Fr Trevor PCC Chair	Tony Holloway Churchwarden	Martin Lindsay Churchwarden
Mary Clow PCC Secretary	Janet Clow Treasurer	Arthur Humphreys PCC Member
Hannah Holloway PCC Member	Peter Lindsay	Sophia Johnson
Jacquie Clarke PCC Member	Patsy Twomey PCC Member	Khareen Singh PCC Member
Jane Clark-Maxwell PCC Member	Jacquie Gentles

Ministry Structure

The magazine article reproduced below from 2005 gives an idea of how we have reorganised our PCC structure

A Healthy Church

The PCC had a very good day away at St Matthew’s Westminster.  We measured our church life against the ‘Seven Marks of a Healthy Church’ from Robert Warren’s book the Healthy Churches Hand Book.  The basis of the book was to find common characteristics of growing churches in the diocese of Durham and beyond. The seven marks of a healthy church are:-

1   Energized by faith

     rather than just keeping things going or trying to survive

2   Outward-looking focus

      with a 'whole life' rather than 'church life' concern

3   Seeks to find out what God wants

discerning the Spirit's leading rather than trying to please everyone

4   Faces the cost of change and growth

     rather than resisting change and fearing failure

5   Operates as a community

     rather than functioning as a club or religious organization

6   Makes room for all

     being inclusive rather than exclusive

7   Does a few things and does them well

     focused rather than frenetic

Having considered how our church measured up to ‘Seven Marks’ we then did some blue sky thinking about do and improve to tackle out weaknesses and build on our strengths.  We came up with a quite a list:-

Ideas

Face lift to the building / New notice boards / Welcome signs / Getting to know people better / Greeters  / Welcome people / New Seating / Seats wit a place for books / Seats with a kneeling facility / Increase the number of service sheets / More people to help with cleaning / Service booklets (new  & more) / New organ / More flexibility in music / More modern music / Instrumental group /  Renew the magazine / paid adverts to help with costs / Higher printing standards / More social events / Welcome system for new members / Welcome to communion for new members /  Young peoples group 12-18 / Young peoples away days / Young peoples holidays / Sunday evening services / Days out / Retreats / Pilgrimages / Doors wide open on Sunday mornings / Modernisation of the kitchen area / Think about storage areas / Nicer Toilets / Restore the Lady Chapel / New meeting room / Entrance area more welcoming / Outreach to Belways housing area / Outreach to parish / Spiritual direction & organisation by the clergy / Basic Christian teaching / Bible study / Teaching on the liturgy / Ring the bell on Sunday mornings !

With such a long list, containing different sorts of ideas, some for the physical fabric and some for our spiritual life, we realised that we couldn’t tackle them all at once.  And being mindful that it is better to do a few things well we have re-organised the PCC into three new groups which we are calling ‘Ministries’ rather than committees !

These new ministry groups will be meeting for the first time this month and prioritising the ideas.  They have also been asked to spread the load by recruiting one new member of the congregation who is currently not involved in any group.  You’ll be hearing which tasks these ministries decide to tackle in the coming months.  The ministries and their members are:-

The Resources Ministry – formerly the standing committee responsible for providing resources for the life and work of our church, as well as the management of our buildings, finances and fund raising.  The members are Fr Trevor, Martin, Tony, Mary, Janet, Arthur and Shekira.

Worship and Teaching Ministry – responsible for our music, Sunday School and Young people as well as teaching and spirituality.  The members are Fr Trevor, Jane, Milly, Mark, Francis and Jackie.

Pastoral and Mission Ministry – responsible for welcoming people to church, care of our members, communications and mission.  The members are Fr Trevor Martin, Tony, Peter and Patsy.

How do you eat an Elephant ?

All those ideas, and the costs involved, and all the work they will take reminds me of the question; how do you eat an elephant ? The answer is SLICE BY SLICE.  I’m also reminded of what Fr Matthew said to me recently; ‘You over estimate what can be achieved in one year and under estimate what can be achieved in five years’. 

So bearing that in mind the new ministry groups will be making a start my selecting one or two of the best ideas and beginning to make them happen.

How can you be involved ?

There are several ways you can be involved to helping to improve the health of our church:-

    Suggestion box – there is a new suggestion box at the back of church for your ideas.  Other churches may do some things better than us, if you see a       

    good magazine or service sheet or you come across a really good idea, let us know.  Every suggestion will be read and carefully considered.

    Watch out – each ministry group will have a new notice board and they will be asking for peoples help with new initiatives.  Consider carefully and

    prayerfully if you could help.

    Pray for  St Augustine’s – We believe that led by the spirit we are beginning the spiritual and physical renewal of our church and of our life together.  We

    need your prayers, pray for St Augustine’s everyday and ask God to guide us as we seek to discern and do his will.