Report on the PCC meeting 16th September 2025

Opening of the meeting

• Ros led us all in a prayer to start the meeting. Praying particularly for safeguarding, the safeguarding team and for the whole church as safeguarding is all of our responsibility.

• Declarations of interest were made and the minutes of the last meeting agreed with some slight corrections.

• Lucy thanked the PCC for their support of Kelly Agler-Good as she starts her Reader course and for  approving Pamela Gorringe as a Eucharistic Minister

• A list of eucharistic ministers was circulated and there needed to be one addition of David Powell.  A Resolution was passed to approve list of Eucharistic Ministers.

Misson Action Plan updates

• Crib Festival is happening later this year and there have been offers from the community and congregation to get involved which is really encouraging.

• The automatic doors have been fitted on the Foyer, to improve access. It was agreed  that the PCC would write to the Friends of St Andrews to ask for a grant to help cover costs.

• Our new Youth Worker, ben Rowan started on Sunday which is great news. Some positive feedback has been received already from our young people.

• Small groups have started for the term.

Church house property

• Verbal update was given by Andy Redfern. Offers had been considered for the house and we are on track for a lease to Impakt Housing to start in November, to help meet local housing needs.

Safeguarding update

• Annual review of policies took place and there was some conversation on how we support those in frontline safeguarding roles within the church. There were some discussions about culture, the positives of having a safeguarding team,  and  the additional support available from the diocese.

• The safeguarding policy was reviewed and approved.

• Procedures for dealing with safeguarding concerns and allegations were noted and the Parish Statement on Domestic Abuse adopted.

• The PCC authorised list of non-church activities involving children, young people and/or vulnerable adults

• There was an update on the National Standards Audit.

  4 of the 5 actions that have already been identified in the 'culture and leadership' element of audit have been achieved. The one outstanding is sharing case studies at meetings but this is on the action plan from Autumn 2025 so we remain on track.

  We now embark on the second year of the audit on recognising, assessing and managing risk.

• Safeguarding Sunday will be kept on the 23^rd November 2025

Finance

• The Treasurer provided a written report which concluded “steady as we go for the moment.”

• Proposed hire charges for  the Church Centre 2026 were discussed and agreed

Mission and Outreach

• Jenny Tomlinson presented the Misson and Outreach Team report to PCC

• A generous donation resulted in large donations going to our three main charities.

• MOT are planning for the change in the international charity that we support.

Voting was held in June and the theme chosen is Basic Needs & Resources.

The actual charities on this theme will be voted for in October.

MOT are doing due diligence on the charity options before putting these to the congregation.

General Synod

• Lucy spoke at General Synod on vocations and Issues in Human Sexuality; the requirement for ordination candidates to sign this document has now been removed.

• The last agenda item of Synod was moved by Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally as a response to Terminally ill Adults (End of Life Bill).

Only 1 in 4 people can access end of life care and since 2010 disabled peoples’ rights have been undermined. The lack of palliative care is an injustice.

Bishop Sarah spoke of the need for all of us to talk more about dying and death. This prompted some reflection from the PCC in agreement.