AGM 2003

Opening devotions; Courtesies

Minutes of the 2002 Annual General Meeting, and Matters Arising from the minutes

Hon President's report, followed by Questions to Honorary President

Acting Secretary's report (to be delivered in person)

Hon Treasurer's report

Area Reports (Bilton; Starbeck & Woodlands; Town Centre; South West; Pannal; Lower Dale) to be delivered at the AGM

Election of Officers:

* Hon President: Rev Paul Hooper

* Hon President elect: Neil Spencer

* Hon Secretary: Humph Baker

* Hon treasurer: Kath Plant

* Exec Committee: Rev Alan Bolton, Ernest Stephens, David Henthorne and Paul Tennyson

* Retiring President: Jo Grande

Co-ordinator for Thursday evening meals for the homeless (required)

Election of Auditor

Meeting dates for 2003/4:

* Executive Committee: 15 July, 9:45am, 74 Duchy Road

* Steering Council: 16 September, 7:30pm, St Mark's

* Combined meeting with Bible Society: 22 September

* Annual Assembly: to be arranged with the editor of the Harrogate Advertiser

* Annual General Meeting: May 2004 - details to be arranged.

President's report

Jo Grande has found her year as President both interesting and enjoyable, developing a large and broad enough executive to make sure Churches Together reflects the needs and thoughts of the wider group, finding a new secretary and approaching possible future presidents. Humphrey Baker (Christ Church) is already contributing as Hon Sec. Neil Spencer (St Michael's, Beckwithshaw) has agreed to stand as President elect.

Objectives for the year included a Directory of Churches - now residing on this website. The website now includes an Events exchange and is serving as a resource centre, with the News sheet designed for printing onto a single A4 sheet for church noticeboards. Ecumenical walks were tried in order to link people at grass roots level, but have not proved popular. Posters about Churches Together in Harrogate along with a news sheet were displayed in the Church Pavilion during the Great Yorkshire Show.

Meetings Diary: Steering Council met on 17 September 2002. Keith Gough agreed to represent CT on the Voluntary Sector forum; Rev Pete Askew took over as representative on the Harrogate Borough Council 'Action for the Environment' from Nancy Stuart. Lent Lunches were re-started, with Ron Evans arranging a series of six talks and discussions on 'the Bible and Me'. Summaries of each talk are available on this website.

The Annual Assembly on 13 November 2002: special guests Rev Dr David Pickering and Kevin Douglas were welcomed - full report on this website.

Steering Council met on 5 February 2003. The profile of Youth for Christ in Harrogate was raised by Rev Bob Heathcote and Andy Wilson addressed the meeting. There was an optimistic and encouraging report on HYPeR. Canon Lesley Bentley reported that plans for the visit of Steve Chalke were going well (further details on this website). Fourteen churches had generously helped to fund a second successful Christmas Advertising Campaign on Stray FM. President elect, Rev Paul Hooper, agreed to co-ordinate the panning of the Good Friday open air service.

Churches Together in Harrogate has been able to assist West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council to re-instate their information data using our website; we look forward to hearing the results of a Churches Together in England survey which we discussed and completed in December 2002.

Acting Secretary's Report

Much of the secretarial work this year has been done by the President, ably assisted by the Rev Shaun Swithenbank and David Henthorne. Thanks to health problems, Paul Tennyson has been playing a low-key role, albeit still delivering items on foot as ever

With reference to the President, the Acting Secretary recalls her address in May 2002 and her interest in organising [this] website, the organisation of of a very successful Annual Assembly, two Steering Councils, four executive and other sundry meetings along with the Christmas Advertising campaign. Jo Grande has put in a lot of hard work for which the acting secretary is most grateful.

The loose end which should be tied up is the Local Area to which St Wilfrid's and their Jennyfield plant wish to join. The areas appear to be working well.

Youth for Christ Report

Andy Wilson, director, has continued with school work: lessons, assemblies, working with and creating new school Christian Unions. The United Gigs project (Christian bands) has received support from a number of churches. The new bi-monthly youth celebration at HYPeR is proving very successful. It is hoped to continue and expand the detached 'outside' work in the year ahead. The YfC AGM on the 15 May 2003 at 7:30pm at Bilton Grange. The YfC office are delighted to help with requests for speakers or offers of support in volunteering or finance.

Harrogate Jubilee Debt Campaign

At least 1800 signatures were collected from people of Harrogate and Knaresborough in a petition to the Queen in her Jubilee year asking her to urge her ministers to pursue deeper and wider debt relief. With the Mother's Union, a prayer vigil was held prior to the G8 summit in Canada and maple leaf postcards were sent to the Canadian Prime Minister. Future events include a post card campaign before the next G8 summit in Evian-les-Bains, with President Chirac as host (June 1-3). The Harrogate Jubilee Debt Campaign now have a formal constitution and an executive committee. See also Events, May 2003.

Bible Society Action Group

In May 2002 Rev Stanley Jackson gave a talk on 'Making the Bible heard' and the summer event was a Bible Quiz and buffet supper. In February 2003 there was a talk by Rev Dr Roy Yates and discussion on the Bible. A treasure Hunt is planned on July 20, 1:45pm from Starbeck Methodist Church and a talk at St Mark's, Leeds Road on September 22, 7:30pm; these events are included on the Events pages of this website..

Lent Lunches

After a lapse of two years the Lent Lunches were revived at the Friends Meeting House. Six well attended lunches with talks on 'the Bible and Me' from varied and interesting speakers who prompted thoughtful discussion. £155 was raised for Christian Aid. It is hoped to repeat the event in 2004 with the theme 'the Practice of Prayer'. [Summaries of the talks in 2003 are available on this website.]

Thursday Evening Meals for the Homeless and Needy

A rota of 19 church and other voluntary groups provide meals on a regular basis each Thursday evening at Harrogate Baptist church. The rota operates without difficulty, but there are rare occasions when the nominated group cannot fulfill their commitment and are unable to find another group to replace them. Three to five reserve provisional teams would make the rota more secure.

The number of diners has averaged about 15 during the winter months but has jumped to 30 during recent warm weather. This emphasizes the need for the acting teams to pass on the current numbers to the following week's volunteer team. Thanks are due to Harrogate Baptist Church for the use of their excellent facilities. After six years as co-ordinator