Our Lady of the Annunciation - Bishop Eton 

Bishop Eton Parish Council Meeting

 

Time:    Wednesday 11th March at 8:00pm

Venue: Hughes Room

 

 

Attendees

 

Christopher Allmand	CA	Representing older parishioners
Tricia Brophy	TBr	Catechesis
Fr Tim Buckley	TBu	Parish Priest
Ann Connor	AC	Chair
Jenny Holden	JH	Ecumenism
Greg Juhasz	GJ	Deacon
Eddie McCabe	EM	Secretary
Hayley Metcalfe	HM	Administartion
Frances Sibert	FS	Links with schools and universities
Kris Reeds	KR	Administration

APOLOGIES

Susan Bamber	SB	Liturgy
Andy Finch	AF	SYNOD 2020 representative
Catherine Line	CL	Hospitality
Dominic Murphy	DM	Finance
Margie Zilnyk	MZ	Links with St Marys

 

Vacancies                                    Representing: Parish Charities, Evangelisation, Young People 

Minutes

1. Introductory Prayer 

TBu opened the meeting with a prayer.

2. Welcome, apologies, minutes and matters arising

DM action re Traditional Carol Service closed.

KR action re Woodland trust closed.

FS action re discussing PCT role with members of YJ&P Group on hold during exam period

3. Site Refurbishment and Action Plan

HM, AC, DM and TBu met with John B to discuss the plan of potential work and associated costs. HM and AC felt that there was a misunderstanding around the purposes of the meeting, and John was unhappy with what he felt was happening. The intention was to build a structured costed plan of works for review and approval by the PCT. This had been tried previously via the Finance Committee but never followed through to completion.

The archdiocese acknowledge they are behind where they should be in respect of managing building works across the archdiocese, and giving decision on proceeding with defined programme of work. 

John B met with the archdiocesan surveyor and feels he may have made a breakthrough in terms of obtaining financial support via the archdiocese. Expectation is that the current “known” programme will require around £400-£500k to fulfil, but this doesn't account for actions that arise as work starts.

John has prepared a letter to go into the bulletin that states at a high level what we need and ask for support in submitting grant applications to gain additional funds from external bodies, e.g. Heritage England, National Lottery.

AC stated that we need to have an overall picture before we start applying for pots of money.

HM gave a quick summary of FMH works that have been completed recently

• • Decking behind FMH had been taken up
  • Wall inside had been taken back and replastered
  • Rotted skirting board had been taken out and replaced
  • Door frame has been repaired
  • Roof repairs have been completed

Action: KR/HM to define list of tasks expected in FMH

4. GDPR

Historically MZ had spoken to LACE to find out what information they had in respect of parish obligations on GDPR. Recently LACE have engaged directly.  Debbie J is the Data Protection Officer for the archdiocese, and as such is responsible for  GDPR issues.

Debbie has provided substantial material relating to GDPR for distribution to appropriate groups and individuals within the parish, as well as offering to run workshops to familiarise parishioners with the implications of and responsibilities arising from GDPR.

The supplied documents are complex and wider ranging than many in BE will need. It was agreed that the key points need to be understood and followed by groups should be distilled and distributed. Group communications needed to be regulated and managed in accordance with defined parish policy.

There was lengthy discussion around the implications of GDPR on day to day communications for all groups, and particularly around how email addresses could be sensibly and securely managed. EM agreed to do some research to inform this discussion next time

Action: EM to look into security of email distribution lists and bcc function.

It was agreed that the GDPR material needs to be simplified if we expect people to engage with it. It was suggested that we ask MZ if she can help in this area, given her experience and expertise on this topic.

Action: KR to discuss with MZ about slimming down LACE content.

 5. Webcam Broadcasting

AC reverted to the company that provided the original quotes for webcams to check on their pricing, and whether they had the appropriate policies to cover the necessary protections for the operational system if implemented.

There was lively discussion around whether there's is a need for a webcam service at the moment and where it would fit in the list of priorities of current works required. It became clear that there is an issue around understanding and engaging with the housebound members of the BE community to clearly identify what their needs are in respect of being part of the parish.

AC explained the rationale and arguments about using such a system as found in other parishes, which had been behind the initial conversations previously.

