Committees

We have a number of committees that meet on a regular basis and who undertake work delegated to them by the Church Council, and who also report back to them.

Please find below a summary of what they do.

Church Leadership Team

The role of a church steward is (along with the minister) to give leadership and help over the whole range of the church's life and activity. The stewards meet with the minister, treasurer, pastoral secretary and local circuit stewards on a regular basis where they consider aspects of the wider life and mission of the church. They attend and report back on the various church committees. The stewards are responsible for seeing that all is prepared so that services, meetings and other engagements on the circuit plan in connection with the church can take place. There are currently three church stewards – Sue Haithwaite, Helen Carter and David Worth.

Finance & Property

More to follow soon.......

Pastoral Care

The objective of our system of pastoral care is to enable everyone whom it serves to feel valued as part of a caring and supportive church family. It has recently undergone a process of restructuring, necessitated by an increase in the age profile of our congregation over the last half a century.

The new pastoral care team is made up of around 30 people, each of whom is known as a Pastoral Link, and is responsible for maintaining contact with a small group of two or more other church family members.

The role of the Pastoral Link includes a responsibility to pray regularly for each person in their group, to celebrate with them on happy occasions and to show understanding, love and support during sad or difficult periods.

Additionally, at all times we seek to give reassurance that each person is cared for and loved unconditionally by God. Each group is paired with another one, so that reciprocal support can be shared between all of the Pastoral Links.

The change of title from Pastoral Visitor to Pastoral Link reflects one of the societal changes experienced in the new millennium.

Home visiting, whilst still a valued aspect of pastoral care, particularly during hard times, is not always possible for practical reasons. Telephone calls, emails, texts, letters and cards, always reinforced by the assurance of prayer, are recognised as alternative ways of ensuring pastoral contact and support.

Hopefully this support complements the pastoral ministry offered by Bruce, and gives a reassurance of the way in which each member of our church family is valued, cared for, and loved unconditionally by God.