Angela's Report

Angela's Report to General Church Meeting, Sunday 29th April 2007

It is customary for the retiring senior steward to look back over significant events in the life of the church during the last twelve months. I would like to take a broader view today, and look back over the last four years, at what I think are very positive signs in an uncertain world. These are difficult times for the Church, with the view often expressed that it is out of date and irrelevant in this 21st century. Many congregations are dwindling, churches closing, church goers becoming disheartened or overwhelmed. There is upheaval at every level of the Methodist Church and in other mainstream churches too.  So, what has been happening here?

A number of very positive developments came out of the church review, which was just being established as my term of office began. This proved an effective vehicle for collaborative reflection and visionary thinking and we have steadily worked our way through the list of ten priorities that we set over a church family meal in January 2004. Since then, there have been developments that enriched our worship, benefited our children and our older people, strengthened our leadership   and our links with other local churches and community groups. Many of these things are on-going;- we are still working on the details, or developing the ideas, and now the biggest job of all -  having tackled the things which involved little financial outlay, we are even finally getting round to refurbishing our buildings too!

There have been huge changes in personnel, as many of the leadership roles in the church have changed hands and it has been a privilege to work with many committed, gifted individuals:

John Clay took over from Margaret Barnes as Worship Coordinator, and Margaret herself took over from Pam Howard as Church Council secretary; Edward Britton stepped into Roger Hall’s shoes as Finance and Property coordinator and Jo Turner took over from Jean Hetherington as Pastoral Secretary. We created a safeguarding coordinator, with Janet Lapish taking on this role, and most recently, David Laycock took over from Anne Vautrey as Children and Youth Coordinator. None of these people needed to be coerced into their new roles – they responded warmly to an invitation to do something constructive in the life of our church. More positive signs!

There has been the inevitable turnover of stewards and communion stewards, of course, and whilst many stewards spend their term of office working with one minister, I have managed to go through four, not to mention a layworker! – Fiona, Mollie, David with Robert’s ministerial support and now Andrew! All have brought their different personalities and experiences, their gifts and theology to bear on their work here, and, I believe we have emerged from this potentially damaging period of instability with renewed confidence and a stronger sense of purpose; another positive sign.

It has been a tremendous privilege to be a steward during such an intense period of development. It has also been a privilege to be given an insight into all the work that goes on in the name of our church on every day of the week. There are so many people, fulfilling all sorts of different roles, in our buildings, in their homes and in the local community. What we actually see going on is only the ‘tip of the iceberg’ and it is easy to forget how much work goes into making things happen. Thank you all for everything you do.

I have mentioned the typical turnover of stewards – and it has been wonderful to get to know people whose paths I had barely crossed until now. All have been diligent in their duties, concerned that things should happen appropriately on a Sunday and ready to support initiatives to develop our life and ministry. But many of you will be unaware, and my ‘tip of the iceberg’ imagery is relevant here again, that at any time in the last four years, at least one, if not two or three of the team of six stewards has been carrying these responsibilities on top of considerable personal turmoil – anxiety about their children, their partners, their parents or friends; undergoing treatment themselves, or recovering from surgery or coping with bereavement.

They don’t make a fuss about it, in fact coming and getting on with routine tasks can help you to cope when things are difficult, but it has made me aware that if up to half the stewards are struggling for some reason at any one time, the chances are that a similar proportion of our congregation and indeed the wider Chapel Allerton community are carrying similar burdens, week in, week out… without fuss – but are still in need of our understanding, compassion and prayers.

I believe I have described a church in a very strong position,  - but there is always more we could do. So how do we build on these firm foundations, alert to a changing society, helping everyone to feel valued whether we are responding to their hard work, or recognising their need?

In my experience, we can only get these things right, if we are walking with God, taking the time as a church and as individual Christians, to be still and listen to what he has to say. And he will equip us for whatever he calls us to do, - for we are promised that he will do far more for us than we can ask or think;- this is another ‘tip of another iceberg’!

I hand over the reins to Margaret who has been an immense support to me this year with her loyalty and practical common sense. Please work with her as you have worked with me. She is supported by a strong team of committed individuals who bring wide-ranging gifts and experience to the role of steward: Desna, Sandra, Mark and Glenys. Please remember them all in your prayers. As I move ‘onto the back benches’ to borrow a parliamentary phrase, I hope I will remember what I have learned as a steward, that I need to look beneath the surface, the tip of the iceberg’ claiming God’s promises, recognising the burdens people carry, offering my support and celebrating the positive aspects of our life here together.