It was agreed that, in order to make an informed decision there are a number of actions that need to be completed, including building the full programme of parish works so that a properly planned and costed approach can be taken holistically.

To feed into that process AC and EM will work on an outline business case with options for a webcam service

Action: AC/EM to pull together a statement of options for meeting in May. (AC/EM)

6. Updates from sub-groups

Catechesis (TBr) 

1. 1. Creation Mass will take place but no details as yet. 

AC thought the date had been fixed for the Creation Mass for 26th April. TBr said that TW hasn't confirmed, and that date clashed with a With You Always Sunday. The previous week is low Sunday. TBr awaiting a response from TW. Will look at the 29th March as preferred option.

Action: AC to email TW to progress.

2. 1. No candidates for Adult Confirmation. 
   2. Rehearsal for children's school Way of the Cross is at 9.30 on Good Friday. 

Ecumenism (JH)

1. 1. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. No special events this year, beyond the use of a prayer at all Masses, composed by Fr. Tim. It is hoped that once the Holy Trinity Brompton Team has fully taken over St. Barnabas's, members of the Anglican Team Ministry will be more available to take part in shared events.
   2. World Day of Prayer March 6th. (Formerly Women's World Day of Prayer) took place in Bishop Eton, composed by the women of Zimbabwe. Attendance was about 80 people. Thanks are due to Sue T and Margaret P for providing the refreshments after the service.
   3. The Social Walking Group continues to thrive, with members from Bishop Eton, Allerton URC, Elm Hall Drive Methodist, Mossley Hill Parish, All Hallows, and recently Holy Trinity Wavertree. Members who are available plan to take part in the Walk of Witness starting at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Holy Saturday.
   4. Future plans Following on from the December Farmers Market, it is planned to have a CTMH stall at the Farmers Market on March 21st, with the aim of publicising Easter services as well as community work carried out by the various churches.
   5. Churches Together in the Mersey Region Prayer initiative. Churches are invited to encourage their members to commit themselves to praying for unity for 20 minutes at 20.20 pm on the 20th of each month.

Finance (DM)

1. 1. Last of the invoices for 2019 are being collated so that the BE Final Accounts for 2019 can be produced. It is envisaged that there will be a deficit of around £15,000 for the year because of the extra cost of the building works incurred. (Post meeting - Accounts are now available click here)
   2. A costed site building plan for the future (possibly 2-5 years) is needed

Hospitality (CL)

1. 1. Refreshments provided for the World Day of Prayer in FMH
   2. Tablecloths needed for parish events rather than using paper ones.

CL’s request for the purchase of tablecloths was approved

Liaison with schools, university and youth (FS)

No report this month

Liturgy (SB)

AC explained that workload had resulted in SB resigning her role as lead for Liturgy. PCT recorded sincere thanks and appreciation to SB for her work in this area over the years.

SB supplied the following report

1. 1. Lent 2020 Leaflet - Together on the Road setting out the details of the events and services has been produced which includes key dates, taken from the CAFOD Lent daily calendar and is a prayer resource.  
   2. SVP Healing Mass Parish musicians will be supporting the SVP healing mass on 21 March. 
   3. Holy Week Services Representatives from all the Sunday teams will take part in Holy Week services and representatives of parish groups will participate in the services. 
   4. Thank yous SB recoded a big thank you to all our volunteers supporting and enhancing the liturgy in the parish, particularly those in "unseen" roles.  

Resettlement (AC)

1. 1. Archbishop Malcolm and two Nugent Trustees were delighted to meet the family in their home on 17 January
   2. AC chaired a CSS meeting at Nugent for all parish groups in January attended by Archbishop Malcolm to review the challenges of the sponsorship process and to raise the issue of encouraging more parishes to sponsor a family.
   3. A conference, hosted by BE, three other sponsoring parishes and Nugent will be held on 16 May themed `Know the Heart of a Stranger`. It is aimed at inspiring the other 153 parishes to welcome a family.  Fr Tim, AC and our Syrian father will speak at the conference and other BERG members will run workshops. It is supported by Archbishop Malcolm.
   4. The Gift Aid team in LACE is progressing BERG’s gift aid submission. The problem of the delay to recovering gift aid received will hopefully be resolved in March some two years after BERG first applied to LACE.
   5. In February, following a successful period of work experience, the father has been given p/time, short term employment, and will continue to study English on his non-work days
   6. The mother has become a volunteer at a charity shop,as work experience.

