to cover our expenditure, but we are now able to pay that back into the reserve fund. The total expenditure for 2021 was £66,567.81. Income comes mostly from gift aid donation (43.10%), gift aid tax recovery (15.54%) and plate offerings at 16.48%. We had also received £200 from a relative of a late church member for a social event. The expenditure included some high costs for administration and maintenance (£21,828.46). The budget for January 2022 is an income of £7,233, which is higher than last year when we were in lockdown, and the expenditure is £4,792, which is lower compared to 2021. This gives us a predicted income for 2022 of £73,500, and a predicted expenditure of £72,850. It was suggested that we might consider giving some money directly to aid the organisations working with Ukraine. It was agreed that we would give the remaining £1,600 of our income for missionary giving to the DEC Ukraine Appeal, which attracted a matched sum from government funds. Susy clarified that church events like Messy Church are included in outreach and church activities, but
this is not a high cost for the church. Owing to being unable to meet in person during the last year, the church provided monthly crafts for the children. Acceptance of the financial report was proposed by John B, seconded by Dorothy F, and agreed by all.
2.4 Financial Projection for 2022 (This was agreed at the December QCM)
3. Vision for 2022/23. This was presented by Phil. See Appendix 2.
4. Safeguarding Policy. Maureen R as our designated person for safeguarding read out the policy on safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk. Phil thanked Maureen for her service and Lynn C, who fulfilled the role until recently.
5. Prayer. Michael closed the meeting in prayer.
Appendix 1 – Report 2021-22
Church life was severely affected by Covid for the second year running, some of us needed to rely on ZOOM and Facebook, and we saw less of each other than we would have wished. We’d like to give particular thanks to David Woodhouse for his work on the technology over the last two years. Also, we weren’t able to organise outreach events in the ways we would have before, but Covid seems finally to be passing from a national emergency to just another disease, and lockdowns are hopefully a thing of the past. But only God knows the future.
We are delighted to be able to meet together, and sing together, again, and that all the Covid restrictions have now been lifted. We’re very glad that, on the whole, church members were able to respect the views of those who saw the Covid situation differently, and very glad that such issues seem to be mostly behind us. Messy Church, Stubbington Baby and Toddler Group, and Coffee and Cake have been re-established, and outside groups are hiring the building again. We’ve also re-established the day-time house group, with John Griffith as its leader, and it’s going well.
We’ve lost a number of much-loved members. Doreen Lancefield went to be with the Lord on 15[th] March. Deirdre Ward moved to Sussex in May to be closer to her family. Sylvia Macdonald died on 19[th] June. Roland and Jan Rogers resigned on 14[th] August, saying they felt God was calling them to join a church in Lee-on-Solent where they live. Les Payce went to be with the Lord on 4[th] December. Malcom’s dear wife Heather died on 10[th] December. Connor McHale resigned his membership on 16[th] January, to attend a church nearer to his home. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
We’ve also gained some wonderful people. Tina Mason was baptised and admitted to membership on 24[th] July. Angela Potts, Malcolm Drewery and Jill Hill were accepted into membership on 2[nd] September. Jill Hill was baptised on 31[st] October. Liz Howell and Bob and Ann Rule were accepted into membership on 1 December. Diane Wilson and Paul and Jane Sefton have also applied for membership.
At our December Quarterly Meeting, Phil announced his intention to step down as pastor at the end of June, and we are engaged in seeking a new pastor. We have set up a Ministerial Search Team, and are following the process recommended by the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
We’ve also had some re-organisation. Sue became bookkeeper on 3[rd] March. David Bloomfield became an elder on 31[st] March. John Griffith stepped down as an elder on 2[nd] June. Soon after, Carol Griffith took over from John as missions coordinator. On 9[th] January, Becky become secretary and Maureen Richards became Designated Person for Safeguarding. Joseph has become a regular member of the sound desk team.
Church membership remains steady at 72 and church finances remain in a healthy state.
Appendix 2 –Vision 2022-23
It is normal Baptist practice that, when a pastor steps down, he leaves the church he has been leading. In accordance with this expectation, Phil will leave Stubbington Baptist Church on 30[th] June, having been a member here for 26 years. This will require us to make some changes.
Our first priority at the moment must be finding the person God is calling to be our new pastor. We hope to complete the preparation of our Church Profile in the next few weeks, and to appoint a Moderator before long. We hope the process of interviewing candidates will begin soon. We urge all church members to pray earnestly that the right person will be appointed.
Meanwhile, we must continue the work of the kingdom of God. We thank God for many gifted church members, including several excellent preachers.
It may well be that, during the pastoral vacancy, some of us will need to be more involved than before. We trust that we will all get involved in the work of building the church and reaching the lost, and expect that we will grow in faith and character as we work together in new ways. We pray God’s blessing upon us and our labours as we seek together the future God has planned for us.
David will soon be our only elder, and Becky is relatively new in her post as our secretary. There is a lot to sort out. We ask for particular prayer and moral support for our leadership team at this time.
In recent months, at a time when many churches have struggled, God has blessed this church with seven new members in the last year and three more people applying to join. We are confident that God has plans to continue to bless and prosper this church. We pray that the right person is appointed as pastor, and that the church works together to keep things moving in the meantime.
We pray that our church values of kindness, gentleness and godliness, and our conviction that the Bible is absolutely true, will continue to grow in us, and we will be a beacon of Christian truth and love to the people of this area.
STUBBINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
GENERAL RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
| Receipts Gift Aid Donations Offerings Gift Aid Tax Recovereed Groups Donation Transfer Gift Day Solar Energy Rebate Room Hire AGRI - income to Reserve for Mission (accounted for in expenditure) Payments Ministry Stipend & Housing Allowance/Costs Pension Contribution Employers' National Insurance Missionary Giving Administrative and Maintenance Costs Maintenance & Facilities Utilities Subscriptions & Inusrances Equipment Software & Licences Photocopier Cleaning Refreshments Supplies Supplies Stationery Broadband & Telephone Gifts Social ICO Registration Bank Balances (as at 31st December 2021) Business Reserve Account Current Account |
2021 30,940.00 £ 11,833.77 £ 11,158.56 £ 3,310.00 £ 4,300.00 £ 4,000.00 £ 3,605.00 £ 1,570.96 £ 796.00 £ 275.00 £ |
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| 71,789.29 £ |
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| 4,112.32 £ 28,437.21 £ 3,738.00 £ 7,244.14 £ 5,320.00 £ 8,109.41 £ 35.00 £ 2,127.89 £ 1,813.73 £ 1,506.79 £ 1,142.79 £ 936.00 £ 549.06 £ 437.85 £ 373.11 £ 364.22 £ 270.29 £ 50.00 £ |
|
| 66,567.81 £ |
|
| 48,501.74 £ 7,568.31 £ |
STUBBINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH
EXAMINATION OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
I, Graham Brown, confirm that I have examined the church accounts for the financial year 1 January to 31 December 2021. I have found no problems with the accounts and believe them to be a full and true representation of the income and expenditure throughout that year.
I can confirm that the figures shown for the church bank accounts are accurate.
_1 March 2022________