Safeguarding report for March 11th 2020 Core Group meeting (KR).

1. 1. The Safeguarding team is now 6 strong with a potential 3 more volunteers. At present there is little the team can do, due to the massive backlog in the Safeguarding department at LACE, due to major changes within the DBS procedure. We are currently waiting on about a dozen volunteers to receive notification of a successful DBS who have been in the system in some cases in excess of 6 months. Rechecks of current volunteers cannot as yet begin.
   2. The December audit identified a number of area needing more work:
   3. Higher profile of Safeguarding – posters will be put in F/More Hall and toilets and other public areas.
   4. Liaising with parish groups to make sure they are recruiting correctly and passing on safe practise to their volunteers.
   5. Making sure all groups are working with the correct number of volunteers holding the correct DBS.
   6. The Safeguarding team will try to write articles at regular intervals for BE Alive, and certainly when issues arise and it is felt specific education is required.

Links with St Marys (MZ)

1. 1. Dementia Friendly Afternoon Tea continues to be well received and has recently attracted a few attendees from Bishop Eton and is open to anyone who is living with Dementia or cares for someone with Dementia
   2. On the 19th January  as part of Christian Union week, a service was held at St Mary’s.
   3. Lenten Reflection: 9.30 Saturday 28th March ‘The God who speaks’ is open to both parishes and will be led by Fr Tim, all Readers & Eucharistic Ministers are encouraged to attend.

Action: TBu will advertise the Lenten reflection in the BE bulletin

4. 1. SVP Healing Mass and Reconciliation Services: St Mary’s Healing Mass will be on the 14th and Reconciliation Service on the 6th April .
   2. St Mary’s Lenten leaflet contains details of Masses/ Service/ Events across both Parishes and the Archdiocese. 
   3. New Initiative: Welcomers at Baptisms have been introduced

Action: CA will discuss with BA about whether 11:30 greeters would be willing to stay on to greet baptisms.

SYNOD(AF)

No report this month

BE Green 2020

1. 1. BE Green 2020 will be included in the bidding prayers at Sunday Mass
   2. Over 19000 Christmas cards were collected from parishioners. Two hundred with nativity scenes will be recycled as visitors’ cards, those with glitter were separated and the remaining cards were recycled
   3. More than 280 `Saint or Sinner surveys` were completed. Respondents rated themselves 6.5/10, on average, in their attempt to protect God’s creation.
   4. Weekly challenges will be issued throughout the year, responses to which will sometimes be measured using plastic tokens.
   5. 142 bags of household goods were taken to local charity shops supporting the work of Nugent, Hospice Africa and Jospice
   6. Walk to Church challenge – last Sunday of every month - varying responses, 149 walkers in January but only 90 in February during very stormy weather.
   7. During Lent the challenges will all be food related; responding to developing world farmer poverty by buying Fair Trade products, making Cafod Family Fast Day a reality in our own homes, in solidarity with the hungry, protecting the environment via reducing food wastage at home, supporting the work of the SVP by contributing food to the foodbank appeal
   8. Easter eggs at 10am Mass on Easter Sunday will be Fair Trade
   9. Parishioners using FMH have been challenged to use Fair Trade products
   10. There has been some success at reducing paper usage, with several Church meetings going paperless.
   11. The Youth J&P group is engaged, and hopes to be more closely involved in various green / wildlife initiatives in the Spring and Summer.

7.  Any Other Business

Friends of the Holy Land

CA noted that an email had been received from Friends of the Holy Land about the current situation in Bethlehem as a result of the Coronavirus. The request is to consider a collection to help support the town which is so hugely dependent on tourism.

CA suggested that Dave H would be the right person to write an article to support any appeal. 

Articles can go into BE Alive and bulletin, and on the website.

Action: KR to contact Dave H

Coronavirus

HM noted that, in addition to instructions that had been distributed to parish groups, there is supposed to be a moratorium on passing the plate around for the duration of the Coronavirus crisis.

8. Next meeting

 Wednesday 20^th May and 1^st July at 8pm